Addressing a Lady Who Wished Me to Love Her
Now you have granted me leave to love,
How will you respond?
Shall I your mirth, or ardor stir,
Once I begin to court;
Shall you distress, or disdain, or cherish me too?
All trivial beauty can reject, and I
Despite your dislike
Lacking your consent can observe, and perish;
Dispense a nobler Lot!
It is effortless to ruin, you may form.
Therefore grant me permission to love, & adore me too
Not with purpose
To uplift, as Loves damned rebels do
When puling Poets whine,
Renown to their grace, from their weeping eyes.
Sorrow is a pond and reflects not distinct
One's charm's lights;
Joyes are pure streams, your gaze seem
Sullen in gloomier verses,
In joyful numbers they radiate brilliant with acclaim.
Which shall not refer to portray you fayr
Wounds, fires, and darts,
Storms in your forehead, traps in your locks,
Corrupting all your attributes,
Or else to trick, or torment trapped hearts.
I shall make your gaze like morning orbs seem,
Just as gentle, and fayr;
One's brow as Crystall polished, and transparent,
And your unkempt hayr
May flow like a tranquil Area of the Air.
Wealthy Nature's hoard (which is the Bard's Riches)
I will use, to dress
Thy beauties, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
With equal appreciation
You but open, so we each other grace.
Examining the Work's Motifs
The piece delves the dynamics of love and praise, in which the poet addresses a lady who desires his devotion. Rather, he suggests a shared exchange of artistic tribute for personal pleasures. This wording is elegant, combining polished conventions with candid statements of desire.
In the stanzas, the poet dismisses common themes of unreturned passion, including sadness and weeping, stating they obscure true grace. The speaker prefers joy and acclaim to highlight the woman's attributes, promising to depict her gaze as shining suns and her locks as flowing breeze. The method highlights a pragmatic yet clever perspective on connections.
Important Components of the Work
- Mutual Arrangement: The poem revolves on a suggestion of admiration in trade for delight, stressing equality between the individuals.
- Rejection of Traditional Themes: The poet condemns common literary techniques like sorrow and metaphors of suffering, favoring upbeat imagery.
- Artistic Skill: The use of diverse line lengths and flow demonstrates the author's mastery in composition, creating a smooth and compelling experience.
Wealthy Nature's hoard (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I shall expend, to dress
Your charms, if your Mine of Pleasure
With equal gratitude
Thou but release, so we mutually favor.
This stanza encapsulates the essential bargain, as the author pledges to use his artistic abilities to honor the maiden, in exchange for her openness. This phraseology combines pious overtones with physical desires, adding depth to the poem's theme.
