History & Politics
To King James
From Epigrams (1616)
History & Politics
How, best of kings, dost thou a sceptre bear!
How, best of poets, dost thou laurel wear!
But two things rare the Fates had in their store,
And gave thee both, to shew they could no more.
For such a poet, while thy days were green,
Thou wert, as chief of them are said t' have been.
And such a prince thou art, we daily see,
As chief of those still promise they will be.
Whom should my muse then fly to, but the best
Of kings, for grace; of poets, for my test?
✦ ✦ ✦
Codex Note
Epigrams, no. 4.
Cite this poem
MLA
Jonson, Ben. “To King James.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/jonson/56/.
Chicago
Jonson, Ben. “To King James.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/jonson/56/.
Read this poem with the Codex →