BEN JONSON
1573-1637

... none of them (his fellow-dramatists) wrote anything that surpasses the songs and snatches in his plays. - Saintsbury.

Simplex Munditiis.

Optional Poems

See The Chariot At Hand Here of Love

To The Memory Of My Master William Shakespeare.

Phrases

In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures, life may perfect be.

A Part Of An Ode To Sir Lucius Cary
And Sir H. Morison.

Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I'll not look for wine.

5 The thirst that from the soul doth rise,
Doth ask a drink divine:

But might I of Jove's nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.

ΙΟ

15

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,

Not so much honouring thee,
As giving it a hope, that there
It could not withered be.
But thou thereon didst only breathe,
And sent'st it back to me:

Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,
Not of itself, but thee.

5

IO

15

HYMN TO DIANA

Queen and huntress, chaste and fair,
Now the sun is laid to sleep,

Seated in thy silver chair,

State in wonted manner keep:

Hesperus entreats thy light,
Goddess excellently bright.

Earth, let not thy envious shade
Dare itself to interpose;

Cynthia's shining orb was made

Heaven to clear, when day did close:
Bless us then with wished sight,
Goddess excellently bright.

Lay thy bow of pearl apart,

And thy crystal shining quiver;

Give unto the flying hart

Space to breathe, how short soever:

Thou that mak'st a day of night,
Goddess excellently bright.

5

JOHN FLETCHER
1579-1625

Optional Poems

Sleep.

Love's Emblems,

Beauty Clear And Fair.

Weep No More.

MELANCHOLY

Hence, all you vain delights,
As short as are the nights
Wherein you spend your folly!

There's nought in this life sweet,

If man were wise to see't,

But only melancholy

O sweetest melancholy !

Welcome, folded arms, and fixed eyes,
A sigh that piercing mortifies,

10 A look that's fasten'd to the ground,
A tongue chain'd up without a sound!

Fountain-heads and pathless groves,
Places which pale passion loves!
Moonlight walks, when all the fowls
15 Are warmly housed, save bats and owls!
A midnight bell, a parting groan-

These are the sounds we feed upon;

Then stretch our bones in a still gloomy valley;
Nothing's so dainty sweet as lovely melancholy.

Note the meaning of the word "melancholy" as Fletcher uses it.

The Puritan Period

1630-1660

SOME CAROLINE LYRIC POETS

Another time he read aloud a song by one of the chivalrous poets of Charles the First's time, perhaps Lovelace's "Althea," which Wordsworth also used to croon in the woods, and said, "There! I would give all my poetry to have made one song like that!"— Aubrey de Vere, in reminiscence of Tennyson.

A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby.

For he, that needs five thousand pounds to live,
Is full as poor as he that needs but five.

Kneeling ne'er spoil'd silk stocking: quit thy state.
All equal are within the church's gate.

The Church Porch.

VIRTUE

Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright!
The bridal of the earth and sky,
The dew shall weep thy fall tonight;
For thou must die.

5 Sweet rose, whose hue, angry and brave,
Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye,
Thy root is ever in its grave,

ΙΟ

And thou must die.

Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses,
A box where sweets compacted lie,

My music shows ye have your closes,
And all must die.

Only a sweet and virtuous soul,

Like season'd timber, never gives;

15 But though the whole world turn to coal,
Then chiefly lives.

Note the evidence of the growth of a fervent English religious feeling.