Ben Johnson - Eastward Hoe: "Good men are the stars, the planets of the ages wherein they live, and illustrate the times."

Ben Jonson, born in June 1572, was a significant figure in Jacobean and Caroline literature, renowned for his satirical plays like Volpone and The Alchemist, as well as his lyric poetry. His controversial life included imprisonment and religious shifts, reflecting his vast intellect and influence. Appointed the first official Poet Laureate by King James I in 1616, Jonson's legacy endures, captivating new audiences with his masterful storytelling and poetic craft. He passed away on August 6, 1637, and is interred in Westminster Abbey.