🔗 Share this article

Now you have freely given me leave to love,
How will you act?
Am I to your joy, or passion stir,
Once I begin to pursue;
Will you torment, or disdain, or cherish me too?

Each petty charm can disdain, and I
Spight of your aversion
Without your consent can observe, and perish;
Bestow a loftier Lot!
’Tis easy to destroy, you can fashion.

Therefore grant me permission to cherish, & cherish me too
Lacking intent
To raise, as Affection's damned rebels act
As puling Versifiers lament,
Fame to their charm, from their weeping eyes.

Sorrow is a pond and mirrors not distinct
Your grace's rayes;
Delights are pure currents, your eyes appear
Morose in gloomier verses,
Within happy numbers they radiate luminous with prayse.

Which shall not mention to describe you fayr
Injuries, flames, and arrows,
Storms in your countenance, traps in your locks,
Corrupting all your attributes,
Either to betray, or torture trapped hearts.

I will cause your gaze like dawn orbs seem,
Just as gentle, and fayr;
Your forehead as glass smooth, and pure,
And your tousled hair
Shall drift like a serene Area of the Air.

Wealthy Nature's treasury (which is the Poet’s Treasure)
I’l use, to dress
Thy beauties, if your Wellspring of Delight
With matching gratitude
Thou but release, so we mutually grace.

Delving into the Verse's Ideas

The piece examines the interplay of love and acclaim, where the speaker addresses a lady who desires his love. Instead, he offers a reciprocal arrangement of literary tribute for private delights. The language is elegant, combining refined traditions with direct expressions of longing.

Within the lines, the writer spurns usual themes of unreturned love, including sadness and tears, stating they cloud true beauty. He chooses joy and acclaim to showcase the woman's features, promising to render her eyes as radiant orbs and her locks as streaming breeze. The method highlights a practical yet skillful perspective on relationships.

Important Elements of the Composition

• Reciprocal Agreement: The verse revolves on a proposal of admiration in trade for delight, emphasizing parity between the individuals.
• Spurning of Conventional Themes: The speaker condemns usual artistic tools like grief and metaphors of suffering, choosing positive descriptions.
• Artistic Craftsmanship: The use of varied verse measures and cadence showcases the poet's expertise in composition, producing a graceful and compelling text.

Abundant Nature’s treasury (which is the Writer's Treasure)
I will spend, to adorn
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Delight
Through matching thankfulness
One but unlock, so we each other bless.

The section summarizes the core deal, where the poet vows to employ his artistic gifts to celebrate the lady, in exchange for her openness. This wording mixes spiritual undertones with earthly desires, giving depth to the work's meaning.