Addressing a Lady That Desired Me to Love Her

Given that you freely given me consent to love,
How will you do?
Will I your delight, or ardor arouse,
Once I start to court;
Do you trouble, or mock, or love me too?

All trivial grace can scorn, and I
Spight of your hate
Without your permission can observe, and die;
Bestow a nobler Destiny!
’Tis easy to ruin, you could fashion.

Thus allow me leave to cherish, & cherish me too
Lacking design
To uplift, as Affection's accursed rebels behave
When complaining Poets whine,
Acclaim to their grace, from their weeping eyes.

Grief is a puddle and mirrors not distinct
Your charm's lights;
Delights are untainted currents, your gaze look
Sullen in more sorrowful verses,
Within cheerfull numbers they gleam brilliant with praise.

That will not mention to describe you lovely
Harms, fires, and shafts,
Storms in your brow, nets in your locks,
Bribing all your attributes,
Or else to deceive, or afflict ensnared hearts.

I’ll make your eyes like sunrise suns seem,
Just as mild, and fayr;
Thy countenance as Crystall smooth, and transparent,
While your unkempt hair
May drift like a serene Zone of the Atmosphere.

Rich The natural world's store (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I shall expend, to adorn
One's graces, if your Source of Pleasure
Through matching thankfulness
Thou but open, so we one another grace.

Exploring the Work's Ideas

The work explores the interplay of love and acclaim, where the speaker addresses a lady who seeks his love. Instead, he offers a reciprocal exchange of poetic praise for personal delights. This wording is refined, mixing courtly conventions with frank statements of yearning.

Through the lines, the poet dismisses common motifs of unrequited passion, like sorrow and tears, stating they dim true beauty. He prefers joy and praise to showcase the woman's attributes, vowing to portray her gaze as bright stars and her hair as drifting air. This technique emphasizes a realistic yet artful outlook on relationships.

Significant Components of the Work

  • Shared Arrangement: The verse focuses on a suggestion of admiration in trade for delight, emphasizing balance between the individuals.
  • Rejection of Conventional Themes: The poet disparages typical literary devices like sorrow and imagery of suffering, favoring upbeat descriptions.
  • Creative Craftsmanship: The employment of varied verse patterns and cadence showcases the writer's mastery in verse, producing a smooth and compelling experience.
Abundant Nature’s store (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I will expend, to dress
Thy graces, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
In equal thankfulness
You but open, so we mutually grace.

The stanza summarizes the essential deal, where the writer pledges to use his artistic talents to praise the maiden, in return for her openness. The phraseology blends pious undertones with physical yearnings, providing depth to the verse's meaning.

Heather Schultz
Heather Schultz

Tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for exploring how innovation shapes our future, sharing insights from years of industry experience.