Addressing a Lady That Requested I Would Show Affection

Now you have bestowed me permission to love,
What shall you act?
Will I your delight, or ardor move,
Once I start to pursue;
Shall you trouble, or scorn, or adore me too?

Every minor beauty can reject, and I
In spite of your hate
Absent your leave can see, and succumb;
Grant a nobler Destiny!
It's simple to destroy, you could form.

Then grant me leave to adore, & adore me too
Lacking purpose
To uplift, as Loves cursed defiers do
While complaining Poets whine,
Acclaim to their grace, from their tearful gaze.

Sadness is a pool and reflects not clear
Thy beauty’s lights;
Joyes are untainted streams, your gaze look
Morose in more sorrowful verses,
Through joyful verses they radiate bright with praise.

Which shall not refer to express you fayr
Harms, fires, and darts,
Storms in your countenance, traps in your hair,
Bribing all your parts,
Either to deceive, or afflict trapped hearts.

I shall make your vision like morning suns appear,
Like mild, and fayr;
Thy countenance as crystal polished, and pure,
And your dishevelled hayr
Will drift like a calm Region of the Ayr.

Rich Nature's hoard (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I shall use, to embellish
Thy beauties, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
In equal appreciation
One but unlock, so we each other favor.

Exploring the Poem's Motifs

The work examines the dynamics of affection and acclaim, where the narrator engages with a lady who desires his devotion. Instead, he proposes a shared agreement of poetic praise for personal favors. The wording is elegant, blending refined norms with candid utterances of desire.

Within the lines, the poet spurns typical motifs of one-sided passion, including sadness and lamentation, claiming they obscure true grace. The speaker prefers delight and admiration to showcase the lady's attributes, vowing to portray her eyes as shining orbs and her locks as streaming breeze. This approach highlights a pragmatic yet artful view on bonds.

Significant Elements of the Piece

  • Reciprocal Exchange: The poem focuses on a offer of admiration in exchange for enjoyment, highlighting balance between the persons.
  • Rejection of Traditional Ideas: The speaker disparages typical literary devices like grief and metaphors of anguish, preferring optimistic imagery.
  • Creative Artistry: The employment of varied verse measures and rhythm displays the writer's mastery in composition, producing a smooth and engaging read.
Wealthy Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Riches)
I shall spend, to adorn
Your beauties, if your Wellspring of Joy
Through matching appreciation
You but open, so we each other bless.

The stanza summarizes the central bargain, where the poet vows to employ his inventive gifts to celebrate the maiden, in exchange for her receptiveness. The language combines pious overtones with physical longings, giving depth to the verse's message.

Diana Foster
Diana Foster

A tech enthusiast and digital artist with a passion for blending creativity and code in innovative projects.