Soneto 37

Como el padre anciano disfruta al ver a su hijo haciendo proezas juveniles, me conforta en mi infortunio comprobar tu valor y honestidad. Hago míos tus atributos de belleza, riqueza y lucidez. Y así dejo de ser pobre y despreciable. Soy una sombra que vive en tu gloria y tu abundancia. Lo que es mejor a ti te deseo. Este deseo tengo y este deseo me hace feliz.

Soneto 37
As a decrepit father takes delight
To see his active child do deeds of youth,
So I, made lame by fortune’s dearest spite,
Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth.
For whether beauty, birth, or wealth, or wit,
Or any of these all, or all, or more,
Entitled in thy parts do crowned sit,
I make my love engrafted to this store:
So then I am not lame, poor, nor despised,
Whilst that this shadow doth such substance give
That I in thy abundance am sufficed
And by a part of all thy glory live.
Look, what is best, that best I wish in thee:
This wish I have; then ten times happy me!