For a Lady That Desired I Would Love Her
Now you have freely given me consent to love,
What shall you do?
Shall I your mirth, or ardor arouse,
When I start to court;
Do you distress, or disdain, or adore me too?
Every minor charm can disdain, and I
Spight of your aversion
Without your consent can observe, and die;
Dispense a grander Lot!
It's simple to destroy, you can fashion.
Thus grant me permission to cherish, & cherish me too
Without intent
To raise, as Loves accursed insurgents do
While puling Bards lament,
Renown to their beauty, from their tearful eyne.
Grief is a puddle and mirrors not distinct
One's grace's lights;
Delights are clear streames, your eyes seem
Gloomy in gloomier layes,
Through happy lines they shine bright with praise.
Which will not mention to portray you fayr
Harms, blazes, and shafts,
Gales in your brow, snares in your hair,
Bribing all your attributes,
Or else to trick, or torture captive souls.
I’ll make your eyes like sunrise suns seem,
Just as mild, and lovely;
Thy countenance as glass even, and pure,
Whereas your tousled locks
Will flow like a tranquil Region of the Atmosphere.
Abundant Nature’s treasury (which is the Poet’s Wealth)
I will spend, to embellish
One's graces, if your Wellspring of Delight
In equall gratitude
One but unlock, so we one another grace.
Delving into the Verse's Themes
This composition explores the interplay of passion and admiration, as the narrator engages with a lady who seeks his affection. Rather, he offers a mutual exchange of poetic praise for private pleasures. This language is refined, mixing refined traditions with direct statements of yearning.
Within the verses, the poet spurns typical tropes of unreturned love, including sorrow and weeping, stating they cloud true beauty. He favors joy and acclaim to emphasize the woman's attributes, vowing to portray her gaze as shining suns and her tresses as flowing air. This method underscores a pragmatic yet skillful perspective on connections.
Important Aspects of the Composition
- Reciprocal Agreement: The work revolves on a offer of tribute in exchange for delight, emphasizing balance between the persons.
- Dismissal of Traditional Ideas: The speaker criticizes typical literary techniques like grief and metaphors of suffering, choosing positive imagery.
- Artistic Artistry: The application of varied meter lengths and rhythm demonstrates the writer's expertise in poetry, forming a fluid and captivating experience.
Abundant Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I will use, to embellish
One's graces, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
With equall gratitude
One but release, so we each other grace.
This stanza captures the essential bargain, where the poet promises to employ his creative abilities to celebrate the maiden, as compensation for her receptiveness. The phraseology blends devout overtones with physical longings, giving complexity to the work's message.