For a Lady That Wished Me to Show Affection

Given that you bestowed me leave to love,
What will you respond?
Shall I your mirth, or emotion stir,
Once I start to woo;
Will you torment, or disdain, or love me too?

Each petty beauty can reject, and I
In spite of your dislike
Absent your leave can perceive, and perish;
Dispense a nobler Fate!
It is effortless to ruin, you may create.

Therefore allow me leave to adore, & cherish me too
Not with intent
To elevate, as Loves cursed insurgents behave
As complaining Versifiers lament,
Acclaim to their beauty, from their blubber’d eyes.

Grief is a pool and reflects not bright
Thy charm's lights;
Joyes are clear currents, your vision appear
Sullen in sadder layes,
Through happy verses they radiate bright with prayse.

Which will not refer to express you lovely
Wounds, fires, and shafts,
Tempests in your brow, traps in your locks,
Corrupting all your features,
Or to betray, or torment ensnared affections.

I’ll cause your vision like sunrise stars look,
Just as mild, and fair;
Thy countenance as Crystall smooth, and pure,
While your dishevelled locks
May drift like a tranquil Region of the Atmosphere.

Wealthy The natural world's store (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I’l spend, to adorn
Your charms, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
In matching thankfulness
One but open, so we each other grace.

Exploring the Verse's Motifs

This work examines the dynamics of passion and admiration, where the speaker speaks to a lady who requests his love. Conversely, he proposes a mutual exchange of literary tribute for intimate delights. The language is elegant, combining courtly conventions with candid utterances of yearning.

In the stanzas, the poet rejects typical themes of unrequited love, including sadness and lamentation, arguing they obscure true charm. He chooses joy and acclaim to emphasize the maiden's attributes, assuring to render her gaze as bright suns and her locks as flowing atmosphere. This technique emphasizes a practical yet artful outlook on bonds.

Key Elements of the Work

  • Reciprocal Exchange: The poem focuses on a proposal of tribute in return for enjoyment, highlighting parity between the parties.
  • Rejection of Conventional Themes: The speaker disparages typical poetic devices like sadness and similes of pain, choosing positive depictions.
  • Artistic Artistry: The application of varied meter lengths and cadence demonstrates the author's mastery in composition, forming a smooth and compelling text.
Abundant The natural world's hoard (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I shall spend, to dress
One's beauties, if your Source of Pleasure
Through matching gratitude
Thou but release, so we one another grace.

This stanza summarizes the central bargain, in which the author promises to utilize his inventive gifts to celebrate the woman, in return for her openness. This wording combines spiritual hints with earthly yearnings, giving depth to the work's message.

Deborah Simpson
Deborah Simpson

A passionate gamer and tech enthusiast with years of experience in reviewing and writing about the gaming industry.