Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep (Sonnet 153)
Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep (Sonnet 153)
1564 – 1616
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.
About
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist
[{"id":6120,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/02\/20\/major-2026-book-festivals-in-the-uk\/","name":"major-2026-book-festivals-in-the-uk","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ahmadardity-books-5053733_1280.jpg","alt":"Major 2026 book festivals in the UK"},"title":"Major 2026 Book Festivals in the UK","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 20, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-20 12:45:31","modifiedDate":"2026-02-20 15:26:14","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-20 15:26:14","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/events\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Events<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/events\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Events<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/book-festivals-in-the-uk-2026\/' rel='post_tag'>Book festivals in the UK 2026<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/book-festivals-uk\/' rel='post_tag'>book festivals uk<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/uk-festivals\/' rel='post_tag'>uk festivals<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":4,"sec":16},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Major 2026 book festivals in the UK include the renowned Hay Festival (May\/June), Edinburgh International Book Festival (August), and Oxford Literary Festival (March). These events feature author talks, workshops, and signings, alongside specialized events like the Bath Children\u2019s Literature Festival. Other notable gatherings include the York Literature Festival and Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival"},{"id":5914,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/02\/10\/word-of-the-day-vindicate\/","name":"word-of-the-day-vindicate","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Word-of-the-Day-Vindicate.png","alt":"Word of the Day Vindicate"},"title":"Word of the Day Vindicate","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 10, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-10 15:31:10","modifiedDate":"2026-02-10 15:38:52","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-10 15:38:52","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/word-of-the-day\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Word of the Day<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Vocabulary<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/word-of-the-day\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Word of the Day<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Vocabulary<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":50},"status":"publish","excerpt":"To clear someone of blame or suspicion; to prove that someone or something is right, justified, or deserved."},{"id":5881,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/02\/06\/7-key-benefits-of-colouring-book-pages\/","name":"7-key-benefits-of-colouring-book-pages","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/7-Key-Benefits-of-Colouring-Book-Pages-Thumbnail-.png","alt":"7 Key Benefits of Colouring Book Pages Thumbnail"},"title":"7 Key Benefits of Colouring Book Pages","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 6, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-06 13:56:26","modifiedDate":"2026-02-06 14:15:33","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-06 14:15:33","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/colouring-books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Colouring Books<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/colouring-books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Colouring Books<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":8,"sec":15},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Coloring offers a wide range of mental and physical benefits for both children and adults, primarily by promoting relaxation and stimulating various cognitive functions."},{"id":5861,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/02\/05\/3-fantastic-benfits-of-word-search\/","name":"3-fantastic-benfits-of-word-search","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mastering-Finance-Word-Search6.png","alt":"Mastering Finance Word Search"},"title":"3 Fantastic Benefits of Word Search","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 5, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-05 10:45:39","modifiedDate":"2026-02-05 10:59:59","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-05 10:59:59","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Vocabulary<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Vocabulary<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/3-fantastic-benefits-of-word-search\/' rel='post_tag'>3 Fantastic Benefits of Word Search<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/word-search\/' rel='post_tag'>word search<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/word-search-puzzle\/' rel='post_tag'>word search puzzle<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/word-search-puzzles\/' rel='post_tag'>word search puzzles<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":6,"sec":11},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":5850,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/02\/03\/word-of-the-day-scrupulous\/","name":"word-of-the-day-scrupulous","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Word-of-the-Day-Scrupulous.png","alt":"Word of the day scrupulous"},"title":"Word of the Day Scrupulous","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 3, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-03 13:09:12","modifiedDate":"2026-02-03 13:10:57","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-03 13:10:57","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/word-of-the-day\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Word of the Day<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/word-of-the-day\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Word of the Day<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":16},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":5847,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/02\/02\/february-by-margaret-atwood\/","name":"february-by-margaret-atwood","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"February by Margaret Atwood","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 2, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-02 16:21:27","modifiedDate":"2026-02-02 16:21:49","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-02 16:21:49","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/february-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">February Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/february-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">February Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/margaret-atwood\/' rel='post_tag'>Margaret atwood<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":14},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":5845,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/02\/02\/february-by-ralph-hodgson\/","name":"february-by-ralph-hodgson","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"February by Ralph Hodgson","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 2, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-02 16:07:30","modifiedDate":"2026-02-02 16:07:40","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-02 16:07:40","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/february-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">February Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/february-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">February Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/february-poems\/' rel='post_tag'>february poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poems\/' rel='post_tag'>poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poetry\/' rel='post_tag'>poetry<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":2},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":4075,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/28\/what-is-sarcophagus\/","name":"what-is-sarcophagus","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Marble_sarcophagus_with_the_Triumph_of_Dionysos_and_the_Seasons_3rd_century_CE.jpg","alt":"marble sarcophagus"},"title":"What is Sarcophagus?","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 28, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-28 21:42:46","modifiedDate":"2026-01-28 21:48:14","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-28 21:48:14","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Vocabulary<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Vocabulary<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":26},"status":"publish","excerpt":"A sarcophagus is a stone coffin, typically elaborate and decorated, used for burying the wealthy or important figures in ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and Rome, serving as a protective vessel for the body and a significant piece of funerary art often containing religious imagery and texts"},{"id":3847,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/27\/word-of-the-day-sacrosanct\/","name":"word-of-the-day-sacrosanct","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Word-of-the-Day-Sacrosanct.png","alt":"Word of the Day Sacrosanct"},"title":"Word of the Day Sacrosanct","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 27, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-27 16:32:49","modifiedDate":"2026-01-27 16:47:01","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-27 16:47:01","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Vocabulary<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/word-of-the-day\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Word of the Day<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Vocabulary<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/vocabulary\/word-of-the-day\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Word of the Day<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/sacrosanct\/' rel='post_tag'>sacrosanct<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/word-of-the-day\/' rel='post_tag'>word of the day<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":34},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3781,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/23\/best-selling-spanish-books\/","name":"best-selling-spanish-books","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/pexels-photo-1256890.jpeg","alt":"bookshelves filled with books"},"title":"Best Selling Spanish Books","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 23, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-23 23:05:31","modifiedDate":"2026-01-23 23:09:08","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-23 23:09:08","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/best-selling-books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Best Selling Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/best-selling-books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Best Selling Books<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Books<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/best-selling-spanish-books\/' rel='post_tag'>Best selling spanish books<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/spanish-books\/' rel='post_tag'>spanish books<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":5},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3765,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/22\/raise-free-donations\/","name":"raise-free-donations","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/join-emerald-book-club.png","alt":"join emerald book club on easy fundraising"},"title":"Raise FREE Donations","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 22, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-22 12:57:05","modifiedDate":"2026-01-22 12:57:13","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-22 12:57:13","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Emerald Book Club<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":4},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":3762,"link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/2026\/01\/21\/the-language\/","name":"the-language","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"The Language","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Admin","link":"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Jan 21, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-21 23:55:37","modifiedDate":"2026-01-21 23:55:45","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-21 23:55:45","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/love-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Love Poems<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/poems\/love-poems\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Love Poems<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/category\/emerald-book-club\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Poetry<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/love-poems\/' rel='post_tag'>love poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poems\/' rel='post_tag'>poems<\/a><a href='https:\/\/emeraldbookclub.org\/tag\/poetry\/' rel='post_tag'>poetry<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":14},"status":"publish","excerpt":""}]
