In the old age black was not counted fair,
Or if it were, it bore not beauty's name;
But now is black beauty's successive heir,
And beauty slander'd with a bastard shame:
For since each hand hath put on nature's power,
Fairing the foul with art's false borrow'd face,
Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower,
But is profaned, if not lives in disgrace.
Therefore my mistress' brows are raven black,
Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem
At such who, not born fair, no beauty lack,
Slandering creation with a false esteem:
  Yet so they mourn, becoming of their woe,
  That every tongue says beauty should look so.

在远古的时代黑并不算秀俊，
即使算，也没有把美的名挂上；
但如今黑既成为美的继承人，
于是美便招来了侮辱和诽谤。
因为自从每只手都修饰自然，
用艺术的假面貌去美化丑恶，
温馨的美便失掉声价和圣殿，
纵不忍辱偷生，也遭了亵渎。
所以我情妇的头发黑如乌鸦，
眼睛也恰好相衬，就像在哀泣
那些生来不美却迷人的冤家，
用假名声去中伤造化的真誉。
这哀泣那么配合她们的悲痛，
大家齐声说：这就是美的真容。