Summary

The speaker begins by establishing himself as "a lover" as well as a poet (1). He credits the subject of his poem, Lady Mary Wroth, with inspiring him to become both a better writer and a better suitor. His "muse" and he acknowledge, without shame at having to give up some of the credit for his own work, that Wroth's virtues have sometimes interested and sometimes overwhelmed him, helping him to write more passionately and more honestly. He notes that many feel this way about her, but himself most of all. He credits her poetry with having all of the enticing passion of the Greek god Cupid, whose arrows cause people to fall in love. However, Wroth herself has the power of Cupid's mother, Venus, who is the goddess of love itself, and whose work is continued by Wroth's poetry.

Analysis

Ben Jonson began writing as...