Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,

Some in their wealth, some in their bodies' force,

Some in their garments, though new-fangled ill,

Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;

And every humour hath his adjunct pleasure,

Wherein it finds a joy above the rest:

But these particulars are not my measure;

All these I better in one general best.

Thy love is better than high birth to me,

Richer than wealth, prouder than garments' cost,

Of more delight than hawks or horses be;

And having thee, of all men's pride I boast:

Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take

All this away and me most wretched make.

有人夸耀门第，有人夸耀技巧，

有人夸耀财富，有人夸耀体力；

有人夸耀新妆，丑怪尽管时髦；

有人夸耀鹰犬，有人夸耀骏骥；

每种嗜好都各饶特殊的趣味，

每一种都各自以为其乐无穷：

可是这些癖好都不合我口胃--

我把它们融入更大的乐趣中。

你的爱对我比门第还要豪华，

比财富还要丰裕，比艳妆光彩，

它的乐趣远胜过鹰犬和骏马；

有了你，我便可以笑傲全世界：

　　只有这点可怜：你随时可罢免

　　我这一切，使我成无比的可怜。