Por si llega el momento (si llegare)
En que juzgues, severo, mis defectos
Y tu amor cierre el último balance
Por prudentes consejos incitado,
Por si llega el momento en que tú pases
Rehusándome el sol de tu mirada,
O tu amor, renunciando a lo que era,
Actúe con reserva desdeñosa,
Por si el momento llega hoy me consuelo
Admitiendo que es poca mi valía
Y alzo contra mí acusaciones
Que mantengan las leyes de tu parte:
Si te vas, ay de mí, la ley te ampara,
Nada puedo alegar en mi descargo.
Against that time, if ever that time come,
When I shall see thee frown on my defects,
When as thy love hath cast his utmost sum,
Called to that audit by advis'd respects;
Against that time when thou shalt strangely pass,
And scarcely greet me with that sun, thine eye,
When love, converted from the thing it was,
Shall reasons find of settled gravity;
Against that time do I ensconce me here,
Within the knowledge of mine own desert,
And this my hand, against my self uprear,
To guard the lawful reasons on thy part:
To leave poor me thou hast the strength of laws,
Since why to love I can allege no cause.