SONNET 39
O, how thy worth with manners may I sing,
When thou art all the better part of me?
What can mine own praise to mine own self bring?
And what is 't but mine own when I praise thee?
Even for this let us divided live,
And our dear love lose name of single one,
That by this separation I may give
That due to thee which thou deservest alone.
O absence, what a torment wouldst thou prove,
Were it not thy sour leisure gave sweet leave
To entertain the time with thoughts of love,
Which time and thoughts so sweetly doth deceive,
And that thou teachest how to make one twain,
By praising him here who doth hence remain!

三九

　　哦，我怎能不越禮地把你歌頌，
　　當我的最優美部分全屬於你？
　　讚美我自己對我自己有何用？
　　讚美你豈不等於讚美我自己？
　　就是為這點我們也得要分手，
　　使我們的愛名義上各自獨處，
　　以便我可以，在這樣分離之後，
　　把你該獨得的讚美全部獻出。
　　別離呵！你會給我多大的痛創，
　　倘若你辛酸的閒暇不批准我
　　拿出甜蜜的情思來款待時光，
　　用甜言把時光和相思矇混過——
　　如果你不教我怎樣化一為二，
　　使我在這裡讚美遠方的人兒！