Ay, cómo desfallezco al mencionarte
Sabiendo que un ingenio más dotado
en elogios prodiga su talento
Y cantando tu fama me amordaza.
Mas tu virtud, oceánica planicie,
Tolera vela humilde o arrogante.
Mi barca audaz, aunque se sabe indigna,
Boga obstinada en la llanura undosa.
Tu ola más sutil me tendrá a flote
Mientras él surca abismos insondables.
Si me hundo, soy sólo una chalupa,
El, alto bajel y arboladura.
Y si luego él prospera y yo naufrago,
Por culpa de mi amor me habré perdido.

O! how I faint when I of you do write,
Knowing a better spirit doth use your name,
And in the praise thereof spends all his might,
To make me tongue-tied speaking of your fame.
But since your worth, wide as the ocean is,
The humble as the proudest sail doth bear,
My saucy bark, inferior far to his,
On your broad main doth wilfully appear.
Your shallowest help will hold me up afloat,
Whilst he upon your soundless deep doth ride;
Or, being wracked, I am a worthless boat,
He of tall building, and of goodly pride:
Then if he thrive and I be cast away,
The worst was this, my love was my decay.