For a Lady Who Desired Me to Love Her

Given that you freely given me permission to love,
How will you act?
Shall I your delight, or passion stir,
When I commence woo;
Shall you distress, or scorn, or adore me too?

Each petty beauty can scorn, and I
Spight of your dislike
Absent your permission can perceive, and perish;
Grant a nobler Lot!
’Tis easy to demolish, you may fashion.

Therefore give me leave to love, & love me too
Without intent
To raise, as Love's accursed defiers behave
While complaining Bards moan,
Acclaim to their grace, from their weeping eyes.

Grief is a pond and reflects not bright
Your beauty’s beams;
Delights are clear streams, your gaze look
Morose in sadder songs,
In happy verses they radiate bright with prayse.

Which will not mention to portray you fayr
Harms, blazes, and darts,
Gales in your forehead, snares in your locks,
Suborning all your attributes,
Or else to betray, or torture captive affections.

I will render your gaze like morning stars appear,
Just as soft, and lovely;
One's brow as glass even, and clear,
While your unkempt locks
Will flow like a calm Zone of the Atmosphere.

Wealthy Nature's store (which is the Bard's Treasure)
I will expend, to adorn
Thy graces, if your Source of Joy
In equal appreciation
One but open, so we mutually grace.

Delving into the Verse's Ideas

This composition examines the dynamics of passion and praise, as the poet addresses a maiden who seeks his affection. Instead, he suggests a mutual agreement of literary admiration for personal delights. The phraseology is graceful, blending polished conventions with frank utterances of longing.

Through the verses, the poet dismisses usual themes of one-sided love, including grief and lamentation, claiming they dim true grace. The speaker chooses delight and admiration to showcase the maiden's qualities, vowing to portray her vision as radiant stars and her tresses as streaming air. The approach emphasizes a pragmatic yet skillful perspective on relationships.

Key Aspects of the Piece

  • Mutual Agreement: The work focuses on a suggestion of tribute in exchange for pleasure, highlighting parity between the individuals.
  • Rejection of Standard Ideas: The poet criticizes typical artistic devices like grief and metaphors of suffering, preferring optimistic descriptions.
  • Poetic Skill: The application of diverse line measures and flow displays the poet's mastery in poetry, producing a fluid and captivating read.
Rich Nature's hoard (which is the Poet’s Wealth)
I’l expend, to dress
Thy beauties, if your Source of Pleasure
Through matching gratitude
You but release, so we one another favor.

The section captures the central arrangement, where the writer promises to employ his creative abilities to honor the woman, as compensation for her receptiveness. The language combines spiritual hints with physical desires, providing depth to the poem's theme.

Mark Mitchell Jr.
Mark Mitchell Jr.

A passionate traveler and writer who has explored over 50 countries, sharing insights and stories to inspire others to wander.