Addressing a Lady That Wished Me to Love Her
Since you've freely given me leave to love,
What will you act?
Shall I your joy, or passion arouse,
Once I begin to woo;
Will you distress, or disdain, or love me too?
Every minor charm can reject, and I
Spight of your dislike
Without your leave can see, and die;
Bestow a grander Destiny!
It's simple to ruin, you could fashion.
Then give me permission to adore, & cherish me too
Without design
To raise, as Love's damned defiers do
As whining Bards moan,
Renown to their grace, from their blubber’d eyes.
Grief is a puddle and mirrors not clear
Your beauty’s beams;
Joyes are clear streames, your vision appear
Sullen in sadder layes,
In happy numbers they shine bright with acclaim.
What shall not allude to express you fair
Injuries, fires, and arrows,
Storms in your countenance, snares in your hair,
Corrupting all your attributes,
Or to trick, or afflict trapped hearts.
I’ll make your vision like dawn stars seem,
Just as gentle, and fair;
One's countenance as crystal polished, and clear,
And your dishevelled locks
May stream like a serene Zone of the Atmosphere.
Rich The natural world's hoard (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I will spend, to dress
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Joy
Through equal gratitude
One but release, so we mutually grace.
Delving into the Work's Motifs
This composition explores the relationship of passion and praise, in which the poet addresses a maiden who desires his love. Rather, he offers a mutual arrangement of poetic admiration for intimate pleasures. The language is elegant, mixing polished traditions with direct utterances of desire.
Through the lines, the writer spurns common tropes of one-sided passion, like grief and weeping, stating they cloud true beauty. He favors joy and acclaim to emphasize the lady's qualities, promising to render her eyes as bright orbs and her tresses as streaming air. This technique underscores a pragmatic yet clever view on connections.
Key Aspects of the Work
- Reciprocal Arrangement: The poem centers on a suggestion of admiration in return for pleasure, emphasizing equality between the parties.
- Dismissal of Standard Themes: The poet criticizes common poetic techniques like sorrow and similes of anguish, favoring optimistic depictions.
- Poetic Craftsmanship: The use of mixed meter lengths and cadence demonstrates the author's expertise in composition, producing a fluid and compelling text.
Rich Nature’s treasury (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I’l expend, to adorn
Your charms, if your Wellspring of Delight
Through matching gratitude
You but release, so we each other favor.
The verse captures the essential bargain, where the poet vows to use his inventive abilities to praise the maiden, in exchange for her receptiveness. This language blends devout undertones with earthly longings, giving depth to the verse's theme.