To a Lady Who Requested Me to Show Affection

Given that you bestowed me permission to love,
What will you respond?
Will I your delight, or ardor stir,
When I commence woo;
Will you trouble, or mock, or cherish me too?

All trivial charm can disdain, and I
Spight of your hate
Without your leave can see, and die;
Dispense a nobler Fate!
It's simple to destroy, you can fashion.

Thus give me leave to adore, & love me too
Not with design
To uplift, as Loves accursed rebels do
While complaining Versifiers lament,
Renown to their charm, from their blubber’d gaze.

Sadness is a puddle and shows not clear
Your grace's rayes;
Joyes are clear currents, your vision look
Morose in gloomier songs,
Through cheerfull numbers they radiate luminous with praise.

Which shall not refer to express you fair
Injuries, blazes, and darts,
Gales in your forehead, traps in your locks,
Bribing all your features,
Or else to betray, or torture ensnared affections.

I’ll render your eyes like sunrise stars seem,
As soft, and fayr;
Thy countenance as glass polished, and clear,
Whereas your tousled hayr
Will drift like a tranquil Area of the Air.

Rich Nature's hoard (which is the Writer's Riches)
I’l spend, to embellish
One's beauties, if your Source of Joy
Through matching appreciation
Thou but release, so we one another bless.

Exploring the Poem's Motifs

The composition explores the dynamics of love and acclaim, as the narrator engages with a maiden who desires his devotion. Rather, he proposes a mutual agreement of artistic praise for private favors. The wording is elegant, combining polished norms with frank expressions of longing.

In the stanzas, the poet dismisses usual tropes of unreturned love, including grief and lamentation, claiming they cloud true grace. The speaker chooses joy and praise to emphasize the maiden's qualities, promising to portray her vision as shining orbs and her tresses as drifting atmosphere. This technique highlights a realistic yet skillful perspective on connections.

Key Elements of the Piece

  • Mutual Agreement: The verse centers on a proposal of tribute in exchange for pleasure, highlighting parity between the individuals.
  • Spurning of Standard Motifs: The narrator condemns common poetic techniques like grief and metaphors of pain, choosing positive imagery.
  • Poetic Craftsmanship: The use of diverse meter measures and rhythm demonstrates the writer's proficiency in composition, producing a smooth and engaging experience.
Rich Nature's store (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I will use, to adorn
Your graces, if your Wellspring of Delight
Through equall gratitude
Thou but open, so we one another bless.

The section encapsulates the essential bargain, as the author pledges to utilize his creative abilities to praise the woman, in return for her receptiveness. This phraseology mixes devout overtones with physical desires, giving depth to the verse's message.

Katherine Herring
Katherine Herring

Elara is a linguist and writer with a passion for exploring how words shape our world and connect cultures.