Ben Jonson

Pleasure the servant, Virtue looking on.

Pleasure the servant, Virtue looking on.

And I had lent my watch last night to one
That dines to-day at the sheriff's.

And I had lent my watch last night to one
That dines to-day at the sheriff's.

The master of art or giver of wit,
Their belly.

The master of art or giver of wit,
Their belly.

For a good poet's made, as well as born,
And such wast thou! Look how the father's face
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For a good poet's made, as well as born,
And such wast thou! Look how the father's face
Lives in his issue; even so the race
Of Shakespeare's mind and manner brightly shine
In his well-turned and true-filed lines;
In each of which he seems to shake a lance,
As brandished at the eyes of ignorance.

For he that once is good, is ever great.

For he that once is good, is ever great.