When my love swears that she is made of truth
I do believe her, though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutor'd youth,
Unlearned in the world's false subtleties¹.
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false speaking tongue:
On both sides thus is simple truth suppress'd.
But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O, love's best habit is in seeming trust,
And age in love loves not to have years told:
  Therefore I lie with her and she with me,
  And in our faults by lies we flatter'd be.

我爱人赌咒说她浑身是忠实，
我相信她（虽然明知她在撒谎），
让她认为我是个无知的孩子，
不懂得世间种种骗人的勾当。
于是我就妄想她当我还年轻，
虽然明知我盛年已一去不复返；
她的油嘴滑舌我天真地信任：
这样，纯朴的真话双方都隐瞒。
但是为什么她不承认说假话？
为什么我又不承认我已经衰老？
爱的习惯是连信任也成欺诈，
老年谈恋爱最怕把年龄提到。
　　因此，我既欺骗她，她也欺骗我，
　　咱俩的爱情就在欺骗中作乐。