To a Lady Who Wished I Would Show Affection

Given that you freely given me consent to love,
What will you do?
Will I your mirth, or ardor arouse,
As I commence court;
Do you trouble, or mock, or cherish me too?

All trivial grace can disdain, and I
In spite of your aversion
Absent your consent can see, and perish;
Bestow a nobler Destiny!
’Tis easy to destroy, you could form.

Then grant me consent to cherish, & love me too
Not with intent
To uplift, as Love's cursed insurgents do
As complaining Poets whine,
Acclaim to their grace, from their weeping eyes.

Sadness is a pool and mirrors not clear
Thy beauty’s lights;
Joys are untainted streames, your gaze seem
Sullen in more sorrowful layes,
In happy numbers they radiate brilliant with acclaim.

That may not allude to describe you fayr
Injuries, blazes, and darts,
Tempests in your forehead, snares in your locks,
Bribing all your features,
Either to betray, or torment captive souls.

I’ll render your vision like morning suns seem,
Like gentle, and fair;
One's brow as crystal even, and pure,
Whereas your tousled hair
May drift like a calm Area of the Ayr.

Abundant Nature's store (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I will use, to embellish
One's charms, if your Source of Delight
With equal thankfulness
One but release, so we one another grace.

Delving into the Poem's Ideas

The composition delves the interplay of love and acclaim, as the narrator engages with a woman who desires his love. Instead, he proposes a mutual exchange of artistic praise for personal favors. This wording is elegant, mixing polished norms with direct expressions of longing.

In the verses, the writer dismisses typical motifs of unreturned passion, including sorrow and lamentation, arguing they obscure true charm. He prefers delight and acclaim to highlight the maiden's attributes, promising to render her eyes as shining stars and her tresses as streaming breeze. This approach emphasizes a pragmatic yet artful perspective on bonds.

Key Aspects of the Piece

  • Mutual Exchange: The poem revolves on a offer of admiration in return for delight, stressing balance between the parties.
  • Rejection of Conventional Themes: The narrator disparages usual artistic techniques like grief and similes of suffering, choosing optimistic descriptions.
  • Poetic Craftsmanship: The application of varied verse lengths and cadence displays the writer's proficiency in poetry, forming a smooth and compelling text.
Rich Nature's hoard (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I will use, to dress
Your beauties, if your Mine of Delight
With equal gratitude
Thou but unlock, so we mutually favor.

The stanza captures the core arrangement, in which the author vows to use his creative talents to honor the maiden, in exchange for her openness. The wording blends pious undertones with worldly yearnings, providing depth to the verse's theme.

Chloe Gomez
Chloe Gomez

A wellness expert with over 10 years of experience in spa management and holistic health practices.