Poetry is often cited as our greatest use of words. The English language has well over a million of them and poets down the ages seem, at times, to make use of every single one. But often they use them in simple ways to describe anything and everything from landscapes to all aspects of the human condition. Poems can evoke within us an individual response that takes us by surprise; that opens our ears and eyes to very personal feelings.

Forget the idea of classic poetry being somehow dull and boring. It still has life, vibrancy and relevance to our lives today.

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Ben Jonson - An Introduction

Benjamin "Ben" Jonson was born in June, 1572. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, he is best known for his satirical plays; ‘Volpone’, ‘The Alchemist’, and ‘Bartholomew Fair’, and his equally accomplished lyric poems.

A man of vast reading and a seemingly insatiable appetite for controversy, including time in jail and a penchant for switching faiths, Jonson had an unparalleled breadth of influence on Jacobean and Caroline playwrights and poets.

In 1616 Jonson was appointed by King James I to receive a yearly pension of £60 to become what is now recognised as the post of the first official Poet Laureate.

He died on the 6th of August, 1637 at Westminster and is buried in the north aisle of the nave at Westminster Abbey.

A master of both playwriting and poetry his reputation continues to endure and reach a new audience with each succeeding generation.

Index of Contents

Ben Jonson - An Introduction

Ben Jonson - To Celia

Cynthia's Revels, Queen and Huntress, Chaste and Fair by Ben Jonson

An Elegy by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson - Perfect Beauty

A Celebration of Charis - IV - Her Triumph by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson - His Excuse For Loving

A Sonnet to the Noble Lady, the Lady Mary Wroth by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson - Still To Be Neat

Ben Jonson - To Mary Lady Wroth

Ben Jonson - The Hourglass

My Picture Left In Scotland by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson - To Penshurst

The Thames At Mortlake by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson - Epigram LXV - To My Muse

An Ode To Himself by Ben Jonson

To All to Whom I Wirte by Ben Jonson

To My Lord Ignorant by Ben Jonson

On Playwright by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson - A Fit of Rhyme Against Rhyme

On Poet-Ape by Ben Jonson

To The Reader by Ben Jonson

Ben jonson - Epigram XXIII - To John Donne

To Fine Grand by Ben Jonson

Inviting A Friend To Supper by Ben Jonson

Hymn to the Belly by Ben Jonson

On Gut by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson - Epigram IV - To King James

On English Monsieur by Ben Jonson

In the Person of Womankind by Ben Jonson

Song. That Women Are But Men's Shadows by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson - On My First Daughter

Ben Jonson - On My First Son

Ben Jonson - Carol

Ben Jonson - The Masque Of Christmas

The Alchemist by Ben Jonson

The Noble Nature by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson - Epigram LXXX - Of Life And Death

Ben jonson - To the Memory of My Beloved Master William Shakespeare and What He hath Left Us

To Heaven - Ben Jonson

A Hymn to God The Father by Ben Jonson

Ode to Himself - Come Leave the Loathed Stage by Ben Jonson

To the Reader by Ben Jonson