HOW HE SAW HER

by: Ben Jonson (1572-1637)

BEHELD her, on a day,

When her look outflourished May,

And her dressing did outbrave

All the pride the fields then have.

Far I was from being stupid,

For I ran and called on Cupid,

'Love, if thou wilt ever see

Mark of glory, come with me.

Where's thy quiver? Bend thy bow.

Here's a shaft; thou art too slow!'

And withal I did untie

Every cloud about his eye.

But he had not gained his sight

Sooner, than he lost his might

Or his courage; for away

Straight he ran, and durst not stay,

Letting bow and arrow fall;

Nor for any threat or call,

Could be brought once back to look.

I, foolhardy, there uptook

Both the arrow he had quit

And the bow, which thought to hit

This my object. But she threw

Such a lightning, as I drew,

At my face, that took my sight

And my motion from me quite;

So that there I stood a stone,

Mocked of all, and called of one--

Which with grief and wrath I heard--

Cupid's statue with a beard,

Or else one that played his ape

In a Hercules's shape.

• Ben Jonson - A biography and list of related links.
• Ben Jonson - A biography, plus links to purchase his plays.
• Ben Jonson - A biography and list of related links.
• Ben Jonson: Bibliography - A bibliography of the works of Ben Jonson; includes a list of critical and biographical resources.
• Ben Jonson: Monologues - An index of monologues.
• Purchase books by Ben Jonson