Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO THE MEMORY OF BEN JONSON, by JOHN CLEVELAND


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO THE MEMORY OF BEN JONSON, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: The muse's fairest light in no dark time
Last Line: With sorrow here, with wonder on his book.
Subject(s): Jonson, Ben (1572-1637); Poetry & Poets; Writing & Writers


THE Muse's fairest light in no dark time,
The wonder of a learned age; the line
Which none can pass! the most proportioned
wit, --
To nature, the best judge of what was fit;
The deepest, plainest, highest, clearest pen;
The voice most echoed by consenting men;
The soul which answered best to all well said
By others, and which most requital made;
Tuned to the highest key of ancient Rome,
Returning all her music with his own;
In whom, with nature, study claimed a part,
And yet who to himself owed all his art:
Here lies Ben Jonson! every age will look
With sorrow here, with wonder on his book.




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