To a Lady That Desired I Would Show Affection
Since you've granted me permission to love,
What will you act?
Will I your delight, or emotion stir,
As I commence woo;
Do you torment, or mock, or adore me too?
All trivial beauty can disdain, and I
Despite your aversion
Lacking your leave can see, and die;
Dispense a loftier Lot!
It's simple to demolish, you may form.
Then grant me permission to love, & adore me too
Not with purpose
To raise, as Loves damned defiers act
As whining Bards moan,
Acclaim to their beauty, from their weeping gaze.
Sadness is a pool and mirrors not distinct
Your grace's beams;
Joys are untainted streames, your vision look
Morose in gloomier verses,
In happy verses they gleam bright with prayse.
That will not refer to express you fair
Injuries, flames, and shafts,
Tempests in your brow, nets in your hair,
Bribing all your features,
Or else to deceive, or torment ensnared affections.
I shall cause your vision like morning orbs look,
Like mild, and fair;
Your forehead as Crystall smooth, and clear,
Whereas your tousled hayr
Shall stream like a serene Zone of the Atmosphere.
Rich Nature's store (which is the Poet’s Wealth)
I’l use, to embellish
One's graces, if your Mine of Pleasure
Through matching thankfulness
One but open, so we mutually bless.
Examining the Poem's Themes
This work delves the dynamics of passion and acclaim, in which the speaker speaks to a lady who desires his love. Rather, he offers a reciprocal exchange of literary praise for intimate favors. This language is elegant, mixing refined norms with candid statements of yearning.
Within the lines, the author rejects common tropes of one-sided love, including sorrow and lamentation, stating they dim true beauty. He chooses delight and acclaim to highlight the woman's attributes, assuring to portray her vision as shining suns and her locks as flowing breeze. The method emphasizes a pragmatic yet skillful view on bonds.
Key Components of the Composition
- Mutual Arrangement: The poem focuses on a offer of admiration in exchange for enjoyment, highlighting parity between the individuals.
- Rejection of Conventional Ideas: The narrator disparages typical literary techniques like sadness and metaphors of suffering, preferring upbeat descriptions.
- Poetic Artistry: The use of mixed line patterns and rhythm showcases the writer's expertise in verse, producing a smooth and captivating experience.
Wealthy Nature’s treasury (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I shall expend, to dress
Thy charms, if your Source of Pleasure
With equall appreciation
Thou but release, so we one another favor.
This section captures the central arrangement, as the author promises to use his inventive abilities to praise the lady, in exchange for her openness. This language combines devout hints with earthly yearnings, adding depth to the poem's message.