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Ben Jonson - A Fit of Rhyme against Rhyme
Work rating: Medium

Rhyme, the rack of finest wits,
    That expresseth but by fits
        True conceit,
    Spoiling senses of their treasure,
    Cozening judgment with a measure,
        But false weight;
    Wresting words from their true calling,
    Propping verse for fear of falling
        To the ground;
   Jointing syllabes, drowning letters,
   Fast`ning vowels as with fetters
       They were bound!
   Soon as lazy thou wert known,
   All good poetry hence was flown,
       And art banish`d.
   For a thousand years together
   All Parnassus` green did wither,
       And wit vanish`d.
   Pegasus did fly away,
   At the wells no Muse did stay,
       But bewail`d
   So to see the fountain dry,
   And Apollo`s music die,
       All light failed!
   Starveling rhymes did fill the stage;
   Not a poet in an age
       Worth crowning;
   Not a work deserving bays,
   Not a line deserving praise,
       Pallas frowning;
   Greek was free from rhyme`s infection,
   Happy Greek by this protection
       Was not spoiled.
   Whilst the Latin, queen of tongues,
   Is not yet free from rhyme`s wrongs,
       But rests foiled.
   Scarce the hill again doth flourish,
   Scarce the world a wit doth nourish
       To restore
   Phœbus to his crown again,
   And the Muses to their brain,
       As before.
   Vulgar languages that want
   Words and sweetness, and be scant
       Of true measure,
   Tyrant rhyme hath so abused,
   That they long since have refused
       Other cæsure.
   He that first invented thee,
   May his joints tormented be,
       Cramp`d forever.
   Still may syllabes jar with time,
   Still may reason war with rhyme,
       Resting never.
   May his sense when it would meet
   The cold tumor in his feet,
       Grow unsounder;
   And his title be long fool,
   That in rearing such a school
        Was the founder.
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