When I do count the clock that tells the time,
And see the brave day sunk in hideous¹ night;
When I behold² the violet past prime,
And sable³ curls all silver'd o'er with white;
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves
Which erst from heat did canopy⁴ the herd,
And summer's green all girded up in sheaves
Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,
Then of thy beauty do I question make,
That thou among the wastes of time must go,
Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake
And die as fast as they see others grow;
  And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe⁵ can make defence
  Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.

当我数着壁上报时的自鸣钟，
见明媚的白昼坠入狰狞的夜，
当我凝望着紫罗兰老了春容，
青丝的卷发遍洒着皑皑白雪；
当我看见参天的树枝叶尽脱，
它不久前曾荫蔽喘息的牛羊；
夏天的青翠一束一束地就缚，
带着坚挺的白须被舁上殓床；
于是我不禁为你的朱颜焦虑：
终有天你要加入时光的废堆，
既然美和芳菲都把自己抛弃，
眼看着别人生长自己却枯萎；
　　没什么抵挡得住时光的毒手，
　　除了生育，当他来要把你拘走。