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，才永遠需要那種浮誇謅媚的詞令。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。因爲甚至最驕傲的人，也甘願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，就會得到一種深藏於心的輕蔑，這是一條永真的定律。
