The Sonnet(51)

By William Shakespeare

Thus can my love excuse the slow offence

Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed:

From where thou art why should I haste me thence?

Till I return, of posting is no need.

O! What excuse will my poor beast then find,

When swift extremity can seem but slow?

Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind,

In winged speed no motion shall I know:

Then can no horse with my desire keep pace;

Therefore desire, of perfect'st love being made,

Shall neigh—no dull flesh—in his fiery race;

But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade,—

 'Since from thee going he went wilful-slow,

    Towards thee I'll run, and give him leave to go.'

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莎士比亚十四行诗（五一）

译/朱生豪

这样，我的爱就可原谅那笨兽，

（当我离开你），不嫌它走得太慢：

从你所在地我何必匆匆跑走？

除非是归来，绝对不用把路赶。

那时可怜的畜牲怎会得宽容，

当极端的迅速还要显得迟钝？

那时我就要猛刺，纵使在御风，

如飞的速度我只觉得是停顿：

那时，就没有马能和欲望齐驱；

因此，欲望，由最理想的爱构成，

就引颈长嘶，当它火似地飞驰；

但爱，为了爱，将这样饶恕那畜牲——

     “既然别你的时候它有意慢走，

       归途我就下来跑，让它得自由。”