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Since you've granted me permission to love,
What shall you do?
Am I to your delight, or ardor arouse,
When I begin to woo;
Shall you distress, or disdain, or adore me too?

Each petty grace can disdain, and I
In spite of your dislike
Without your permission can see, and perish;
Bestow a grander Lot!
It is effortless to destroy, you can fashion.

Therefore allow me leave to cherish, & adore me too
Lacking design
To raise, as Affection's damned rebels act
While whining Poets lament,
Acclaim to their charm, from their tearful eyes.

Grief is a pool and mirrors not bright
Your grace's beams;
Delights are pure currents, your eyes appear
Morose in gloomier verses,
In happy numbers they radiate luminous with acclaim.

Which shall not refer to express you fayr
Wounds, flames, and arrows,
Tempests in your countenance, nets in your hayr,
Bribing all your parts,
Or else to betray, or torture trapped hearts.

I will make your eyes like morning stars appear,
As soft, and lovely;
Thy countenance as Crystall even, and transparent,
While your dishevelled locks
Shall flow like a calm Area of the Ayr.

Rich The natural world's treasury (which is the Bard's Wealth)
I will spend, to adorn
Thy graces, if your Source of Delight
In equall gratitude
Thou but open, so we mutually favor.

Exploring the Verse's Motifs

This piece explores the relationship of passion and acclaim, as the poet engages with a lady who desires his love. Instead, he proposes a mutual arrangement of artistic praise for private delights. This language is refined, combining courtly conventions with direct expressions of longing.

Through the lines, the poet spurns common themes of unrequited affection, including sorrow and weeping, arguing they obscure true charm. He chooses happiness and praise to highlight the woman's qualities, vowing to depict her gaze as shining stars and her tresses as streaming atmosphere. This approach underscores a realistic yet artful outlook on bonds.

Significant Aspects of the Work

• Shared Exchange: The work centers on a proposal of praise in return for delight, stressing balance between the parties.
• Dismissal of Standard Themes: The poet disparages typical literary devices like sorrow and similes of anguish, favoring optimistic depictions.
• Poetic Skill: The employment of diverse line lengths and cadence showcases the writer's proficiency in poetry, forming a smooth and captivating read.

Rich Nature’s store (which is the Poet’s Treasure)
I shall spend, to dress
One's charms, if your Source of Pleasure
With equal appreciation
You but release, so we one another bless.

The section encapsulates the core arrangement, in which the author promises to utilize his creative gifts to honor the lady, in exchange for her willingness. This wording blends devout undertones with earthly yearnings, adding profundity to the poem's meaning.