William Herbert

In this step, we find out more about William Herbert and his writing from Professor Mary Ellen Lamb, who is currently editing his poetry.

In addition to his Penshurst Mount poem, she discusses two more poems by Herbert ‘Muse Get Thee to A Cell’ and ‘Had I loved but at that rate’.

You can find and read both these poems in the downloads section below. The latter is as it is reproduced by Wroth in her prose romance “The Countess of Montgomery’s Urania’’.

Watch the interview, read the poems and consider how these change your impression of William Herbert

Post a comment on your response to William Herbert’s part in the poetic and romantic dialogue between the cousins.

Next week we will explore how Lady Mary Wroth’s play “Love’s Victory” adds another dimension to the complex layers of re-writing romance between the cousins.