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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EPIGRAM. TO A FRIEND AND SON, by BEN JONSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Son, and my friend, I had not called you so Last Line: Rather to boast rich hangings, than rare friends. | |||
Son, and my friend, I had not called you so To me; or been the same to you; if show, Profit, or chance had made us: but I know What, by that name, we each to other owe, Freedom, and truth; with love from those begot: Wise crafts, on which the flatterer ventures not. His is more safe commodity, or none: Nor dares he come in the comparison. But as the wretched painter, who so ill Painted a dog, that now his subtler skill Was, t'have a boy stand with a club, and fright All live dogs from the lane, and his shop's sight, Till he had sold his piece, drawn so unlike: So doth the flatterer, with far cunning strike At a friend's freedom, proves all circling means To keep him off; and howsoe'er he gleans Some of his forms, he lets him not come near Where he would fix, for the distinction's fear. For as at distance, few have faculty To judge; so all men coming near can spy, Though now of flattery, as of picture are More subtle works, and finer pieces far, Than knew the former ages: yet to life, All is but web, and painting; be the strife Never so great to get them: and the ends, Rather to boast rich hangings, than rare friends. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 4. HER TRIUMPH by BEN JONSON A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 5. HIS DISCOURSE WITH CUPID by BEN JONSON A FIT OF RHYME AGAINST RHYME [OR, RIME] by BEN JONSON A NYMPH'S PASSION by BEN JONSON A SONNET, TO THE NOBLE LADY, THE LADY MARY WROTH by BEN JONSON AN ODE TO HIMSELF by BEN JONSON ANSWER TO MASTER WITHER'S SONG, 'SHALL I, WASTING IN DESPAIR?' by BEN JONSON EPICOENE; OR, THE SILENT WOMAN: FREEDOM IN DRESS by BEN JONSON EPIGRAM: 118. ON GUT by BEN JONSON |
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