Renaissance Poets and Grave Disruptions
| John Donne, "The Relic" (before 1631) ll. 1-11 | Shakespeare's Grave Inscription |
|
When my grave is broke up again
Some second guest to entertain,
(For graves have learn'd that
woman head,
To be to more than one a bed)
And he that digs it, spies
A bracelet of bright hair about
the bone,
Will he not let'us alone,
And think that there a loving
couple lies,
Who thought that this device might
be some way
To make their souls, at the last
busy day,
Meet at this grave, and make a
little stay?
|
GOOD FREND FOR JESUS SAKE FORBEARE, TO DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED HEARE: BLESTE BE Ye MAN Yt [that] SPARES THES STONES, AND CURST BE HE Yt MOVES MY BONES. |