To a Lady That Requested Me to Show Affection
Now you have freely given me permission to love,
What will you do?
Shall I your delight, or ardor arouse,
Once I commence pursue;
Shall you torment, or scorn, or cherish me too?
Every minor beauty can scorn, and I
In spite of your hate
Lacking your permission can perceive, and die;
Grant a nobler Fate!
It's simple to ruin, you could fashion.
Then allow me consent to love, & adore me too
Lacking design
To elevate, as Love's damned defiers behave
As puling Bards moan,
Fame to their grace, from their blubber’d eyne.
Sadness is a puddle and shows not distinct
Thy grace's beams;
Joyes are clear streames, your vision seem
Sullen in gloomier layes,
Through happy numbers they radiate luminous with acclaim.
That will not mention to describe you fayr
Injuries, flames, and darts,
Storms in your countenance, snares in your hair,
Bribing all your attributes,
Or to trick, or afflict captive hearts.
I shall cause your eyes like sunrise stars appear,
As gentle, and fayr;
Thy brow as crystal smooth, and transparent,
And your tousled locks
Shall stream like a calm Zone of the Ayr.
Rich The natural world's store (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I will expend, to adorn
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
Through equall appreciation
One but release, so we one another grace.
Exploring the Work's Themes
The piece delves the relationship of affection and praise, as the speaker speaks to a lady who requests his love. Instead, he proposes a mutual arrangement of literary tribute for personal pleasures. This phraseology is elegant, combining refined conventions with frank statements of longing.
In the stanzas, the writer rejects usual motifs of one-sided affection, including sadness and weeping, claiming they cloud true beauty. The speaker prefers delight and acclaim to showcase the maiden's attributes, vowing to render her gaze as bright orbs and her tresses as drifting breeze. The approach highlights a pragmatic yet artful outlook on relationships.
Significant Components of the Composition
- Shared Arrangement: The poem centers on a proposal of tribute in return for pleasure, stressing balance between the individuals.
- Dismissal of Traditional Motifs: The narrator disparages common artistic devices like grief and imagery of pain, choosing optimistic descriptions.
- Creative Craftsmanship: The application of varied verse lengths and flow showcases the writer's proficiency in verse, producing a smooth and engaging experience.
Rich The natural world's hoard (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I will use, to embellish
One's charms, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
In equall appreciation
You but release, so we each other grace.
The section captures the central bargain, in which the poet promises to employ his inventive abilities to honor the woman, in return for her willingness. The language combines pious hints with earthly longings, adding complexity to the verse's message.