Shakespeare's Sonnets Translation Sonnet 6
Then let not winter’s ragged hand deface In thee thy summer, ere thou be distilled. Make sweet some vial; treasure thou some place With beauty’s treasure, ere it be self-killed. That use is not forbidden usury Which happies those that pay the willing loan; That’s for thyself to breed another thee, Or ten times happier, be it ten for one. Ten times thyself were happier than thou art, If ten of thine ten times refigured thee. Then what could death do if thou shouldst depart, Leaving thee living in posterity? Be not self-willed, for thou art much too fair To be death’s conquest and make worms thine heir.
Then do not let Winter's rough hands deface
The summer in you, before you are distilled.
Fill glass vials with your sweetness; treasure some place
With the treasure of your beauty, before it kills itself.
This use of your beauty is not forbidden like usury
Because it makes happy those who willingly pay the loan;
That would be the case for your breeding another you,
Or ten times happier, if lending at ten for one.
Ten versions of you would be happier than you are now,
If ten of your children reproduced your beauty.
Then what could death do if you should die,
Leaving yourself living after your death?
Do not be so selfish, you are too beautiful
To be consumed by death and make worms your only heir.
