To a Lady Who Wished Me to Love Her
Now you have granted me leave to love,
What will you respond?
Shall I your mirth, or ardor arouse,
As I begin to court;
Shall you trouble, or mock, or cherish me too?
All trivial charm can scorn, and I
Spight of your hate
Lacking your consent can observe, and perish;
Bestow a loftier Destiny!
It's simple to ruin, you could fashion.
Then grant me leave to adore, & love me too
Not with design
To raise, as Affection's cursed insurgents do
When complaining Bards lament,
Fame to their beauty, from their tearful eyes.
Sorrow is a pool and mirrors not bright
Thy beauty’s lights;
Joys are clear streames, your vision look
Sullen in sadder verses,
In cheerfull verses they radiate brilliant with praise.
What will not allude to describe you fair
Harms, flames, and darts,
Storms in your forehead, snares in your locks,
Corrupting all your features,
Either to deceive, or torment trapped hearts.
I will cause your gaze like sunrise suns appear,
Just as gentle, and lovely;
One's countenance as glass smooth, and pure,
While your tousled hayr
Shall drift like a tranquil Region of the Air.
Wealthy The natural world's hoard (which is the Poet’s Wealth)
I will expend, to embellish
Thy beauties, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
With equall appreciation
You but open, so we mutually bless.
Delving into the Verse's Motifs
This piece delves the dynamics of affection and acclaim, as the speaker speaks to a maiden who desires his affection. Conversely, he suggests a reciprocal exchange of artistic tribute for private delights. The language is graceful, blending courtly traditions with candid statements of desire.
In the stanzas, the poet spurns usual motifs of one-sided love, including sadness and tears, claiming they dim true beauty. The speaker favors joy and acclaim to highlight the maiden's attributes, assuring to render her gaze as bright suns and her tresses as streaming atmosphere. This technique highlights a pragmatic yet skillful outlook on bonds.
Key Elements of the Piece
- Mutual Arrangement: The verse centers on a suggestion of admiration in return for delight, stressing equality between the individuals.
- Dismissal of Traditional Ideas: The narrator criticizes usual poetic devices like sadness and similes of suffering, preferring optimistic imagery.
- Poetic Craftsmanship: The use of diverse line measures and cadence displays the poet's mastery in composition, forming a smooth and engaging text.
Rich Nature's store (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I will expend, to dress
Your charms, if your Source of Pleasure
With equall thankfulness
You but open, so we one another grace.
The verse captures the essential deal, in which the author promises to utilize his inventive gifts to praise the lady, in return for her openness. This wording combines spiritual hints with physical desires, adding complexity to the work's meaning.