To a Lady Who Desired I Would Show Affection

Given that you granted me permission to love,
What shall you act?
Shall I your joy, or ardor stir,
As I begin to woo;
Will you distress, or mock, or love me too?

All trivial beauty can disdain, and I
In spite of your dislike
Lacking your permission can perceive, and die;
Grant a grander Destiny!
It's simple to ruin, you could fashion.

Then allow me consent to cherish, & adore me too
Without purpose
To elevate, as Affection's damned defiers act
As puling Poets whine,
Renown to their beauty, from their weeping eyne.

Grief is a pool and mirrors not bright
Thy grace's rayes;
Joyes are pure currents, your gaze look
Gloomy in more sorrowful verses,
In happy lines they radiate bright with acclaim.

That may not refer to express you fair
Wounds, fires, and darts,
Tempests in your countenance, snares in your hair,
Corrupting all your attributes,
Or else to trick, or torture captive souls.

I’ll cause your vision like dawn stars appear,
Like gentle, and lovely;
One's countenance as Crystall smooth, and pure,
Whereas your tousled hair
Will drift like a calm Area of the Ayr.

Wealthy The natural world's store (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I will spend, to dress
Your charms, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
Through matching thankfulness
One but unlock, so we mutually grace.

Exploring the Work's Themes

The work delves the dynamics of love and praise, in which the poet speaks to a woman who requests his affection. Conversely, he offers a reciprocal agreement of artistic admiration for private pleasures. The phraseology is elegant, combining refined traditions with direct utterances of longing.

In the lines, the poet spurns usual motifs of unrequited affection, such as sadness and weeping, claiming they obscure true charm. He chooses delight and admiration to showcase the woman's attributes, vowing to depict her gaze as radiant orbs and her tresses as drifting breeze. The technique underscores a practical yet clever view on bonds.

Significant Aspects of the Work

  • Reciprocal Exchange: The verse centers on a offer of praise in trade for pleasure, stressing equality between the persons.
  • Rejection of Conventional Ideas: The narrator condemns common poetic techniques like sorrow and metaphors of anguish, choosing optimistic descriptions.
  • Poetic Skill: The use of mixed verse measures and flow showcases the author's expertise in poetry, forming a fluid and engaging read.
Abundant Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I’l spend, to adorn
Your graces, if your Mine of Delight
Through equal gratitude
One but open, so we mutually grace.

This stanza summarizes the essential bargain, as the author promises to use his inventive abilities to honor the lady, as compensation for her willingness. The wording combines pious overtones with physical desires, giving profundity to the poem's theme.

Russell Robertson
Russell Robertson

A passionate writer and community builder with expertise in interpersonal dynamics and digital engagement strategies.