To a Lady Who Requested I Would Show Affection
Since you've bestowed me permission to love,
What will you respond?
Am I to your joy, or emotion stir,
As I commence court;
Do you torment, or scorn, or adore me too?
All trivial grace can scorn, and I
In spite of your aversion
Absent your consent can see, and succumb;
Dispense a nobler Destiny!
’Tis easy to destroy, you may create.
Therefore give me consent to love, & cherish me too
Without intent
To raise, as Love's damned insurgents act
As puling Poets lament,
Renown to their charm, from their tearful gaze.
Sadness is a pond and reflects not clear
One's charm's rayes;
Joys are pure streames, your eyes look
Gloomy in more sorrowful songs,
Within happy verses they gleam brilliant with praise.
Which shall not allude to portray you fayr
Injuries, flames, and arrows,
Storms in your countenance, nets in your locks,
Suborning all your features,
Either to trick, or torment ensnared hearts.
I will make your gaze like morning suns appear,
As mild, and lovely;
One's brow as Crystall polished, and transparent,
While your unkempt hair
Shall stream like a calm Area of the Atmosphere.
Wealthy Nature's treasury (which is the Bard's Riches)
I will expend, to adorn
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
In equal thankfulness
Thou but release, so we one another favor.
Exploring the Poem's Themes
The piece examines the interplay of affection and acclaim, in which the narrator addresses a maiden who requests his love. Instead, he suggests a shared agreement of artistic praise for personal favors. The wording is refined, mixing polished traditions with direct statements of longing.
Through the lines, the author dismisses typical tropes of one-sided affection, such as sadness and tears, stating they cloud true beauty. He chooses joy and praise to showcase the woman's qualities, vowing to depict her gaze as radiant suns and her hair as streaming atmosphere. This approach emphasizes a realistic yet skillful perspective on relationships.
Key Aspects of the Piece
- Shared Agreement: The work revolves on a offer of tribute in trade for pleasure, highlighting parity between the individuals.
- Dismissal of Conventional Themes: The speaker disparages common poetic devices like grief and metaphors of anguish, choosing positive depictions.
- Poetic Craftsmanship: The employment of mixed verse lengths and cadence demonstrates the author's mastery in verse, producing a graceful and engaging experience.
Rich Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Riches)
I will spend, to embellish
Thy charms, if your Source of Joy
Through equal gratitude
Thou but release, so we one another bless.
The stanza captures the core deal, in which the author vows to utilize his creative talents to celebrate the woman, in exchange for her willingness. This wording blends devout overtones with worldly desires, giving depth to the verse's theme.