Ben Jonson was born about the year 1573, at Westminster. Little is known about his early life, but in 1597 he is found playing and writing for “The Admiral’s Men,” and later for the “Lord Chamberlain’s Servants.” Afterwards he stood in great favor at court, and wrote many of his best plays during that time—the “Alchemist,” “Catiline,” “Bartholomew Fair,” and “Epicoene.” He died in 1637, after several years of illness, which affected his wit and brilliancy in such a manner that many of his later plays were not heard to the end. He is buried in Westminster Abbey. He also wrote some prose and some of the most beautiful lyrics of the English language.

Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup
And I’ll not look for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove’s nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much honoring thee
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be;
But thou thereon didst only breathe
And sent’st it back to me;
Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,
Not of itself but thee.