RPO -- Ben Jonson : Epigrams: Epitaph on Elizabeth, L. H.

Ben Jonson (1572-1637)

Epigrams: Epitaph on Elizabeth, L. H.

1Wouldst thou hear what man can say

2In a little? Reader, stay.

3Underneath this stone doth lie

4As much beauty as could die;

5Which in life did harbour give

6To more virtue than doth live.

7If at all she had a fault,

8Leave it buried in this vault.

9One name was Elizabeth,

10Th' other let it sleep with death:

11Fitter, where it died to tell,

12Than that it liv'd at all. Farewell.

Notes

1] As the poem's tenth line suggests, Jonson left the lady's identity intentionally obscure.

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Ben Jonson, The workes of Benjamin Jonson (London: Will Stansby, 1616). STC 14751.
First publication date: 1616
RPO poem editor: F. D. Hoeniger
RP edition: 3RP 1.157.
Recent editing: 4:2002/4/3

Form: couplets

Other poems by Ben Jonson