莎士比亞談——美

O how much more doth beauty beauteous seem,
嗬，美如果有真來添加光輝，

By that sweet ornament which turth doth give!
它就會顯得更美，更美多少倍！

The rose looks fair,but fairer we it deem
玫瑰是美的，不過我們還認為

For that sweet odor which doth in it live.
使它更美的是它包含的香味。

The canker blooms have full as deep a dye
單看顏色的深度，那麽野薔薇

As the permuned tincture of the roses,
跟含有香味的玫瑰是完全的一類，

Hang on such thorns,and play as wantonly,
野薔薇自從被夏風吹開了蓓蕾，

When summer's breath their masked buds discloses;
也掛在枝頭，也玩得如醉如癡：

But for their virtue only is their show,
但是它們的好處隻在容貌上，

The live unwooed,and unrespected fade,
他們活著沒人愛，也沒人觀賞

Die to themselves.Sweet roses do not so;
就悄然滅亡。玫瑰就不是這樣，

Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made.
死亡還可以提煉出多少芬芳：

And so of you,beauteous and lovely youth,
可愛的美少年，你的美一旦消亡，

When that shall vade,by verse distils your truth
我的詩就把你的真提煉成奇香。