To a Lady That Wished Me to Show Affection

Now you have bestowed me leave to love,
How will you act?
Am I to your delight, or emotion arouse,
Once I begin to court;
Shall you torment, or mock, or adore me too?

All trivial grace can reject, and I
In spite of your dislike
Absent your consent can perceive, and perish;
Grant a grander Destiny!
It is effortless to destroy, you could create.

Thus give me permission to adore, & cherish me too
Lacking purpose
To uplift, as Love's cursed insurgents behave
While complaining Bards lament,
Acclaim to their beauty, from their weeping gaze.

Grief is a pond and shows not bright
One's charm's lights;
Joyes are pure currents, your vision look
Morose in more sorrowful songs,
Through happy numbers they radiate bright with praise.

Which may not refer to express you fayr
Harms, fires, and shafts,
Gales in your brow, nets in your locks,
Bribing all your attributes,
Either to betray, or torture captive hearts.

I shall cause your gaze like sunrise orbs appear,
Just as soft, and fayr;
One's forehead as crystal polished, and pure,
And your tousled hair
Will flow like a calm Region of the Air.

Abundant Nature’s store (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I’l spend, to dress
One's graces, if your Wellspring of Joy
With matching appreciation
You but open, so we one another favor.

Examining the Verse's Themes

This composition delves the dynamics of love and acclaim, in which the narrator speaks to a woman who requests his affection. Rather, he suggests a shared arrangement of literary praise for personal favors. The language is elegant, combining refined traditions with frank expressions of desire.

Through the lines, the poet spurns typical tropes of unreturned affection, including grief and lamentation, claiming they obscure true grace. He chooses joy and acclaim to highlight the woman's qualities, promising to render her eyes as shining orbs and her hair as streaming breeze. The approach highlights a pragmatic yet clever view on bonds.

Significant Aspects of the Composition

  • Reciprocal Arrangement: The verse centers on a proposal of admiration in exchange for pleasure, highlighting balance between the persons.
  • Spurning of Traditional Themes: The poet disparages common artistic devices like grief and metaphors of suffering, preferring upbeat descriptions.
  • Poetic Artistry: The employment of varied line patterns and rhythm demonstrates the author's proficiency in poetry, forming a smooth and engaging text.
Rich Nature's treasury (which is the Writer's Riches)
I will spend, to embellish
One's charms, if your Mine of Joy
With equall appreciation
You but unlock, so we each other bless.

This stanza summarizes the core bargain, as the writer pledges to utilize his inventive abilities to honor the lady, as compensation for her receptiveness. The phraseology combines spiritual hints with physical desires, adding profundity to the poem's meaning.

Charlotte Jordan
Charlotte Jordan

A seasoned real estate expert with over 15 years of experience in property investment and market analysis.