Sonnet 153

  1. Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep:
  2. A maid of Dian’s this advantage found,
  3. And his love-kindling fire did quickly steep
  4. In a cold valley-fountain of that ground;
  5. Which borrow’d from this holy fire of Love,
  6. A dateless lively heat, still to endure,
  7. And grew a seething bath, which yet men prove
  8. Against strange maladies a sovereign cure.
  9. But at my mistress’ eye Love’s brand new-fired,
  10. The boy for trial needs would touch my breast;
  11. I, sick withal, the help of bath desired,
  12. And thither hied, a sad distemper’d guest,
  13. But found no cure, the bath for my help lies
  14. Where Cupid got new fire; my mistress’ eyes.

Tip: click a line to share it — or shift-click another line to share a range.