"O, for an engine, to keep back all clocks, or make the sun forget his motion!"

This quote by Ben Jonson is a plea for a method to stop time from passing. He wishes for an engine, or a device, that might keep all clocks from ticking, or make the sun forget its movement. This might be translated as a metaphor for wishing to pause life and remain in a moment permanently. Jonson might be expressing a desire to remain in a moment of delight or contentment, and not need to carry on to the next stage of life. He may also be revealing a fear of the future, and a yearning for the past. The quote could likewise be translated as a wish for a way to slow down the passage of time, so that life can be savored and delighted in more totally. Jonson's words express a deep longing for a method to pause life and stay in a minute of peace and contentment.