For a Lady Who Desired I Would Love Her
Given that you freely given me leave to love,
How will you do?
Will I your mirth, or emotion move,
Once I begin to court;
Shall you distress, or disdain, or love me too?
Each petty beauty can scorn, and I
Despite your hate
Absent your consent can perceive, and die;
Dispense a grander Lot!
It is effortless to ruin, you could form.
Then give me leave to cherish, & love me too
Lacking design
To raise, as Loves accursed defiers do
As whining Poets lament,
Renown to their grace, from their weeping gaze.
Grief is a puddle and shows not bright
One's grace's lights;
Delights are untainted streams, your eyes look
Gloomy in sadder layes,
In cheerfull lines they gleam bright with acclaim.
That may not allude to describe you lovely
Harms, fires, and arrows,
Gales in your brow, snares in your locks,
Bribing all your attributes,
Or else to trick, or afflict trapped souls.
I shall cause your vision like morning orbs look,
As gentle, and fair;
One's forehead as Crystall smooth, and pure,
Whereas your unkempt locks
Will stream like a tranquil Zone of the Atmosphere.
Wealthy Nature's hoard (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I shall spend, to embellish
Your graces, if your Mine of Delight
With equall appreciation
You but release, so we mutually favor.
Examining the Verse's Ideas
The work examines the dynamics of love and acclaim, in which the speaker engages with a lady who seeks his affection. Instead, he suggests a shared arrangement of poetic tribute for private delights. The wording is graceful, combining courtly norms with direct statements of desire.
Through the stanzas, the poet dismisses typical tropes of one-sided passion, including sadness and lamentation, stating they cloud true beauty. The speaker prefers joy and admiration to highlight the lady's attributes, promising to render her vision as shining orbs and her locks as streaming atmosphere. The method highlights a pragmatic yet artful view on bonds.
Significant Elements of the Piece
- Mutual Arrangement: The work revolves on a proposal of praise in trade for pleasure, highlighting equality between the parties.
- Dismissal of Conventional Ideas: The speaker criticizes usual artistic techniques like sadness and metaphors of suffering, preferring upbeat depictions.
- Creative Artistry: The use of mixed meter patterns and flow demonstrates the poet's proficiency in verse, forming a smooth and captivating text.
Rich The natural world's hoard (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I shall use, to adorn
Your graces, if your Source of Delight
With equall appreciation
Thou but unlock, so we one another favor.
The stanza captures the essential deal, in which the poet promises to employ his inventive abilities to honor the maiden, in exchange for her receptiveness. This phraseology combines devout overtones with earthly longings, providing depth to the poem's meaning.