When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state
And trouble deal heaven with my bootless cries
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented¹ least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark² at break of day arising
From sullen³ earth, sings hymns⁴ at heaven's gate;
  For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
  That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

当我受尽命运和人们的白眼，
暗暗地哀悼自己的身世飘零，
徒用呼吁去干扰聋瞆的昊天，
顾盼着身影，诅咒自己的生辰，
愿我和另一个一样富于希望，
面貌相似，又和他一样广交游，
希求这人的渊博，那人的内行，
最赏心的乐事觉得最不对头；
可是，当我正要这样看轻自己，
忽然想起了你，于是我的精神，
便像云雀破晓从阴霾的大地
振翮上升，高唱着圣歌在天门：
　　一想起你的爱使我那么富有，
　　和帝王换位我也不屑于屈就。