To a Lady That Wished I Would Show Affection

Now you have granted me permission to love,
What shall you respond?
Shall I your mirth, or emotion arouse,
When I commence pursue;
Do you distress, or mock, or adore me too?

Every minor charm can reject, and I
In spite of your dislike
Without your consent can see, and perish;
Bestow a grander Fate!
’Tis easy to ruin, you can create.

Thus grant me permission to adore, & love me too
Lacking purpose
To uplift, as Love's accursed defiers behave
When complaining Bards lament,
Renown to their beauty, from their blubber’d eyne.

Grief is a pool and shows not bright
Thy charm's beams;
Joys are untainted currents, your vision appear
Gloomy in gloomier songs,
Within cheerfull lines they radiate bright with acclaim.

Which may not allude to express you fair
Wounds, flames, and shafts,
Tempests in your brow, snares in your hair,
Suborning all your parts,
Or else to deceive, or torment trapped affections.

I’ll make your gaze like dawn orbs appear,
Just as soft, and fair;
Thy countenance as crystal even, and transparent,
While your tousled hair
Shall flow like a serene Zone of the Atmosphere.

Wealthy Nature’s treasury (which is the Poet’s Wealth)
I’l spend, to dress
One's graces, if your Source of Pleasure
Through matching appreciation
Thou but unlock, so we one another grace.

Delving into the Work's Ideas

The piece explores the interplay of affection and acclaim, where the poet engages with a woman who desires his love. Conversely, he offers a mutual exchange of artistic admiration for personal delights. This phraseology is graceful, combining courtly conventions with candid statements of yearning.

Through the lines, the writer spurns usual motifs of one-sided love, like grief and tears, arguing they cloud true grace. He chooses delight and admiration to showcase the maiden's attributes, assuring to render her eyes as radiant stars and her locks as flowing breeze. The technique highlights a realistic yet skillful perspective on connections.

Important Components of the Piece

  • Mutual Exchange: The verse revolves on a proposal of admiration in return for enjoyment, stressing parity between the parties.
  • Spurning of Traditional Ideas: The speaker disparages usual artistic tools like grief and metaphors of anguish, choosing upbeat imagery.
  • Artistic Artistry: The use of mixed verse patterns and cadence displays the poet's mastery in poetry, creating a fluid and compelling experience.
Rich The natural world's store (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I will spend, to embellish
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Delight
Through equal gratitude
One but open, so we each other favor.

This verse encapsulates the central arrangement, in which the poet promises to utilize his creative talents to praise the lady, in return for her receptiveness. This phraseology combines devout hints with physical desires, adding complexity to the work's theme.

Fernando Phillips
Fernando Phillips

A seasoned entrepreneur and productivity coach with over a decade of experience in helping individuals maximize their potential and scale their ventures.