TO THE SPECIAL FOUNTAIN OF MANNERS
THOU art a bountiful and brave spring, and waterest all the noble plants of this
island. In thee the whole kingdom dresseth itself, and is ambitious to use thee as
her glass. Beware then thou render men's figures truly, and teach them no less
to hate their deformities, than to love their forms: for, to grace, there should come
reverence; and no man can call that lovely, which is not also venerable. It is not
powdering, perfuming, and every day smelling of the tailor, that converteth to a
beautiful object: but a mind shining through any suit, which needs no false light,
either of riches or honours, to help it. Such shalt thou find some here, even in
the reign of Cynthia, -- a Crites and an Arete. Now, under thy Phoebus, it will be
thy province to make more; except thou desirest to have thy source mix with the
spring of self-love, and so wilt draw upon thee as welcome a discovery of thy
days, as was then made of her nights.
Thy servant, but not slave,
BEN JONSON.
