When I do count the clock that tells the time,
当我细数报时的钟声敲响，
And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;
眼看可怖夜色吞噬白昼光芒；
When I behold the violet past prime,
当我看到紫罗兰香消玉殒，
And sable curls all silvered o'er with white;
黝黑的鬈发渐渐披上银霜；
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,
当我看见木叶脱尽的高树，
Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,
曾帐篷般为牧芋人带来阴凉，
And summer's green, all girded up in sheaves,
一度青翠的夏苗现在被捆打成束，

Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard;
载上灵车，连同白色坚脆的麦芒，
Then of thy beauty do I question make,
于是我不禁为你的美色担忧，
That thou among the wastes of time must go,
你也会迟早没入时间的荒凉，
Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake,
既然甘美的事物总是会自暴自弃，
And die as fast as they see others grow,
眼看后来者居上自已却快速地消亡，
And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defense,
所以没有什么能挡住时间的镰刀，
Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
除非你谢世之后留下了儿郎。