Shakespeare's Sonnets Translation Sonnet 114
Or whether doth my mind, being crowned with you, Drink up the monarch’s plague, this flattery? Or whether shall I say mine eye saith true, And that your love taught it this alchemy, To make of monsters and things indigest Such cherubins as your sweet self resemble, Creating every bad a perfect best As fast as objects to his beams assemble? O ’tis the first; ’tis flattery in my seeing, And my great mind most kingly drinks it up. Mine eye well knows what with his gust is greeing, And to his palate doth prepare the cup. If it be poisoned, ’tis the lesser sin That mine eye loves it and doth first begin.
Or is my mind, being full of thoughts of you,
Drinking up the plague of kings, this flattery?
Or should I say that my eye is correct,
And your love taught it this alchemy,
Making monsters and disgusting things
Look like angels that resemble your beautiful self,
Creating from every bad thing a perfect thing
As fast as objects are seen by the eye?
Oh, the first is true: it is the flattery of my vision,
And my great mind drinks it up like a king.
My eye knows my mind's taste very well ,
And prepares a drink to please his palate.
If it is poisoned, it is still not the greatest crime,
Because my eye loves the poison, and drinks it first.