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 to
th' 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.