# Sonnet CLIII explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Cupid falls asleep, and a maid of Diana steals his fire to create a healing bath. Yet the poet finds no cure there, for his true remedy lies in his mistress's eyes, where Cupid rekindles his flame.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Desire

The poet's love and desire are depicted as a sickness that only his mistress's eyes can cure.

### Lust and Morality

Cupid's fire, associated with lust, is repurposed for healing, yet the poet's own lust remains unquenched.

## Character check-ins

### Cupid

Cupid lays aside his brand and falls asleep, allowing his fire to be stolen.

### Love

Love's brand is used to create a healing bath, but the poet's cure is found only in his mistress's eyes.

## Key lines

> 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;

Cupid put down his torch and fell asleep, and a servant of Diana seized the chance to dip his love-igniting fire into a cold spring in a valley.

_The maid steals Cupid's fire to create a healing bath._

> 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.

But Love's torch was rekindled in my mistress's eye, and Cupid, to test it, touched my chest; I, now lovesick, sought the bath's remedy and went there as a sorrowful patient, but found no cure—the true cure lies where Cupid got his new fire: my mistress's eyes.

_The poet realizes that only his mistress's eyes can heal his love-sickness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/cliii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters