From fairest creatures we desire increase,

我们要美丽的生命不断繁息，

That thereby¹ beauty's rose might never die,

能这样，美的玫瑰才永不消亡，

But as the riper should by time decease,

既然成熟的东西都不免要谢世，

His tender heir might bear his memory;

优美的子孙就应当来承继芬芳：

But thou contracted to thine own bright eyes,

但是你跟你明亮的眼睛结了亲，

Feed'st thy light's flame with self-substantial fuel,

把自身当柴烧，烧出了眼睛的光彩，

Making a famine where abundance lies,

这就在丰收的地方造成了饥馑，

Thyself thy foe², to thy sweet self too cruel.

你是跟自己作对，教自己受害。

Thou that art now the world's fresh ornament³,

如今你是世界上鲜艳的珍品，

And only herald⁴ to the gaudy⁵ spring,

只有你能够替灿烂的春天开路，

Within thine own bud buriest thy content,

你却在自己的花蕾里埋葬了自身，

And, tender churl⁶, mak'st waste in niggarding.

温柔的怪物呵，用吝啬浪费了全部。

Pity the world, or else this glutton⁷ be,

可怜这世界吧，世界应得的东西

To eat the world's due, by the grave and thee.

别让你和坟墓吞吃到一无所遗！