The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ben Jonson

Jonson's works the product of deep skill and melancholic temperament - 1616

Literary Record 22

[From Robert Anton, The Philosophers Satyrs ]

In his sixth satire Anton considers the activities in Mercury's sphere, those of wit and the arts. He attacks literary efforts inspired by 'phantasticke humors', smoke, wine and other artificial stimulants and declares his admiration for the products of 'arts and deeper skill' (p. 59), and of the melancholic temperament.

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The chollericke complexion hot and drie,
Writes with a Scriants hand most gripingly.
The Phlegmaticke in such a waterie vaine,
As if some (riming-Sculler) got his straine.
But the sound melancholicke mixt of earth,
Plowes with his wits, and brings a sollid birth:
The labor'd lines of some deepe reaching Scull,
Is like some Indian ship or stately hull,
That three yeares progresse furrows up the maine....
...   The labor'd Muse of Johnson, in whose loome
His silke-worme stile shall build an honor'd toombe
In his owne worke: though his long curious twins
Hang in the roofe of time with daintie lines:
Greeke-thundring Chapman beaten to the age
With a deepe furie and a sollid rage.
And Morrall Daniell with his pleasing phrase,
Filing the rockie methode of these daies

(64)

Beaumont and Spenser are cited first, then