For a Lady Who Wished Me to Love Her
Given that you granted me leave to love,
What will you act?
Shall I your joy, or emotion stir,
Once I commence woo;
Shall you distress, or mock, or cherish me too?
Each petty grace can reject, and I
Despite your aversion
Without your leave can see, and perish;
Bestow a nobler Destiny!
It's simple to demolish, you can form.
Then allow me permission to adore, & adore me too
Lacking design
To raise, as Affection's accursed rebels act
When puling Versifiers whine,
Fame to their charm, from their tearful eyne.
Sorrow is a pool and mirrors not bright
One's charm's rayes;
Joyes are clear streames, your gaze look
Gloomy in sadder layes,
In cheerfull lines they gleam bright with praise.
What shall not refer to express you fayr
Harms, fires, and shafts,
Storms in your brow, traps in your hayr,
Suborning all your attributes,
Or else to trick, or torture trapped souls.
I shall render your gaze like sunrise suns look,
Just as mild, and fayr;
Your brow as crystal smooth, and transparent,
While your tousled hair
Will flow like a calm Region of the Air.
Abundant Nature’s treasury (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I’l spend, to embellish
Thy charms, if your Source of Joy
Through equall appreciation
You but unlock, so we each other favor.
Examining the Poem's Ideas
This work delves the dynamics of love and acclaim, where the speaker engages with a lady who seeks his affection. Rather, he offers a shared agreement of artistic admiration for personal delights. This phraseology is graceful, blending refined norms with candid statements of yearning.
Through the stanzas, the writer spurns typical motifs of one-sided passion, such as sorrow and weeping, stating they dim true charm. The speaker prefers happiness and admiration to emphasize the maiden's features, assuring to depict her vision as shining stars and her tresses as streaming breeze. This method highlights a practical yet clever outlook on relationships.
Key Aspects of the Work
- Mutual Arrangement: The poem centers on a proposal of praise in exchange for enjoyment, highlighting parity between the parties.
- Spurning of Conventional Motifs: The narrator condemns common artistic techniques like grief and metaphors of pain, favoring upbeat descriptions.
- Artistic Artistry: The use of diverse meter patterns and rhythm showcases the writer's expertise in verse, producing a fluid and compelling experience.
Rich Nature's store (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I shall use, to embellish
One's graces, if your Source of Pleasure
In matching appreciation
You but unlock, so we one another bless.
The section summarizes the central bargain, as the poet promises to utilize his creative abilities to celebrate the lady, in return for her willingness. This wording mixes pious overtones with worldly yearnings, giving profundity to the poem's message.