使我这臣属的忠诚与你紧系，
Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit,
我向你派遣这位手书的使者，
To thee I send this written ambassage,
来证实我忠诚，不是来炫耀才力。
To witness duty, not to show my wit.
忠诚这么大，可我的才力不中用——
Duty so great, which wit so poor as mine
没词语来表达，使忠诚显得贫乏；
May make seem bare, in wanting words to show it,
但是，我希望在你深思的灵魂中，
But that I hope some good conceit of thine
有坦率可亲的好念头会来收藏它：
In thy soul's thought, all naked, will bestow it;
要等到哪一颗引导我行程的星宿
Till whatsoever star that guides my moving
和颜悦色地给我指出了好运气，
Points on me graciously with fair aspect,
并给我褴褛的爱心穿上了锦裘，
And puts apparel on my tottered loving
以表示我配承受你关注的美意：
To show me worthy of thy sweet respect.
到那时，我才敢夸说我爱你多深，
Then may I dare to boast how I do love thee;
才愿显示我能给你考验的灵魂。
Till then, not show my head where thou mayst prove me.