To a Lady Who Requested I Would Show Affection
Given that you freely given me consent to love,
What shall you respond?
Am I to your joy, or emotion stir,
When I begin to woo;
Will you distress, or disdain, or cherish me too?
Every minor grace can reject, and I
In spite of your dislike
Absent your leave can observe, and die;
Bestow a grander Destiny!
It is effortless to demolish, you could fashion.
Then allow me consent to cherish, & adore me too
Not with purpose
To elevate, as Affection's accursed insurgents do
While whining Bards moan,
Renown to their charm, from their weeping eyes.
Sadness is a pond and shows not distinct
Your grace's rayes;
Joyes are untainted streams, your vision look
Gloomy in more sorrowful layes,
In cheerfull lines they shine bright with prayse.
What shall not allude to portray you fayr
Harms, fires, and arrows,
Gales in your forehead, snares in your hayr,
Suborning all your parts,
Or to deceive, or afflict ensnared souls.
I shall render your eyes like dawn suns seem,
As gentle, and fair;
One's brow as crystal even, and transparent,
And your tousled locks
Shall drift like a calm Region of the Ayr.
Wealthy The natural world's hoard (which is the Writer's Riches)
I’l use, to dress
One's graces, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
With equal gratitude
One but open, so we mutually grace.
Delving into the Verse's Motifs
The work delves the interplay of affection and acclaim, where the narrator engages with a maiden who seeks his affection. Rather, he proposes a reciprocal exchange of literary tribute for personal pleasures. The wording is elegant, blending polished norms with candid expressions of yearning.
In the verses, the writer spurns common motifs of one-sided love, like sadness and weeping, claiming they obscure true charm. He favors delight and admiration to highlight the lady's qualities, promising to portray her gaze as bright orbs and her locks as drifting air. This method underscores a realistic yet artful perspective on connections.
Important Aspects of the Composition
- Mutual Exchange: The verse revolves on a offer of praise in return for pleasure, emphasizing balance between the individuals.
- Dismissal of Traditional Motifs: The narrator condemns typical artistic techniques like sadness and similes of suffering, favoring optimistic imagery.
- Creative Craftsmanship: The use of mixed verse lengths and rhythm demonstrates the writer's mastery in composition, creating a smooth and engaging read.
Abundant Nature's treasury (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I’l expend, to embellish
Your beauties, if your Source of Delight
Through matching thankfulness
You but open, so we each other favor.
This section captures the core deal, where the poet pledges to use his creative talents to celebrate the woman, as compensation for her receptiveness. The language combines spiritual overtones with physical yearnings, giving complexity to the verse's theme.
