The choice of lover BM What is the second word? for a moment I believed it was covfefe?
53 If I freely may discover
What may pl e ase me in my lover
I would have her fair and witty
Savoring more of court then City
A little proud but full of pity
Light and humorous in her toying
Oft building hopes and soon destroying
Not too easy notnor too hard
All extremes I would have bard
She should be allowed her passions
So they were but use as fashions
Sometime forward and frowning
Sometime sickly and then sowning
Every fit with change still crowning
Purly jealous I would have her
Only constant when I crave her
Tis a virtue should not save her
Thus nor her delicates should claw me
Nor her peevishness annoy me
By Crispinus, in Poetaster (2.3.135-144), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry e. 14, f. 21r

If I freely may discover
what please me in my lover
I would have her fair and witty
Savouring more of court than city
A little proud, but full of pity
Light and humorous in her toying
Oft building hopes and soon destroying
Neither too easy, nor to hard
All extremes, I would have barred
By Crispinus, in Poetaster (2.2.135-144), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson poetry 117, f. 30v

She should be allowed her passions
So they were but used as fashions
Sometimes froward and then frowning
Sometimes sickish, and then swowning
Every fit with change still crowning.
Purely jealous I would have her
Then only constant when I crave her
'Tis a vertue should not save her
Thus nor her Delicates would cloy me
Neither her peevishness annoy me

By Hermogenes, in Poetaster (2.2.150-159), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS Rawlinson poetry 117, f. 30v

Poetaster
Envy "
No poet-apes That come with basilisks’ eyes, whose forked tongues Are steeped in venom,
By Envy, in Poetaster (Induction 35-37), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

they have salt in ’em and will brook the air
By Tucca, in Poetaster (4.3.76-77), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

Ignorance
Howe’er that common spawn of ignorance ,Our fry of writers, may beslime his fame
By Prologue, in Poetaster (Induction 79-80), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

They would not then with such distorted faces And desp'rate censures stab at poesy.
By Ovid, in Poetaster (1.2.205-206), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

Co: Law
Or that I study not the tedious laws And prostitute my voice in every cause ?
By Ovid, in Poetaster (1.1.41-42), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

"
Envy the living, not the dead doth bite,For after death all men receive their right.
By Ovid, in Poetaster (1.1.75-76), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

Self will
Nay, this ’tis to have your ears dammed up to good counsel.
By Luscus, in Poetaster (1.2.16), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

" " " " "
The time was once when wit drowned wealth; but now Your only barbarism is t’have wit, and want. No matter now in virtue who excels, He that hath coin hath all perfection else
By Ovid, in Poetaster (1.2.211-1.3.73), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

if you be thus fulsome to me in everything , I’ll be divorced.
By Chloe, in Poetaster (2.1.22-23), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

"
moves as mightily
By Albius, in Poetaster (2.1.29), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

for a man borne upon little legs is always a gentleman borne.
By Chloe, in Poetaster (2.1.74-75), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 41v

Play: Jonson
" "
Go, go; meddle with your bedchamber only, or rather with your ben in your
chamber only; or rather with your wife in your bed only; or on my faith I'll not be pleased with you only.
By Chloe, in Poetaster (2.1.91-93), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Pray, sir, fashion me an excuse to the ladies.
By Crispinus, in Poetaster (2.2.182-183), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

"
that you marking as well as I we may put both our marks together when they are gone
By Chloe, in Poetaster (2.1.127-128), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Discontent
Sick minds are like sick men that burn with fevers, who when they
drink please but a present taste, And after bear a more impatient fit.
By Propertius, in Poetaster (2.2.35-37), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

"
Their thanks acknowledged as a debt to his cunning.
By Gallus, in Poetaster (2.2.103-104), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

"
If there were a praise above excellence the gentleman highly deserves it.
By Ovid, in Poetaster (2.2.146), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

musicians
’Tis the common disease of all your musicians, that they know no mean to be entreated either to begin or end.
By Julia, in Poetaster (2.2.169-170), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

"
Pray Jove I can entreat 'hem of my memory.
By Crispinus, in Poetaster (3.1.45), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Au! Convert thy thoughts to somewhat else, I pray thee.
By Crispinus, in Poetaster (3.1.150), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

"
Your satin sleeve begins to fret at the rug that is underneath it, I do observe; and your ample velvet bases are not without evident stains of a hot disposition naturally .
By Horace, in Poetaster (3.1.51-53), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Slight, these verses have lost me again ; I shall not invite them to my mind now .
By Crispinus, in Poetaster (3.1.60-61), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Tediousness
to take mine ears up by commission
By Horace, in Poetaster (3.1.85), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

"
"
And rank and tedious fool, and have slung jests As hard as stones till thou hadst pelted him
By Horace, in Poetaster (3.1.91-92; 3.3.16), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Sweet Master Minos! I am forfeited to eternal disgrace if you do not commiserate.
By Crispinus, in Poetaster (3.3.22-23), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Compliments "
And your ears will be so furred with the breath of their compliments that you can not catch cold
of your
head if you would , in three winters after.
By Cytheris, in Poetaster (4.1.20-21; 4.1.24-25), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

"
"
And though they desire to kiss heaven with their titles, yet they will
count them fools that give them too humbly.
By Cytheris, in Poetaster (4.1.29-30), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

the other they count too simple and ministive.
By Cytheris, in Poetaster (4.1.28-29), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Truth
To tell you the female truth (which is the simple truth ), ladies, and to show that poets, in spite of the world, are able to deify themselves
By Tibullus, in Poetaster (4.2.28-29), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

What, wilt thou suffer this
ocular temptation?
By Tucca, in Poetaster (4.5.67-68), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Aping
he goes up and down sucking from every every society, and when he comes
home, squeezes himself dry again.
By Demetrius, in Poetaster (4.3.90-91), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Be gone, sweet life-blood.
By Ovid, in Poetaster (4.9.85), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Informers "
Princes that
will but hear or give access To such officious spies
can ne'er be safe: They take in poison with an open ear , And, free
from danger become slaves to fear.
By Maecenas, in Poetaster (4.7.53-56), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Thy affections rule not in me . I must bear all my griefs ; let me use all my pleasures.
By Julia, in Poetaster (4.9.61-63), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

More proud of reconcilement than revenge.
By Caesar, in Poetaster (5.1.4), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

fair virtue
Without the inward fires and lives of men,
you both have virtues shining through your your shapes To show your titles are not writ on posts:
By Caesar, in Poetaster (5.1.13-14), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

And for his poesy 'tis so rammed with life that it shall gather strength of life with being
By Horace, in Poetaster (5.1.136-137), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Whosoever can and will not cherish virtue is no man.
By Caesar, in Poetaster (5.1.66-67), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Riches and poverty
To make a difference of me for my poorness, As filth of poverty sunk as deep into a knowing spirit as the
bane of riches doth into an ignorant soul.
By Horace, in Poetaster (5.1.80-83), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Thou shalt see anon. Do not make division with thy legs so.
By Tucca, in Poetaster (5.3.165), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Best matter, badly shown, shows worse than bad.
By Caesar, in Poetaster (5.2.23), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Now, Romans, you have heard our thoughts.
By Virgil, in Poetaster (5.3.333), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

Captain, you shall eternally girt me to you, as I am generous.
By Crispinus, in Poetaster (5.3.338), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

But let your matter run before your words.
By Virgil, in Poetaster (5.3.488), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r

First, you must know That where there is a true and perfect merit
There can be no dejection
By Virgil, in Poetaster (5.3.303-305), Ben Jonson
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f.42r