Shakespeare Sonnet 12

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,

Born 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.

译本1、辜正坤译

当我数着壁上报时的自鸣钟，

见明媚的白昼坠入狰狞的夜，

当我凝望着紫罗兰老了春容，

青丝的卷发遍洒着皑皑白雪；

当我看见参天的树枝叶尽脱，

它不久前曾荫蔽喘息的牛羊；

夏天的青翠一束一束地就缚，

带着坚挺的白须被舁上殓床；

于是我不禁为你的朱颜焦虑：

终有天你要加入时光的废堆，

既然美和芳菲都把自己抛弃，

眼看着别人生长自己却枯萎；

没什么抵挡得住时光的毒手 ，

除了生育，当他来要把你拘走。

译本2、高黎平译

当吾心数钟报时，

看着明昼入噩夜，

当望罗兰春色逝，

乌黑卷发白若雪；

目睹大树落叶纷，

绿荫不复牧人遮；

夏日青苗成束捆，

挺白须芒装灵车。

不禁担忧君终人，

既然媚妍有尽时，

但见蕾绽已萎枯；

时光镰刀不可挡，

除非留后替君扛。