How can I then return in happy plight,
That am debarr'd the benefit of rest?
When day's oppression is not eased by night,
But day by night, and night by day, oppress'd?
And each, though enemies to either's reign,
Do in consent shake hands to torture me;
The one by toil¹, the other to complain
How far I toil, still farther off from thee.
I tell the day, to please them thou art bright
And dost him grace when clouds do blot² the heaven:
So flatter I the swart-complexion'd night,
When sparkling stars twire not thou gild'st the even.
  But day doth daily draw my sorrows longer
  And night doth nightly make grief's strength seem stronger.

那么，我怎么能够喜洋洋归来，
既然得不着片刻身心的安息？
当白天的压逼入夜并不稍衰，
只是夜继日、日又继夜地压逼？
日和夜平时虽事事各不相下，
却互相携手来把我轮流挫折，
一个用跋涉，一个却呶呶怒骂，
说我离开你更远，虽整天跋涉。
为讨好白天，我告它你是光明，
在阴云密布时你将把它映照。
我又这样说去讨黑夜的欢心：
当星星不眨眼，你将为它闪耀。
　　但天天白天尽拖长我的苦痛，
　　夜夜黑夜又使我的忧思转凶。