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