Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO BEN JONSON, by ROBERT HERRICK


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO BEN JONSON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ah ben! / say how, or when
Last Line: Of such a wit, the world should have no more.
Variant Title(s): An Ode For Ben Jonson;an Ode For Him
Subject(s): Jonson, Ben (1572-1637); Poetry & Poets


AH Ben!
Say how or when
Shall we, thy guests,
Meet at those lyric feasts,
Made at the Sun,
The Dog, the Triple Tun;
Where we such clusters had
As made us nobly wild, not mad;
And yet each verse of thine
Outdid the meat, outdid the frolic wine.

My Ben!
Or come again,
Or send to us
Thy wit's great overplus;
But teach us yet
Wisely to husband it,
Lest we that talent spend:
And having once brought to an end
That precious stock, the store
Of such a wit, the world should have no more.




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