Sonnet 55. Not marble, nor the gilded monuments

Not marble, nor the gilded monuments

Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme

But you shall shine more bright in these contents

Than unswept stone, besmeared with sluttish time.

When wasteful war shall statues overturn

And broils root out the work of masonry

Nor Mars his sword, nor war's quick fire shall burn:

The living record of your memory.