For a Lady Who Requested I Would Show Affection

Since you've granted me consent to love,
What shall you act?
Will I your joy, or emotion stir,
As I start to pursue;
Shall you distress, or scorn, or cherish me too?

All trivial charm can scorn, and I
In spite of your dislike
Lacking your consent can observe, and perish;
Bestow a grander Destiny!
It is effortless to ruin, you may create.

Then grant me permission to adore, & love me too
Without design
To uplift, as Affection's cursed rebels do
While puling Bards moan,
Acclaim to their beauty, from their tearful eyne.

Grief is a puddle and mirrors not bright
Your beauty’s lights;
Delights are pure streams, your gaze appear
Sullen in more sorrowful layes,
Through cheerfull numbers they gleam brilliant with acclaim.

That will not refer to express you fair
Harms, fires, and darts,
Storms in your countenance, nets in your locks,
Bribing all your parts,
Or to trick, or torment trapped hearts.

I will render your gaze like dawn suns look,
Like gentle, and fayr;
One's forehead as Crystall polished, and pure,
And your tousled locks
May flow like a tranquil Zone of the Atmosphere.

Abundant Nature's store (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I’l use, to embellish
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Delight
Through matching thankfulness
Thou but unlock, so we one another grace.

Examining the Work's Motifs

The composition explores the interplay of passion and admiration, in which the poet speaks to a lady who desires his love. Conversely, he offers a shared arrangement of poetic praise for personal favors. The phraseology is graceful, mixing polished conventions with direct statements of desire.

In the lines, the writer spurns common motifs of unrequited affection, such as grief and weeping, claiming they dim true charm. He prefers happiness and admiration to emphasize the maiden's attributes, assuring to portray her gaze as shining suns and her hair as drifting breeze. This technique highlights a realistic yet clever perspective on relationships.

Significant Elements of the Piece

  • Shared Agreement: The poem focuses on a suggestion of admiration in trade for enjoyment, highlighting balance between the parties.
  • Dismissal of Standard Motifs: The narrator condemns typical artistic tools like sorrow and imagery of pain, preferring positive depictions.
  • Creative Artistry: The application of diverse verse measures and rhythm displays the author's mastery in poetry, creating a fluid and captivating experience.
Abundant The natural world's hoard (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I shall use, to dress
Your charms, if your Wellspring of Delight
Through equal appreciation
You but unlock, so we one another bless.

The section encapsulates the central arrangement, where the writer vows to use his creative talents to praise the woman, in return for her willingness. This phraseology combines pious undertones with physical desires, adding complexity to the poem's message.

Brittany Bruce MD
Brittany Bruce MD

A logistics expert with over a decade of experience in global shipping and travel efficiency, passionate about simplifying complex processes.