'Tis better to be vile¹ than vile esteem'd,
When not to be receives reproach of being,
And the just pleasure lost which is so deem'd
Not by our feeling but by others' seeing:
For why should others false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties² why are frailer³ spies,
Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am, and they that level
At my abuses reckon up their own:
I may be straight, though they themselves be bevel;
By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown;
  Unless this general evil they maintain,
  All men are bad, and in their badness reign⁴.

宁可卑劣，也不愿负卑劣的虚名，
当我们的清白蒙上不白之冤，
当正当的娱乐被人妄加恶声，
不体察我们的感情，只凭偏见。
为什么别人虚伪淫猥的眼睛
有权赞扬或诋毁我活跃的血？
专侦伺我的弱点而比我坏的人
为什么把我认为善的恣意污蔑？
我就是我，他们对于我的诋毁
只能够宣扬他们自己的卑鄙：
我本方正，他们的视线自不轨；
这种坏心眼怎么配把我非议？
　　除非他们固执这糊涂的邪说：
　　恶是人性，统治着世间的是恶。