 | The Workes of Benjamin Jonson |  |
ON THE AUTHOR, The Poet Laureat, Ben. Jonson.
Here is a Poet! whose unmudled strainesShow that he held all Helicon in's braines.
What here is writ, is sterling; every line
Was well-allowed of by the Muses nine.
When for the stage a Drama he did lay
Tragick or Comick, he still bore away
The sock and buskin; clearer notes than his
No Swan e're sung upon our Thamesis;
For Lyrick sweetnesse in an Ode, or Sonnet
To Ben the best of wits might vaile their Bonnet.
His Genius justly in an Entheat rage
Oft lasht the dull-sworn factors for the stage:
For Alchymie though't make a glorious glosse,
Compar'd with gold is bullion and base drosse.
Wil. Hodgson.
| The Workes of Benjamin Jonson | |