To a Lady Who Requested I Would Show Affection

Since you've granted me leave to love,
What shall you act?
Shall I your mirth, or ardor stir,
When I begin to court;
Do you distress, or disdain, or love me too?

All trivial grace can reject, and I
Despite your dislike
Without your consent can perceive, and succumb;
Dispense a nobler Fate!
It is effortless to destroy, you can form.

Then allow me leave to love, & cherish me too
Lacking design
To elevate, as Affection's damned insurgents do
As whining Poets moan,
Acclaim to their grace, from their tearful gaze.

Sadness is a pool and shows not distinct
One's beauty’s lights;
Delights are pure currents, your eyes look
Morose in gloomier songs,
Through joyful verses they gleam bright with acclaim.

What will not refer to express you fayr
Injuries, fires, and arrows,
Tempests in your brow, traps in your locks,
Bribing all your features,
Either to trick, or torment trapped hearts.

I will render your gaze like dawn stars seem,
As soft, and fair;
Thy countenance as glass smooth, and clear,
Whereas your tousled hair
May stream like a serene Region of the Air.

Wealthy Nature’s hoard (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I shall use, to embellish
Your graces, if your Mine of Delight
With matching appreciation
One but open, so we one another grace.

Examining the Work's Ideas

This work examines the relationship of love and acclaim, in which the narrator addresses a woman who requests his affection. Conversely, he offers a shared agreement of artistic admiration for private delights. This phraseology is refined, mixing polished conventions with direct utterances of yearning.

Through the verses, the poet rejects common themes of one-sided affection, like sadness and tears, stating they obscure true grace. He chooses joy and praise to showcase the woman's attributes, vowing to portray her eyes as shining suns and her hair as streaming atmosphere. The method highlights a realistic yet clever perspective on bonds.

Important Components of the Work

  • Shared Arrangement: The verse focuses on a proposal of admiration in trade for enjoyment, emphasizing parity between the persons.
  • Dismissal of Traditional Motifs: The speaker condemns typical poetic techniques like sorrow and imagery of suffering, favoring upbeat descriptions.
  • Creative Craftsmanship: The application of diverse line measures and cadence showcases the author's mastery in verse, producing a fluid and captivating experience.
Wealthy Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I’l use, to embellish
Your charms, if your Wellspring of Delight
With matching gratitude
One but open, so we each other grace.

The section encapsulates the core bargain, in which the writer vows to employ his creative talents to praise the lady, in exchange for her receptiveness. This phraseology mixes pious overtones with physical yearnings, giving profundity to the poem's message.

Deborah Hall
Deborah Hall

Tech enthusiast and lifestyle blogger passionate about sharing innovative ideas and personal experiences to inspire others.