An Elegy On Ben Jonson

John Cleveland 1613 (Loughborough) – 1658



WHO first reform'd our Stage with justest Lawes,
And was the first best Judge in his owne Cause?
Who (when his Actors trembled for Applause)

Could (with a noble Confidence) preferre
His owne, by right, to a whole Theater;
From Principles which he knew could not erre.

Who to his FABLE did his Persons fitt,
With all the Properties of Art and Witt,
And above all (that could bee Acted) writt.

Who publique Follies did to covert drive,
Which hee againe could cunningly retrive,
Leaving them no ground to rest on, and thrive.

Heere IONSON lies, whom had I nam'd before
In that one word alone, I had paid more
Then can be now, when plentie makes me poore.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
79

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXA BBB CCC DDD BBB
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 659
Words 121
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 3, 3, 3, 3, 3

John Cleveland

John Cleveland was an English poet. more…

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