Шекспир. Сонет 96. Оставайся хорошим

Кто говорит, что юность виновата,
кто - что наивность, молодость ведь плюс,
и любят плюсы, как и недостатки,
но ты к добру возвысишь и вину.
Так, как на пальце нашей королевы
и меньший камень будет оценен,
так и твои ошибки станут делом,
достойным обращения в добро.
Как много волк украсть бы мог овец,
когда предстал бы в шкуре он ягненка,
О, сколько бы похитил ты сердец,
Когда бы государства стал царем ты!
Не делай так. Люблю тебя таким,
каков ты - мой, будь положительным.

SONNET 96
Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness;
 Some say thy grace is youth and gentle sport;
 Both grace and faults are loved of more and less;
 Thou makest faults graces that to thee resort.
 As on the finger of a throned queen
 The basest jewel will be well esteem'd,
 So are those errors that in thee are seen
 To truths translated and for true things deem'd.
 How many lambs might the stem wolf betray,
 If like a lamb he could his looks translate!
 How many gazers mightst thou lead away,
 If thou would'st use the strength of all thy state!
    But do not so; I love thee in such sort
    As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.

NOTES

 XCVI. Enlarges on the transfigurement of Mr. W. H.'s vices, and adverts in conclusion to the dangerous and seductive influence of his example. Even his faults are loved and admired.

 1, 2. What some speak of as thy "fault" and "wantonness," others describe as "grace" and "gentle sport."

 3. Are lov'd of more and less. By persons of all sorts. First Part of King Henry IV., Act iv. sc. 3, line 68,

 "The more and less came in with cap and knee."

 7, 8. So are those errors to truths translated. So are those vices changed to virtues.

 10. If he could transform his appearance into that of a lamb.

 12. The strength of all thy state. All the power of thy noble beauty.

 13, 14. The leading many others astray might result in a reputation incurably bad. These lines are repeated from xxxvi.