When my love swears that she is made of truth,

a

1

When my lover says that she is faithful

When my lover insists that she is true to me

I do believe her, though I know she lies,

b

2

I believe her even though I know that she is lying

I believe what she says although I know she's lying

That she might think me some untutored youth,

a

3

so that she will think that I'm young and inexperienced,

so that she'd think I'm a naive boy

Unlearnèd in the world’s false subtleties.

b

4

not knowing about the world's trickiness.

inexperienced with the sophisticated deceptions in the world.

Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,

c

5

So, in tricking myself into thinking that she thinks that I am young,

So, in uselessly tricking myself into the conceited belief that she thinks I'm young

Although she knows my days are past the best,

d

6

even though she knows that I am not young,

(when she knows perfectly well that I am not so)

Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue:

c

7

I easily make her lies into something true;

I'm easily turning her falsity into a true and valid thing;

On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed.

d

8

this, then, is how both of us cover up simple truth.

so this is how we both stifle simple truth.

But wherefore says she not she is unjust?

e

9

But why doesn't she say that she is unfaithful?

Why though doesn't she come out and tell me she is not being true to me?

And wherefore say not I that I am old?

f

10

And why don't I say that I am old?

And why don't I also just admit that I am old?

Oh, love’s best habit is in seeming trust,

e

11

Ah, love likes very much to pretend to believe

Alas, love is best shown in a semblance of fidelity

Alas, love works best if it pretends to be innocent

Love is most used to appearing to be trusting

And age in love loves not to have years told.

f

12

and an old person in love doesn't like to be reminded how old he/she is.

and an old person who is in love doesn't like to think about how old he really is

    Therefore I lie with her and she with me,

g

13

So I tell her lies and have sex with her and she tells me lies and has sex with me,

This is why I pretend with her and she with me as we sleep together

    And in our faults by lies we flattered be.

g

14

and, even though we are flawed, we are happy because of lies.

because the lies allow us to feel good despite our imperfections.

because the lies give our defective selves gratification.