That you were once unkind befriends me now,
And for that sorrow which I then did feel
Needs must I under my transgression bow,
Unless my nerves were brass or hammer d steel.
For if you were by my unkindness shaken
As I by yours, you ve pass d a hell of time,
And I, a tyrant, have no leisure taken
To weigh how once I suffered in your crime.
O, that our night of woe might have remember d
My deepest sense, how hard true sorrow hits,
And soon to you, as you to me, then tender d
The humble slave which wounded bosoms fits!
But that your trespass now becomes a fee.
Mine ransoms yours, and yours must ransom me.
你对我狠过心反而于我有利:
想起你当时使我受到的痛创,
我只好在我的过失下把头低,
既然我的神经不是铜或精钢。
因为,你若受过我狠心的摇撼,
像我所受的,该熬过多苦的日子!
可是我这暴君从没有抽过闲
来衡量你的罪行对我的打击!
哦,但愿我们那悲怛之夜能使我
牢牢记住真悲哀打击得多惨,
我就会立刻递给你,像你递给我,
那抚慰碎了的心的微贱药丹。
但你的罪行现在变成了保证,
我赎你的罪,你也赎我的败行。