To a Lady Who Requested I Would Love Her
Now you have freely given me consent to love,
What shall you do?
Will I your mirth, or passion arouse,
As I start to court;
Do you trouble, or mock, or cherish me too?
All trivial charm can scorn, and I
Despite your hate
Absent your permission can see, and perish;
Bestow a loftier Destiny!
It is effortless to destroy, you could create.
Thus grant me leave to cherish, & cherish me too
Not with design
To raise, as Love's accursed defiers do
When complaining Versifiers whine,
Fame to their grace, from their tearful gaze.
Sadness is a pool and reflects not bright
Thy charm's lights;
Joys are clear currents, your vision seem
Sullen in gloomier songs,
Within happy numbers they radiate brilliant with acclaim.
That may not mention to describe you fayr
Wounds, blazes, and darts,
Tempests in your forehead, traps in your locks,
Bribing all your parts,
Or to deceive, or torment ensnared affections.
I shall make your gaze like morning orbs look,
As gentle, and fayr;
One's brow as crystal even, and transparent,
Whereas your unkempt hayr
Shall stream like a tranquil Region of the Air.
Rich The natural world's hoard (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I shall use, to dress
Your charms, if your Mine of Joy
With equal gratitude
One but release, so we each other favor.
Examining the Work's Motifs
This piece explores the interplay of affection and admiration, where the narrator speaks to a lady who requests his love. Instead, he proposes a shared agreement of literary admiration for intimate favors. This language is elegant, blending courtly traditions with frank statements of desire.
Through the stanzas, the poet dismisses usual motifs of unreturned love, such as grief and tears, arguing they dim true grace. He favors joy and praise to highlight the maiden's attributes, promising to depict her gaze as bright orbs and her tresses as streaming breeze. The approach underscores a pragmatic yet skillful perspective on connections.
Important Aspects of the Work
- Shared Agreement: The work focuses on a suggestion of praise in exchange for delight, emphasizing balance between the individuals.
- Spurning of Standard Motifs: The poet condemns typical poetic techniques like sadness and similes of suffering, choosing positive descriptions.
- Artistic Artistry: The use of diverse line measures and flow demonstrates the author's mastery in composition, creating a graceful and compelling experience.
Rich Nature's treasury (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I’l expend, to dress
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
With equal thankfulness
Thou but release, so we each other favor.
The verse encapsulates the core deal, where the author promises to employ his inventive gifts to celebrate the lady, in return for her openness. This language blends pious overtones with physical yearnings, providing depth to the poem's meaning.