Source: Project Gutenberg eBook #1041, Shakespeare's Sonnets
Source URL: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1041
Public domain basis: Complete text of the 154 sonnets. Public domain.
Coverage: Complete individual poem extracted from parent edition shakespeares-sonnets at bytes 95782-96391; checksum a5dff97dbf603ac95346ce924e1a58ba7190d9644a88e25f85af6ac341d5c937.


# Sonnet 154

CLIV

The little Love-god lying once asleep,
Laid by his side his heart-inflaming brand,
Whilst many nymphs that vow’d chaste life to keep
Came tripping by; but in her maiden hand
The fairest votary took up that fire
Which many legions of true hearts had warm’d;
And so the general of hot desire
Was, sleeping, by a virgin hand disarm’d.
This brand she quenched in a cool well by,
Which from Love’s fire took heat perpetual,
Growing a bath and healthful remedy,
For men diseased; but I, my mistress’ thrall,
    Came there for cure and this by that I prove,
    Love’s fire heats water, water cools not love.