The Poetical Works of John Milton


google search for The Poetical Works of John Milton

Return to Master Book Index.

Page
42 43 44 45 46

Quick Jump
1 198 395 593 790

ON SHAKESPEAR. 1630.  
WHAT needs my Shakespear for his honour'd Bones,  
The labour of an age in piled Stones,  
Or that his hallow'd reliques should be hid  
Under a Star-ypointing Pyramid?  
Dear son of memory, great heir of Fame,  
What need'st thou such weak witnes of thy name?  
Thou in our wonder and astonishment  
Hast built thy self a live-long Monument.  
For whilst to th'sharne of slow-endeavouring art,  
Thy easie numbers flow, and that each heart  
Hath from the Leaves of thy unvalu'd Book,  
Those Delphick lines with deep impression took,  
Then thou our fancy of it self bereaving,  
Dost make us Marble with too much conceaving;  
And so Sepulcher'd in such pomp dost lie,  
That Kings for such a Tomb would wish to die.  
10  
Notes: On Shakespear. Reprinted 1632 in the second folio  
Shakespeare:  
4
4


Page
42 43 44 45 46

Quick Jump
1 198 395 593 790