Not marble nor the gilded monuments
gilded=embellished with gold leaf
monuments=tombs
Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme,
princes=all royalty and rulers, male and female
powerful=withstanding time's destruction
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone, besmear'd with sluttish time.
unswept stone=monuments in an unkept church yard
When wasteful war shall statues overturn
And broils root out the work of masonry,
broils=embroilments, strife
the work of masonry=buildings
Nor Mars his sword nor war's quick fire shall burn
Mars=the god of war
quick=as if alive
The living record of your memory.
living record of your memory=this poem
'Gainst death and all oblivious enmity
oblivious enmity=mindless ill-will
Shall you pace forth. Your praise shall still find room
Your praise=praise of you
still=constantly
Even in the eyes of all posterity,
That wear this world out to the ending doom.
ending doom=the Last Judgment
So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
judgment=the Last Judgment
arise=arises to
You live in this and dwell in lovers' eyes.
this=this poem
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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, besmear'd 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.
'Gainst death and all oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth. Your praise shall still find room
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.
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