原文：

　　It is a strange thing， to note the excess of this passion， and how it braves the nature， and value of things， by this; that the speaking in a perpetual hyperbole， is comely in nothing but in love. Neither is it merely in the phrase; for whereas it hath been well said， that the arch-flatterer， with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence， is a man`s self; certainly the lover is more. For there was never proud man thought so absurdly well of him self， as the lover doth of the person loved; and therefore it was well said， That it is impossible to love， and to be wise. Neither doth this weakness appear to others only， and not to the party loved; but to the loved most of all， except the love be reciproque. For it is a true rule， that love is ever rewarded， either with the reciproque， or with an inward and secret contempt.

　　參考譯文：

　　過度的愛情追求，必然會降低人本身的價值。例如，只有在愛情中，才永遠需要那種浮夸謅媚的詞令。而在其他場合，同樣的詞令只能招人恥笑。古人有一句名言：最大的奉承，人總是留給自己的。--只有對情人的奉承要算例外。因為甚至最驕傲的人，也甘愿在情人面前自輕自賤。所以古人說得好：就是神在愛情中也難保持聰明。情人的這種弱點不僅在外人眼中是明顯的，就是在被追求者的眼中也會很明顯除非她(他)也在追求他(她)。所以，愛情的代價就是如此，不能得到回愛，就會得到一種深藏于心的輕蔑，這是一條永真的定律。

　　原文：

　　It is a strange thing， to note the excess of this passion， and how it braves the nature， and value of things， by this; that the speaking in a perpetual hyperbole， is comely in nothing but in love. Neither is it merely in the phrase; for whereas it hath been well said， that the arch-flatterer， with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence， is a man`s self; certainly the lover is more. For there was never proud man thought so absurdly well of him self， as the lover doth of the person loved; and therefore it was well said， That it is impossible to love， and to be wise. Neither doth this weakness appear to others only， and not to the party loved; but to the loved most of all， except the love be reciproque. For it is a true rule， that love is ever rewarded， either with the reciproque， or with an inward and secret contempt.

　　參考譯文：

　　過度的愛情追求，必然會降低人本身的價值。例如，只有在愛情中，才永遠需要那種浮夸謅媚的詞令。而在其他場合，同樣的詞令只能招人恥笑。古人有一句名言：最大的奉承，人總是留給自己的。--只有對情人的奉承要算例外。因為甚至最驕傲的人，也甘愿在情人面前自輕自賤。所以古人說得好：就是神在愛情中也難保持聰明。情人的這種弱點不僅在外人眼中是明顯的，就是在被追求者的眼中也會很明顯除非她(他)也在追求他(她)。所以，愛情的代價就是如此，不能得到回愛，就會得到一種深藏于心的輕蔑，這是一條永真的定律。