| Herbert J.C. Grierson, ed. (1886–1960). Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th C. 1921. |
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| John Milton |
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| 130. On Shakespear. 1630 |
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| 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, | 5 |
| 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 toth'shame of slow-endeavouring art, | |
| Thy easie numbers flow, and that each heart | 10 |
| 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, | 15 |
| That Kings for such a Tomb would wish to die. | |
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