Ben Jonson Poems

Epigrams

The epigram style was usually a short and witty poem written in heroic couplets that had a pithy turn at the end.

“To Fine lady Would-Be”

A poem about abortion and the reasons why a “lady” would use an apothecary to bury her “not born” children. The end of the poem almost seems as if her body itself is the tomb for the buried. Jonson claims that the reasons why she wouldn’t want a child, the world thinks she’s barren, but he speculates it could be pain, loss of complexion, her figure, and loss of time and sport.

“On Something that Walks Somewhere”

A poem about an “it” but one that doesn’t even seem to be about a person. It’s just a social type as pure materiality, and bad materiality at that. Rather than an indictment against a particular person, it’s a poem that criticizes a type of behavior and social relations. The line, “and such from whom let no man hope least good” shows the reader that there’s a social ecology of value.

“Inviting a Friend to Supper”

A very long epigram with Epicurean ideals, trying to convince his patron and friend William Herbert Earl of Pembroke to come to dinner. In fact, the poem itself serves not only as an invitation, but a meal itself as it is laid out before us. The event is at Jonson’s “poor house”, but Jonson says it is the entertainment (and company) that make the evening, not the quality of the food. Nevertheless, Jonson’s meal plan is in the poem, as long as its affordable its possible, but in the middle of the poem he writes, “I’ll tell you of more, and lie, so you will come: / Of partridge, pheasant, woodcock, of which some/ May yet be there…” Everything that follows the “lie” seems questionable then, including whether or not they’ll be sad the following morning. Implicit in the poem is almost a sense of melancholy because all of the mirth and enjoyment happen during the dinner, but what of before and after?

“On My First Son”

Following the death of his firstborn son, Jonson wrote this poem. Jonson claims that his biggest sin was hoping for more out of his son’s life than just seven years. He wishes that he wasn’t a “father” at all anymore or maybe that he didn’t encounter any other fathers? In any event he wants it to be known that his son was his best creation and best “piece of poetry.”

“On my first Daughter”

Following the death of his first daughter, Mary, at 6 months old, Jonson wrote this poem about how his daughter is in “safety of her innocence” because she died so young, and will go join Queen Mary in heaven as part of her virgin train.

“To William, Earl of Pembroke”

Jonson writes about his patron and friend that William is an epigram in and of himself, one that should be studied if people want to know how the Commonwealth and public good will survive.

“To Mary, Lady Wroth”

Mary Wroth is so wonderful that her true internal Sidney-ness shines out from her “noted for what flesh such souls were framed, / Know you to be a Sidney, though unnamed”. Jonson doesn’t even need to write this poem for her, because she’s so good and wonderful that she doesn’t need his praise.