Those lines that I before have writ¹ do lie,
Even those that said I could not love you dearer:
Yet then my judgment² knew no reason why
My most full flame should afterwards burn clearer.
But reckoning time, whose million'd accidents
Creep in 'twixt vows³ and change decrees of kings,
Tan sacred beauty, blunt the sharp'st intents,
Divert strong minds to the course of altering things;
Alas, why, fearing of time's tyranny,
Might I not then say 'Now I love you best,'
When I was certain o'er incertainty,
Crowning the present, doubting of the rest?
  Love is a babe; then might I not say so,
  To give full growth to that which still doth grow?

我从前写的那些诗全都撒谎，
连那些说"我爱你到极点"在内，
可是那时候我的确无法想象
白热的火还发得出更大光辉。
只害怕时光的无数意外事故
钻进密约间，勾销帝王的意旨，
晒黑美色，并挫钝锋锐的企图，
使倔强的心屈从事物的隆替：
唉，为什么，既怵于时光的专横，
我不可说，"现在我爱你到极点，"
当我摆脱掉疑虑，充满着信心，
觉得来日不可期，只掌握目前？
　　爱是婴儿；难道我不可这样讲，
　　去促使在生长中的羽毛丰满？