Sonnet CLIV (154)

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.

Sonnet CLIII (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 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.

Sonnet CLII (152)

In loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn, 

But thou art twice forsworn; to me love swearing,

In act thy bed-vow broke and new faith torn, 

In vowing new hate after new love bearing. 

But why of two oaths' breach do I accuse thee,

When I break twenty? I am perjured most;

For all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee

And all my honest faith in thee is lost,

For I have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness,

Oaths of thy love, thy truth, thy constancy,

And, to enlighten thee, gave eyes to blindness,

Or made them swear against the thing they see;

   For I have sworn thee fair; more perjur'd I,

   To swear against the truth so foul a lie!