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Ben Jonson (1572-1637)

Epigrams: To John Donne


              1Donne, the delight of Phoebus and each Muse
              2Who, to thy one, all other brains refuse;
              3Whose every work of thy most early wit
              4Came forth example, and remains so yet;
              5Longer a-knowing than most wits do live;
              6And which no affection praise enough can give!
              7To it, thy language, letters, arts, best life,
              8Which might with half mankind maintain a strife.
              9All which I meant to praise, and yet I would;
            10But leave, because I cannot as I should!

Notes

1] Drummond reported Jonson as remarking: "he esteemeth John Done the first poet in the World in some things." Jonson wrote another epigram of twelve lines to Donne in which he praises him (lines 3-6) as a judge of poetry:

That so alone canst judge, so alone dost make;
And, in thy censures, evenly dost take
As free simplicity, to disavow,
As thou hast best authority to allow.

9] yet I would: still would I like to.


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 1.155.
Recent editing: 4:2002/4/3

Form: Heroic Couplets


Other poems by Ben Jonson