Stars - “To the Queenes most Excellent Majestie”
Aemilia Lanyer writes, “For even as they that doe behold the Starres,/Not with the eie of Learning, but of Sight,/To find their motions, want of knowledge barres/Although they see them in their brightest light.” The stars (Starres) signify the Queen’s preeminent glory. The Queen’s elegance is as dignified as the fantastic stars.
Eve - “To the Queenes most Excellent Majestie”
Aemilia Lanyer writes, “Behold, great Queene, faire Eves Apologie/Which I have writ in honour of your sexe,/And doe referre unto your Majestie,/To judge if it agree not with the Text:/And if it doe, why are poore Women blam'd,/Or by more faultie Men so much defam'd?” The Queen’s undertakings are archetypal notwithstanding her sex which has been denigrated all thorough using the Biblical Eve’s flaws. Biblically, Eve embodies inherent feminine faults for she is the one that acquiesced to the devil’s deceptions and later predisposed Adam to sin. Nonetheless, the Queen has risen above the perceived, superficial feminine susceptibilities.
Virtue (A Motif) - “To all Vertuous Ladies in general”
Aemilia Lanyer dedicates “To all Vertuous Ladies in general” to all the females that endorse decency. She initiates them to don their wedding apparels to portray their preparedness for the bridegroom. Virtue is a motif of decorum that extricates modest females from discourteous ones.
Oyle - “To all Vertuous Ladies in general”
Aemilia Lanyer instructs the virtuous ladies, “But fill your Lamps with oyle of burning zeale,/That to your Faith he may his Truth reveale.” This instruction is a religious allusion that correlates to the Biblical parable of the virgins that awaited the bridegroom (Jesus) with their lamps. The oil (oyle) characterizes conviction which contributory for the virtues to be noticeable. Conversely, the paucity of oils would trigger the expiry of their devotion which would devalue their virtues.
