When I do count the clock that tells the time,

And see the brave day sunk in hideous¹ night;

When I behold² the violet past prime,

And sable³ curls all silver'd o'er with white;

When lofty trees I see barren of leaves

Which erst from heat did canopy⁴ the herd⁵,

And summer's green all girded up in sheaves

Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,

Then of thy beauty do I question make,

That thou among the wastes of time must go,

Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake⁶

And die as fast as they see others grow;

And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe⁷ can make defence

Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.

当我数着壁上报时的自鸣钟，

见明媚的白昼坠入狰狞的夜，

当我凝望着紫罗兰老了春容，

青丝的卷发遍洒着皑皑白雪；

当我看见参天的树枝叶尽脱，

它不久前曾荫蔽喘息的牛羊；

夏天的青翠一束一束地就缚，

带着坚挺的白须被舁上殓床；

于是我不禁为你的朱颜焦虑：

终有天你要加入时光的废堆，

既然美和芳菲都把自己抛弃，

眼看着别人生长自己却枯萎；

没什么抵挡得住时光的毒手，

除了生育，当他来要把你拘走。