Sonnet 4

NEW yeare, forth looking out of Janus gate1,

Doth seeme to promise hope of new delight:

And bidding th’old adieu, his passéd date2

Bids all old thoughts to die in dumpish3 spright.

And calling forth out of sad Winters night,

Fresh Love, that long hath slept in cheerlesse bowre:

Wils him awake, and soone about him dight4

His wanton wings and darts of deadly powre.

For lusty Spring now in his timely howre,

Is ready to come forth, him5 to receive:

And warnes the Earth, with divers6 colord flowre,

To decke hir selfe, and her faire mantle weave.

Then you, faire flowre, in whom fresh youth doth raine,

Prepare your selfe new love to entertaine.

注释：1.Janus gate：两面神亚努斯之门。两面神是门神，司和谐。在儒略历之前，两面神的月份，即一月，是新年的第一个月，代替了罗马历中三月作为新年第一个月的位置。

2.passéd date：这里的日子有两种可能，一种是指一月的第一天，另一种是指刚刚过去的冬天。不管取哪个意思，新年的到来都教会这位女子为爱情做好准备。

3.dumpish：悲哀的，悲伤的；凄惨的，可悲的，可怜的。

4.dight：准备。

5.him：指爱神丘比特。

6.divers：各种各样的，种种的，杂多的。