That god forbid that made me first your slave,
I should in thought control your times of pleasure,
Or at your hand the account of hours to crave,
Being your vassal¹, bound to stay your leisure!
O, let me suffer, being at your beck,
The imprison'd absence of your liberty;
And patience, tame to sufferance, bide² each cheque,
Without accusing you of injury.
Be where you list, your charter is so strong
That you yourself may privilege your time
To what you will; to you it doth belong
Yourself to pardon of self-doing crime.
  I am to wait, though waiting so be hell;
  Not blame your pleasure, be it ill or well.

那使我做你奴隶的神不容我，
如果我要管制你行乐的时光，
或者清算你怎样把日子消磨，
既然是奴隶，就得听从你放浪：
让我忍受，既然什么都得依你，
你那自由的离弃（于我是监牢）；
让忍耐，惯了，接受每一次申斥，
绝不会埋怨你对我损害分毫。
无论你高兴到哪里，你那契约
那么有效，你自有绝对的主权
去支配你的时间；你犯的罪过
你也有主权随意把自己赦免。
　　我只能等待，虽然等待是地狱，
　　不责备你行乐，任它是善或恶。