Addressing a Lady Who Wished Me to Show Affection

Given that you freely given me consent to love,
What shall you respond?
Am I to your delight, or ardor stir,
When I begin to court;
Do you trouble, or scorn, or love me too?

Every minor charm can reject, and I
Spight of your aversion
Without your permission can see, and perish;
Dispense a grander Fate!
It is effortless to ruin, you can form.

Then give me consent to love, & cherish me too
Lacking design
To uplift, as Love's cursed rebels behave
While complaining Versifiers lament,
Acclaim to their charm, from their weeping eyne.

Sadness is a puddle and mirrors not bright
One's charm's rayes;
Joyes are untainted currents, your vision look
Sullen in gloomier layes,
Within happy numbers they gleam bright with praise.

That will not refer to express you fayr
Harms, fires, and arrows,
Storms in your forehead, nets in your locks,
Corrupting all your attributes,
Or to betray, or torment trapped hearts.

I’ll render your vision like sunrise suns look,
Just as mild, and fayr;
Thy countenance as crystal polished, and transparent,
And your dishevelled hair
May flow like a tranquil Zone of the Ayr.

Rich Nature’s treasury (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I shall use, to embellish
Your beauties, if your Mine of Joy
Through matching gratitude
Thou but release, so we mutually bless.

Exploring the Poem's Motifs

The composition delves the dynamics of affection and admiration, as the speaker addresses a lady who desires his affection. Instead, he suggests a shared agreement of poetic tribute for private pleasures. The language is refined, combining courtly conventions with direct expressions of yearning.

In the stanzas, the writer spurns common themes of one-sided love, including sorrow and tears, stating they cloud true beauty. He favors joy and admiration to emphasize the woman's qualities, assuring to portray her vision as bright orbs and her locks as streaming breeze. The technique highlights a realistic yet skillful perspective on relationships.

Key Aspects of the Work

• Shared Arrangement: The poem centers on a offer of tribute in trade for pleasure, highlighting parity between the persons.
• Dismissal of Traditional Motifs: The poet disparages common artistic techniques like sorrow and similes of anguish, preferring positive imagery.
• Artistic Skill: The use of varied verse lengths and rhythm showcases the writer's expertise in composition, producing a smooth and engaging read.

Rich Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I will use, to adorn
One's beauties, if your Source of Delight
Through matching thankfulness
Thou but release, so we each other favor.

The verse summarizes the core arrangement, where the writer vows to use his creative gifts to celebrate the maiden, as compensation for her willingness. This language mixes pious undertones with physical yearnings, providing profundity to the verse's message.