For a Lady Who Desired Me to Love Her
Now you have bestowed me leave to love,
How will you respond?
Shall I your joy, or passion stir,
As I start to court;
Do you trouble, or mock, or adore me too?
All trivial grace can reject, and I
Spight of your dislike
Absent your consent can perceive, and succumb;
Dispense a nobler Lot!
’Tis easy to destroy, you may fashion.
Therefore allow me leave to cherish, & love me too
Lacking intent
To elevate, as Affection's cursed insurgents act
When puling Poets moan,
Fame to their charm, from their tearful gaze.
Sorrow is a puddle and shows not distinct
One's grace's lights;
Delights are pure streams, your eyes seem
Sullen in gloomier verses,
In happy numbers they shine bright with prayse.
Which will not mention to express you lovely
Injuries, blazes, and shafts,
Gales in your brow, traps in your locks,
Suborning all your parts,
Either to betray, or torment ensnared souls.
I’ll cause your eyes like morning stars look,
Like mild, and fair;
Your brow as glass even, and pure,
Whereas your tousled locks
May drift like a serene Zone of the Ayr.
Rich The natural world's store (which is the Poet’s Treasure)
I’l spend, to adorn
One's beauties, if your Mine of Pleasure
With equall thankfulness
You but unlock, so we each other favor.
Exploring the Work's Ideas
This work explores the relationship of affection and admiration, where the speaker addresses a maiden who seeks his love. Instead, he suggests a shared arrangement of artistic praise for intimate pleasures. This phraseology is graceful, combining refined traditions with direct expressions of yearning.
Through the lines, the writer dismisses usual motifs of unreturned love, such as sadness and weeping, stating they cloud true charm. He prefers happiness and acclaim to showcase the lady's qualities, promising to portray her vision as bright suns and her hair as flowing breeze. The technique emphasizes a pragmatic yet artful outlook on relationships.
Important Elements of the Work
- Reciprocal Arrangement: The work revolves on a offer of admiration in return for enjoyment, emphasizing parity between the parties.
- Dismissal of Standard Motifs: The speaker criticizes usual artistic techniques like grief and imagery of anguish, favoring optimistic depictions.
- Artistic Artistry: The employment of varied verse measures and rhythm showcases the poet's mastery in composition, forming a graceful and captivating read.
Wealthy The natural world's treasury (which is the Bard's Riches)
I will spend, to dress
Thy beauties, if your Mine of Joy
In equall gratitude
Thou but unlock, so we each other bless.
The section summarizes the central bargain, as the writer vows to employ his inventive talents to celebrate the lady, as compensation for her willingness. This wording combines pious overtones with physical yearnings, giving depth to the poem's theme.