To a Lady Who Wished I Would Love Her

Since you've granted me leave to love,
How will you respond?
Will I your delight, or passion arouse,
As I commence court;
Do you trouble, or mock, or adore me too?

All trivial grace can scorn, and I
Spight of your aversion
Absent your permission can observe, and succumb;
Bestow a nobler Fate!
It is effortless to destroy, you can create.

Then allow me leave to love, & adore me too
Not with purpose
To raise, as Loves damned rebels act
As complaining Poets moan,
Renown to their charm, from their tearful gaze.

Sorrow is a pond and shows not bright
Thy grace's beams;
Joys are clear streams, your gaze appear
Sullen in gloomier songs,
In joyful lines they gleam brilliant with acclaim.

Which may not allude to portray you fayr
Harms, flames, and arrows,
Tempests in your forehead, snares in your hair,
Bribing all your features,
Or to trick, or torment captive affections.

I shall make your eyes like sunrise suns appear,
Like soft, and fayr;
One's countenance as crystal smooth, and clear,
Whereas your tousled hayr
Shall stream like a tranquil Region of the Ayr.

Abundant Nature's store (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I shall spend, to embellish
Your beauties, if your Mine of Joy
Through equal appreciation
You but open, so we mutually grace.

Exploring the Work's Themes

This piece explores the relationship of love and acclaim, where the poet speaks to a woman who requests his love. Instead, he proposes a shared exchange of poetic admiration for private favors. This language is elegant, combining courtly conventions with candid statements of yearning.

Through the verses, the writer rejects common themes of unrequited love, including grief and weeping, stating they dim true charm. He chooses joy and admiration to emphasize the maiden's qualities, promising to render her vision as radiant suns and her tresses as streaming breeze. This method emphasizes a practical yet artful outlook on connections.

Key Aspects of the Composition

• Mutual Arrangement: The poem revolves on a suggestion of admiration in exchange for pleasure, emphasizing balance between the parties.
• Rejection of Traditional Ideas: The narrator condemns typical poetic devices like sorrow and similes of pain, favoring optimistic descriptions.
• Artistic Skill: The employment of varied line measures and cadence showcases the poet's expertise in verse, producing a smooth and compelling text.

Rich Nature's hoard (which is the Poet’s Treasure)
I’l expend, to dress
One's charms, if your Source of Pleasure
In equall thankfulness
You but unlock, so we mutually bless.

The verse captures the central deal, in which the author promises to use his creative talents to praise the woman, in return for her willingness. The language blends devout hints with physical desires, providing depth to the verse's message.