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.
翻译：
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。
