Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,
Some in their wealth, some in their bodies' force,
Some in their garments, though new-fangled ill,
Some in their hawks¹ and hounds, some in their horse;
And every humour hath his adjunct pleasure,
Wherein it finds a joy above the rest:
But these particulars are not my measure;
All these I better in one general best.
Thy love is better than high birth to me,
Richer than wealth, prouder than garments' cost,
Of more delight than hawks or horses be;
And having thee, of all men's pride I boast:
  Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take
  All this away and me most wretched make.

有人夸耀门第，有人夸耀技巧，
有人夸耀财富，有人夸耀体力；
有人夸耀新妆，丑怪尽管时髦；
有人夸耀鹰犬，有人夸耀骏骥；
每种嗜好都各饶特殊的趣味，
每一种都各自以为其乐无穷：
可是这些癖好都不合我口胃--
我把它们融入更大的乐趣中。
你的爱对我比门第还要豪华，
比财富还要丰裕，比艳妆光彩，
它的乐趣远胜过鹰犬和骏马；
有了你，我便可以笑傲全世界：
　　只有这点可怜：你随时可罢免
　　我这一切，使我成无比的可怜。