Introduction

The Amoretti by Edmund Spenser is a sonnet cycle or sequence composed of 89 sonnets and it was
published in 1595. The term “amoretti” is literally defined as “little loves” or “little cupids.” Edmund
Spenser’s Sonnet I is in the form of the Spenserian sonnet. The Spenserian sonnet combines the
Italian and the Shakespearean forms, using three quatrains and couplet. It is similar to the
Shakespearean sonnet in the sense that it is set up is based more on the 3 quatrains and couplet, a
system set up by Shakespeare; however, it is more like the Petrarchan tradition that follows from
the argument or issue set up in earlier quatrains. Unlike the Petrarchan sonnets, which typically
express love for an unattainable woman, Spenser's "Amoretti" focuses on his real-life love for
Elizabeth Boyle, whom he could actually marry. This makes Spenser’s sonnets more personal and
attainable. Spenser’s love poetry becomes more engaging when we consider that it includes
affectionate humour. This means that understanding Spenser’s work as having elements of light-
heartedness and warmth can make it more appealing and relatable, as opposed to strictly serious or
idealized expressions of love. In Sonnet 1, Spenser is talking to his poem/book about how wonderful
it would be for his beloved to read his words; it would mean everything to him for his beloved to
behold his loving words.

Major Themes

The theme of Amoretti Sonnet 1 by Edmund Spenser focuses on love, admiration, and hope. The
speaker, deeply in love, admires his poem's pages as they will be appreciated by his beloved. He
believes that his writing will be transformed into something precious just by her touch. The poem
shows the speaker's strong emotions of awe and commitment, expressing his ultimate wish to make
the woman he loves happy. It also demonstrates how love can fuel creativity and add significance to
art. The sonnet communicates the concept that genuine joy stems from being loved and valued by a
special individual.
 Happy ye leaves when as those lilly hands,
Which hold my life in their dead doing might,
Shall handle you and hold in loves soft bands,
Lyke captives trembling at the victors sight.

And happy lines, on which with starry light,

Those lamping eyes will deigne sometimes to look
And reade the sorrowes of my dying spright,
Written with teares in harts close bleeding book.

And happy rymes bath’d in the sacred brooke

Of Helicon whence she derived is,
When ye behold that Angels blessed looke,
My soules long lacked foode, my heavens blis.

Leaves, lines, and rymes, seek her to please alone,

Whom if ye please, I care for other none.

1st Stanza:

The speaker in Amoretti Sonnet 1 expresses how fortunate he feels that his beloved's "lily hands"
grace the pages of the poem, symbolizing her beauty and innocence. He sees her hands as having a
strong impact on his life, able to bring out intense feelings, including negative ones, showing how
much, he loves her. The speaker imagines herself gently touching the pages in a way that implies a
connection formed by love. He compares the pages, and himself, to prisoners trembling in front of a
victor, representing his sense of being overcome by her charm and power, while also feeling a deep
respect. This situation shows his respect and vulnerability in love.

2nd Stanza:

The speaker characterizes the verses of his poem as "joyous" because of the expectant gaze of his
beloved, whose eyes shine with a brilliance akin to that of stars. He describes her eyes as
"luminous," signifying their vivid brightness, and expresses the hope that she will occasionally give
her attention to his work. The speaker conveys a desire for her to engage with the story of his "dying
spirit," which summarizes his emotional turmoil that arises from love. He articulates that the poem is
inscribed with tears in the "bleeding book" of his heart, a metaphor that underscores the deep
nature of his anguish and passion. Through this expression, the poet reveals his deep longing for her
understanding and recognition of his emotional state.

3rd Stanza:
The poet describes his poetry as "happy rhymes" that have been purified by the sacred waters of
Helicon, a mythical source of inspiration for poets. (Helicon is believed to be a sacred site and
favoured by the Greek Gods, especially the nine muses. The legend of the river says that the winged
horse Pegasus aimed his hoof at a rock and struck it with such force that a spring burst from that
spot. ) He perceives his lines as blessed, as they originate from the same divine source as his
beloved, elevating her beauty and elegance to the heights of the Muses. When he gazes upon her
"angelic, blessed gaze," he feels as if he is in the presence of the divine, emphasizing her nearly
ethereal perfection. To him, she embodies not just the essence of divine beauty but also the
sustenance his soul has yearned for, the "bliss of heaven" that completes him and brings him
genuine happiness. This imagery illustrates his profound admiration, viewing her as both his muse
and the realization of his spiritual longings.

4th Stanza:
The concluding couplet of Amoretti Sonnet 1 summarises the entire poem. The poet expresses that
the entire purpose of his "leaves, lines, and rhymes"—his poetry—is to seek only the approval of his
beloved. He personifies his lines, almost as if he were sending them on a mission to win her heart.
His devotion is so deep that it makes her opinion the only one that matters. If she likes his poetry, no
other judgment makes sense. This reflects the speaker's deep emotional attachment, showing that
his happiness and fulfilment are tied solely to her satisfaction, elevating her approval to the highest
level of importance in acknowledging his emotional state.