To a Lady That Requested I Would Love Her
Since you've bestowed me leave to love,
What shall you act?
Shall I your mirth, or ardor move,
As I begin to court;
Will you trouble, or mock, or cherish me too?
Every minor beauty can scorn, and I
In spite of your hate
Lacking your consent can see, and perish;
Grant a nobler Destiny!
’Tis easy to demolish, you could create.
Then grant me permission to cherish, & adore me too
Not with intent
To uplift, as Affection's cursed insurgents act
When whining Poets whine,
Fame to their grace, from their blubber’d gaze.
Sadness is a puddle and mirrors not bright
Thy beauty’s rayes;
Joys are pure streams, your gaze look
Morose in gloomier verses,
Within joyful numbers they gleam luminous with prayse.
That will not allude to portray you fair
Wounds, flames, and shafts,
Gales in your brow, snares in your hair,
Suborning all your parts,
Or to betray, or torment captive hearts.
I’ll cause your vision like morning stars appear,
Like gentle, and fayr;
One's forehead as glass polished, and transparent,
And your unkempt hayr
Will drift like a tranquil Area of the Ayr.
Rich Nature’s store (which is the Poet’s Wealth)
I’l spend, to adorn
Your graces, if your Mine of Pleasure
Through matching thankfulness
Thou but unlock, so we one another favor.
Delving into the Work's Themes
This work explores the interplay of affection and admiration, in which the poet engages with a maiden who seeks his love. Instead, he offers a shared arrangement of poetic tribute for intimate favors. The wording is refined, blending polished traditions with direct statements of desire.
In the stanzas, the poet spurns common tropes of one-sided affection, like grief and weeping, arguing they cloud true grace. He prefers happiness and acclaim to highlight the lady's qualities, assuring to render her gaze as shining suns and her tresses as drifting atmosphere. The method emphasizes a realistic yet skillful outlook on relationships.
Important Aspects of the Composition
- Mutual Exchange: The verse centers on a proposal of admiration in exchange for delight, highlighting balance between the parties.
- Dismissal of Traditional Ideas: The narrator condemns typical artistic techniques like grief and metaphors of suffering, choosing positive imagery.
- Artistic Artistry: The use of varied meter patterns and cadence showcases the poet's mastery in composition, producing a graceful and compelling experience.
Abundant Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I will spend, to adorn
Your graces, if your Mine of Pleasure
With equal appreciation
Thou but release, so we each other grace.
The verse summarizes the essential bargain, in which the writer promises to use his creative talents to honor the woman, in exchange for her receptiveness. This phraseology combines spiritual overtones with physical yearnings, giving depth to the poem's theme.