To a Lady Who Desired Me to Show Affection

Given that you freely given me leave to love,
What shall you do?
Am I to your mirth, or emotion stir,
When I start to pursue;
Shall you torment, or disdain, or love me too?

All trivial grace can reject, and I
Spight of your dislike
Lacking your permission can see, and die;
Bestow a nobler Lot!
’Tis easy to ruin, you can create.

Then allow me permission to cherish, & cherish me too
Without purpose
To uplift, as Love's cursed defiers do
While complaining Versifiers whine,
Acclaim to their grace, from their tearful eyes.

Sadness is a pond and shows not bright
Thy grace's rayes;
Joys are clear currents, your vision look
Morose in more sorrowful verses,
In joyful lines they shine bright with prayse.

Which shall not allude to portray you fair
Injuries, flames, and arrows,
Tempests in your forehead, traps in your hair,
Suborning all your features,
Either to deceive, or torture ensnared souls.

I will make your vision like morning stars appear,
Just as gentle, and fair;
Thy forehead as crystal polished, and pure,
Whereas your tousled hair
Shall drift like a calm Region of the Ayr.

Abundant Nature's store (which is the Poet’s Treasure)
I will expend, to adorn
One's graces, if your Mine of Delight
With equal thankfulness
One but unlock, so we mutually bless.

Examining the Verse's Themes

This work examines the dynamics of passion and admiration, as the speaker speaks to a woman who requests his affection. Conversely, he proposes a shared arrangement of literary tribute for personal delights. The wording is refined, combining courtly norms with direct utterances of longing.

Within the lines, the author dismisses typical tropes of unreturned affection, like sorrow and lamentation, arguing they dim true beauty. The speaker prefers happiness and admiration to highlight the maiden's attributes, promising to render her vision as radiant stars and her locks as drifting atmosphere. This approach emphasizes a realistic yet artful view on relationships.

Key Elements of the Composition

  • Shared Arrangement: The verse centers on a offer of tribute in return for enjoyment, stressing parity between the parties.
  • Dismissal of Conventional Themes: The speaker disparages usual poetic devices like sorrow and similes of anguish, preferring optimistic depictions.
  • Poetic Skill: The application of mixed meter measures and cadence displays the poet's mastery in poetry, forming a smooth and engaging read.
Wealthy Nature’s store (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I shall use, to dress
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
In matching appreciation
Thou but release, so we mutually grace.

The stanza summarizes the essential deal, as the writer pledges to utilize his inventive abilities to celebrate the maiden, in exchange for her willingness. This wording mixes pious undertones with physical desires, providing complexity to the verse's meaning.

Thomas Cuevas
Thomas Cuevas

An avid outdoor enthusiast and travel writer with a passion for exploring Sardinia's natural landscapes and sharing adventure tips.