For a Lady Who Wished I Would Show Affection

Now you have freely given me consent to love,
What will you respond?
Will I your mirth, or passion move,
Once I begin to court;
Will you trouble, or mock, or cherish me too?

Every minor charm can scorn, and I
Spight of your aversion
Without your leave can see, and perish;
Dispense a nobler Destiny!
It is effortless to destroy, you could form.

Thus allow me leave to cherish, & cherish me too
Lacking design
To elevate, as Loves accursed rebels behave
As complaining Poets moan,
Renown to their charm, from their blubber’d eyes.

Sorrow is a puddle and mirrors not clear
Thy beauty’s beams;
Delights are untainted currents, your gaze seem
Sullen in more sorrowful songs,
Within happy verses they radiate luminous with praise.

That will not refer to portray you fayr
Injuries, blazes, and arrows,
Storms in your brow, nets in your hayr,
Bribing all your features,
Either to betray, or torment trapped hearts.

I shall render your gaze like dawn suns look,
Like mild, and lovely;
Your forehead as crystal polished, and pure,
And your dishevelled locks
Will flow like a tranquil Area of the Ayr.

Wealthy Nature's treasury (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I’l expend, to dress
Thy beauties, if your Source of Pleasure
With matching gratitude
Thou but unlock, so we one another bless.

Exploring the Work's Motifs

The work examines the relationship of affection and admiration, in which the speaker engages with a maiden who desires his affection. Instead, he proposes a mutual arrangement of literary praise for personal pleasures. This phraseology is refined, combining courtly traditions with direct utterances of desire.

In the verses, the writer dismisses common motifs of one-sided passion, including grief and lamentation, arguing they dim true charm. He favors delight and acclaim to highlight the maiden's features, promising to render her vision as shining stars and her tresses as streaming atmosphere. This method underscores a pragmatic yet skillful view on relationships.

Important Aspects of the Piece

  • Reciprocal Exchange: The work revolves on a offer of praise in trade for delight, stressing balance between the persons.
  • Rejection of Conventional Ideas: The narrator disparages typical literary devices like grief and metaphors of suffering, favoring upbeat imagery.
  • Creative Artistry: The use of varied verse measures and flow showcases the author's proficiency in poetry, forming a smooth and compelling experience.
Wealthy Nature's treasury (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I will expend, to dress
Thy beauties, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
Through equal appreciation
One but release, so we mutually bless.

The section captures the essential deal, where the writer vows to employ his creative gifts to praise the lady, as compensation for her willingness. The wording mixes spiritual hints with earthly yearnings, providing depth to the poem's meaning.

Cynthia Sweeney
Cynthia Sweeney

A seasoned content strategist with over a decade of experience in digital marketing and blogging, passionate about helping others succeed online.