44 “Virtue’s Duel (Emblem 4)” (1640-1660)
with an Introduction by Leah Knight and Wendy Wall (from The Pulter Project)
Hester Pulter
Introduction
Hissing and cheering urban spectators gather to witness a duel between the forces of right and wrong. In this emblem, Pulter imagines parliamentarian and royalist battling in the English civil war as an allegorical contest reminiscent of the sporting games of classical Greece. Virtue, supported by her “second” or assistant Wisdom, battles mindfully with a frenzied Fortune, aided by Folly. The poem derides London citizens who desperately want Virtue to be bested, and are giddy with happiness when Folly is triumphant. As is typical in Pulter’s emblems, the speaker explicitly interprets the allegory by applying it to the current political situation, daring her reader to feel superior to the foolish crowds (or to see any victory as a sign of its intrinsic righteousness) since all have been complicit in witnessing the destruction of natural and divine law by wickedness (“impiety”). The poem ends with a lament for King Charles’s death, and a hope that Charles II might be restored to the throne, an act that the poem aligns with the resurrection of Christ (God’s “princely son”).
“Virtue’s Duel (Emblem 4)”
Virtue once in the Olympics fought a duel—
Her second, Wisdom, that transcendent jewel.
Fortune courageously did her oppose,
And giddily for second, Folly chose.
The sad spectators grieved to see this fray,
Fearing that Virtue’s side would win the day.
Thus pitying Fortune and her fellow, Folly,
The city cockneys sat most melancholy.
But see the fate of war: Fortune was blind
And madly laid about, her foes to find,
Nor cared on who or where her blows did light.
Folly as bravely did maintain the fight,
Not valuing what she did or what she said;
And now the people that were so afraid
’Gan to rejoice; then Virtue she gave place.
Wisdom drew back with slow but modest pace;
Then acclamations made the welkin ring,
Paeans the people unto Fortune sing.
Folly with Fortune’s help did wear the crown;
Virtue with Wisdom both were hisséd down.
Then let none by success judge of the cause,
For we have lived (ay me) to see the laws
Of God and Nature basely trampled on,
When bold impiety the vict’ry won;
And such a king killed, that this isle before
Did never see, nor never will see more,
Unless our God his princely son restore.
Source:
“Virtue’s Duel (Emblem 4)” edited by Leah Knight and Wendy Wall from The Pulter Project licensed by CC BY-NC-SA
