Arts & Sciences

To the Author (T. Warre)

by Ben Jonson 1572-1637

From Underwoods (1640)

Arts & Sciences

Truth is the trial of itself,
And needs no other touch;
And purer than the purest gold,
Refine it ne'er so much.

It is the life and light of love,
The sun that ever shineth,
And spirit of that special grace,
That faith and love defineth.

It is the warrant of the word,
That yields a scent so sweet,
As gives a power to faith to tread
All falsehood under feet.

It is the sword that doth divide
The marrow from the bone,
And in effect of heavenly love
Doth shew the Holy One.

This, blessed Warre, thy blessed book
Unto the world doth prove;
A worthy work, and worthy well
Of the most worthy love.

✦ ✦ ✦

Underwoods, Miscellaneous Poems, no. 26.

MLA

Jonson, Ben. “To the Author (T. Warre).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/jonson/221/.

Chicago

Jonson, Ben. “To the Author (T. Warre).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/jonson/221/.

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