will be so ready to discredit me, as they will have the impudence to belie themselves. For, if I meant them not, it is so. Nor can I hope otherwise. For why should they remit anything of their riot, their pride, their self-love, and other inherent graces, to consider truth or virtue; but, with the trade of the world, lend their long ears against men they love not and hold their dear mountebank, or jester, in far better condition than all the study or studiers of humanity. such, I would rather know them by their vizards still, than they should publish their faces, at their peril, in my theatre,1 where Cato if he lived might enter without scandal.

Your Lordship's most faithful honorer,

For

BEN JONSON.

1 His theatre is the following book of Epigrams.

EPIGRAMS.

I. TO THE READER.

PRAY thee, take care, that tak'st my book in

hand,

To read it well: that is, to understand.

II. TO MY BOOK.

It will be looked for, Book, when some but see Thy title, Epigrams, and named of me,

Thou shouldst be bold, licentious, full of gall, Wormwood, and sulphur, sharp, and toothed withal,

Become a petulant thing, hurl ink and wit,
As madmen stones, not caring whom they hit.
Deceive their malice, who could wish it so;
And, by thy wiser temper, let men know
Thou art not covetous of least self-fame
Made from the hazard of another's shame;
Much less, with lewd, profane, and beastly phrase,
To catch the world's loose laughter, or vain gaze.
He that departs with his own honesty
For vulgar praise, doth it too dearly buy.

III. TO MY BOOKSELLER.

Thou that mak'st gain thy end, and wisely well

Call'st a book good, or bad, as it doth sell,
Use mine so too; I give thee leave; but crave,
For the luck's sake, it thus much favor have:
To lie upon thy stall till it be sought;
Not offered as it made suit to be bought;
Nor have my title-leaf on posts or walls,2
Or in cleft-sticks, advanced to make calls.

For termers, or some clerk-like serving-man, Who scarce can spell th' hard names; whose knight less can.

If, without these vile arts, it will not sell,

4

Send it to Bucklers-bury, there 'twill, well.

2 It was the custom to paste advertisements not only on the dead walls of the metropolis, but on the numerous posts which stood in the public places, in front of great houses; hence the term posters, which is still applied to mural advertisements; although the special propriety of its application has long ceased. The term "Knights of the Post" has a similar origin. It appears from the passage in the text that the publishers were in the habit of announcing their new works by pasting the title-pages on walls and posts. — B.

8 Persous who resorted to London during term time, when the town was crowded, for the purposes of carrying on intrigues, or practising cheats and tricks.

4 Bucklersbury at this time was occupied by grocers and apothecaries, who were the residuary legatees of printed literature, as the trunkmakers were afterward.

"And smell like Bucklersbury in simple-time."

Merry Wives of Windsor, III. iii.

IV. TO KING JAMES.

How, best of Kings, dost thou a sceptre bear! How, best of Poets," dost thou laurel wear!

But two things rare the Fates had in their store,
And gave thee both, to show they could no more.
For such a Poet, while thy days were green,
Thou wert, as chief of them are said t' have been.
And such a Prince thou art, we daily see,
As chief of those still promise they will be.
Whom should my muse then fly to, but the best
Of Kings for grace; of Poets for my test?

V. ON THE UNION.6

When was there contract better driven by Fate? Or celebrated with more truth of state?

The world the temple was, the priest a king, The spoused pair two realms, the sea the ring.

VI. TO ALCHEMISTS.

If all you boast of your great art be true,
Sure, willing poverty lives most in you.

5 His epigram was probably written soon after the accession of James, and when this good prince had surely given little cause for complaint to any one. With respect to his boyish poetry.... it is really creditable to his talents. Some of the Psalms are better translated by him than they were by Milton at his years.-G. It will not be forgotten in what terms Bacon addressed King James at this time, and what expectations he built on his Majesty's learning.

6 Of England and Scotland under James; completed under Anne in 1707.

VII. ON THE NEW HOT-HOUSE."

Where lately harbored many a famous whore,
A purging bill, now fixed upon the door,
Tells you it is a hot-house; so it may,
And still be a whore-house: they're synonyma.

VIII. ON A ROBBERY.

Ridway robbed Duncote of three hundred pound; Ridway was ta'en, arraigned, condemned to

die;

But, for this money, was a courtier found, Begged Ridway's pardon: Duncote now doth

cry,

Robbed both of money, and the law's relief:-
The courtier is become the greater thief.

IX. TO ALL TO WHOM I WRITE.

May none whose scattered names honor

For strict degrees of rank or title look; 'Tis 'gainst the manners of an epigram, And I a poet here, no herald am.

X. TO MY LORD IGNORANT.

my book

Thou call'st me poet, as a term of shame;
But I have my revenge made, in thy name.

7 So called from the hot baths used in them. They were generally bagnios. - B.

"And now she professes a hot-house, Which I think is a very ill-house too."

Measure for Measure, II. i.