As fast as thou shalt wane¹, so fast thou grow'st

你衰败得快，但你将同样迅捷

In one of thine, from that which thou departest;

在你出生的孩子身上生长；

And that fresh blood which youngly thou bestow'st

你趁年轻时灌注的新鲜血液，

Thou mayst call thine, when thou from youth convertest.

依然是属于你的，不怕你衰亡。

Herein lives wisdom, beauty, and increase;

这里存在着智慧，美，繁滋；

Without this, folly², age, and cold decay.

否则是愚笨，衰老，寒冷的腐朽：

If all were minded so, the times should cease,

如果大家不这样，时代会停止，

And threescore year would make the world away.

把世界结束也只消六十个年头。

Let those whom Nature hath not made for store,

有些东西，造化不准备保留，

Harsh, featureless, and rude, barrenly perish.

尽可以丑陋粗糙，没果实就死掉：

Look whom she best endowed, she gave the more;

谁得天独厚，她让你更胜一筹；

Which bounteous³ gift thou shouldst in bounty⁴ cherish.

你就该抚育那恩赐，把它保存好；

She carved thee for her seal, and meant thereby⁵

造化刻你做她的图章，只希望

Thou shouldst print more, not let that copy die.

你多留印鉴，也不让原印消亡。