莎士比亞十四行詩第五十四首:真與美的永恆
O! how much more doth beauty beauteous seem
啊，有了真賦予的甜美的化妝，By that sweet ornament which truth doth give.
美還會展示出多少更多的美。The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem
豔麗玫瑰有了活在花朵中的芬芳，
For that sweet odour, which doth in it live.
在我們的心中會平添出多少嫵媚。The canker blooms have full as deep a dye
野薔薇同樣在帶刺的枝頭懸垂，As the perfumed tincture of the roses,
一如玫瑰那樣活潑地戲弄清風。Hang on such thorns, and play as wantonly
當夏的氣息剝開戴面具的花蕾，When summer's breath their masked buds discloses:
它也有芬芳玫瑰那濃濃的豔紅。But, for their virtue only is their show,
但是，它們的姿色只宜一旁觀賞，They live unwoo'd, and unrespected fade;
活着沒人追求，凋亡沒人憐惜，Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so;
自生自滅；甜美的玫瑰卻不一樣，Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made:
甜美的死亡造出了最甜美的香氣。And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,
同樣，美麗可愛的青年啊，當你姿色不存，When that shall vade, my verse distills your truth.
我筆下的詩歌卻會提煉出你的真。
