ON THE BEST OF ENGLISH POETS,

BEN JONSON,

DECEASED.

So seems a star to shoot; when from our sight
Falls the deceit, not from its loss of light;
We want use of a soul, who merely know
What to our passion, or our sense we owe:
By such a hollow glass, our cozen'd eye
Concludes alike, all dead, whom it sees die.
Nature is knowledge here, but unrefin'd,
Both differing, as the body from the mind;
Laurel and cypress else, had grown together,
And wither'd without memory to either:
Thus undistinguish’d, might in every part
The sons of earth vie with the sons of art.
Whose glory hath fill'd up the book of fame!
Where in fair capitals, free, uncontrollid,
Jonson, a work of honour lives enroll'd:
Creates that book a work; adds this far more,
'Tis finish'd what imperfect was before.
The Muses, first in Greece begot, in Rome
Brought forth, our best of poets bath callid home,
Nurst, taught, and planted here; that Thames now sings
The Delphian altars, and the sacred springs.
By influence of this sovereign, like the spheres,
Moved each by other, the most low (in years)
Consented in their harmony; though some
Malignantly aspected, overcome

With popular opinion, aim'd at name
More than desert: yet in despight of shame
Even they, though foil'd by his contempt of wrongs,
Made music to the harshness of their songs.

Drawn to the life of every eye and limb,
He in his truth of art, and that in him)
Lives yet, and will, whilst letters can be read;
The loss is ours; now hope of life is dead.
Great men, and worthy of report, must fall
Into their earth, and sleeping there sleep all:
Since he, whose pen in every strain did use
To drop a verse, and every verse a muse,
Is vow'd to heaven; as having with fair glory,
Sung thanks of honour, or some nobler story.
The court, the university, the heat
Of theatres, with what can else beget
Belief, and admiration, clearly prove
Our Poer first in merit, as in love :

Yet if he do not at his full appear,
Survey him in his Works, and know him there.

GLOSSARIAL INDEX.

A.

Burton, Robert, i. 58.

but-bolt, ii. 479.
ABSURD! i. 268.
Acteon, ii. 161.

C.
affects, i. 386.
i. 395.

casting bottles, ii. 143.
affronted, ii. 105.

charm, i. 48.
Agelastus, i. 20.

choppine, i. 426.
alcatote, ii. 212.

chouses, ii. 284.
Anatomy of Melancholy, i. 58. chrisome, ii. 213.
antick, i. 441.

cittern, i. 32.
ii. 164.

cittern-headed, ii. 145.

clap-dish, i. 436.
B.

cobnut, ii. 403.

codlings, ii. 407.
ban-dog, ii. 526.

ii. 480.
banqueting room, i. 231. colts, painted, i. 386.
Barking Church, ii. 495.

compass, ii. 483.
beadsman, i. 72.

complimenting, i. 408.
Bedlam, i. 34.

condition, i. 312.
beg land, to, i. 461.

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