[Aquests tres dístics de Marià Escolàstic, autor
del qual no se sap gairebé res, llevat que era advocat i
contemporani d'Agaties Escolàstic, tenen el mèrit, segons alguns
autors, d'haver inspirat els sonets 153 i 154 de William Shakespeare,
si més no indirectament (probablement mitjançant una traducció
italiana o francesa).]
Aquí sota els plàtans, Amor, vençut per la son
agradosa,
dormia, havent lliurat la torxa a les Nimfes;
les Nimfes es deien: “Què hem d'esperar? Que bo seria
sufocar
d'un plegat el foc al cor dels mortals, amb això!”
La torxa, però, calà foc a les aigües; d'aleshores
ençà,
les Nimfes d'Amor aboquen aigua calenta sobre a qui es
banya.
[H. Beckby, Anthologia Graeca, 2ª ed. Munich, Llibre 9,
627]
[B. Baldwin, An Anthology of Byzantine Poetry,
Amsterdam, 1985, pàg. 71]
Sonet
153 de William Shakespeare
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.
Sonet
154 de William Shakespeare
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.
