That god forbid that made me first your slave,
I should in thought control your times of pleasure,
Or at your hand the account of hours to crave,
Being your vassal, bound to stay your leisure!
O, let me suffer, being at your beck,
The imprison'd absence of your liberty;
And patience, tame to sufferance, bide each cheque,
Without accusing you of injury.
Be where you list, your charter is so strong
That you yourself may privilege your time
To what you will; to you it doth belong
Yourself to pardon of self-doing crime.
I am to wait, though waiting so be hell;
Not blame your pleasure, be it ill or well.
那使我做你奴隶的神不容我,
如果我要管制你行乐的时光,
或者清算你怎样把日子消磨,
既然是奴隶,就得听从你放浪:
让我忍受,既然什么都得依你,
你那自由的离弃(于我是监牢);
让忍耐,惯了,接受每一次申斥,
绝不会埋怨你对我损害分毫。
无论你高兴到哪里,你那契约
那么有效,你自有绝对的主权
去支配你的时间;你犯的罪过
你也有主权随意把自己赦免。
我只能等待,虽然等待是地狱,
不责备你行乐,任它是善或恶。