Sonnet 012 by William Shakespeare
When I do count the clock that tells the time ,
当我数着壁上报时的自鸣钟,
And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;
见明媚的白昼坠入狰狞的夜,
When I behold the violet past prime,
当我凝望着紫罗兰老了春容,
And sable curls all silver’d o‘er with white;
青丝的卷发遍洒着皑皑白雪;
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves
当我看见参天的树枝叶尽脱,
Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,
它不久前曾荫蔽喘息的牛羊;
And summer’s green all girded up in sheaves
夏天的青翠一束一束地就缚,
Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,
带着坚挺的白须被舁上殓床;
[注]bier:有两解:(1)运庄稼的小推车;(2)简易柩车
Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,
带着坚挺的白须被舁上殓床;
beard 喻:麦芒awn;读音近似于bird,与herd押韵。
Then of thy beauty do I question make,
于是我不禁为你的朱颜焦虑:
That thou among the wastes of time must go,
终有天你要加入时光的废堆,
Since sweets and beauties do themselves for sake
既然美和芳菲都把自己抛弃,
And die as fast as they see others grow;
眼看着别人生长自己却枯萎;
And nothing ’gainst Time‘s scythe can make defence
没人敌的过时间的镰刀呵,
Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
除非生儿育女,死后留有子孙与他作对