Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day
And make me travel forth without my cloak,
To let base clouds o'ertake me in my way,
Hiding thy bravery in their rotten smoke?
Tis not enough that through the cloud thou break
To dry the rain on my storm-beaten face,
For no man well of such a salve can speak
That heals the wound and cures not the disgrace.
Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief;
Though thou repent, yet I have still the loss.
The offender's sorrow lends but weak relief
To him that bears the strong offence's cross.
Ah, but those tears are pearl which thy love sheds,
And they are rich and ransom all ill deeds.
你為何向我承諾天氣晴朗,
害得我不帶斗篷就出遠門,
結(jié)果中途被卑賤的云趕上,
任憑毒霧把你的光輝遮掩?
我被雨淋,即便你沖破云層,
曬干我臉上的水珠也無補:
沒有人會稀罕這樣的藥引,
因為它只治外傷,不治心痼。
你的羞愧也難治我的辛悲,
你可以悔恨,但我傷心如故,
冒犯者的憂傷帶不來安慰,
只因被犯之痛已銘于肺腑。
但你從愛而流的淚是珍珠,
它們足以將你的過失盡贖。