On Shakespeare

John Milton (1608–1674) is a pivotal figure in English literature, often considered the most significant writer after William Shakespeare. He is renowned for his epic poem Paradise Lost , a masterpiece of English literature. Milton also penned other notable works, including the classical tragedy Samson Agonistes and the pastoral elegy Lycidas.

Among his earlier poems is " On Shakespeare ", written around 1630. This 16-line epigram suggests that Shakespeare's true monument is not made of stone but lives on through the readers of his plays, who become living testaments to his genius across generations. Milton's early works also include poems like " On the Morning of Christ's Nativity ", " L'Allegro ", and " Il Penseroso ".123