Addressing a Lady That Desired Me to Show Affection

Since you've freely given me consent to love,
What shall you respond?
Shall I your mirth, or ardor move,
Once I begin to woo;
Shall you trouble, or scorn, or cherish me too?

All trivial grace can scorn, and I
Despite your dislike
Without your leave can see, and die;
Grant a loftier Fate!
It is effortless to destroy, you can fashion.

Then give me permission to love, & love me too
Not with purpose
To uplift, as Loves cursed rebels behave
As puling Bards lament,
Renown to their charm, from their blubber’d eyes.

Grief is a pool and reflects not bright
Thy beauty’s rayes;
Joys are untainted streames, your vision seem
Morose in gloomier verses,
Within cheerfull verses they shine luminous with praise.

Which shall not mention to portray you fayr
Wounds, flames, and arrows,
Tempests in your forehead, nets in your hair,
Bribing all your features,
Or to trick, or torture ensnared affections.

I shall make your vision like dawn orbs seem,
As soft, and lovely;
Your countenance as Crystall smooth, and pure,
While your tousled locks
Will drift like a tranquil Area of the Ayr.

Wealthy Nature's treasury (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I’l expend, to adorn
Thy beauties, if your Wellspring of Delight
With matching gratitude
One but release, so we mutually bless.

Examining the Poem's Motifs

The piece explores the relationship of love and acclaim, in which the poet engages with a maiden who desires his love. Instead, he proposes a mutual agreement of literary admiration for intimate pleasures. The wording is graceful, blending courtly norms with frank expressions of desire.

Within the lines, the author rejects typical motifs of unreturned passion, like sorrow and weeping, claiming they obscure true beauty. He favors delight and admiration to showcase the maiden's attributes, vowing to render her gaze as shining stars and her locks as drifting breeze. The approach underscores a pragmatic yet clever view on connections.

Significant Components of the Work

  • Mutual Agreement: The verse revolves on a offer of admiration in trade for enjoyment, stressing balance between the persons.
  • Rejection of Conventional Motifs: The narrator condemns typical literary tools like sadness and metaphors of anguish, favoring positive descriptions.
  • Poetic Skill: The application of diverse verse patterns and flow demonstrates the poet's mastery in verse, forming a graceful and engaging text.
Rich Nature's treasury (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I’l use, to embellish
Your charms, if your Source of Delight
With matching thankfulness
You but release, so we one another bless.

This stanza summarizes the core bargain, as the poet pledges to utilize his creative abilities to celebrate the maiden, in exchange for her receptiveness. The phraseology blends spiritual overtones with earthly yearnings, adding depth to the poem's theme.

Chelsea Reynolds
Chelsea Reynolds

A seasoned business consultant with over 10 years of experience in helping startups scale and succeed in competitive markets.