Word for word:

You are so cruel, such a proud tyrant,

as those whom their beauty makes so;

You know me — my dear heart raves for you,

— as for a jewel, which is the most precious.

Those who behold you, in their opinion,

your power cannot deserve desire.

Cowardly I only keep silent — their faith is mistaken,

though secretly I swear an oath to it.

And to be sure in it — not false,

I sigh a thousand times only looking at you.

Finding other signs in haste as well,

I believe your dark colors are beautiful.

Because of your deeds, slander may reach you,

of your blackness this is what I think.

Because of your deeds, slander may reach you,

of your blackness this is what I think.

131. Szonett

Oly kegyetlen vagy, oly büszke zsarnok,

mint akiket azzá szépségük tesz;

Ismersz - drága szívem érted rajong,

- mint ékszerért, mely a legbecsesebb.

Kik téged szemlélnek, őszerintük

hatalmad vágyat nem érdemelhet.

Gyáván csak hallgatok, - téved hitük,

bár titkon kimondom rá eskümet.

S hogy biztos legyek benne, - nem hamis,

csak rád nézve sóhajtok ezernyit.

Nyakra-főre lelve más jelet is,

hiszem, hogy szépek sötét színeid.

Tetteid miatt érhet rágalom,

feketeségedről ezt gondolom.

Tetteid miatt érhet rágalom,

feketeségedről ezt gondolom.

Shakespeare CXXXI.

Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art,

As those whose beauties proudly make them cruel;

For well thou know’st to my dear doting heart

Thou art the fairest and most precious jewel.

Yet, in good faith, some say that thee behold

Thy face hath not the power to make love groan:

To say they err I dare not be so bold,

Although I swear it to myself alone.

And, to be sure that is not false I swear,

A thousand groans, but thinking on thy face,

One on another’s neck, do witness bear

Thy black is fairest in my judgment’s place.

In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds,

And thence this slander, as I think, proceeds.