Wine it is the milk of Venus, And the poet’s horse accounted: Ply it and you all are mounted.

Ben Jonson

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Plies

I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is ground Upon my flesh t’inflict another wound. Yet dare I not complain, or wish for death With holy Paul; lest it be thought the breath Of discontent; or that these prayers be For weariness of life, not love of thee.
BEN JONSON

Another Weariness Wish
A thankful man owes a courtesy ever; the unthankful but when he needs it.

BEN JONSON

A thankful man owes a courtesy ever; the unthankful but when he needs it.
BEN JONSON

Needs
Who will not judge him worthy to be robbed That sets his doors wide open to a thief, And shows the felon where his treasure lies?

BEN JONSON

Who will not judge him worthy to be robbed That sets his doors wide open to a thief, And shows the felon where his treasure lies?
BEN JONSON

Doors Judgment
If all you boast of your great art be true; Sure, willing poverty lives most in you.

BEN JONSON

If all you boast of your great art be true; Sure, willing poverty lives most in you.
BEN JONSON

Being
It is less dishonor to hear imperfectly than to speak imperfectly. The ears are excused; the understanding is not.

BEN JONSON

It is less dishonor to hear imperfectly than to speak imperfectly. The ears are excused; the understanding is not.
BEN JONSON

Ears
If men will impartially, and not asquint, look toward the offices and function of a poet, they will easily conclude to themselves the impossibility of any man’s being a good poet without first being a good man.

BEN JONSON

If men will impartially, and not asquint, look toward the offices and function of a poet, they will easily conclude to themselves the impossibility of any man’s being a good poet without first being a good man.
BEN JONSON

Good Man
Let argument bear no unmusical sound.
BEN JONSON

Bears
I see compassion may become a justice, though it be a weakness, I confess, and nearer a vice than a virtue.

BEN JONSON

I see compassion may become a justice, though it be a weakness, I confess, and nearer a vice than a virtue.
BEN JONSON
I have discovered that a famed familiarity in great ones is a note of certain usurpation on the less; for great and popular men feign themselves to be servants to others to make those slaves to them.
BEN JONSON

Popularity
True gladness doth not always speak; joy, bred and born but in the tongue, is weak.

BEN JONSON

True gladness doth not always speak; joy, bred and born but in the tongue, is weak.
BEN JONSON
True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.

BEN JONSON

True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.
BEN JONSON

Fine Melancholy Perfect
Sweet Swan of Avon! What a sight it were To see thee in our water yet appear.

BEN JONSON

Sweet Swan of Avon! What a sight it were To see thee in our water yet appear.
BEN JONSON

Swans Sweet
Success hath made me wanton.
BEN JONSON

Hath Made Wanton
O, for an engine, to keep back all clocks, or make the sun forget his motion!

BEN JONSON

O, for an engine, to keep back all clocks, or make the sun forget his motion!
BEN JONSON
It holds for good polity ever, to have that outwardly in vilest estimation, which inwardly is most dear to us.
BEN JONSON

Dear Estimation Hypocrisy
Ambition, like a torrent, ne’er looks back; And is a swelling, and the last affection A high mind can put off; being both a rebel Unto the soul and reason, and enforceth All laws, all conscience, treads upon religion, and offereth violence to nature’s self.

BEN JONSON

Ambition, like a torrent, ne’er looks back; And is a swelling, and the last affection A high mind can put off; being both a rebel Unto the soul and reason, and enforceth All laws, all conscience, treads upon religion, and offereth violence to nature’s self.
BEN JONSON

Self

Wine it is the milk of Venus, And the poet’s horse accounted: Ply it and you all are mounted.

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