Sonnet 96

Sonnet 96

by William Shakespeare 

Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness;

有人说你的缺点在年少放荡；

Some say thy grace is youth and gentle sport;

有人说你的魅力在年少风流；

Both grace and faults are loved of more and less;

魅力和缺点都多少受人赞赏：

Thou makest faults graces that to thee resort.

缺点变成添在魅力上的锦绣。

As on the finger of a throned queen

宝座上的女王手上戴的戒指，

The basest jewel will be well esteem'd,

就是最贱的宝石也受人尊重，

So are those errors that in thee are seen

同样，那在你身上出现的瑕疵

To truths translated and for true things deem'd.

也变成真理，当作真理被推崇。

How many lambs might the stern wolf betray,

多少绵羊会受到野狼的引诱，

If like a lamb he could his looks translate!

假如野狼戴上了绵羊的面目！

How many gazers mightst thou lead away,

多少爱慕你的人会被你拐走，

If thou wouldst use the strength of all thy state!

假如你肯把你全部力量使出！

But do not so; I love thee in such sort

可别这样做；我既然这样爱你，

As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.

你是我的，我的光荣也属于你。