Sonnets of William Shakespeare-Sonnet 153

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 seething¹ 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 thither² hied, a sad distemper'd guest,
  But found no cure: the bath for my help lies
  Where Cupid got new fire--my mistress' eyes.

爱神放下他的火炬，沉沉睡去：
月神的一个仙女乘了这机会
赶快把那枝煽动爱火的火炬
浸入山间一道冷冰冰的泉水；
泉水，既从这神圣的火炬得来
一股不灭的热，就永远在燃烧，
变成了沸腾的泉，一直到现在
还证实具有起死回生的功效。
但这火炬又在我情妇眼里点火，
为了试验，爱神碰一下我胸口，
我马上不舒服，又急躁又难过，
一刻不停地跑向温泉去求救，
　　但全不见效：能治好我的温泉
　　只有新燃起爱火的、我情人的眼。