For a Lady That Desired I Would Love Her
Now you have bestowed me leave to love,
What will you respond?
Will I your delight, or passion arouse,
As I begin to woo;
Do you distress, or disdain, or adore me too?
All trivial beauty can scorn, and I
Despite your aversion
Without your consent can observe, and succumb;
Bestow a grander Destiny!
It is effortless to destroy, you may form.
Then grant me permission to cherish, & adore me too
Lacking design
To elevate, as Affection's accursed insurgents behave
When puling Versifiers whine,
Acclaim to their beauty, from their tearful eyne.
Sorrow is a pond and reflects not bright
Your grace's beams;
Joys are clear streames, your vision look
Morose in gloomier layes,
In cheerfull numbers they shine luminous with praise.
What shall not mention to portray you fair
Injuries, blazes, and arrows,
Tempests in your forehead, traps in your hair,
Corrupting all your parts,
Or to betray, or torment ensnared souls.
I will render your eyes like dawn suns look,
Just as mild, and fayr;
One's countenance as glass polished, and clear,
Whereas your unkempt hair
Shall stream like a calm Region of the Atmosphere.
Abundant Nature’s treasury (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I will spend, to embellish
Thy graces, if your Mine of Pleasure
Through matching appreciation
One but release, so we mutually favor.
Exploring the Work's Themes
The piece delves the relationship of love and admiration, as the narrator engages with a lady who seeks his affection. Instead, he proposes a shared agreement of poetic tribute for intimate pleasures. The language is refined, mixing courtly norms with frank statements of longing.
Within the verses, the writer rejects usual tropes of one-sided affection, including grief and lamentation, arguing they cloud true beauty. The speaker favors happiness and acclaim to showcase the woman's qualities, assuring to portray her eyes as bright orbs and her locks as streaming air. This technique highlights a pragmatic yet clever perspective on relationships.
Key Aspects of the Composition
- Reciprocal Arrangement: The verse revolves on a proposal of tribute in trade for delight, stressing equality between the individuals.
- Dismissal of Conventional Ideas: The narrator criticizes typical poetic techniques like grief and metaphors of anguish, favoring upbeat depictions.
- Artistic Skill: The use of mixed meter lengths and flow demonstrates the poet's proficiency in poetry, creating a graceful and engaging experience.
Rich Nature's treasury (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I’l spend, to adorn
Thy charms, if your Mine of Delight
In equall gratitude
One but release, so we each other bless.
The stanza encapsulates the core bargain, as the poet pledges to utilize his creative abilities to praise the maiden, in return for her willingness. This language mixes devout hints with earthly longings, giving profundity to the work's theme.