To a Lady That Desired I Would Love Her
Since you've granted me consent to love,
What shall you do?
Shall I your delight, or ardor arouse,
Once I commence woo;
Do you torment, or mock, or adore me too?
All trivial grace can reject, and I
Despite your hate
Absent your leave can observe, and perish;
Dispense a nobler Fate!
It's simple to destroy, you can form.
Therefore give me consent to love, & adore me too
Not with intent
To elevate, as Affection's accursed rebels act
When puling Versifiers lament,
Fame to their grace, from their tearful eyes.
Sorrow is a pond and reflects not bright
One's charm's lights;
Joys are untainted streames, your vision appear
Sullen in sadder verses,
Within joyful verses they gleam luminous with acclaim.
What will not mention to describe you fayr
Injuries, fires, and darts,
Gales in your brow, traps in your locks,
Bribing all your features,
Or else to trick, or torture ensnared hearts.
I’ll render your vision like sunrise suns appear,
As gentle, and fayr;
Thy forehead as Crystall polished, and pure,
Whereas your unkempt locks
Shall drift like a calm Area of the Ayr.
Rich Nature's store (which is the Writer's Riches)
I shall spend, to dress
Thy charms, if your Source of Pleasure
With equal appreciation
Thou but release, so we one another bless.
Examining the Poem's Themes
The piece delves the interplay of love and acclaim, in which the poet speaks to a maiden who seeks his devotion. Rather, he suggests a reciprocal exchange of artistic admiration for intimate pleasures. The wording is graceful, blending courtly norms with direct expressions of longing.
In the verses, the writer rejects usual themes of unrequited passion, including grief and lamentation, claiming they obscure true charm. He chooses delight and admiration to highlight the maiden's qualities, vowing to render her gaze as shining stars and her hair as drifting atmosphere. This approach highlights a realistic yet artful view on bonds.
Important Elements of the Composition
- Mutual Arrangement: The verse revolves on a proposal of praise in return for enjoyment, emphasizing balance between the parties.
- Dismissal of Traditional Themes: The poet disparages usual poetic devices like sadness and similes of suffering, preferring optimistic descriptions.
- Creative Craftsmanship: The employment of varied meter lengths and cadence displays the poet's mastery in verse, producing a smooth and engaging experience.
Abundant Nature's hoard (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I shall expend, to dress
One's beauties, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
Through matching appreciation
One but unlock, so we mutually grace.
The stanza captures the central arrangement, where the writer promises to employ his creative talents to celebrate the maiden, as compensation for her openness. The language blends spiritual undertones with physical yearnings, giving complexity to the verse's meaning.