INTRODUCTORY NOTE
BEN JONSON, after Shakespeare the most eminent writer for the Elizabethan stage, was born in 1573, and died in 1635. He was the founder of the so-called “Comedy of Humours,” and throughout the reign of James I was the dominating personality in English letters. A large number of the younger writers were proud to confess themselves his “sons.” Besides dramas of a variety of kinds, Jonson wrote much lyrical poetry, some of it of the most exquisite quality. His chief prose work appears in his posthumously published “Explorata, Timber or Discoveries, made upon men and matter”, a kind of commonplace book, in which he seems to have entered quotations and translations from his reading, as well as original observations of a miscellaneous character on men and books. The volume has little or no structure or arrangement, but is impressed everywhere with the stamp of his vigorous personality. The following passage on Bacon is notable as a personal estimate of this giant by the man who, perhaps, approached him in the field of intellect more closely than any other contemporary.
BEN JONSON
ON SHAKESPEARE
DE SHAKESPEARE NOSTRAT［I］〖“Of our countryman, Shakespeare.”〗
IREMEMBER the players have often mentioned it as an honor to Shakespeare, that in his writing, whatsoever he penned, he never blotted out a line. My answer hath been, “Would he had blotted a thousand,” which they thought a malevolent speech. I had not told posterity this but for their ignorance, who chose that circumstance to commend their friend by wherein he most faulted; and to justify mine own candor, for I loved the man, and do honor his memory on this side idolatry as much as any. He was, indeed, honest, and of an open and free nature; had an excellent fancy, brave notions, and gentle expressions, wherein he flowed with that facility that sometime it was necessary he should be stopped. “Sufflaminandus erat,”〖“He should have been clogged.”〗 as Augustus said of Haterius. His wit was in his own power; would the rule of it had been so too. Many times he fell into those things, could not escape laughter, as when he said in the person of Cæsar, one speaking to him: “Cæsar, thou dost me wrong.” He replied: “Cæsar did never wrong but with just cause;〖The speech is not found in this form in our version of Shakespeare's “Julius Cæsar.”〗 and such like, which were ridiculous. But he redeemed his vices with his virtues. There was ever more in him to be praised than to be pardoned.
BEN JONSON ON BACON
DEMINUS VERULAMIUS〖Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam.〗
ONE, though he be excellent and the chief, is not to be imitated alone; for never no imitator ever grew up to his author; likeness is always on this side truth. Yet there happened in my time one noble speaker, who was full of gravity in his speaking; his language, where he could spare or pass by a jest, was nobly censorious.〖Severe.〗 No man ever spake more neatly, more presly,〖Concisely.〗 more weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered. No member of his speech but consisted of his own graces. His hearers could not cough,or look aside from him, without loss. He commanded where he spoke, and had his judges angry and pleased at his devotion.〖Choice, disposal.〗 No man had their affections more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him was lest he should make an end.
Scriptorum catalogus.〖Catalogue of writers.〗—Cicero is said to be the only wit that the people of Rome had equalled to their empire. Ingenium par imperio. We have had many, and in their several ages (to take in but the former seculum〖Century.〗) Sir Thomas More, the elder Wyatt, Henry Earl of Surrey, Chaloner, Smith, Eliot, B［ishop］ Gardiner, were for their times admirable; and the more, because they began eloquence with us. Sir Nico［las］ Bacon was singular, and almost alone, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's times. Sir Philip Sidney and Mr. Hooker (in different matter) grew great masters of wit and language, and in whom all vigor of invention and strength of judgment met. The Earl of Essex, noble and high; and Sir Walter Raleigh, not to be contemned, either for judgment or style; Sir Henry Savile, grave, and truly lettered; Sir Edwin Sandys, excellent in both; Lo［rd］ Egerton, the Chancellor, a grave and great orator, and best when he was provoked; but his learned and able, though unfortunate, successor〖Bacon.〗 is he who hath filled up all numbers, and performed that in our tongue which may be compared or preferred either to insolent Greece or haughty Rome. In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the wits born that could honor a language or help study. Now things daily fall, wits grow downward, and eloquence grows backward; so that he may be named and stand as the mark and αχμ'η〖Acme.〗 of our language.
De augmentis scientiarum.〖Concerning the advancement of the sciences.〗—I have ever observed it to have been the office of a wise patriot, among the greatest affairs of the State, to take care of the commonwealth of learning. For schools, they are the seminaries of State; and nothing is worthier the study of a statesman than that part of the republic which we call the advancement of letters. Witness the care of Julius Cæsar, who, in the heat of the civil war, writ his books of Analogy, and dedicated them to Tully. This made the late Lord S［aint］ Alban〖Bacon.〗 entitle his work Novum Organum; which, though by the most of superficial men, who cannot get beyond the title of nominals,〖Names of things.〗it is not penetrated nor understood, it really openeth all defects of learning whatsoever, and is a book
Qui longum noto scriptori porriget ævum.〖“Which extends to the famous author a long future.”—Horace, Ars. Poet., 346.〗
My conceit of his person was never increased toward him by his place or honors. But I have and do reverence him for the greatness that was only proper to himself, in that he seemed to me ever, by his work, one of the greatest men, and most worthy of admiration, that had been in many ages. In his adversity I ever prayed that God would give him strength; for greatness he could not want. Neither could I condole in a word or syllable for him, as knowing no accident could do harm to virtue, but rather help to make it manifest.