Quote#Poetry
A gentleman reading a poem that began withWhere is that man that…
Quote byBen Jonson · 1572–1637
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Conversations with William Drummond of Hawthornden (1711).
English (original)
A gentleman reading a poem that began withWhere is that man that never yet did hear Of fair Penelope, Ulysses' queen?[Jonson] calling his cook, asked if he had ever heard of her, who answering "No," demonstrate to him Lo, there the man that never yet did hear Of fair Penelope, Ulysses' queen.
— Ben Jonson
More from Ben Jonson
True happiness Consists not in the multitude of friends, But in the worth and choice.
That old bald cheater, Time.
Slow, slow, fresh fount, keep time with my salt tears: Yet, slower, yet; O faintly, gentle springs: List to the heavy part the music bears, Woe weeps out her division, when she sings. Droop herbs, and flowers, Fall grief in showers,
There shall be no love lost.
Queen and huntress, chaste and fair, Now the sun is laid to sleep, Seated in thy silver chair, State in wonted manner keep: Hesperus entreats thy light, Goddess, excellently bright.
Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; and of all tame, a flatterer.