The Poetaster

The Poetaster is a play written by English playwright and poet Ben Jonson. It was first performed in 1601 and is a satire of the literary scene in Elizabethan England. The play revolves around the character of Crispinus, a young poet who is mocked by his peers for his lack of talent. In an effort to gain revenge, Crispinus enlists the help of his friend Demetrius to impersonate the famous poet Horace and write scathing verses about his enemies. However, their plan backfires when Horace himself arrives on the scene and exposes their fraud. The play is filled with political and personal intrigue, as well as witty dialogue and clever wordplay. It is considered one of Jonson's most successful works and is still performed today.Ovid. I like not this sudden and general heaviness amongst our godheads; 'tis somewhat ominous. Apollo, command us louder music, and let Mercury and Momus contend to please and revive our senses.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.