'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd,

When not to be receives reproach of being,

And the just pleasure lost which is so deem'd

Not by our feeling but by others' seeing:

For why should others false adulterate eyes

Give salutation to my sportive blood?

Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,

Which in their wills count bad what I think good?

No, I am that I am, and they that level

At my abuses reckon up their own:

I may be straight, though they themselves be bevel;

By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown;

Unless this general evil they maintain,

All men are bad, and in their badness reign.

寧可卑劣，也不愿負卑劣的虛名，

當我們的清白蒙上不白之冤，

當正當的娛樂被人妄加惡聲，

不體察我們的感情，只憑偏見。

為什么別人虛偽淫猥的眼睛

有權贊揚或詆毀我活躍的血？

專偵伺我的弱點而比我壞的人

為什么把我認為善的恣意污蔑？

我就是我，他們對于我的詆毀

只能夠宣揚他們自己的卑鄙：

我本方正，他們的視線自不軌；

這種壞心眼怎么配把我非議？

　　除非他們固執這糊涂的邪說：

　　惡是人性，統治著世間的是惡。