Sonnet 54

O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem         如果用真挚来做华丽的装潢，

By that sweet ornament which truth doth give!       那美人看起来会更神采飞扬。

The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem          玫瑰芳菲我们以为会更漂亮,

For that sweet odour which doth in it live.         因为它散发沁人心脾的芬芳。

The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye           野蔷薇花浓墨妖娆动人心房，

As the perfumed tincture of the roses,              与馨香四溢的玫瑰花儿一样。

Hang on such thorns and play as wantonly            夏风撩拨蒙纱的蓓蕾小嘴张，

When summer's breath their masked buds discloses:   挂在枝头搔首弄姿招摇怒放。

But, for their virtue only is their show,           但她们的美德只在卖弄色相，

They live unwoo'd and unrespected fade,             凋零无人顾，绽放也无人赏。

Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so;           与玫瑰不同野蔷薇萧然衰亡。

Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made:     而玫瑰的艳骨可以提炼凝香。

And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,          你也如此，美丽可人正华风，

When that shall fade, my verse distills your truth. 美逝去时我诗提炼你的赤诚。

－by William Shakespeare (1564－1616)         东海仙子译