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— John Milton

Say, Heavenly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein 15

Afford a present to the Infant God?

Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain,

To welcome him to this his new abode,

…

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ON SHAKESPEAR. 1630.

25 lines
John Milton·1608–1674
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HAT needs my Shakespear for his honour'd Bones,The labour of an age in piled Stones,Or that his hallow'd reliques should be hidUnder 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 astonishmentHast built thy self a live-long Monument.For whilst to th'shame of slow-endeavouring art,Thy easie numbers flow, and that each heart 10Hath 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. Notes: On Shakespear. Reprinted 1632 in the second folioShakespeare:Title] An epitaph on the admirable dramaticke poet W.Shakespeare1 needs] neede6 weak] dull8 live-long] lasting10 heart] part13 it] her
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