Addressing a Lady That Wished Me to Show Affection

Since you've freely given me leave to love,
What shall you respond?
Shall I your joy, or emotion move,
As I begin to woo;
Shall you torment, or scorn, or cherish me too?

All trivial charm can reject, and I
Despite your hate
Lacking your leave can see, and perish;
Bestow a nobler Destiny!
’Tis easy to destroy, you could create.

Therefore give me permission to adore, & love me too
Not with intent
To raise, as Affection's damned rebels behave
While whining Versifiers whine,
Fame to their beauty, from their blubber’d eyes.

Sadness is a puddle and shows not clear
Thy charm's beams;
Joys are untainted streams, your vision seem
Sullen in gloomier verses,
Through joyful numbers they shine brilliant with praise.

What will not refer to express you fayr
Harms, blazes, and shafts,
Storms in your forehead, traps in your hair,
Corrupting all your features,
Either to deceive, or torment trapped hearts.

I shall cause your vision like dawn suns appear,
As soft, and fayr;
Thy brow as crystal smooth, and pure,
Whereas your dishevelled hair
Shall drift like a tranquil Zone of the Air.

Wealthy Nature’s hoard (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I shall spend, to adorn
One's graces, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
With matching gratitude
One but open, so we each other bless.

Examining the Poem's Themes

This piece examines the relationship of love and admiration, in which the poet addresses a woman who requests his affection. Rather, he offers a mutual arrangement of artistic tribute for private pleasures. This language is graceful, combining courtly conventions with candid statements of yearning.

Through the lines, the poet spurns common themes of unrequited love, such as sadness and lamentation, claiming they dim true grace. The speaker prefers joy and admiration to highlight the lady's features, promising to portray her vision as bright orbs and her hair as streaming air. The method emphasizes a practical yet artful view on bonds.

Key Aspects of the Work

  • Mutual Arrangement: The verse centers on a suggestion of admiration in exchange for enjoyment, emphasizing equality between the individuals.
  • Spurning of Conventional Themes: The narrator condemns usual literary techniques like grief and similes of anguish, favoring positive imagery.
  • Creative Skill: The employment of diverse line lengths and cadence displays the writer's proficiency in composition, forming a graceful and engaging text.
Rich Nature's store (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I will use, to embellish
Your beauties, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
With equal appreciation
You but release, so we mutually bless.

The section captures the core deal, where the poet pledges to use his artistic abilities to honor the lady, in return for her receptiveness. This language combines pious hints with worldly yearnings, providing profundity to the work's message.

Erik Middleton
Erik Middleton

A seasoned business strategist with over 15 years of experience in market analysis and corporate growth, passionate about sharing actionable insights.