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Henry King - To my dead friend Ben Johnson
Work rating: Low

I see that wreath which doth the wearer arm 
`Gainst the quick strokes of thunder, is no charm 
To keep off deaths pale dart. For, Johnson then 
Thou hadst been number`d still with living men. 
Times sithe had fear`d thy Lawrel to invade, 
Nor thee this subject of our sorrow made. 
Amongst those many votaries who come 
To offer up their Garlands at thy Tombe; 
Whil`st some more lofty pens in their bright verse 
(Like glorious Tapers flaming on thy herse) 
Shall light the dull and thankless world to see, 
How great a maim it suffers wanting thee; 
Let not thy learned shadow scorn, that I 
Pay meaner Rites unto thy memory; 
And since I nought can adde, but in desire 
Restore some sparks which leapt from thine own fire. 
What ends soever others quills invite, 
I can protest, it was no itch to write, 
Nor any vain ambition to be read, 
But meerly Love and Justice to the dead 
Which rais`d my fameless Muse; and caus`d her bring 
These drops, as tribute thrown into that spring, 
To whose most rich and fruitful head we ow 
The purest streams of language which can flow. 
For `tis but truth, thou taught`st the ruder age 
To speake by Grammar, and reform`dst the Stage: 
Thy Comick Sock induc`d such purged sence, 
A Lucrece might have heard without offence. 
Amongst those soaring wits that did dilate 
Our English, and advance it to the rate 
And value it now holds, thy self was one 
Helpt lift it up to such proportion. 
That thus refin`d and roab`d, it shall not spare 
With the full Greek or Latine to compare. 
For what tongue ever durst, but ours, translate 
Great Tully`s Eloquence, or Homers State? 
Both which in their unblemisht lustre shine, 
From Chapmans pen, and from thy Catiline. 
All I would ask for thee, in recompence 
Of thy successful toyl and times expence, 
Is onely this poor Boon: that those who can 
Perhaps read French, or talk Italian, 
Or do the lofty Spaniard affect;  
To shew their skill in Forrein Dialect, 
Prove not themselves so unnaturally wise, 
They therefore should their Mother-tongue despise. 
(As if her Poets both for style and wit 
Not equall`d, or not pass`d their best that writ) 
Untill by studying Johnson they have known 
The height and strength and plenty of their own. 
Thus in what low earth or neglected room 
Soere thou sleep`st, thy book shall be thy tomb. 
Thou wilt go down a happy Coarse, bestrew`d 
With thine own Flowres; and feel thy self renew`d, 
Whil`st thy immortal never-with`ring Bayes 
Shall yearly flourish in thy Readers praise. 
And when more spreading Titles are forgot, 
Or spight of all their Lead and Sear-cloth rot, 
Thou wrapt and Shrin`d in thine own sheets, wilt ly 
A Relick fam`d by all Posterity.
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