Two of Ben Jonson's poems are related by an allusion which affects their meaning. 'An Execration Upon Vulcan', the 43rd poem in 'The Underwood' collection, has an ending couplet matching the opening couplet in the 47th poem, 'An Epistle Answering to One that Asked to be Sealed of the Tribe of Ben.' The connecting allusion concerns fire, with a curse in the first poem alluded to as men's fortitude in the second poem. This allusion conveys a humorous self-mockery of the poet which would otherwise be missed., Two poems in The Underwood, #43 and #47, are connected in an unobtrusive fashion. The couplet ending the first poem, 'An Execration Upon Vulcan,' has the same rhyme--and virtually the [...]