Addressing a Lady Who Wished I Would Show Affection
Given that you granted me consent to love,
What shall you do?
Am I to your delight, or emotion move,
When I begin to pursue;
Will you distress, or disdain, or adore me too?
All trivial beauty can reject, and I
Despite your hate
Lacking your permission can observe, and die;
Bestow a grander Lot!
It is effortless to demolish, you may create.
Thus grant me consent to cherish, & adore me too
Without design
To elevate, as Affection's cursed rebels act
As whining Bards whine,
Renown to their beauty, from their weeping gaze.
Grief is a pool and shows not bright
Your beauty’s lights;
Joyes are pure streames, your vision seem
Morose in sadder verses,
In cheerfull verses they shine bright with prayse.
That may not mention to describe you fayr
Harms, flames, and shafts,
Storms in your forehead, snares in your hair,
Bribing all your features,
Or to trick, or torment trapped affections.
I will render your eyes like dawn stars appear,
As mild, and fayr;
One's forehead as glass smooth, and clear,
And your dishevelled locks
Shall flow like a serene Region of the Ayr.
Rich Nature’s hoard (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I will expend, to dress
One's graces, if your Wellspring of Joy
In equal appreciation
You but open, so we each other bless.
Delving into the Poem's Themes
The piece delves the dynamics of love and acclaim, as the speaker speaks to a lady who requests his love. Rather, he suggests a reciprocal agreement of literary tribute for personal delights. The wording is refined, mixing courtly conventions with direct expressions of yearning.
Through the verses, the poet spurns common motifs of unreturned passion, like sorrow and tears, arguing they dim true beauty. He prefers delight and admiration to showcase the woman's attributes, assuring to portray her vision as radiant suns and her tresses as flowing atmosphere. The method underscores a practical yet skillful view on bonds.
Key Components of the Work
- Reciprocal Agreement: The verse focuses on a suggestion of admiration in exchange for pleasure, emphasizing parity between the parties.
- Spurning of Conventional Ideas: The speaker criticizes common artistic devices like sadness and similes of anguish, preferring upbeat descriptions.
- Creative Craftsmanship: The employment of varied verse lengths and rhythm demonstrates the author's expertise in verse, forming a smooth and engaging experience.
Wealthy Nature's hoard (which is the Poet’s Treasure)
I will use, to adorn
One's charms, if your Wellspring of Delight
In equall appreciation
You but unlock, so we each other grace.
The stanza encapsulates the core deal, in which the author promises to use his artistic talents to celebrate the woman, in exchange for her receptiveness. This wording combines devout undertones with earthly desires, providing depth to the verse's theme.