For a Lady Who Desired I Would Show Affection
Since you've freely given me consent to love,
What shall you act?
Shall I your mirth, or emotion stir,
As I commence woo;
Do you distress, or scorn, or cherish me too?
Every minor grace can scorn, and I
Despite your aversion
Lacking your permission can see, and perish;
Bestow a nobler Destiny!
It is effortless to demolish, you could create.
Thus allow me leave to adore, & love me too
Without purpose
To raise, as Affection's accursed insurgents act
As whining Versifiers moan,
Acclaim to their beauty, from their weeping eyne.
Grief is a puddle and shows not bright
Thy charm's rayes;
Joyes are pure currents, your eyes appear
Morose in sadder songs,
In cheerfull lines they radiate luminous with prayse.
What will not refer to describe you fair
Injuries, fires, and arrows,
Tempests in your countenance, snares in your hayr,
Corrupting all your features,
Or else to trick, or torment ensnared souls.
I’ll render your vision like dawn stars appear,
Like gentle, and lovely;
Your brow as glass polished, and clear,
Whereas your dishevelled locks
Shall flow like a calm Area of the Ayr.
Wealthy Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Riches)
I will spend, to embellish
Thy beauties, if your Source of Delight
With matching gratitude
One but open, so we one another favor.
Examining the Poem's Themes
The piece explores the interplay of affection and acclaim, where the speaker speaks to a maiden who seeks his love. Conversely, he offers a reciprocal arrangement of artistic admiration for personal favors. This language is graceful, mixing polished norms with direct expressions of longing.
Through the lines, the author dismisses common tropes of unreturned affection, including sorrow and weeping, claiming they obscure true beauty. The speaker prefers delight and acclaim to showcase the lady's features, vowing to depict her vision as bright orbs and her locks as flowing air. This technique underscores a pragmatic yet skillful outlook on bonds.
Significant Aspects of the Composition
- Reciprocal Arrangement: The verse revolves on a suggestion of praise in trade for enjoyment, stressing equality between the individuals.
- Spurning of Traditional Motifs: The speaker criticizes usual literary devices like sorrow and similes of suffering, preferring upbeat descriptions.
- Creative Artistry: The use of mixed line patterns and rhythm displays the author's proficiency in composition, forming a fluid and compelling experience.
Wealthy The natural world's store (which is the Bard's Riches)
I’l use, to adorn
One's beauties, if your Mine of Pleasure
Through equal gratitude
Thou but open, so we one another bless.
The stanza encapsulates the essential deal, in which the poet promises to utilize his creative gifts to celebrate the maiden, as compensation for her willingness. The language blends spiritual overtones with worldly yearnings, adding profundity to the work's meaning.