Addressing a Lady Who Wished I Would Show Affection
Since you've bestowed me leave to love,
What will you respond?
Will I your mirth, or ardor arouse,
When I commence woo;
Shall you distress, or scorn, or adore me too?
All trivial grace can reject, and I
In spite of your aversion
Absent your leave can see, and succumb;
Bestow a loftier Lot!
It is effortless to ruin, you can create.
Therefore allow me leave to love, & love me too
Not with design
To raise, as Loves accursed rebels act
While whining Versifiers lament,
Acclaim to their grace, from their weeping eyes.
Sorrow is a pond and shows not distinct
Your charm's rayes;
Joys are clear currents, your gaze seem
Gloomy in more sorrowful verses,
In cheerfull lines they gleam bright with acclaim.
What will not allude to describe you fayr
Injuries, fires, and shafts,
Gales in your brow, traps in your hair,
Bribing all your parts,
Or else to deceive, or torture ensnared souls.
I will render your eyes like sunrise orbs seem,
Just as gentle, and lovely;
One's brow as crystal polished, and clear,
Whereas your tousled hair
Shall flow like a tranquil Zone of the Ayr.
Abundant Nature's treasury (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I shall use, to embellish
Your graces, if your Mine of Pleasure
Through equal gratitude
Thou but unlock, so we each other bless.
Delving into the Work's Motifs
The piece examines the dynamics of affection and praise, where the speaker addresses a maiden who seeks his love. Instead, he suggests a mutual exchange of artistic tribute for private delights. This language is refined, mixing polished conventions with frank statements of longing.
Within the stanzas, the writer dismisses typical tropes of unreturned love, including sorrow and lamentation, stating they obscure true beauty. He favors delight and acclaim to highlight the lady's features, assuring to depict her vision as shining orbs and her locks as streaming breeze. The method highlights a pragmatic yet clever perspective on bonds.
Important Components of the Piece
- Mutual Arrangement: The poem focuses on a offer of praise in return for delight, emphasizing parity between the individuals.
- Rejection of Standard Motifs: The poet disparages typical literary tools like sadness and metaphors of pain, choosing optimistic imagery.
- Poetic Skill: The employment of varied verse patterns and rhythm displays the author's mastery in poetry, forming a fluid and captivating experience.
Abundant The natural world's treasury (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I’l spend, to embellish
Your graces, if your Source of Pleasure
In equal gratitude
Thou but unlock, so we one another favor.
The stanza captures the core bargain, where the writer pledges to employ his creative abilities to honor the lady, in return for her willingness. This wording combines pious undertones with physical desires, giving complexity to the verse's meaning.