To a Lady Who Wished I Would Show Affection
Now you have freely given me consent to love,
What shall you respond?
Shall I your delight, or passion stir,
When I commence woo;
Shall you torment, or mock, or cherish me too?
Each petty charm can reject, and I
Spight of your hate
Lacking your permission can see, and die;
Bestow a nobler Fate!
It is effortless to demolish, you could fashion.
Thus give me leave to adore, & cherish me too
Lacking design
To elevate, as Loves damned insurgents behave
When puling Bards lament,
Fame to their beauty, from their weeping eyne.
Sadness is a pool and shows not bright
Your beauty’s lights;
Delights are clear streams, your gaze seem
Sullen in sadder verses,
Within joyful verses they radiate luminous with praise.
What may not allude to express you fair
Injuries, flames, and darts,
Tempests in your countenance, traps in your hayr,
Suborning all your attributes,
Either to trick, or torture captive hearts.
I shall render your eyes like sunrise suns look,
Just as mild, and lovely;
Thy forehead as Crystall polished, and transparent,
Whereas your tousled locks
May stream like a tranquil Zone of the Atmosphere.
Rich Nature’s hoard (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I’l use, to embellish
Thy graces, if your Wellspring of Delight
With equal appreciation
Thou but unlock, so we each other bless.
Delving into the Verse's Themes
This work examines the dynamics of affection and admiration, as the speaker engages with a woman who desires his affection. Conversely, he offers a shared arrangement of artistic tribute for private delights. This wording is elegant, mixing courtly conventions with direct utterances of desire.
Within the stanzas, the author spurns typical tropes of unreturned passion, including sorrow and weeping, arguing they dim true grace. He favors joy and acclaim to showcase the maiden's qualities, vowing to render her vision as radiant stars and her locks as drifting atmosphere. The method highlights a realistic yet skillful view on bonds.
Key Elements of the Composition
- Shared Agreement: The work centers on a offer of praise in exchange for pleasure, stressing equality between the parties.
- Dismissal of Conventional Ideas: The narrator criticizes typical poetic techniques like sadness and similes of pain, choosing optimistic descriptions.
- Creative Artistry: The employment of mixed verse patterns and flow demonstrates the author's proficiency in composition, creating a smooth and engaging experience.
Wealthy Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Riches)
I’l expend, to dress
Thy beauties, if your Mine of Delight
Through equal thankfulness
You but open, so we mutually bless.
This section captures the core deal, where the author promises to utilize his inventive talents to celebrate the lady, as compensation for her receptiveness. The phraseology mixes devout hints with worldly yearnings, adding depth to the work's message.