For a Lady That Requested Me to Show Affection

Now you have granted me consent to love,
How will you do?
Shall I your delight, or emotion move,
Once I begin to court;
Shall you distress, or mock, or cherish me too?

Every minor grace can reject, and I
Spight of your dislike
Without your permission can see, and succumb;
Grant a grander Destiny!
It is effortless to destroy, you could create.

Thus grant me consent to love, & adore me too
Not with intent
To raise, as Love's cursed rebels do
While complaining Poets moan,
Acclaim to their beauty, from their weeping gaze.

Sadness is a pond and reflects not distinct
Thy beauty’s rayes;
Joyes are pure currents, your eyes look
Sullen in gloomier verses,
Within happy lines they gleam bright with acclaim.

What will not refer to describe you lovely
Injuries, fires, and arrows,
Storms in your countenance, nets in your hayr,
Bribing all your attributes,
Or to deceive, or torment ensnared affections.

I shall render your vision like morning suns seem,
Like gentle, and fair;
Your forehead as Crystall smooth, and clear,
Whereas your dishevelled hair
Shall flow like a tranquil Region of the Air.

Rich Nature's hoard (which is the Poet’s Treasure)
I’l spend, to dress
Your graces, if your Mine of Pleasure
In equall thankfulness
You but unlock, so we one another grace.

Delving into the Verse's Motifs

This piece delves the dynamics of love and acclaim, where the speaker engages with a lady who desires his devotion. Instead, he proposes a reciprocal agreement of artistic tribute for intimate pleasures. This phraseology is refined, combining polished norms with frank expressions of yearning.

In the stanzas, the writer spurns common tropes of one-sided affection, such as sorrow and tears, arguing they obscure true beauty. He favors happiness and admiration to highlight the lady's features, assuring to depict her vision as bright suns and her hair as flowing atmosphere. This technique underscores a pragmatic yet clever outlook on connections.

Important Aspects of the Piece

  • Reciprocal Agreement: The verse focuses on a offer of tribute in trade for pleasure, emphasizing parity between the individuals.
  • Rejection of Traditional Themes: The poet disparages usual artistic devices like grief and similes of suffering, choosing upbeat depictions.
  • Artistic Craftsmanship: The use of diverse verse patterns and flow displays the poet's proficiency in composition, producing a smooth and engaging experience.
Rich The natural world's treasury (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I’l use, to dress
Your graces, if your Mine of Pleasure
In matching gratitude
Thou but release, so we each other bless.

This section summarizes the core arrangement, in which the writer promises to use his artistic gifts to celebrate the maiden, in return for her willingness. This wording mixes spiritual hints with physical yearnings, adding profundity to the verse's message.

Thomas Parks
Thomas Parks

A seasoned career coach with over a decade of experience in HR and talent development, passionate about helping professionals thrive.