Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy ;
    My sin was too much hope of thee, lov'd boy.
Seven years thou wert lent to me, and I thee pay,
    Exacted by thy fate, on the just day.
Oh, could I lose all father now ! For why
    Will man lament the state he should envy?
To have so soon 'scaped world's and flesh's rage,
    And if no other misery, yet age !
Rest in soft peace, and, asked, say, Here doth lie
    Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry.
For whose sake henceforth all his vows be such
    As what he loves may never like too much.

Ben Johnson was a contemporary of Shakespeare, a friend and fellow poet, and many people believe that had the Shakespeare not existed, he would be as famous as William is today.  This poem is about the loss of his son, and refers to the period of seven years which was common for a loan to be lent for.  At the end of those years, the money is collected, just as the boy is collected from his father. 

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