From fairest creatures we desire increase,
我们总愿美的物种繁衍昌盛，
That thereby beauty's rose might never die,
好让美的玫瑰永远也不凋零。
But as the riper should by time decease,
纵然时序难逆，物壮必老，
His tender heir might bear his memory;
自有年轻的子孙来一脉相承。
But thou contracted to thine own bright eyes,
而你，却只与自己的明眸定婚，
Feed'st thy light's flame with self-substantial fuel,
焚身为火，好烧出眼中的光明。
Making a famine where abundance lies,
你与自我为敌，作践甜蜜的自身，
Thyself thy foe, to thy sweet self too cruel.
有如在丰饶之地偏造成满目饥民。
Thou that art now the world's fresh ornament,
你是当今世界鲜美的装饰，
And only herald to the gaudy spring,
你是锦绣春光里报春的先行。
Within thine own bud buriest thy content,
你用自己的花苞埋葬了自己的花精，
And, tender churl, mak'st waste in niggarding.
如慷慨的吝啬者用吝啬将血本赔尽。
Pity the world, or else this glutton be,
可怜这个世界吧，否则你就无异贪夫，
To eat the world's due, by the grave and thee.
不留遗嗣在人间，只落得萧条葬孤坟。
