Sonnet 154

« Sonnet 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.
–William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 153 and Sonnet 154 are based upon a poem attributed to the Greek poet Marcianus Scholasticus. The poem describes how Cupid has his love brand stolen by nymphs. Sonnet 153 and Sonnet 154 are described as Anacreontic, after the name of a Greek writer who wrote love poems.

The poem not only presents a different version of the traditional Petrarchan mistress, but rather a Dark Lady (from sonnet 127-154). This sonnet also flouts the idea that the poet can make the subject immortal through the authorship of their work. The portrayal of the mistress in this work is different than those of any previous Renaissance sonneteers because it abandons the courtly love tradition where the poet elaborately celebrates the worth of his unattainable lover.

Interpretations

• Bohdan Poraj, for the 2002 compilation album, When Love Speaks (EMI)
• David Tennant, reads this, alongside several other sonnets in From Shakespeare With Love, released in 2009 as a celebration of 400 years of Shakespeare

External links

• Shakespeare's sonnet guide to Sonnet 154.
• A rare Sonnet illustration for 154.