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Now you have freely given me consent to love,
What will you act?
Shall I your delight, or ardor stir,
As I commence court;
Will you distress, or scorn, or cherish me too?

All trivial beauty can disdain, and I
Spight of your aversion
Lacking your permission can observe, and die;
Dispense a nobler Fate!
It is effortless to ruin, you can form.

Then grant me consent to cherish, & adore me too
Not with design
To uplift, as Love's cursed rebels act
As whining Poets lament,
Renown to their grace, from their weeping eyes.

Sorrow is a pond and mirrors not clear
One's beauty’s lights;
Delights are clear streames, your gaze seem
Morose in gloomier songs,
In joyful numbers they radiate brilliant with praise.

What may not refer to describe you fayr
Wounds, flames, and darts,
Storms in your brow, nets in your hair,
Corrupting all your parts,
Or to deceive, or torment ensnared souls.

I will cause your eyes like morning suns seem,
Just as mild, and fayr;
Thy forehead as Crystall smooth, and transparent,
While your tousled hayr
May stream like a serene Region of the Atmosphere.

Wealthy Nature’s store (which is the Writer's Wealth)
I will spend, to adorn
One's charms, if your Source of Joy
In equal gratitude
You but unlock, so we each other favor.

Exploring the Poem's Ideas

The composition examines the interplay of passion and admiration, as the narrator speaks to a lady who seeks his love. Conversely, he offers a mutual exchange of literary admiration for intimate favors. This phraseology is graceful, mixing polished traditions with frank expressions of longing.

Through the stanzas, the poet dismisses typical themes of unrequited love, such as grief and tears, claiming they obscure true grace. He prefers delight and acclaim to showcase the maiden's features, vowing to render her vision as bright orbs and her tresses as streaming atmosphere. The method underscores a pragmatic yet clever outlook on bonds.

Significant Aspects of the Composition

• Reciprocal Agreement: The work focuses on a suggestion of praise in trade for delight, emphasizing balance between the parties.
• Spurning of Standard Ideas: The narrator criticizes typical poetic techniques like sadness and imagery of suffering, choosing upbeat descriptions.
• Artistic Craftsmanship: The use of mixed verse patterns and cadence displays the poet's mastery in verse, creating a smooth and compelling read.

Abundant The natural world's hoard (which is the Writer's Riches)
I will spend, to embellish
Thy charms, if your Wellspring of Joy
With equal thankfulness
One but unlock, so we mutually bless.

This verse captures the central arrangement, in which the author vows to utilize his creative abilities to honor the maiden, in return for her openness. This language combines devout hints with physical longings, providing complexity to the work's theme.