Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO SIR RALPH SHELTON, by BEN JONSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Not he that flies the court for want of clothes Last Line: Makes the whole longer, than 'twas given him, much. | ||||||||
Not he that flies the court for want of clothes, At hunting rails, having no gift in oaths, Cries out 'gainst cocking, since he cannot bet, Shuns prease, for two main causes, pox, and debt, With me can merit more, than that good man, Whose dice not doing well, to a pulpit ran. No, Shelton, give me thee, canst want all these, But dost it out of judgement, not disease; Dar'st breathe in any air; and with safe skill, Till thou canst find the best, choose the least ill. That to the vulgar canst thyself apply, Treading a better path, not contrary; And, in their errors' maze, thine own way know: Which is to live to conscience, not to show. He, that, but living half his age, dies such; Makes the whole longer, than 'twas given him, much. | 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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