Sonnet 53

THE panther, knowing that his spotted hyde,

Doth please all beasts, but that his looks them fray1:

Within a bush his dreadfull head doth hide,

To let them gaze, whylest2 he on them may pray3.

Right so my cruell fayre with me doth play,

For with the goodly semblant4 of her hew5:

She doth allure me to mine owne decay6,

And then no mercy will unto me shew.

Great shame it is, thing so divine in view7,

Made for to be the worlds most ornament:

To make the bayte her gazers to embrew,

Good shames to be so ill an instrument8.

But mercy doth with beautie best agree,

As in theyr Maker9 ye them best may see.

注释：1.fray：使恐怖，吓唬，威胁。

2.whylest：直到……为止；到。

3.pray：捕获；捕食；〔古语〕战利品，掠夺品，赃物。

4.semblant：形象。

5.hew：样子，外貌。

6.decay：毁灭.

7.view：外貌，外表。

8.instrument：沦为作恶者的工具，让良善受到侮辱。

9.Maker：上帝。