To a Lady That Desired I Would Love Her
Given that you freely given me consent to love,
What shall you do?
Will I your mirth, or ardor stir,
When I commence pursue;
Will you distress, or disdain, or adore me too?
Each petty charm can scorn, and I
Spight of your hate
Lacking your consent can observe, and succumb;
Bestow a nobler Lot!
It's simple to destroy, you may form.
Thus allow me permission to cherish, & cherish me too
Not with design
To elevate, as Love's accursed rebels do
As whining Versifiers lament,
Fame to their beauty, from their weeping gaze.
Grief is a pond and mirrors not distinct
Your charm's lights;
Delights are untainted streames, your gaze appear
Morose in gloomier verses,
Within happy lines they radiate luminous with prayse.
Which may not allude to describe you lovely
Harms, fires, and arrows,
Gales in your countenance, snares in your hayr,
Corrupting all your parts,
Either to trick, or torture ensnared affections.
I will cause your eyes like dawn stars appear,
As soft, and fair;
Your countenance as Crystall smooth, and transparent,
And your dishevelled hair
May stream like a tranquil Zone of the Air.
Wealthy Nature's treasury (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I will use, to dress
Your graces, if your Mine of Joy
With matching appreciation
One but open, so we one another bless.
Delving into the Work's Motifs
The piece examines the dynamics of passion and praise, where the narrator addresses a lady who requests his devotion. Instead, he offers a shared agreement of artistic praise for personal pleasures. The phraseology is refined, blending courtly norms with frank statements of yearning.
In the verses, the writer dismisses typical themes of one-sided love, such as sadness and weeping, stating they obscure true beauty. The speaker prefers joy and acclaim to emphasize the maiden's attributes, assuring to depict her eyes as bright stars and her tresses as streaming atmosphere. This technique emphasizes a pragmatic yet skillful outlook on bonds.
Significant Aspects of the Composition
- Reciprocal Arrangement: The verse centers on a proposal of admiration in return for enjoyment, emphasizing balance between the persons.
- Spurning of Standard Ideas: The poet criticizes usual literary tools like sadness and metaphors of suffering, preferring upbeat descriptions.
- Poetic Artistry: The use of varied verse patterns and rhythm demonstrates the author's proficiency in poetry, creating a fluid and captivating experience.
Rich Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I shall use, to dress
One's charms, if your Source of Joy
With equall gratitude
You but release, so we mutually favor.
The section summarizes the central arrangement, as the author vows to employ his creative abilities to praise the woman, in return for her receptiveness. This language combines pious hints with physical desires, giving profundity to the work's message.