For a Lady That Desired Me to Show Affection

Now you have bestowed me leave to love,
What will you do?
Am I to your delight, or ardor stir,
Once I begin to woo;
Do you trouble, or scorn, or cherish me too?

All trivial grace can scorn, and I
Despite your dislike
Without your consent can observe, and perish;
Bestow a loftier Fate!
It's simple to destroy, you may form.

Then give me consent to love, & adore me too
Not with purpose
To raise, as Love's damned insurgents act
When puling Versifiers lament,
Fame to their charm, from their blubber’d eyes.

Grief is a pond and shows not clear
Thy grace's beams;
Joyes are pure streams, your vision look
Sullen in more sorrowful verses,
In joyful verses they gleam bright with prayse.

What will not allude to describe you lovely
Wounds, blazes, and shafts,
Tempests in your brow, nets in your hayr,
Corrupting all your features,
Or to betray, or torture trapped souls.

I’ll render your vision like sunrise stars appear,
As mild, and lovely;
Thy forehead as crystal even, and pure,
Whereas your unkempt locks
May flow like a calm Zone of the Air.

Abundant Nature's store (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I will use, to embellish
One's beauties, if your Mine of Delight
In matching gratitude
One but open, so we each other favor.

Exploring the Verse's Ideas

The work explores the interplay of passion and acclaim, as the narrator addresses a woman who requests his affection. Rather, he proposes a reciprocal exchange of artistic tribute for private pleasures. The language is elegant, mixing refined traditions with direct expressions of longing.

In the lines, the writer spurns typical tropes of unreturned passion, such as sorrow and lamentation, arguing they cloud true grace. The speaker chooses happiness and admiration to showcase the woman's qualities, assuring to portray her eyes as shining stars and her hair as drifting air. The approach highlights a practical yet artful outlook on bonds.

Significant Aspects of the Piece

  • Reciprocal Arrangement: The work focuses on a offer of tribute in return for delight, emphasizing parity between the parties.
  • Dismissal of Standard Themes: The narrator disparages usual artistic techniques like grief and metaphors of anguish, choosing positive depictions.
  • Poetic Artistry: The use of varied meter patterns and cadence showcases the author's proficiency in verse, creating a smooth and engaging text.
Wealthy Nature’s store (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I shall expend, to embellish
One's beauties, if your Source of Pleasure
In matching thankfulness
One but unlock, so we each other favor.

The section encapsulates the central bargain, where the author vows to employ his artistic gifts to celebrate the maiden, in exchange for her openness. The language combines pious hints with earthly yearnings, providing complexity to the verse's message.

Christopher Greer
Christopher Greer

Tech enthusiast and seasoned reviewer with a passion for exploring cutting-edge gadgets and sharing practical advice.