當(dāng)初我獨(dú)自一個懇求你協(xié)助,
My verse alone had all thy gentle grace,
只有我的詩占有你一切嫵媚;
But now my gracious numbers are decay'd
但現(xiàn)在我清新的韻律既陳腐,
And my sick Muse doth give another place.
我的病詩神只好給別人讓位。
I grant, sweet love, thy lovely argument
我承認(rèn),愛呵,你這美妙的題材
Deserves the travail of a worthier pen,
值得更高明的筆的精寫細(xì)描;
Yet what of thee thy poet doth invent
可是你的詩人不過向你還債,
He robs thee of and pays it thee again.
他把奪自你的當(dāng)作他的創(chuàng)造。
He lends thee virtue and he stole that word
他賜你美德,美德這詞他只從
From thy behavior; beauty doth he give
你的行為偷取;他加給你秀妍,
And found it in thy cheek; he can afford
其實(shí)從你頰上得來;他的歌頌
No praise to thee but what in thee doth live.
沒有一句不是從你身上發(fā)見。
Then thank him not for that which he doth say,
那么,請別感激他對你的稱贊,
Since what he owes thee thou thyself dost pay.
既然他只把欠你的向你償還。