Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON DON SURLY, by BEN JONSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Don surly to aspire the glorious name Last Line: Style thee a most great fool, but no great man. | ||||||||
Don Surly, to aspire the glorious name Of a great man, and to be thought the same, Makes serious use of all great trade he knows. He speaks to men with a Rhinocerotes' nose, Which he thinks great; and so reads verses too, And that is done as he saw great men do. He has timpanies of business in his face, And can forget men's names with a great grace. He will both argue and discourse in oaths, Both which are great; and laugh at ill-made clothes -- That's greater yet -- to cry his own up neat. He doth, at meals, alone his pheasant eat, Which is main greatness; and at this still board He drinks to no man; that's, too, like a lord. He keeps another's wife, which is a spice Of solemn greatness. And he dares, at dice, Blaspheme God greatly, or some poor hind beat That breathes in his dog's way; and this is great. Nay more, for greatness' sake, he will be one May hear my epigrams, but like of none. Surly, use other arts; these only can Style thee a most great fool, but no great man. | 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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