To a Lady Who Wished Me to Love Her
Given that you granted me consent to love,
What shall you respond?
Will I your mirth, or passion move,
When I begin to woo;
Do you torment, or scorn, or love me too?
All trivial charm can disdain, and I
In spite of your aversion
Absent your consent can see, and die;
Bestow a nobler Fate!
It's simple to ruin, you could fashion.
Thus allow me consent to love, & adore me too
Not with design
To uplift, as Affection's accursed rebels act
While complaining Poets moan,
Acclaim to their beauty, from their blubber’d eyne.
Grief is a puddle and mirrors not distinct
One's grace's beams;
Joyes are clear streames, your eyes seem
Gloomy in gloomier songs,
Through joyful numbers they shine bright with acclaim.
What shall not allude to express you fayr
Injuries, blazes, and darts,
Gales in your countenance, nets in your hair,
Bribing all your features,
Or to betray, or torment captive hearts.
I will make your gaze like sunrise stars seem,
Just as soft, and lovely;
Thy brow as crystal smooth, and pure,
While your tousled hayr
Will flow like a tranquil Area of the Atmosphere.
Rich Nature’s treasury (which is the Bard's Riches)
I will expend, to adorn
One's graces, if your Source of Joy
In matching gratitude
You but open, so we each other bless.
Delving into the Work's Ideas
This work examines the relationship of love and acclaim, where the narrator addresses a lady who desires his devotion. Conversely, he suggests a shared agreement of artistic admiration for personal pleasures. This language is refined, mixing courtly norms with direct utterances of desire.
Within the stanzas, the writer spurns usual tropes of unrequited love, including grief and lamentation, claiming they dim true charm. He chooses joy and admiration to emphasize the woman's attributes, promising to portray her vision as shining orbs and her locks as drifting atmosphere. This technique highlights a realistic yet clever perspective on relationships.
Key Aspects of the Composition
- Shared Exchange: The verse centers on a proposal of tribute in trade for delight, emphasizing equality between the persons.
- Rejection of Traditional Motifs: The narrator disparages usual artistic tools like grief and metaphors of suffering, choosing optimistic descriptions.
- Poetic Skill: The use of varied verse measures and flow showcases the poet's mastery in composition, producing a fluid and engaging text.
Rich The natural world's store (which is the Poet’s Wealth)
I will spend, to embellish
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
In equal gratitude
You but open, so we each other bless.
This section summarizes the essential bargain, in which the author pledges to utilize his inventive talents to honor the lady, in exchange for her willingness. The language blends spiritual overtones with worldly desires, providing depth to the poem's theme.