黑即使真美，也没人称它为美；
Or, if it were, it bore not beauty's name.
但是现在，黑成了美的继承者，
But now is black beauty's successive heir,
美有了这个私生子，受到了诋毁：
And beauty slandered with a bastard shame;
自从人人都僭取了自然的力量，
For since each hand hath put on nature's power,
把丑变做美，运用了骗人的美容术，
Fairing the foul with art's false borrowed face,
甜美就失去了名声和神圣的殿堂，
Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower,
如果不活在耻辱中，就受尽了亵渎。
But is profaned, if not lives in disgrace.
因此，我情人的头发像乌鸦般黑，
Therefore my mistress' eyes are raven black,
她的眼睛也穿上了黑衣，仿佛是
Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem,
在哀悼那生来不美、却打扮成美、
At such who, not born fair, no beauty lack,
而用假美名侮辱了造化的人士：
Sland’ring creation with a false esteem:
她眼晴哀悼着他们，漾着哀思，
Yet so they mourn, becoming of their woe,
教每个舌头都说，美应当如此。
That every tongue says beauty should look so.