Addressing a Lady That Requested I Would Love Her
Given that you freely given me consent to love,
How will you act?
Shall I your delight, or passion arouse,
Once I begin to pursue;
Will you trouble, or scorn, or cherish me too?
All trivial grace can reject, and I
Spight of your dislike
Without your permission can perceive, and succumb;
Bestow a loftier Fate!
’Tis easy to demolish, you could form.
Therefore give me consent to adore, & cherish me too
Not with design
To elevate, as Affection's accursed rebels act
As complaining Poets moan,
Fame to their beauty, from their blubber’d gaze.
Grief is a pool and reflects not clear
Thy beauty’s beams;
Joys are pure currents, your gaze seem
Morose in gloomier layes,
In happy verses they gleam luminous with praise.
What shall not allude to describe you fayr
Wounds, flames, and arrows,
Storms in your countenance, nets in your locks,
Corrupting all your attributes,
Or else to deceive, or torment ensnared souls.
I will render your eyes like dawn stars appear,
Like gentle, and lovely;
Thy forehead as glass smooth, and transparent,
And your tousled locks
Shall drift like a calm Zone of the Atmosphere.
Rich The natural world's store (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I shall use, to embellish
Your charms, if your Wellspring of Joy
With equal appreciation
One but release, so we one another bless.
Exploring the Poem's Ideas
The composition delves the dynamics of love and acclaim, as the poet addresses a maiden who requests his affection. Conversely, he offers a reciprocal exchange of literary praise for intimate pleasures. The language is graceful, mixing polished conventions with frank expressions of desire.
Through the stanzas, the poet rejects usual tropes of unrequited passion, including sorrow and tears, arguing they cloud true grace. The speaker prefers happiness and praise to showcase the woman's qualities, promising to render her gaze as bright stars and her hair as drifting air. The method emphasizes a pragmatic yet skillful perspective on relationships.
Important Aspects of the Composition
- Reciprocal Agreement: The poem revolves on a offer of tribute in return for delight, emphasizing parity between the persons.
- Dismissal of Standard Motifs: The poet disparages common literary devices like grief and imagery of suffering, favoring positive depictions.
- Poetic Skill: The use of varied line lengths and cadence showcases the poet's proficiency in poetry, forming a smooth and compelling read.
Rich The natural world's hoard (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I’l spend, to embellish
Your charms, if your Wellspring of Delight
In matching appreciation
One but unlock, so we each other grace.
The section encapsulates the core deal, where the writer pledges to employ his artistic gifts to praise the maiden, as compensation for her receptiveness. This phraseology blends spiritual overtones with physical desires, providing depth to the work's meaning.