When I do count the clock that tells the time,
And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;
When I behold the violet past prime,
And sable curls all silver'd o'er with white;
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves
Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,
And summer's green all girded up in sheaves
Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,
Then of thy beauty do I question make,
That thou among the wastes of time must go,
Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake
And die as fast as they see others grow;
And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence
Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.

當我數著壁上報時的自鳴鐘，
見明媚的白晝墜入猙獰的夜，
當我凝望著紫羅蘭老了春容，
青絲的卷發遍灑著皚皚白雪；
當我看見參天的樹枝葉盡脫，
它不久前曾蔭蔽喘息的牛羊；
夏天的青翠一束一束地就縛，
帶著堅挺的白須被舁上殮床；
于是我不禁為你的朱顏焦慮：
終有天你要加入時光的廢堆，
既然美和芳菲都把自己拋棄，
眼看著別人生長自己卻枯萎；
　　沒什么抵擋得住時光的毒手，
　　除了生育，當他來要把你拘走。