The Poetry of Mary Robinson: Form and Fame

Bell’s Laureates I 25

I heard the sympathetic Sigh

Upon her lip’s vermilion die [sic]. (1: 76; 37–50)

This passage employs the tropes of Sensibility—particularly the ubiq-

uitous “tear of pity” —but ultimately to serve a ludic and erotic end.

The “sympathetic Sigh” that Oberon’s magic accomplishes here is

the emblem not of the sentimental recognition of a common human-

ity but of her now reciprocated sexual desire for Il Ferito / Della

Crusca. The poem comically concludes when a “too eager” Cupid

approaches “the Maiden’s bed” and wakes her; Oberon’s mission is

accomplished as the poem, his “rapt’rous Tale,” eagerly reports “To Il

Ferito’s grateful Ear” (1: 77; 51–58). Here, Robinson’s Oberon seems

to perform a role similar to that of Shakespeare’s character, using his

magic to inf luence the romantic entanglements of young lovers; and

she does it with gusto.

This is the only Oberon poem to appear in her 1791 volume,

which gathers her poetry from the World and the Oracle. The vol-

ume’s preface unmasks Laura, Laura Maria, and Oberon as the

“feigned signatures” of “Mrs. M. Robinson.” This specific avowal

of only one poem draws particular attention to Robinson’s iden-

tity as “Oberon.” Perhaps the author of “Queen of the Fairies to Il

Ferito” beat her to the Mab/Titania character, or perhaps Robinson

enjoyed dabbling in the heteroerotic mischief the Oberon character

affords. As I suggested above, however, her subsequent use of the

Oberon avatar, before temporarily retiring it, greatly complicates

this interpretation of the character. After the publication of the

1791 volume—and the revelation of Oberon as one of Robinson’s

avatars—she employed it again for a series of poems on maternal

themes. The first, simply titled “Invocation,” appeared with the

“Oberon” signature in the Oracle on 15 March 1792. Here, Oberon

responds to “a plaintive voice,” but this time he is called upon to

heal a sick girl also named Maria, thus recalling Il Ferito’s loved

one (1: 170; 9). Oberon promises, “Fair Maria’s fev’rish lip, / Shall

Hygeia’s balsam sip” (1: 171; 47–8). The poem concludes with the

assurance that

Still, where’er the Damsel strays,

Thro’ dull life’s perplexing maze,

Watchful OBERON shall be,

GUA R DI A N OF HER DESTIN Y. (59–62)

This poem presents a different, more protective and fatherly Oberon

and a different Maria. No other reference is made to the previous

9780230100251_03_ch01.indd 259780230100251_03_ch01.indd 25 12/31/2010 4:20:09 PM12/31/2010 4:20:09 PM

10.1057/9780230118034 - The Poetry of Mary Robinson, Daniel Robinson

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