William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

Not marble, nor the gilded monuments 1609

Not marble, nor the gilded monuments

Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;

But you shall shine more bright in these conténts

Than unswept stone, besmeared with sluttish time.

When wasteful war shall statues overturn, 5

And broils root out the work of masonry,

Nor Mars his° swords nor war’s quick fire shall burn possessive of Mars

The living record of your memory.

’Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity

Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room- 10

Even in the eyes of all posterity

That wear this world out to the ending doom.

So, till the judgment that yourself arise,

You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.