When I do count the clock that tells the time,

我，计算着时钟算出的时辰，

And see the brave day sunk in hideous¹ night;

看到阴黑夜吞掉伟丽的白日；

When I behold² the violet past prime,

看到紫罗兰失去了鲜艳的青春，

And sable³ curls all silvered o'er with white;

貂黑的鬈发都成了雪白的银丝；

When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,

看到昔日用繁枝密叶为牧人

Which erst from heat did canopy⁴ the herd⁵,

遮荫的高树只剩了几根秃柱子，

And summer's green, all girded up in sheaves,

夏季的葱绿都扎做一捆捆收成，

Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard;

载在柩车上，带着穗头像白胡子——

Then of thy beauty do I question make,

于是，我开始考虑到你的美丽，

That thou among the wastes of time must go,

想你也必定要走进时间的荒夜，

Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake⁶,

芬芳与娇妍总是要放弃自己，

And die as fast as they see others grow,

见别人快长，自己却快快凋谢；

And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe⁷ can make defense⁸,

没人敌得过时间的镰刀啊，除非

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

生儿女，你身后留子孙跟他作对。