I would be not likely to accept "Do they call (indirect object: virtue)
there (direct object) ungratefulness" simply because the syntax of the
previous lines consistently sets up a positive quality (first) which is
rejected or misrecognized (second), such as "Is constant love deem'd
there but want of wit?". Therefore it seems most likely that Astrophil
means the line to obliquely complain that Stella views him as ungrateful
(for whatever reason), when he is in fact, in his eyes, virtuous. Now,
as Derek points out, the line backfires. But Sidney does that often in
the sequence -- setting up Astrophil's perspective in such a way so
that, by the conclusion of the poem, it is clear that Astrophil has
reached a dead / false end. Right? I mean, right from the "blackest
face of woe" Sidney establishes the double-reading of lines as a key
element of the sequence.
Derek Alwes wrote:
>I am pleased to see someone ask this question, since I wrestle with it
>regularly with my undergraduates. The sense of the poem implies that the
>line should be read as "Do they call ungratefulness virtue there?" since the
>rest of the poem suggests that the speaker's beloved is being unfair to him.
>It is very difficult, however, to make that reading work with the syntax of
>the line. If the syntax is to be trusted, the final line is a critique of
>the speaker's own criticism--HE's the one calling virtue ungratefulness.
> Since starting to write this, I have read David Miller's post, and I
>suppose the line can to be seen as "deliberately reversible," but I don't
>know that that answers any of the questions that come up in my classes. It
>seems simply to avoid the question.
>
>Derek Alwes
>
>
>
>>From: David Wilson-Okamura <[log in to unmask]>
>>Organization: East Carolina University
>>Reply-To: Sidney-Spenser Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 13:21:40 -0500
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?
>>
>>How gloss ye this line, Sidneians? Is it bawdy and bitter? Or innocent
>>and just obscure?
>>
>>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>Dr. David Wilson-Okamura http://virgil.org [log in to unmask]
>>English Department Virgil reception, discussion, documents, &c
>>East Carolina University Sparsa et neglecta coegi. -- Claude Fauchet
>>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
--
Michael Saenger, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of English
PO Box 770
Southwestern University
Georgetown, TX 78627
Office Hours: Monday 2-3, Thursday 10-11, Friday 2-3, and by appointment
Phone: 512-863-1787 Fax: 512-863-1535
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