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Sonnet CLIII. [Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep:]

by William Shakespeare, 1609

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.

Published in Shakespeare's Sonnets
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