Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EPIGRAM TO MY BOOKSELLER, by BEN JONSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Thou, friend, wilt hear all censures; unto thee Last Line: Their perfumed judgements, let them kiss thy wife. | ||||||||
Thou, friend, wilt hear all censures; unto thee All mouths are open, and all stomachs free: Be thou my book's intelligencer, note What each man says of it, and of what coat His judgement is; if he be wise, and praise, Thank him: if other, he can give no bays. If his wit reach no higher, but to spring Thy wife a fit of laughter; a cramp ring Will be reward enough: to wear like those, That hang their richest jewels in their nose; Like a rung bear, or swine: grunting out wit As if that part lay for a ( ) most fit! If they go on, and that thou lov'st a-life Their perfumed judgements, let them kiss thy wife. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 4. HER TRIUMPH by BEN JONSON A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 5. HIS DISCOURSE WITH CUPID by BEN JONSON A FIT OF RHYME AGAINST RHYME [OR, RIME] by BEN JONSON A NYMPH'S PASSION by BEN JONSON A SONNET, TO THE NOBLE LADY, THE LADY MARY WROTH by BEN JONSON AN ODE TO HIMSELF by BEN JONSON ANSWER TO MASTER WITHER'S SONG, 'SHALL I, WASTING IN DESPAIR?' by BEN JONSON EPICOENE; OR, THE SILENT WOMAN: FREEDOM IN DRESS by BEN JONSON EPIGRAM: 118. ON GUT by BEN JONSON |
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