To a Lady That Wished Me to Show Affection
Given that you bestowed me leave to love,
What will you act?
Shall I your delight, or ardor arouse,
Once I begin to court;
Will you distress, or scorn, or love me too?
Each petty charm can reject, and I
Despite your dislike
Lacking your permission can perceive, and succumb;
Bestow a nobler Lot!
’Tis easy to ruin, you can fashion.
Therefore grant me permission to cherish, & love me too
Without design
To uplift, as Affection's accursed insurgents act
While puling Bards moan,
Acclaim to their charm, from their weeping eyes.
Sadness is a pond and mirrors not clear
Thy grace's lights;
Joys are untainted streames, your eyes look
Morose in sadder layes,
Within happy verses they gleam bright with praise.
What will not refer to portray you fayr
Wounds, fires, and arrows,
Storms in your forehead, traps in your hayr,
Corrupting all your parts,
Either to deceive, or torment trapped hearts.
I’ll make your gaze like dawn suns appear,
Just as mild, and fair;
One's countenance as crystal smooth, and transparent,
Whereas your unkempt hair
Will flow like a serene Area of the Air.
Abundant Nature’s hoard (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I’l expend, to embellish
Your charms, if your Source of Pleasure
With equall appreciation
Thou but unlock, so we each other favor.
Examining the Work's Ideas
This work examines the dynamics of passion and praise, where the poet engages with a woman who seeks his devotion. Rather, he suggests a shared agreement of poetic praise for intimate delights. This language is refined, mixing refined traditions with candid expressions of desire.
In the lines, the poet spurns usual tropes of unreturned love, such as sorrow and lamentation, stating they obscure true charm. The speaker chooses delight and acclaim to showcase the lady's attributes, vowing to portray her gaze as bright suns and her tresses as flowing breeze. This approach underscores a pragmatic yet clever view on relationships.
Key Aspects of the Piece
- Reciprocal Arrangement: The poem focuses on a suggestion of tribute in trade for enjoyment, highlighting parity between the persons.
- Rejection of Standard Motifs: The narrator condemns usual poetic devices like sorrow and similes of anguish, choosing optimistic imagery.
- Poetic Skill: The use of mixed meter lengths and rhythm demonstrates the author's expertise in composition, producing a fluid and compelling text.
Wealthy The natural world's store (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I shall spend, to embellish
One's graces, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
With matching gratitude
Thou but release, so we mutually grace.
This section captures the central arrangement, where the writer pledges to utilize his inventive gifts to honor the lady, as compensation for her receptiveness. The language combines spiritual undertones with physical yearnings, providing profundity to the poem's message.
