To a Lady That Requested I Would Love Her

Now you have granted me leave to love,
What shall you do?
Will I your delight, or emotion arouse,
As I begin to pursue;
Will you distress, or mock, or adore me too?

Each petty charm can reject, and I
In spite of your dislike
Absent your leave can perceive, and perish;
Bestow a nobler Destiny!
’Tis easy to ruin, you may create.

Thus grant me permission to adore, & love me too
Not with purpose
To uplift, as Love's accursed rebels behave
As whining Poets whine,
Fame to their beauty, from their blubber’d eyes.

Grief is a pond and reflects not distinct
Thy grace's lights;
Delights are clear currents, your gaze appear
Sullen in gloomier songs,
Through happy verses they radiate luminous with prayse.

That may not mention to describe you lovely
Harms, flames, and arrows,
Storms in your forehead, traps in your hair,
Suborning all your attributes,
Or to trick, or torture ensnared souls.

I’ll make your vision like sunrise orbs appear,
Like mild, and fair;
One's forehead as crystal even, and transparent,
While your dishevelled hair
Shall drift like a calm Area of the Ayr.

Rich Nature’s store (which is the Poet’s Treasure)
I will use, to adorn
One's charms, if your Wellspring of Delight
In equall gratitude
Thou but open, so we mutually favor.

Delving into the Verse's Ideas

The work examines the relationship of love and acclaim, in which the speaker engages with a maiden who seeks his devotion. Rather, he offers a shared exchange of literary tribute for private pleasures. The wording is refined, combining polished norms with direct expressions of yearning.

Through the stanzas, the author dismisses usual motifs of one-sided passion, including grief and weeping, arguing they cloud true beauty. The speaker prefers delight and admiration to emphasize the maiden's qualities, assuring to render her vision as shining suns and her tresses as streaming air. This method underscores a practical yet artful perspective on relationships.

Important Elements of the Piece

  • Mutual Arrangement: The work centers on a suggestion of praise in trade for enjoyment, highlighting equality between the persons.
  • Spurning of Conventional Themes: The poet disparages common poetic techniques like sadness and imagery of suffering, choosing upbeat descriptions.
  • Poetic Artistry: The application of diverse meter patterns and flow displays the author's proficiency in composition, creating a smooth and captivating experience.
Rich The natural world's hoard (which is the Writer's Riches)
I’l spend, to adorn
One's graces, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
In equall thankfulness
One but open, so we each other favor.

The section encapsulates the central bargain, where the poet promises to use his creative gifts to praise the lady, as compensation for her openness. This wording blends spiritual overtones with earthly yearnings, providing profundity to the poem's theme.

Jason Myers
Jason Myers

A passionate storyteller and digital creator, sharing unique narratives and life experiences to inspire readers worldwide.