SOURCE: Jonson, Ben. “A Sonnet to the Noble Lady, the Lady Mary Wroth.” In The Norton Anthology of Poetry, 4th ed., edited by Margaret Ferguson, Mary Jo Salter, and Jon Stallworthy, p. 311. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 1996.

In the following sonnet, originally published c. 1640, Jonson describes the influence Wroth's verse has had on him and on his writing. Though Jonson's sonnet is highly complementary, its erotic undertones may be indicative of contemporary (disparaging) views toward women poets.

“a Sonnet to the Noble Lady, the Lady Mary Wroth”

I that have been a lover, and could show it,           Though not in these,(1) in rithmes not wholly dumb,           Since I exscribe° your sonnets, am become                              copy out A better lover, and much better poet. Nor is my Muse(2) or I ashamed to owe it           To those true numerous graces, whereof some           But charm the senses, others overcome           Both...