To a Lady That Desired I Would Show Affection
Since you've granted me consent to love,
How will you do?
Am I to your mirth, or ardor stir,
Once I commence woo;
Do you torment, or scorn, or cherish me too?
Every minor charm can scorn, and I
Spight of your aversion
Absent your consent can perceive, and succumb;
Dispense a nobler Destiny!
It is effortless to demolish, you can fashion.
Thus give me permission to cherish, & adore me too
Not with intent
To elevate, as Love's damned defiers do
While whining Versifiers lament,
Fame to their charm, from their weeping eyes.
Grief is a pond and shows not bright
Thy grace's beams;
Joyes are untainted streames, your gaze seem
Morose in sadder layes,
Within joyful verses they shine brilliant with praise.
Which may not refer to express you lovely
Injuries, blazes, and shafts,
Storms in your forehead, snares in your locks,
Corrupting all your attributes,
Or to deceive, or torture trapped souls.
I shall render your vision like dawn stars appear,
Just as mild, and fair;
Thy forehead as glass smooth, and transparent,
And your unkempt hair
May flow like a calm Area of the Ayr.
Wealthy Nature's treasury (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I will use, to adorn
Your beauties, if your Source of Delight
Through matching gratitude
You but open, so we each other favor.
Examining the Poem's Ideas
This composition examines the relationship of affection and praise, where the speaker speaks to a woman who seeks his devotion. Rather, he suggests a mutual agreement of literary admiration for private pleasures. This phraseology is elegant, mixing refined traditions with direct utterances of longing.
Through the stanzas, the author dismisses typical tropes of one-sided affection, like grief and weeping, stating they cloud true beauty. The speaker chooses delight and acclaim to showcase the maiden's qualities, assuring to depict her gaze as shining orbs and her hair as flowing atmosphere. The approach underscores a realistic yet skillful perspective on connections.
Key Aspects of the Piece
- Reciprocal Agreement: The poem centers on a offer of admiration in trade for enjoyment, stressing balance between the individuals.
- Dismissal of Conventional Themes: The narrator condemns common artistic techniques like sadness and imagery of pain, choosing positive depictions.
- Artistic Craftsmanship: The employment of diverse line patterns and cadence showcases the writer's expertise in verse, forming a graceful and engaging text.
Abundant The natural world's treasury (which is the Poet’s Treasure)
I shall spend, to adorn
Your graces, if your Mine of Pleasure
In equal appreciation
Thou but release, so we each other favor.
The stanza captures the core arrangement, where the poet pledges to utilize his artistic talents to praise the lady, in return for her openness. The wording blends pious overtones with earthly yearnings, providing profundity to the work's theme.