To a Lady That Desired I Would Show Affection

Now you have freely given me permission to love,
What will you respond?
Shall I your joy, or passion stir,
As I start to woo;
Shall you distress, or scorn, or adore me too?

Each petty grace can reject, and I
In spite of your dislike
Without your permission can observe, and perish;
Grant a loftier Lot!
It's simple to ruin, you can fashion.

Therefore grant me consent to cherish, & cherish me too
Not with purpose
To elevate, as Loves damned defiers act
While complaining Versifiers moan,
Renown to their grace, from their blubber’d eyes.

Sadness is a puddle and shows not distinct
One's charm's rayes;
Delights are clear streames, your gaze seem
Gloomy in sadder layes,
In joyful numbers they shine bright with prayse.

That may not mention to describe you lovely
Wounds, flames, and darts,
Tempests in your forehead, nets in your hayr,
Suborning all your attributes,
Or else to deceive, or torment ensnared hearts.

I’ll render your gaze like morning orbs seem,
Just as gentle, and fair;
Your brow as Crystall polished, and pure,
Whereas your dishevelled locks
Will stream like a serene Area of the Atmosphere.

Wealthy Nature’s treasury (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I’l spend, to adorn
Thy charms, if your Source of Joy
In equal appreciation
One but release, so we each other grace.

Examining the Poem's Motifs

This piece delves the dynamics of love and praise, where the narrator engages with a woman who desires his affection. Conversely, he proposes a mutual arrangement of literary admiration for private favors. The language is graceful, mixing refined norms with direct statements of longing.

In the stanzas, the poet dismisses usual tropes of one-sided affection, such as grief and weeping, claiming they dim true charm. The speaker chooses delight and acclaim to emphasize the maiden's features, promising to render her vision as shining orbs and her tresses as flowing air. The approach underscores a practical yet artful view on bonds.

Significant Elements of the Work

  • Shared Arrangement: The work revolves on a proposal of admiration in return for delight, stressing balance between the persons.
  • Rejection of Traditional Themes: The narrator condemns common literary devices like sadness and similes of suffering, choosing positive descriptions.
  • Creative Skill: The use of diverse verse measures and rhythm showcases the writer's expertise in verse, producing a fluid and compelling text.
Wealthy Nature's hoard (which is the Bard's Riches)
I will expend, to adorn
Your graces, if your Mine of Joy
Through equall thankfulness
You but unlock, so we one another bless.

The section summarizes the essential arrangement, in which the writer promises to utilize his inventive talents to praise the woman, in exchange for her receptiveness. The wording blends spiritual overtones with earthly desires, giving depth to the poem's theme.

Emily Terrell
Emily Terrell

Financial analyst with over a decade of experience in investment management and wealth advisory, specializing in market trends.