Jonson wrote 18 plays, most of which were social satirical comedies, except for two Roman historical tragedies, "The Downfall of Cyanus" and "The Conspiracy of Catalin". His plays follow the principles of classicism and have a strong moral tendency. The play's sharp criticism of the bad social customs at the time led to him being arrested and imprisoned twice. One time was for co-writing with T. Nash the satirical current affairs, now lost "Isle of Dogs", the performance of which also led to the temporary closure of the London theater; the other time was for co-writing "Eastward" with C. Marston Go," which criticized Jacobean politics. "Everyone's Happy" in 1598 and "Everyone's Happy" in 1599 are comedies of quirks created by Jonson based on the theory of temperament (the so-called physiological theory in the Middle Ages that four different temperaments produce different characters). The latter's imitation of Marston's style led to the Theater War, during which several dramatists competed to write plays to criticize each other. For this reason, Jonson wrote "Cynthia's Orgy" and "The Counterfeit Poet".
Jonson's most successful comedies include "The Fox", "The Alchemist" and "Bartholomew's Fair".
Benjamin Jonson was born 1571 as the posthumous son of a Protestant minister. His mother then moved him to Westminster, where she married a bricklayer. He attended a free parish school as a boy, and thanks to the sponsorship of the headmaster, was able to attend Westminster Grammar School. Unfortunately, Ben lost his scholarship and was forced to take up bricklaying alongside his stepfather. This occupation did not appeal to him, and he left for military duty in Flanders and did not return to England until 1592. He married in 1594, and joined a touring acting company in 1597. Ben Jonson and another playwright then wrote a play called "Isle of Dogs" which was immediately banned on charges of sedition, and he and his friends found themselves in Fleet Prison. He was released after a few months and managed to restart his acting career. In December of 1598 he fought a duel with another actor named Gabriel Spencer; fortunately for Ben, he won, but unfortunately, he was imprisoned on charges of murder and given the death sentence. He managed to escape the gallows and returned to playwriting. He set out on foot in 1618 to visit Scotland and on his return began lecturing on rhetoric at colleges. He died in 1637 and was buried in Westminster Abbey; his epitaph reads: "Oh Rare Ben Jonson!"
For details on the style, see the poem Song to Celia: This poem was written by the British playwright and poet Ben Jonson (1572-1637). His poems are characterized by brightness and clean writing, which already have the characteristics of later classical poetry.
To Celia is a famous lyric poem praising spiritual love (Platonic love), which was once set to music. Celia female name.
Song to Celia
Drink to me only with thin eyes2,
And I will pledge3 with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup4
And I'll not look for wine．
The thirst that from the soul doth5 rise
Doth ask a drink divine6;
But might I of Jove's nectar sup7,
I would not change for thine.
I sent thee8 late9 a rosy wreath,
Not so much honoring10 thee
As giving it a hope that there
It could not wither'd be11;
But thou thereon didst only breathe12
And sent'st it back to me;
Since when13 it grows, and smells, I swear,
Not of itself but thee14!