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

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

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


© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

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. ¹

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1. 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


© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

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 ↩