Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger's jaws,
And burn the long – liv'd Phoenix in her blood;
Make glad and sorry seasons as thou fleets,
And do whate'er thou wilt, swift – footed Time,
To the wide world and all her fading sweets;
But I forbid thee one more heinous crime:
O, carve not with the hours my love's fair brow,
Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen!
Him in thy course untainted do allow
For beauty's pattern to succeeding men.
Yet do thy worst, old Time! Despite thy wrong
My love shall in my verse ever live young.
Sonnet 19: Translation to modern English
Devouring Time, you may make the lion's claws blunt and return all creatures to the earth from which they sprang; pull the teeth from the fierce tiger's jaws, and destroy the phoenix in her fire. Do whatever you like, fast – running Time, to any beautiful fading thing in the world; but I forbid you to commit one heinous crime: oh don't cut into my love's beautiful brow, nor draw wrinkles there with your insane pen. As you go on your destructive course spare him as a pattern of beauty for posterity. But, do your worst, old Time. Whatever harm you do my love will remain young forever in my poetry.
