Those lines that I before have writ do lie,
Even those that said I could not love you dearer:
Yet then my judgment knew no reason why
My most full flame should afterwards burn clearer.
But reckoning time, whose million'd accidents
Creep in 'twixt vows and change decrees of kings,
Tan sacred beauty, blunt the sharp'st intents,
Divert strong minds to the course of altering things;
Alas, why, fearing of time's tyranny,
Might I not then say 'Now I love you best,'
When I was certain o'er incertainty,
Crowning the present, doubting of the rest?
  Love is a babe; then might I not say so,
  To give full growth to that which still doth grow?

我从前写的那些诗全都撒谎，
连那些说"我爱你到极点"在内，
可是那时候我的确无法想象
白热的火还发得出更大光辉。
只害怕时光的无数意外事故
钻进密约间，勾销帝王的意旨，
晒黑美色，并挫钝锋锐的企图，
使倔强的心屈从事物的隆替：
唉，为什么，既怵于时光的专横，
我不可说，"现在我爱你到极点，"
当我摆脱掉疑虑，充满着信心，
觉得来日不可期，只掌握目前？
爱是婴儿；难道我不可这样讲，
去促使在生长中的羽毛丰满？