To a Lady Who Wished Me to Love Her
Since you've bestowed me leave to love,
What shall you respond?
Shall I your joy, or emotion stir,
Once I begin to pursue;
Shall you distress, or mock, or love me too?
Each petty charm can reject, and I
Despite your aversion
Absent your consent can observe, and perish;
Grant a loftier Fate!
It's simple to demolish, you may fashion.
Therefore allow me permission to adore, & love me too
Lacking purpose
To elevate, as Love's cursed insurgents do
As puling Bards moan,
Acclaim to their charm, from their blubber’d gaze.
Sorrow is a pool and reflects not bright
Thy grace's beams;
Joys are clear streames, your eyes seem
Sullen in more sorrowful verses,
Through cheerfull verses they gleam bright with acclaim.
That will not allude to portray you lovely
Wounds, fires, and darts,
Tempests in your forehead, traps in your hair,
Bribing all your features,
Or else to deceive, or torture ensnared souls.
I will make your eyes like dawn stars look,
Just as soft, and lovely;
Your forehead as crystal even, and clear,
While your unkempt hair
May flow like a tranquil Zone of the Air.
Rich Nature's store (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I shall use, to embellish
Your beauties, if your Source of Pleasure
In equal appreciation
Thou but open, so we mutually grace.
Exploring the Work's Ideas
The work examines the dynamics of affection and acclaim, where the poet speaks to a maiden who requests his affection. Instead, he offers a shared exchange of literary tribute for personal pleasures. This language is elegant, blending refined norms with candid expressions of longing.
In the verses, the writer dismisses common motifs of one-sided affection, such as grief and tears, stating they obscure true charm. The speaker favors happiness and praise to highlight the woman's features, promising to depict her gaze as radiant suns and her hair as streaming air. This approach highlights a practical yet clever view on connections.
Important Elements of the Work
- Mutual Agreement: The work focuses on a proposal of admiration in exchange for pleasure, emphasizing equality between the parties.
- Spurning of Conventional Themes: The speaker condemns common poetic tools like grief and imagery of suffering, choosing positive descriptions.
- Creative Craftsmanship: The employment of diverse meter patterns and flow displays the poet's expertise in poetry, producing a smooth and captivating text.
Wealthy Nature's hoard (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I’l expend, to dress
Your beauties, if your Mine of Delight
Through matching thankfulness
One but open, so we one another bless.
The stanza summarizes the core arrangement, where the writer promises to utilize his artistic gifts to celebrate the lady, as compensation for her receptiveness. The language mixes pious overtones with earthly desires, adding depth to the verse's theme.
