To a Lady Who Requested Me to Love Her
Given that you granted me permission to love,
How will you respond?
Am I to your mirth, or ardor move,
As I commence woo;
Shall you distress, or scorn, or adore me too?
Every minor beauty can reject, and I
Spight of your hate
Lacking your leave can see, and succumb;
Dispense a loftier Lot!
It's simple to ruin, you may create.
Then grant me permission to cherish, & adore me too
Lacking purpose
To uplift, as Affection's damned defiers act
While puling Poets lament,
Fame to their beauty, from their weeping eyne.
Sorrow is a pond and shows not distinct
Your beauty’s lights;
Delights are pure streams, your vision look
Gloomy in more sorrowful layes,
Through joyful lines they shine luminous with acclaim.
That will not refer to portray you fair
Harms, flames, and darts,
Storms in your countenance, nets in your hair,
Corrupting all your attributes,
Either to betray, or torment captive souls.
I will cause your vision like morning stars seem,
Just as soft, and lovely;
Your brow as glass polished, and transparent,
And your dishevelled hair
Will flow like a tranquil Area of the Air.
Rich Nature's hoard (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I will spend, to dress
Your graces, if your Wellspring of Joy
In equal appreciation
One but open, so we each other bless.
Examining the Poem's Themes
The piece examines the dynamics of passion and praise, as the narrator addresses a woman who desires his love. Conversely, he proposes a reciprocal arrangement of poetic admiration for intimate favors. The wording is graceful, blending refined traditions with direct utterances of yearning.
Within the lines, the author rejects common themes of unrequited passion, such as sadness and lamentation, arguing they dim true grace. He prefers joy and acclaim to emphasize the lady's attributes, assuring to depict her eyes as shining orbs and her locks as flowing atmosphere. This method highlights a pragmatic yet clever perspective on bonds.
Key Elements of the Piece
- Shared Arrangement: The poem centers on a proposal of admiration in return for pleasure, stressing equality between the parties.
- Dismissal of Standard Ideas: The poet criticizes common poetic devices like sorrow and metaphors of pain, choosing positive descriptions.
- Creative Craftsmanship: The application of mixed line patterns and flow displays the poet's expertise in poetry, producing a fluid and engaging experience.
Wealthy Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I shall expend, to dress
One's graces, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
With equall gratitude
Thou but open, so we one another bless.
This stanza summarizes the central bargain, where the poet vows to use his inventive talents to praise the lady, as compensation for her openness. This language combines pious overtones with earthly yearnings, giving depth to the verse's meaning.