To a Lady Who Desired I Would Show Affection

Now you have freely given me consent to love,
What shall you act?
Will I your delight, or ardor move,
When I begin to court;
Will you distress, or disdain, or adore me too?

Every minor charm can reject, and I
Spight of your dislike
Lacking your consent can see, and succumb;
Bestow a loftier Lot!
It is effortless to demolish, you may fashion.

Thus grant me permission to cherish, & cherish me too
Not with design
To elevate, as Affection's cursed rebels do
While complaining Versifiers lament,
Fame to their beauty, from their tearful eyes.

Sadness is a pond and reflects not clear
One's beauty’s rayes;
Delights are pure streames, your gaze look
Morose in sadder songs,
Within cheerfull verses they gleam brilliant with praise.

What shall not allude to portray you fair
Harms, fires, and arrows,
Gales in your brow, snares in your hair,
Bribing all your features,
Or to betray, or afflict trapped hearts.

I’ll cause your eyes like dawn orbs look,
As mild, and lovely;
One's brow as glass smooth, and pure,
While your tousled hayr
Will stream like a tranquil Region of the Atmosphere.

Wealthy Nature’s hoard (which is the Writer's Riches)
I’l use, to adorn
One's beauties, if your Wellspring of Delight
In matching appreciation
One but open, so we one another bless.

Examining the Poem's Motifs

This composition delves the dynamics of love and acclaim, in which the poet addresses a woman who seeks his love. Rather, he offers a shared agreement of literary tribute for personal delights. This phraseology is refined, mixing polished traditions with direct expressions of yearning.

Through the verses, the poet rejects typical themes of unreturned passion, like grief and tears, stating they obscure true grace. The speaker chooses joy and admiration to showcase the lady's attributes, vowing to depict her gaze as shining orbs and her locks as streaming breeze. The method highlights a practical yet skillful perspective on bonds.

Important Elements of the Piece

  • Reciprocal Exchange: The poem focuses on a suggestion of tribute in trade for enjoyment, emphasizing balance between the individuals.
  • Rejection of Traditional Themes: The poet disparages common poetic tools like sorrow and imagery of anguish, choosing optimistic depictions.
  • Creative Craftsmanship: The employment of mixed verse measures and cadence showcases the author's mastery in poetry, creating a fluid and captivating text.
Abundant The natural world's store (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I shall expend, to adorn
Your graces, if your Wellspring of Delight
In matching gratitude
Thou but unlock, so we mutually bless.

The stanza encapsulates the core deal, in which the author vows to employ his artistic abilities to honor the maiden, as compensation for her receptiveness. This phraseology combines spiritual undertones with physical desires, adding complexity to the poem's meaning.

Caroline York
Caroline York

A seasoned deal hunter and financial blogger passionate about helping others save money and make smart purchasing decisions.