William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet CLIII
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;
Which borrow'd from
this holy fire of Love,
A dateless lively
heat, still to endure,
And grew a seeting
bath, which yet men prove
Against strange maladies
a sovereign cure.
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,
But found no cure, the bath for my help lies
Where Cupid got new fire; my mistress' eyes.
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