Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden

Ben Jonson (1572–1637)

Epigrams: To My Mere English Censurer

TO thee, my way in Epigrams seems new,

When both it is the old way, and the true.

Thou sayst that cannot be; for thou hast seen

Davis and Weever, and the best have been,

And mine come nothing like. I hope so; yet,

As theirs did with thee, mine might credit get,

If thou ’dst but use thy faith as thou didst then,

When thou wert wont t’ admire, not censure men.

Prithee believe still, and not judge so fast:

Thy faith is all the knowledge that thou hast.