没新的东西，那么，我们的脑袋，
Hath been before, how are our brains beguiled,
苦着想创造，就等于教自己上当，
Which, laboring for invention, bear amiss
白白去孕育已经出世的婴孩！
The second burden of a former child!
呵，但愿历史能回头看已往
O, that record could with a backward look,
（它甚至能追溯太阳的五百次运行），
Even of five hundred courses of the sun,
为我在古书中显示出你的形象，
Show me your image in some antique book,
既然思想从来是文字所表明。
Since mind at first in character was done;
这样我就能明了古人会怎样
That I might see what the old world could say
述说你形体的结构是一种奇观；
To this composed wonder of your frame;
明了究竟是今人好，还是古人强，
Whether we are mended, or whe'r better they,
究竟事物变不变，是不是循环。
Or whether revolution be the same.
呵！我断言，古代的天才只是
O, sure I am the wits of former days
给次等人物赠送了美言和赞辞。
To subjects worse have given admiring praise.