Addressing a Lady Who Desired I Would Show Affection

Since you've bestowed me permission to love,
How will you respond?
Shall I your joy, or passion move,
When I commence woo;
Will you trouble, or scorn, or cherish me too?

All trivial charm can scorn, and I
In spite of your aversion
Lacking your permission can see, and succumb;
Grant a loftier Lot!
’Tis easy to demolish, you may form.

Then give me consent to cherish, & adore me too
Not with purpose
To uplift, as Love's cursed defiers do
As whining Bards moan,
Acclaim to their grace, from their blubber’d eyes.

Sadness is a puddle and mirrors not distinct
One's beauty’s rayes;
Delights are untainted currents, your gaze appear
Morose in sadder songs,
Through cheerfull verses they radiate luminous with prayse.

That will not refer to describe you lovely
Injuries, fires, and darts,
Gales in your forehead, snares in your hayr,
Corrupting all your attributes,
Or to betray, or torture trapped souls.

I shall render your gaze like sunrise stars appear,
Just as soft, and fair;
Thy countenance as Crystall polished, and clear,
And your dishevelled locks
Will flow like a calm Region of the Air.

Rich The natural world's hoard (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I’l use, to embellish
Your beauties, if your Source of Pleasure
Through equall gratitude
One but release, so we each other grace.

Exploring the Poem's Themes

This piece explores the interplay of passion and praise, where the speaker addresses a maiden who requests his devotion. Rather, he proposes a mutual agreement of artistic admiration for private delights. The phraseology is refined, blending courtly norms with frank expressions of yearning.

Within the verses, the poet rejects usual themes of unreturned love, like grief and lamentation, claiming they dim true charm. He chooses delight and acclaim to highlight the maiden's qualities, assuring to depict her gaze as radiant suns and her locks as flowing breeze. The approach underscores a realistic yet skillful outlook on relationships.

Important Elements of the Work

  • Reciprocal Arrangement: The verse revolves on a offer of admiration in return for delight, highlighting balance between the individuals.
  • Spurning of Standard Motifs: The narrator disparages common literary devices like grief and imagery of anguish, preferring upbeat imagery.
  • Poetic Skill: The employment of diverse meter patterns and flow demonstrates the poet's proficiency in poetry, forming a fluid and engaging experience.
Rich Nature's treasury (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I will use, to dress
Your charms, if your Source of Pleasure
With equall thankfulness
One but unlock, so we each other favor.

This stanza encapsulates the essential bargain, in which the poet vows to utilize his creative talents to celebrate the woman, as compensation for her willingness. The phraseology combines pious hints with worldly desires, adding profundity to the work's theme.

Lisa Peters
Lisa Peters

A savvy shopper and discount expert with a passion for helping others maximize their savings.