That you were once unkind befriends me now,
And for that sorrow which I then did feel
Needs must I under my transgression¹ bow,
Unless my nerves were brass² or hammer'd steel.
For if you were by my unkindness shaken
As I by yours, you've pass'd a hell of time,
And I, a tyrant³, have no leisure taken
To weigh how once I suffered in your crime.
O, that our night of woe⁴ might have remember'd
My deepest sense, how hard true sorrow hits,
And soon to you, as you to me, then tender'd
The humble⁵ slave which wounded bosoms⁶ fits!
  But that your trespass⁷ now becomes a fee;
  Mine ransoms⁹ yours, and yours must ransom⁸ me.

你对我狠过心反而于我有利：
想起你当时使我受到的痛创，
我只好在我的过失下把头低，
既然我的神经不是铜或精钢。
因为，你若受过我狠心的摇撼，
像我所受的，该熬过多苦的日子！
可是我这暴君从没有抽过闲
来衡量你的罪行对我的打击！
哦，但愿我们那悲怛之夜能使我
牢牢记住真悲哀打击得多惨，
我就会立刻递给你，像你递给我，
那抚慰碎了的心的微贱药丹。
　　但你的罪行现在变成了保证，
　　我赎你的罪，你也赎我的败行。