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If what's beneath the sky knew eternity,

The monuments, whose form I had you draw,

Not on paper but in marble, porphyry,

Would yet preserve their live antiquity.

Word:

preserve

Question:

Why does the speaker want the monuments drawn in marble and porphyry instead of paper?

Answer (optional):

The speaker wants the monuments drawn in marble and porphyry instead of paper because these materials would preserve their "live antiquity" for a longer time, implying a greater sense of permanence and resilience against the passage of time.