George Wither’s A Collection of Emblemes (1635) includes the following emblem, on a similar theme to Pulter’s “Virtue’s Duel” (Emblem 4). Wither presents the “fickleness” of Fortune, who is the “foe” to Virtue; in contrast, those who embody Virtue gain “wings” to heaven. Pulter likely composed her emblem, which similarly pits Virtue and Fortune against each other, with representations like Wither’s in mind.

From George Wither’s A Collection of Emblemes ([1635], 6), RB79918, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.