As a decrepit¹ father takes delight

To see his active child do deeds of youth,

So I, made lame² by fortune's dearest spite,

Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth.

For whether beauty, birth, or wealth, or wit,

Or any of these all, or all, or more,

Entitled in thy parts do crowned sit,

I make my love engrafted to this store:

So then I am not lame, poor, nor despised,

Whilst that this shadow doth such substance give

That I in thy abundance am sufficed

And by a part of all thy glory live.

Look, what is best, that best I wish in thee:

This wish I have; then ten times happy me!

像一个衰老的父亲高兴去看

活泼的儿子表演青春的伎俩，

同样，我，受了命运的恶毒摧残，

从你的精诚和美德找到力量。

因为，无论美、门第、财富或才华，

或这一切，或其一，或多于这一切，

在你身上登峰造极，我都把

我的爱在你这个宝藏上嫁接。

那么，我并不残废、贫穷、被轻藐，

既然这种种幻影都那么充实，

使我从你的富裕得满足，并倚靠

你的光荣的一部分安然度日。

看，生命的至宝，我暗祝你尽有：

既有这心愿，我便十倍地无忧。