Addressing a Lady That Desired I Would Show Affection
Now you have granted me consent to love,
How will you do?
Am I to your mirth, or emotion arouse,
Once I commence pursue;
Do you torment, or mock, or adore me too?
Each petty grace can reject, and I
Spight of your aversion
Absent your permission can perceive, and die;
Bestow a grander Fate!
It's simple to destroy, you may form.
Thus allow me consent to adore, & love me too
Not with intent
To raise, as Affection's accursed defiers behave
As complaining Versifiers moan,
Fame to their charm, from their weeping gaze.
Sorrow is a pool and mirrors not clear
Thy beauty’s rayes;
Joys are clear currents, your vision seem
Morose in more sorrowful songs,
Within cheerfull lines they shine luminous with acclaim.
Which shall not mention to express you fayr
Harms, flames, and darts,
Gales in your forehead, snares in your locks,
Corrupting all your features,
Either to betray, or torture ensnared hearts.
I will cause your gaze like sunrise suns appear,
Like mild, and lovely;
One's brow as crystal smooth, and transparent,
And your unkempt locks
Will flow like a serene Region of the Atmosphere.
Abundant Nature’s hoard (which is the Writer's Riches)
I will spend, to embellish
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Delight
Through equall gratitude
One but unlock, so we mutually bless.
Exploring the Work's Ideas
This work explores the dynamics of passion and admiration, in which the narrator speaks to a lady who requests his devotion. Rather, he offers a shared arrangement of poetic tribute for intimate delights. The phraseology is refined, combining courtly conventions with frank statements of yearning.
Within the lines, the poet dismisses common motifs of unreturned passion, like sorrow and lamentation, claiming they obscure true beauty. The speaker prefers happiness and acclaim to showcase the lady's features, vowing to render her gaze as shining orbs and her hair as streaming air. The approach emphasizes a realistic yet artful outlook on bonds.
Significant Aspects of the Work
- Shared Exchange: The verse revolves on a suggestion of tribute in return for enjoyment, stressing equality between the parties.
- Dismissal of Conventional Themes: The narrator disparages usual poetic devices like grief and metaphors of pain, preferring upbeat depictions.
- Creative Artistry: The use of diverse verse patterns and rhythm demonstrates the writer's mastery in composition, forming a smooth and compelling read.
Abundant Nature’s store (which is the Bard's Riches)
I’l expend, to dress
Your graces, if your Source of Delight
With equal gratitude
Thou but open, so we mutually bless.
This verse summarizes the essential arrangement, in which the author promises to utilize his creative gifts to celebrate the maiden, in exchange for her receptiveness. This phraseology combines devout overtones with worldly longings, adding complexity to the verse's message.