Shakespeare's Sonnets Navigator Summary of Sonnet 154 in the Table of Contents Notes for Sonnet 154

Shakespeare's Sonnet 154


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

<<<  Previous Back to the beginning  >>>