Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 153
For other versions of this work, see Sonnet 153 (Shakespeare).
153
Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep:
A maid of Dian's this advantage found,
And his love-kindling fire did quickly steep
In a cold valley-fountain of that ground; 4
Which borrow'd from this holy fire of Love
A dateless lively heat, still to endure,
And grew a seething bath, which yet men prove
Against strange maladies a sovereign cure. 8
But at my mistress' eye Love's brand new-fired,
The boy for trial needs would touch my breast;
I, sick withal, the help of bath desired,
And thither hied, a sad distemper'd guest, 12
But found no cure: the bath for my help lies
Where Cupid got new fire, my mistress' eyes.
1–14 Cf. n.
1 brand: torch
2 advantage: favorable opportunity
6 dateless: eternal
9 new-fired: kindled again