Ben Jonson was an English poet and playwright who had an important influence on English poetry. He is remembered for popularizing the comedy of humors and his work Every Man in His Humor. He is often mentioned alongside William Shakespeare in regard to his influence on the theatre.
‘The Noble Nature’ emphasizes that beauty and perfection, though fleeting, are far more virtuous than physical endurance.
It is not growing like a tree
In bulk doth make Man better be;
Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:
‘On my First Son’ is a poem about a father who has lost a young son, and attempts to distance himself from the tragedy in numerous ways.
Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy;
My sin was too much hope of thee, lov'd boy.
Seven years thou'wert lent to me, and I thee pay,
Exacted by thy fate, on the just day.
‘Oh Do Not Wanton with Those Eyes’ by Ben Jonson is a short, interesting poem in which one person describes the effect another person’s eyes have on them. They suggest this person should avoid showing certain emotions, so they aren’t impacted.
O, Do not wanton with those eyes,
—Lest I be sick with seeing;
Nor cast them down, but let them rise,
—Lest shame destroy their being.
‘My Picture Left in Scotland’ by Ben Jonson is a humorous tale of rejection told from the perspective of a rejected would-be-lover.
I now think love is rather deaf, than blind,
For else it could not be,
That she,
Whom I adore so much, should so slight me,
Jonson’s ‘On My First Daughter’ is a tender elegy for his child, blending grief with faith in her heavenly peace.
Here lies, to each her parents’ ruth,
Mary, the daughter of their youth;
Yet all heaven’s gifts being heaven’s due,
It makes the father less to rue.
In Jonson’s ‘Slow, Slow, Fresh Fount,’ Echo’s sorrow for Narcissus unfolds with nature, crafting a moving tale of unrequited love and loss.
Slow, slow, fresh fount, keep time with my salt tears;
Yet slower, yet, O faintly, gentle springs!
List to the heavy part the music bears,
Woe weeps out her division, when she sings.
‘Song: to Celia’ by Ben Jonson describes the deep love which exists between the speaker and his lover and how it transcends normal bounds.
Drinke to me, onely, with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kisse but in the cup,
And Ile not looke for wine.
support@poemanalysis.com
Poem Solutions Limited
Company no: 10883994
United Kingdom
Access Poetry PDF Guides
for this Poem
Complete Poetry PDF Guide
Perfect Offline Resource
Covers Everything You Need to Know
One-pager 'snapshot' PDF
Great Offline Resource
Gateway to deeper understanding
870+ Reviews
