Sonnet 42

That thou hast her it is not all my grief，

And yet it may be said I loved her dearly，

That she hath thee is of my wailing chief，

A loss in love that touches me more nearly.

Loving offenders thus I will excuse ye8，

Thou dost love her, because thou know'st I love her，

And for my sake even so doth she abuse me，

Suffering my friend for my sake to approve her.

If I lose thee, my loss is my love's gain，

And losing her, my friend hath found that loss，

Both find each other, and I lose both twain，

And both for my sake lay on me this cross.

But here's the joy, my friend and I are one，

Sweet flattery！then she loves but me alone.

四二

你占有她，并非我最大的哀愁，

可是我对她的爱不能说不深；

她占有你，才是我主要的烦忧，

这爱情的损失更能使我伤心。

爱的冒犯者，我这样原谅你们：

你所以爱她，因为晓得我爱她；

也是为我的缘故她把我欺瞒，

让我的朋友替我殷勤款待她。

失掉你，我所失是我情人所获，

失掉她，我朋友却找着我所失；

你俩互相找着，而我失掉两个，

两个都为我的缘故把我磨折。

但这就是快乐：你和我是一体；

甜蜜的阿谀！她却只爱我自己。