For a Lady That Desired I Would Show Affection
Given that you bestowed me leave to love,
What will you act?
Am I to your delight, or emotion stir,
Once I commence woo;
Do you distress, or mock, or adore me too?
All trivial grace can reject, and I
In spite of your hate
Lacking your leave can observe, and perish;
Grant a grander Fate!
It's simple to demolish, you may create.
Thus grant me permission to adore, & adore me too
Not with design
To elevate, as Affection's cursed defiers act
As puling Bards lament,
Acclaim to their grace, from their weeping eyne.
Grief is a pond and shows not bright
Thy grace's beams;
Delights are clear streams, your gaze look
Morose in more sorrowful verses,
Within joyful lines they shine luminous with praise.
Which will not mention to describe you lovely
Injuries, blazes, and shafts,
Gales in your brow, nets in your locks,
Bribing all your features,
Either to betray, or torture captive hearts.
I’ll render your vision like dawn orbs seem,
Just as mild, and fayr;
Your forehead as crystal polished, and clear,
Whereas your tousled hayr
Will flow like a calm Area of the Ayr.
Wealthy Nature's hoard (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I’l expend, to dress
Your beauties, if your Source of Pleasure
In matching thankfulness
You but unlock, so we one another favor.
Exploring the Work's Themes
This piece delves the relationship of love and praise, as the speaker engages with a lady who requests his love. Conversely, he offers a reciprocal agreement of artistic tribute for intimate delights. This language is elegant, blending refined traditions with candid utterances of longing.
In the lines, the writer rejects usual tropes of unreturned passion, like sorrow and weeping, claiming they obscure true beauty. He chooses delight and admiration to emphasize the lady's qualities, assuring to depict her gaze as shining stars and her hair as flowing atmosphere. This technique underscores a pragmatic yet clever view on relationships.
Key Elements of the Work
- Shared Exchange: The poem centers on a offer of admiration in trade for pleasure, stressing parity between the parties.
- Spurning of Standard Motifs: The speaker disparages common artistic techniques like sadness and metaphors of anguish, preferring upbeat imagery.
- Artistic Artistry: The employment of diverse meter measures and flow showcases the writer's proficiency in composition, forming a smooth and engaging text.
Rich Nature’s hoard (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I’l expend, to dress
Your graces, if your Wellspring of Joy
Through equall appreciation
Thou but release, so we each other grace.
This verse summarizes the core deal, where the poet promises to employ his artistic abilities to celebrate the woman, as compensation for her receptiveness. This phraseology blends devout hints with worldly longings, adding depth to the verse's message.