Death & Dying

An Epitaph upon Shakespeare.

by John Donne 1572–1631

Death & Dying

REnowned Chaucer lie a thought more nigh
so rare Beaumond; and learned Beaumond lie
A little nearer Spencer, to make roome
For Shakespeare in your threefold fourefold tombe.
To lie all foure in one bed make a shift,
For, untill doomesday hardly will a fift
Betwixt this day and that be slaine,
For whom your curtaines need be drawne againe;
But, if precedency of death doth barre
A fourth place in your sacred sepulchre,
Under this curled marble of thine owne
Sleepe rare Tragedian Shakespeare, sleepe alone,
That, unto Vs and others it may bee
Honor, hereafter to be laid by thee.

MLA

Donne, John. “An Epitaph upon Shakespeare.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/donne/89/.

Chicago

Donne, John. “An Epitaph upon Shakespeare.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/donne/89/.

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