U  N  D  E  R  W  O  O  D  S . MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. XLII. — THE MIND OF THE FRONTISPIECE TO A BOOK.    From death and dark oblivion (near the same)     The mistress of man’s life, grave History, Raising the world to good and evil fame,     Doth vindicate it to eternity. Wise Providence would so : that nor the good     Might be defrauded, nor the great secured, But both might know their ways were understood,     When vice alike in time with virtue dured : Which makes that, lighted by the beamy hand Of Truth, that searcheth the most hidden springs, And guided by Experience, whose straight wand     Doth mete, whose line doth sound the depth of things ; She cheerfully supporteth what she rears,     Assisted by no strengths but are her own, Some note of which each varied pillar bears,     By which, as proper titles, she is known Time's witness, herald of Antiquity, The light of Truth, and life of Memory.
Source: Jonson, Ben.  The Works of Ben Jonson. Boston: Phillips, Sampson, and Co., 1853. 824.

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