For a Lady That Requested I Would Show Affection
Given that you bestowed me permission to love,
What shall you act?
Shall I your delight, or passion move,
As I begin to court;
Will you torment, or disdain, or love me too?
All trivial charm can scorn, and I
Spight of your aversion
Absent your permission can perceive, and succumb;
Grant a grander Destiny!
It is effortless to ruin, you can form.
Therefore grant me permission to adore, & cherish me too
Without design
To elevate, as Love's cursed insurgents do
When whining Poets moan,
Acclaim to their beauty, from their tearful eyne.
Grief is a pond and shows not bright
Your grace's rayes;
Delights are clear currents, your vision appear
Morose in more sorrowful layes,
In cheerfull numbers they gleam bright with acclaim.
Which will not refer to describe you fair
Wounds, fires, and darts,
Gales in your countenance, nets in your locks,
Bribing all your attributes,
Or to betray, or torture captive affections.
I will cause your gaze like morning suns seem,
As mild, and fayr;
One's forehead as Crystall polished, and pure,
Whereas your unkempt hair
Shall stream like a calm Region of the Atmosphere.
Wealthy Nature’s treasury (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I shall expend, to embellish
One's charms, if your Source of Delight
Through equal gratitude
One but open, so we mutually grace.
Examining the Verse's Motifs
This work delves the relationship of love and praise, as the speaker addresses a lady who seeks his affection. Rather, he proposes a reciprocal exchange of poetic tribute for private favors. The phraseology is refined, mixing courtly traditions with direct expressions of longing.
Within the lines, the writer spurns typical tropes of one-sided love, like sadness and lamentation, stating they obscure true beauty. The speaker prefers delight and admiration to highlight the maiden's qualities, promising to portray her eyes as shining orbs and her hair as drifting breeze. This technique emphasizes a realistic yet artful view on bonds.
Significant Components of the Work
- Reciprocal Arrangement: The work focuses on a proposal of praise in exchange for delight, highlighting parity between the parties.
- Rejection of Traditional Motifs: The speaker disparages usual literary tools like sadness and metaphors of pain, favoring optimistic descriptions.
- Poetic Craftsmanship: The application of diverse verse measures and rhythm showcases the writer's proficiency in verse, producing a graceful and compelling experience.
Rich Nature's hoard (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I’l spend, to embellish
One's charms, if your Mine of Delight
Through equall thankfulness
You but release, so we each other favor.
The section summarizes the central bargain, as the author vows to utilize his artistic talents to celebrate the lady, in exchange for her receptiveness. The language combines pious overtones with worldly desires, giving complexity to the work's theme.