Addressing a Lady Who Requested Me to Love Her

Now you have granted me permission to love,
What shall you act?
Will I your joy, or ardor move,
Once I begin to pursue;
Will you trouble, or mock, or adore me too?

Every minor grace can disdain, and I
In spite of your hate
Lacking your consent can see, and succumb;
Grant a loftier Lot!
’Tis easy to ruin, you may fashion.

Then allow me permission to adore, & cherish me too
Without intent
To raise, as Affection's damned rebels behave
While whining Versifiers lament,
Renown to their beauty, from their weeping gaze.

Sorrow is a pool and mirrors not distinct
Thy charm's rayes;
Joyes are untainted streams, your gaze seem
Gloomy in gloomier songs,
Within happy verses they shine bright with prayse.

Which will not allude to portray you fayr
Injuries, fires, and darts,
Storms in your forehead, snares in your locks,
Bribing all your features,
Or to betray, or torture trapped hearts.

I will cause your vision like dawn stars appear,
Just as soft, and fayr;
Your countenance as Crystall polished, and transparent,
While your unkempt hayr
Will drift like a calm Zone of the Atmosphere.

Abundant Nature’s treasury (which is the Writer's Riches)
I shall expend, to embellish
Your charms, if your Source of Joy
Through equall gratitude
Thou but unlock, so we each other bless.

Examining the Poem's Ideas

The piece delves the relationship of affection and acclaim, in which the speaker speaks to a lady who seeks his love. Conversely, he proposes a reciprocal arrangement of literary tribute for private favors. The language is elegant, blending polished norms with direct expressions of yearning.

In the stanzas, the poet rejects typical motifs of unrequited passion, like sadness and tears, claiming they obscure true beauty. He prefers joy and acclaim to emphasize the woman's features, vowing to portray her gaze as bright orbs and her locks as drifting air. The technique emphasizes a pragmatic yet clever outlook on relationships.

Significant Elements of the Composition

  • Shared Exchange: The verse focuses on a proposal of praise in exchange for enjoyment, stressing balance between the parties.
  • Dismissal of Standard Motifs: The narrator condemns common artistic techniques like grief and imagery of pain, preferring positive descriptions.
  • Poetic Artistry: The employment of mixed line patterns and rhythm showcases the author's proficiency in poetry, producing a smooth and engaging experience.
Rich Nature's hoard (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I will use, to dress
Your graces, if your Mine of Pleasure
Through matching appreciation
One but open, so we one another favor.

This verse encapsulates the central bargain, as the writer vows to employ his creative talents to celebrate the lady, as compensation for her willingness. The language mixes pious overtones with physical desires, providing complexity to the poem's theme.

Taylor Chandler
Taylor Chandler

Tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for exploring emerging technologies and their impact on society.