O, that you were your self! But, love, you are
No longer yours than you yourself here live;
Against this coming end you should prepare,
And your sweet semblance to some other give.
So should that beauty which you hold in lease
Find no determination; then you were
Yourself again after yourself's decease
When your sweet issue your sweet form should bear.
Who lets so fair a house fall to decay,
Which husbandry in honor might uphold
Against the stormy gusts of winter's day
And barren rage of death's eternal cold?
O, none but unthrifts, dear my love, you know.
You had a father; let your son say so.
哟,但愿你是你自己!我的爱,
要成为自己,你得活在世上;
你该准备对抗末日的到来,
可爱的仪容得交他人收藏。
只有这样,你租赁所得的美
才不会终结,你可爱的儿孙
将拥有你无比俊秀的体态,
那时你才真正拥有你自身。
谁甘心这华美的屋宇倒塌,
而不想勤勉维护,以便抵抗
冬天狂风暴雨的猛吹乱打
以及死神摧毁一切的凶狂?
我的爱,那种人是不肖之徒!
你有令尊,你的儿子应有父。