莎士比亚十四行诗全集:第54篇

 　　O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem By that sweet ornament¹ which truth doth give! 假如有真赋予的甜蜜作装潢，美就一定会更加美色无双！

　　The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem 娇美的玫瑰之所以使人感到它更美，

　　For that sweet odour which doth in it live. 是因为它那甜美的活色生香。

　　The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye 野蔷薇花枝招展但没有香味，

　　As the perfumed tincture of the roses, 凭色相却可与馥郁的玫瑰争辉。

　　Hang on such thorns and play as wantonly When summer's breath their masked buds discloses: 当夏风撩开了它们隐蔽的花蕾，它们绽放枝头，自觉千娇百媚。

　　But, for their virtue² only is their show, 但它们的德行只是其外表，

　　They live unwoo'd and unrespected fade, 开时无人羡其色，谢时无人叹其凋，

　　Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so; 只落得悄然自殒，岂如玫瑰浓馨扬，

　　Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made: 虽红颜薄命，骨炼也成余香。

　　And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth, 你也一样，美丽可爱的“少年人”，

　　When that shall fade, my verse distills your truth. 当色去香空，我的诗会提炼出你的纯情。

1 ornament   

v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物

参考例句：

• The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。
• She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。

2 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。