Ben Jonson

Jonson, Ben (1572–1637), English dramatist and lyric poet. His play Every Man in His Humour (1598) established his reputation. That was followed by Every Man out of His Humour (1599) and The Poetaster (1601), a satire. His best-known works were biting comic plays: Volpone (1606), Epicoene (1609), The Alchemist (1610), and Bartholomew Fair (1614). His poetry includes the collections The Forrest (1616), containing the song “Drink to me only with thine eyes,” and Underwoods (1640).