English Wordplay ~ Listen and Enjoy
Sonnet 153
In William Shakespeare, His Life and Work Anthony Holden writes: writes: "capitalising a letter - Bath - could see 24 year-old on the road with the Queen's men in 1588."
in The Life and Times of William Shakespeare Peter Levi informs us:
"The last two sonnets are translations from a Greek original in the Palatine Anthology, perhaps by way of a Latin version."
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 seething 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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