SInce brasse,nor stone,nor earth,nor boundlesse sea,
But sad mortallity ore-swaies their power,
How with this rage shall beautie hold a plea,
Whose action is no stronger then a flower?
O how shall summers hunny breath hold out,
Against the wrackfull siedge of battring dayes,
When rocks impregnable are not so stoute ,
Nor gates of steele so strong but time decayes?
O fearefull meditation, where alack,
Shall times best Iewell from times chest lie hid?
Or what strong hand can hold his swift foote back,
Or who his spoile or beautie can forbid?
   O none,vnlesse this miracle haue might,
   That in black inck my loue may still shine bright.

 Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,
 But sad mortality o’er-sways their power,
 How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,
 Whose action is no stronger than a flower?
 O how shall summer’s honey breath hold out
 Against the wrackful siege of batt’ring days,
 When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
 Nor gates of steel so strong but time decays?
 O fearful meditation; where, alack,
 Shall time’s best Jewel from time’s chest lie hid?
 Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back,
 Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid?
    O none, unless this miracle have might,
    That in black ink my love may still shine bright.

 Man that is born of woman, is of short continuance, and full of trouble. He shooteth forth as a flower, and is cut down: he vanisheth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And yet thou openest thine eyes upon such one, and causest me to enter into judgment with thee. Who can bring a clean thing out of filthiness? there is not one.  Geneva Bible. Job 14.1-4

Человек,  рожденный женою, краткодневен и пресыщен печалями. Как цветок, он выходит и опадает; убегает, как тень, и не останавливается. И на него-то Ты отверзаешь очи свои, и меня ведешь на суд с Тобою? Кто родится чистым от нечистого? Ни один.
                                                                            (Иов 14.1-4)