Prefatory Materials (Folio 3, 1664)
Not Peer Reviewed
An EPITAPH
On the admirable Dramatick Poet,
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
WHat need my Shakespeare for his honour'd
_bones,
The labour of an Age, in piled stones,
Or that his hallow'd Reliques should be hid
Under a Starre-y pointing Pyramid?
Dear Son of Memory, great Heir of Fame,
VVhat need'st thou such dull witnesse of thy
_Name?
Thou in our wonder and astonishment
Hast built thy self a lasting Monument.
For whil'st to th' shame of slow-endeavouring
_Art
Thy easie numbers flow, and that each part,
Hath from the leaves of thy unvalued Book,
Those Delphick Lines with deep Impression
_took
Then thou our fancy of her self bereaving,
Dost make us Marble with too much con-
_ceiving,
And so Sepulcher'd in such pomp dost lie,
That Kings for such a Tomb would wish to die