Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, EPIGRAM TO MY BOOKSELLER, by BEN JONSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

EPIGRAM TO MY BOOKSELLER, by                 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.





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