Ben Jonson: English poet, playwright, and contemporary of Shakespeare

• Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy; 
• My sin was too much hope of thee, lov’d boy. 
• Seven years thou’wert lent to me, and I thee pay, 
• Exacted by thy fate, on the just day. 
• O, could I lose all father now! For why 
• Will man lament the state he should envy? 
• To have so soon ‘scap’d world’s and flesh’s rage, 
• And, if no other misery, yet age? 
• Rest in soft peace, and, ask’d, say here doth lie 
• Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry. 
• For whose sake, henceforth, all his vows be such, 
• As what he loves may never like too much.

Ben Jonson (1572–1637) was an English poet and playwright who, like his contemporary, William Shakespeare, played a major role in forming English verse and drama. Unlike Shakespeare, however, Jonson was not content to wait in the wings of history but took an active part in the political and cultural controversies of the day. Jonson’s verse and stage productions were both informed by his rich classical learning, displaying a close attention to form and style which emulated the Greek and Roman models he absorbed during his education.