前一页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.
1、The little love-god:i.e. Cupid.
2、heart-inflaming brand，参见153.3注。 brand:torch.
3、nymphs:i.e. beautiful maids of Diana's，参见153.2注。
5、votary:古希腊，罗马多神教神的信徒。
6、legions:hosts,multitudes.
7、general:captain,i.e. Cupid.
8、Was sleeping...disarmed:While asleep was disarmed.
9、well:spring,fountain；指“泉水”而非“井水”。 by:nearby；此首共用了五个by（第2，4，8，9，13行），其用法，意义各不相同。
10、fire,perpetual,fire读两个音节， perpetual 读三个音节。
11、Growing:Becoming.bath:hot spring,温泉。
12、thrall:slave.
13、this:the following (见下行），为prove 的宾语。that:(1)the fact that I came there but found no cure；(2)the happening described in 1-12. prove:(1)find to be true；(2)show to be true.
日期: 2007年4月23 周一