Shakespeare's Sonnets Navigator Summary of Sonnet 153 in the Table of Contents Notes for Sonnet 153

Shakespeare's 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].

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