Sonnets of William Shakespeare-Sonnet 59

　　If there be nothing new, but that which is

　　Hath been before, how are our brains beguiled,

　　Which, labouring for invention, bear amiss

　　The second burden of a former child!

　　O, that record could with a backward look,

　　Even of five hundred courses of the sun,

　　Show me your image in some antique book,

　　Since mind at first in character was done!

　　That I might see what the old world could say

　　To this composed wonder of your frame;

　　Whether we are mended, or whether better they,

　　Or whether revolution be the same.

　　 O, sure I am, the wits of former days

　　 To subjects worse have given admiring praise.

　　如果天下无新事，现在的种种

　　从前都有过，我们的头脑多上当，

　　当它苦心要创造，却怀孕成功

　　一个前代有过的婴孩的重担！

　　哦，但愿历史能用回溯的眼光

　　（纵使太阳已经运行了五百周），

　　在古书里对我显示你的肖像，

　　自从心灵第一次写成了句读！--

　　让我晓得古人曾经怎样说法，

　　关于你那雍容的体态的神奇；

　　是我们高明，还是他们优越，

　　或者所谓演变其实并无二致。

　　　　哦，我敢肯定，不少才子在前代

　　　　曾经赞扬过远不如你的题材。