In the old age black was not counted fair,
Or if it were, it bore not beauty's name;
But now is black beauty's successive heir,
And beauty slander'd with a bastard¹ shame:
For since each hand hath put on nature's power,
Fairing the foul² with art's false borrow'd face,
Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower,
But is profaned³, if not lives in disgrace.
Therefore my mistress' brows are raven⁴ black,
Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem
At such who, not born fair, no beauty lack,
Slandering creation with a false esteem:
  Yet so they mourn, becoming of their woe,
  That every tongue says beauty should look so.

在远古的时代黑并不算秀俊，
即使算，也没有把美的名挂上；
但如今黑既成为美的继承人，
于是美便招来了侮辱和诽谤。
因为自从每只手都修饰自然，
用艺术的假面貌去美化丑恶，
温馨的美便失掉声价和圣殿，
纵不忍辱偷生，也遭了亵渎。
所以我情妇的头发黑如乌鸦，
眼睛也恰好相衬，就像在哀泣
那些生来不美却迷人的冤家，
用假名声去中伤造化的真誉。
　　这哀泣那么配合她们的悲痛，
　　大家齐声说：这就是美的真容。