To a Lady That Desired Me to Love Her

Now you have bestowed me leave to love,
How will you do?
Shall I your joy, or passion arouse,
When I begin to woo;
Will you torment, or scorn, or love me too?

Each petty beauty can scorn, and I
Despite your hate
Absent your permission can observe, and die;
Grant a grander Destiny!
’Tis easy to destroy, you can create.

Therefore grant me permission to love, & love me too
Without design
To raise, as Love's damned rebels behave
When whining Bards lament,
Fame to their charm, from their weeping gaze.

Grief is a puddle and reflects not clear
Thy beauty’s lights;
Joyes are clear currents, your gaze appear
Morose in more sorrowful songs,
Within joyful verses they radiate bright with prayse.

What will not refer to express you fayr
Injuries, flames, and shafts,
Tempests in your forehead, nets in your hayr,
Suborning all your parts,
Or else to trick, or torment captive affections.

I shall cause your vision like sunrise suns appear,
As mild, and fair;
Your countenance as crystal smooth, and pure,
And your tousled hair
Shall stream like a calm Region of the Ayr.

Rich Nature’s hoard (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I will spend, to adorn
Your beauties, if your Wellspring of Pleasure
Through matching thankfulness
Thou but release, so we each other grace.

Examining the Work's Themes

This piece examines the relationship of affection and praise, in which the poet addresses a lady who requests his love. Rather, he offers a shared exchange of poetic admiration for personal delights. This wording is elegant, combining refined traditions with frank statements of yearning.

Through the lines, the poet dismisses common tropes of unrequited love, such as sorrow and tears, stating they obscure true beauty. The speaker prefers joy and praise to highlight the woman's features, promising to portray her gaze as bright stars and her locks as drifting air. This approach highlights a realistic yet skillful perspective on relationships.

Important Elements of the Composition

  • Reciprocal Arrangement: The verse revolves on a offer of admiration in exchange for delight, emphasizing balance between the individuals.
  • Dismissal of Conventional Motifs: The speaker criticizes typical literary devices like sadness and similes of pain, favoring optimistic descriptions.
  • Poetic Artistry: The application of mixed line patterns and flow displays the poet's proficiency in poetry, creating a fluid and compelling read.
Rich The natural world's hoard (which is the Writer's Riches)
I will use, to dress
Thy graces, if your Wellspring of Joy
Through equal appreciation
One but open, so we one another favor.

The section summarizes the core bargain, as the writer pledges to utilize his creative talents to praise the woman, in return for her openness. This phraseology mixes spiritual overtones with earthly longings, giving complexity to the verse's theme.

Lisa Henson
Lisa Henson

A passionate writer and mindfulness coach with a background in psychology, dedicated to helping others find clarity and purpose through thoughtful reflection.