Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, EPIGRAM: ON MILL, MY LADY'S WOMAN, by BEN JONSON


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EPIGRAM: ON MILL, MY LADY'S WOMAN, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: When mill first came to court, the unprofiting fool
Last Line: First bearing him a calf, bear him a bull.
Subject(s): Athletes


When Mill first came to court, the unprofiting fool,
Unworthy such a mistress, such a school,
Was dull, and long, ere she would go to man:
At last, ease, appetite, and example wan
The nicer thing to taste her lady's page;
And, finding good security in his age,
Went on: and proving him still, day by day,
Discerned no difference of his years, or play.
Not though that hair grew brown, which once was amber,
And he grown youth, was called to his lady's chamber,
Still Mill continued: nay, his face growing worse,
And he removed to gent'man of the horse,
Mill was the same. Since, both his body and face
Blown up; and he (too unwieldy for that place)
Hath got the steward's chair; he will not tarry
Longer a day, but with his Mill will marry.
And it is hoped, that she, like Milo, wull
First bearing him a calf, bear him a bull.





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