Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage

　　Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit,

　　To thee I send this written embassage,

　　To witness duty, not to show my wit:

　　Duty so great, which wit so poor as mine

　　May make seem bare, in wanting words to show it,

　　But that I hope some good conceit of thine

　　In thy soul's thought, all naked, will bestow it;

　　Till whatsoever star that guides my moving

　　Points on me graciously with fair aspect

　　And puts apparel on my tatter'd loving,

　　To show me worthy of thy sweet respect:

　　Then may I dare to boast how I do love thee;

　　Till then not show my head where thou mayst prove me.

　　我爱情的至尊，你的美德已经

　　使我这藩属加强对你的拥戴，

　　我现在寄给你这诗当作使臣，

　　去向你述职，并非要向你炫才。

　　职责那么重，我又才拙少俊语，

　　难免要显得赤裸裸和她相见，

　　但望你的妙思，不嫌它太粗鄙，

　　在你灵魂里把它的赤裸裸遮掩;

　　因而不管什么星照引我前程，

　　都对我露出一副和悦的笑容，

　　把华服加给我这寒伧的爱情，

　　使我配得上你那缱绻的恩宠。

　　那时我才敢对你夸耀我的爱，

　　否则怕你考验我，总要躲起来。