ON THE BEST OF ENGLISH POETS, BEN JONSON, DECEASED. So seems a star to shoot; when from our sight JONSON, a work of honour lives enroll'd: The Muses, first in Greece begot, in Rome Brought forth, our best of poets hath call'd home, Nurst, taught, and planted here; that Thames now sings By influence of this sovereign, like the spheres, With popular opinion, aim'd at name More than desert: yet in despight of shame Even they, though foil'd by his contempt of wrongs, Drawn to the life of every eye and limb, Yet if he do not at his full appear, JOHN FORD.' It does not appear that Ford had any personal friendship with Jonson; though he might perhaps have known and been known to him; since Ben bad, as he says, from his first entrance into life, cultivated an acquaintance with the most celebrated professors of the law. As far, however, as respects their dramatic career, they have nothing in common; for Jonson had, in some measure, withdrawn from the stage many years before Ford's first published piece appeared on it. Jonson produced but one play (the Staple of News) during the long period of fourteen years, (from 1616 to 1630;) nor would he, perhaps, have returned to the theatre, had not disease and its concomitant, want, compelled his 'faint and faltering tongue,' as he pathetically says, to have recourse to it, for the means of an immediate though temporary relief. It is evident, however, that our poet entertained a great degree of kindness and respect for Jonson; with whose friends he seems to have been chiefly conversant. |