For a Lady That Desired Me to Love Her
Since you've granted me consent to love,
What will you do?
Am I to your delight, or passion arouse,
As I begin to court;
Do you torment, or disdain, or cherish me too?
Each petty beauty can reject, and I
Spight of your dislike
Absent your permission can observe, and succumb;
Dispense a grander Lot!
It's simple to ruin, you could create.
Thus grant me consent to adore, & cherish me too
Lacking design
To elevate, as Affection's accursed defiers act
While complaining Poets lament,
Renown to their grace, from their blubber’d eyne.
Sadness is a pond and shows not bright
Thy beauty’s beams;
Delights are pure streams, your eyes appear
Gloomy in more sorrowful songs,
Within happy numbers they shine bright with praise.
What shall not refer to portray you fayr
Wounds, flames, and arrows,
Gales in your forehead, traps in your hayr,
Suborning all your features,
Or else to trick, or torment captive souls.
I will cause your gaze like morning orbs seem,
Just as soft, and lovely;
Your countenance as Crystall polished, and transparent,
While your dishevelled hair
Shall drift like a calm Region of the Air.
Abundant Nature’s treasury (which is the Writer's Riches)
I shall expend, to adorn
Thy beauties, if your Wellspring of Delight
In matching appreciation
Thou but unlock, so we mutually grace.
Exploring the Verse's Ideas
This composition explores the dynamics of passion and admiration, in which the poet addresses a maiden who desires his devotion. Instead, he suggests a reciprocal exchange of literary admiration for private favors. This wording is refined, blending refined norms with frank statements of yearning.
Through the lines, the writer spurns usual themes of unreturned affection, such as sorrow and weeping, claiming they obscure true charm. He favors joy and praise to emphasize the woman's qualities, assuring to render her vision as bright stars and her tresses as streaming breeze. This technique underscores a practical yet skillful perspective on relationships.
Key Components of the Composition
- Shared Arrangement: The poem focuses on a proposal of tribute in trade for delight, emphasizing parity between the individuals.
- Dismissal of Conventional Themes: The speaker condemns usual literary tools like sadness and similes of suffering, favoring upbeat depictions.
- Creative Skill: The application of varied meter lengths and cadence showcases the author's mastery in verse, producing a smooth and engaging read.
Abundant The natural world's treasury (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I will spend, to dress
One's beauties, if your Wellspring of Delight
Through equall gratitude
Thou but open, so we each other favor.
The stanza encapsulates the central deal, as the writer vows to employ his artistic abilities to praise the lady, in return for her receptiveness. The phraseology blends spiritual overtones with physical longings, adding profundity to the poem's message.