Love’s a pool so strong
that it cures men’s maladies.
My cure’s in her eyes. ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

1. Cupid laid by his brand, and fell asleep:— Sonnet CLIII – William Shakespeare ↩

Sonnet CLIII

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.

Your bed-vow breaking
has torn faith and broken oaths.
You are fair. I lie.¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

1. In loving thee thou know’st I am forsworn,— Sonnet CLII – William Shakespeare ↩

Love’s too young to know
what it is here to witness.
In love I rise — fall.¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

1. Love is too young to know what conscience is;— Sonnet CLI – William Shakespeare ↩

What power caused me
to love worthless worthiness?
You hate, yet I love.¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

1. O, from what power hast thou this powerful might— Sonnet CL – William Shakespeare ↩

Cruel, cruel, love,
I worship your faults and yet,
you love another.¹

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1. Canst thou, O cruel! say I love thee not, — Sonnet CXLIX – William Shakespeare ↩

Love’s the blindest guide.
Love’s the most cunning liar.
Blind men can’t but fall.¹

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1. O me, what eyes hath Love put in my head, — Sonnet CXLVIII – William Shakespeare ↩

My love’s a fever;
a disease that seeks no cure —
My love’s black as hell.¹

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1. My love is as a fever, longing still — Sonnet CXLVII – William Shakespeare ↩

Dearth-filled gaiety
paints my body’s outward frame —
death’s death brings me life¹


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1. Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth, — Sonnet CXLVI – William Shakespeare ↩

Love formed lips did hate
but straight ‘twas taught to greet the
dawn with Love’s own song.

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Sonnet CXLV

Those lips that Love's own hand did make
Breathed forth the sound that said 'I hate'
To me that languish'd for her sake;
But when she saw my woeful state,
Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet
Was used in giving gentle doom,
And taught it thus anew to greet:
'I hate' she alter'd with an end,
That follow'd it as gentle day
Doth follow night, who like a fiend
From heaven to hell is flown away;
'I hate' from hate away she threw,
And saved my life, saying 'not you.'

Those lips that Love's own hand did make — Sonnet CXLV - William Shakespeare ↩

Comfort and despair
I love; two love’s tug-of-war —
I’ll live in doubt till … ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

1. Two loves I have of comfort and despair, — Sonnet CXLIV – William Shakespeare ↩

Thy prize flies from thee.
So you fly to catch your ‘catch’.
Still thy ‘Will’ when caught. ¹


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1. Lo! as a careful housewife runs to catch — Sonnet CXLIII – William Shakespeare ↩

My love is my sin;
I’ve robbed other beds their bedding,
I’ve left without leave.¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

1. Love is my sin and thy dear virtue hate,— Sonnet CXLII – William Shakespeare ↩

Mine eyes love you not.
Five senses sense not with lust.
Yet, plagued I have been. ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved.

1. In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes,— Sonnet CXLI – William Shakespeare ↩

The ill need physic,
for want of Physician’s fair.
Love’s my sole madness.¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved.

1. Be wise as thou art cruel; do not press— Sonnet CXL – William Shakespeare ↩

May you slay outright.
Let not your tongue injure me —
Pray thee, end this pain. ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved.

1. O, call not me to justify the wrong — Sonnet CXXXIX – William Shakespeare ↩