'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd,
When not to be receives reproach of being,
And the just pleasure lost which is so deem'd
Not by our feeling but by others' seeing:
For why should others false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am, and they that level
At my abuses reckon up their own:
I may be straight, though they themselves be bevel;
By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown;
  Unless this general evil they maintain,
  All men are bad, and in their badness reign.

宁可卑劣，也不愿负卑劣的虚名，
当我们的清白蒙上不白之冤，
当正当的娱乐被人妄加恶声，
不体察我们的感情，只凭偏见。
为什么别人虚伪淫猥的眼睛
有权赞扬或诋毁我活跃的血？
专侦伺我的弱点而比我坏的人
为什么把我认为善的恣意污蔑？
我就是我，他们对于我的诋毁
只能够宣扬他们自己的卑鄙：
我本方正，他们的视线自不轨；
这种坏心眼怎么配把我非议？
除非他们固执这糊涂的邪说：
恶是人性，统治着世间的是恶。