For a Lady That Wished I Would Love Her
Now you have freely given me leave to love,
What shall you respond?
Shall I your joy, or ardor move,
When I commence court;
Will you trouble, or mock, or cherish me too?
Each petty beauty can scorn, and I
Despite your aversion
Without your leave can see, and succumb;
Dispense a loftier Lot!
It's simple to destroy, you could create.
Thus give me consent to cherish, & adore me too
Not with intent
To uplift, as Loves cursed rebels act
As puling Bards lament,
Acclaim to their beauty, from their blubber’d eyne.
Sadness is a puddle and reflects not bright
Thy charm's lights;
Delights are untainted currents, your vision seem
Sullen in more sorrowful verses,
In happy verses they radiate brilliant with prayse.
Which shall not mention to express you fayr
Wounds, flames, and darts,
Gales in your brow, snares in your locks,
Suborning all your parts,
Or to deceive, or torment trapped hearts.
I’ll render your eyes like dawn suns seem,
As mild, and fair;
One's countenance as glass smooth, and pure,
While your tousled hayr
Will stream like a serene Region of the Air.
Wealthy Nature's treasury (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I will use, to dress
One's beauties, if your Wellspring of Delight
With equal gratitude
Thou but open, so we each other favor.
Examining the Work's Ideas
This work delves the interplay of passion and admiration, where the narrator engages with a lady who requests his love. Rather, he suggests a mutual exchange of poetic praise for personal favors. The language is refined, blending refined conventions with candid expressions of desire.
Within the lines, the author spurns typical tropes of one-sided passion, like sadness and lamentation, stating they cloud true beauty. The speaker chooses happiness and admiration to showcase the lady's attributes, assuring to depict her eyes as radiant orbs and her locks as streaming atmosphere. The technique highlights a practical yet artful outlook on bonds.
Key Elements of the Piece
- Shared Exchange: The poem focuses on a suggestion of tribute in exchange for pleasure, emphasizing equality between the parties.
- Dismissal of Standard Ideas: The narrator condemns typical literary tools like sorrow and similes of pain, choosing optimistic depictions.
- Artistic Craftsmanship: The application of diverse line patterns and cadence displays the author's expertise in poetry, creating a fluid and compelling experience.
Abundant Nature's store (which is the Writer's Riches)
I shall expend, to dress
One's graces, if your Wellspring of Joy
With matching gratitude
Thou but release, so we mutually grace.
This stanza encapsulates the central bargain, as the author vows to use his inventive gifts to celebrate the maiden, in exchange for her receptiveness. This language blends devout overtones with physical desires, providing profundity to the work's meaning.