Oh joven adorable, has detenido
las horas el espejo, la hoz del Tiempo,
Y creciendo embelleces, más lozano
Cuanto más se marchitan tus amantes.
Si Natura, señora de la ruina,
Te retiene aunque sigas avanzando
Una meta persigue: que tu ingenio
Agravie al Tiempo, mate los minutos.
Mas témele, aunque seas su dilecto,
Pues no guardará siempre su tesoro.
Aun morosa, tendrá que rendir cuentas
Y solo tú podrás saldar la deuda.

O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power
Dost hold Time's fickle glass, his sickle, hour;
Who hast by waning grown, and therein showest
Thy lovers withering, as thy sweet self growest.
If Nature, sovereign mistress over wrack,
As thou goest onwards still will pluck thee back,
She keeps thee to this purpose, that her skill
May time disgrace and wretched minutes kill.
Yet fear her, O thou minion of her pleasure!
She may detain, but not still keep, her treasure:
Her audit (though delayed) answered must be,
And her quietus is to render thee.