Skip to content
Linespedia

To My Book

By Ben Jonson

Topics: classic

It will be looked for, book, when some but see Thy title, Epigrams, and named of me, Thou should'st 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.

AI analysis available. Enable JavaScript to interact.

About this line

"It will be looked for, book, when some but see..."

Exploring the themes of classic, Ben Jonson delivers a powerful performance in "To My Book"... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

Attribution & Rights

Author:Ben Jonson

"It will be looked for, book, when some but see..." by Ben Jonson

For usage rights, copyright concerns, or to report an issue with this content, please visit our Copyright & Report page.

Classified Tags

Related lines

"The fairy beam upon you, The stars to glister on you; A moon of light In the noon of night, Till the fire-drake hath o'er gone you. The wheel of"

"So breaks the sun earth's rugged chains, Wherein rude winter bound her veins; So grows both stream and source of price, That lately fettered were w"

"Come, my Celia, let us prove While we may the sports of love; Time will not be ours forever, He at length our good will sever. Spend not then his"

"A Child Of Queen Elizabeths Chapel Weep with me, all you that read This little story; And know, for whom a tear you shed Deaths self is sorry."

"Here morning in the ploughman's songs is met     Ere yet one footstep shows in all the sky,     And twilight in the east, a doubt as yet,     S"

"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

Ben Jonson

About Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson (1572–1637) was an English poet, playwright, and critic who became the de facto Poet Laureate. His poems include "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes" and "To Penshurst," and his masques and comedies made him one of the most important literary figures of the Jacobean era.

Full Bibliography
Continue Reading

"The fairy beam upon you, The stars to glister on y..."

Weekly Poetic Insight

Join our literary Sanctuary

Get the most inspiring lines, poetic analysis, and secret shayaris delivered to your inbox every Sunday.