When your sweet issue your sweet form should bear.
Who lets so fair a house fall to decay,
Which husbandry in honour might uphold
Against the stormy gusts of winter's day
And barren rage of death's eternal cold?
O, none but unthrifts! Dear my love, you know
You had a father: let your son say so.
Sonnet 13: Translation to modern English
Oh how I long for you to be yourself forever, unchanged, but, my love, you don't have any identity for any longer than your time on earth. You should prepare yourself for this approaching end and pass your sweet likeness on to someone else. In that way the lease that you hold for that beauty would not expire and you would survive after your self's death, when your beautiful children would carry your beautiful form. Who allows such a lovely house to fall into decay when it could, with good management, be properly protected from the stormy winds of winter and the frustration of the eternal coldness of death? Oh, no – one except the irresponsible. My dear love, you once had a father: let your son be able to say the same thing.
