Benjamin Jonson, “On My First Son”
Jonson is credited with expanding the definition of what a type of poem called an “epigram” could contain. Previously, it was limited to a kind of diatribe. Published in a collection of poetry titled simply “Epigrams” is this elegiac epitaph written to honor Jonson’s son, Benjamin, who became one of the thousands of victims of the plague which ravaged England in the early 1600’s.
William Camden, “To William Camden”
The titular figure here is most notable today for having written a detailed study of the British Isles titled Britannia as well as the first biography of Queen Elizabeth. That he was also one of Jonson’s instructors is probably important as well.
Penshurst “To Penshurst”
Penshurst is actually the ancestral estate of the family of Sir Philip Sidney, another noted poet of the age. Several poems are dedicated to members of the Sidney family, but the most lasting verse turned out to be the one with the most interesting character and that character is the home itself. With this poem, Ben Jonson was given credit for centuries as the inventor of the country house genre. Only later was due credit given to the author of what was really the first example of this type of poem which uses the conceit of the home to glorify the occupant. That this overlooked author who published a similar poem five years before Jonson is a woman—Aemilia Lanyer—is surely just coincidental.
Celia, “Song: To Celia”
Although one of the most famous love poems in British literary history, sad to say there was no actual Celia. In fact, the poem isn’t even entirely a Jonson original, but a reworking of prose written by ancient Greek writer Philostratus. Of course, the genius of the verse is all Jonson’s; it just wasn’t inspired by any real-life doppelganger.
Vulcan, “An Execration upon Vulcan”
Jonson was more than capable of writing a diatribe and the one directing the full fury of his rage toward the Roman god of fire is one of the best. This calling to account of the arbitrariness of destructive fires was stimulated by a fire at his home which completely destroyed his personal library.
