To a Lady Who Wished Me to Show Affection

Since you've freely given me consent to love,
How will you do?
Am I to your joy, or ardor stir,
As I commence woo;
Will you torment, or mock, or adore me too?

All trivial grace can scorn, and I
In spite of your dislike
Without your consent can see, and succumb;
Grant a grander Lot!
It is effortless to ruin, you could fashion.

Thus grant me consent to cherish, & love me too
Without intent
To uplift, as Love's damned rebels behave
While whining Bards moan,
Fame to their charm, from their blubber’d eyes.

Grief is a pool and reflects not bright
One's beauty’s rayes;
Delights are untainted streams, your eyes seem
Gloomy in sadder songs,
Through cheerfull numbers they gleam bright with praise.

What shall not mention to describe you lovely
Harms, blazes, and shafts,
Storms in your countenance, traps in your hayr,
Bribing all your features,
Or to betray, or torment ensnared souls.

I’ll make your vision like sunrise stars seem,
Just as soft, and fair;
One's brow as crystal even, and pure,
And your unkempt hayr
May stream like a serene Area of the Ayr.

Wealthy The natural world's treasury (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I’l use, to dress
Your beauties, if your Mine of Delight
Through equall gratitude
Thou but release, so we each other grace.

Delving into the Poem's Motifs

This work examines the interplay of passion and admiration, where the narrator engages with a lady who desires his devotion. Rather, he suggests a mutual arrangement of artistic tribute for private pleasures. This language is elegant, mixing refined conventions with candid statements of desire.

Through the verses, the poet spurns common tropes of unrequited love, including grief and tears, arguing they cloud true grace. The speaker favors delight and praise to highlight the lady's features, promising to portray her gaze as radiant stars and her locks as flowing breeze. The method underscores a pragmatic yet artful view on relationships.

Important Elements of the Piece

  • Mutual Arrangement: The work revolves on a suggestion of praise in exchange for delight, emphasizing balance between the individuals.
  • Rejection of Traditional Ideas: The speaker disparages common poetic devices like sorrow and metaphors of anguish, preferring optimistic imagery.
  • Creative Skill: The use of diverse meter patterns and rhythm showcases the writer's mastery in composition, forming a smooth and engaging experience.
Wealthy Nature's store (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I’l use, to dress
Thy graces, if your Source of Pleasure
In equall appreciation
You but open, so we one another grace.

The verse captures the core bargain, in which the author promises to use his creative abilities to celebrate the lady, in return for her openness. This wording combines pious undertones with physical yearnings, giving depth to the poem's theme.

Katherine Martinez
Katherine Martinez

Een gepassioneerde blogger gespecialiseerd in financiële tips en persoonlijke ontwikkeling, met jaren ervaring in het delen van praktische adviezen.