Arts & Sciences

On the New Motion

by Ben Jonson 1572-1637

From Epigrams (1616)

Arts & Sciences

See you yond' Motion? not the old fa-ding,
Nor captain Pod, nor yet the Eltham thing;
But one more rare, and in the case so new:
His cloak with orient velvet quite lined through;
His rosy ties and garters so o'erblown,
By his each glorious parcel to be known!
He wont was to encounter me aloud,
Where-e'er he met me, now he's dumb, or proud.
Know you the cause? he has neither land nor lease,
Nor bawdy stock that travels for increase,
Nor office in the town, nor place in court,
Nor 'bout the bears, nor noise to make lords sport.
He is no favourite's favourite, no dear trust
Of any madam, hath need o' squires, and must.
Nor did the king of Denmark him salute,
When he was here; nor hath he got a suit,
Since he was gone, more than the one he wears.
Nor are the queen's most honour'd maids by th' ears
About his form. What then so swells each limb?
Only his clothes have over-leaven'd him.

✦ ✦ ✦

Epigrams, no. 97.

MLA

Jonson, Ben. “On the New Motion.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/jonson/138/.

Chicago

Jonson, Ben. “On the New Motion.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/jonson/138/.

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