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 subtleties.
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。