The Wisdome of Solomon Paraphrased Written by Thomas Middleton |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. | Chapter IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIIII. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
 | Chapter IV. The Wisdome of Solomon Paraphrased |  |
Chapter IV.
Verse 1
If happines may harbour in content,
If life in loue, if loue in better life;
Then vnto many happines is lent,
And long departed ioy might then be rife:
Some happy if they liue, some if they dye,
Happy in life, happy in tragedy.
If life in loue, if loue in better life;
Then vnto many happines is lent,
And long departed ioy might then be rife:
Some happy if they liue, some if they dye,
Happy in life, happy in tragedy.
Content is happines, because content,
Barenes and barrennes is vertues grace,
Bare, because wealth to pouertie is bent,
Barren, in that it scornes ill fortunes place:
The barren earth is barren of her tares,
The barren woman barren of her cares.
Barenes and barrennes is vertues grace,
Bare, because wealth to pouertie is bent,
Barren, in that it scornes ill fortunes place:
The barren earth is barren of her tares,
The barren woman barren of her cares.
Uerse 2
The soule of vertue is eternitie,
All-filling essence of diuinest rage,
And vertues true eternall memory,
Is barrennes, her soules eternall gage:
O happy soule that is engaged there,
And pawnes his life that barren badge to weare.
All-filling essence of diuinest rage,
And vertues true eternall memory,
Is barrennes, her soules eternall gage:
O happy soule that is engaged there,
And pawnes his life that barren badge to weare.
See how the multitude with humble harts,
Lies prostrate for to welcome her returne;
See how they mourne and waile when she departs
See how they make their teares her trophees vrne:
Being present they desire her, being gone,
Their hot desire is turnde to hoter moane.
Lies prostrate for to welcome her returne;
See how they mourne and waile when she departs
See how they make their teares her trophees vrne:
Being present they desire her, being gone,
Their hot desire is turnde to hoter moane.
Uerse 3
As euery one hath not one natures mould,
So euery one hath not one natures minde;
Some think that drosse which others take for golde,
Each difference commeth from a differing kinde:
Some do despise what others do imbrace,
Some praise the thing which others do disgrace.
So euery one hath not one natures minde;
Some think that drosse which others take for golde,
Each difference commeth from a differing kinde:
Some do despise what others do imbrace,
Some praise the thing which others do disgrace.
The barren doth embrace their barrennesse,
And holde it as a vertue worthy meede:
The other calles conception happinesse,
And holde it as a vertue worthy deede:
The one is firmely grounded on a rocke,
The other billows game and tempests mocke.
And holde it as a vertue worthy meede:
The other calles conception happinesse,
And holde it as a vertue worthy deede:
The one is firmely grounded on a rocke,
The other billows game and tempests mocke.
Uerse 4
Sometime the nettle groweth with the rose,
The nettle hath a sting, the rose a thorne,
This stings the hand, the other prickes the nose,
Harming that scent which her sweete birth had borne;
Weeds among herbs, herbs among weeds are found
Tares in the mantle of a corny ground.
The nettle hath a sting, the rose a thorne,
This stings the hand, the other prickes the nose,
Harming that scent which her sweete birth had borne;
Weeds among herbs, herbs among weeds are found
Tares in the mantle of a corny ground.
The nettles growth is fast, the roses slow,
The weeds outgrow the herbs, the tares the corne,
These may be well compared to vices show,
Which couers for to grow ere it be borne:
As greatest danger doth pursue fast going,
So greatest danger doth ensue fast growing.
The weeds outgrow the herbs, the tares the corne,
These may be well compared to vices show,
Which couers for to grow ere it be borne:
As greatest danger doth pursue fast going,
So greatest danger doth ensue fast growing.
Verse 5
The tallest Cedar hath the greatest winde,
The highest tree is subiect vnto falles,
High soaring Eagles soone are strucken blinde,
The tong must needes be hoarse with many calles:
The wicked thinking for to touch the skie,
Are blasted with the fier of heauens eie.
The highest tree is subiect vnto falles,
High soaring Eagles soone are strucken blinde,
The tong must needes be hoarse with many calles:
The wicked thinking for to touch the skie,
Are blasted with the fier of heauens eie.
So like ascending and descending aire,
Both duskie vapours from two humerous cloudes,
Lies withered the glory of their faire,
Vnpleasant branches wrencht in follies floudes:
Vnprofitable fruites like to a weede,
Made onely to infect, and not to feede.
Both duskie vapours from two humerous cloudes,
Lies withered the glory of their faire,
Vnpleasant branches wrencht in follies floudes:
Vnprofitable fruites like to a weede,
Made onely to infect, and not to feede.
Verse 6
Made for to make a fast, and not a feast,
Made rather for infection than for meate,
Not worthy to be eaten of a beast,
Thy taste so sower, thy poyson is so great:
Thou mayst be well compared to a tree,
Because thy branches are as ill as thee.
Made rather for infection than for meate,
Not worthy to be eaten of a beast,
Thy taste so sower, thy poyson is so great:
Thou mayst be well compared to a tree,
Because thy branches are as ill as thee.
Thou hast begot thine owne confusion,
The witnesses of what thou dost beginne,
Thy doomers in thy lifes conclusion,
Which will vnaskt and askt reueale thy sinne:
Needs must the new hatched birds bewray the nest,
When they are nursed in a step-dames breast.
The witnesses of what thou dost beginne,
Thy doomers in thy lifes conclusion,
Which will vnaskt and askt reueale thy sinne:
Needs must the new hatched birds bewray the nest,
When they are nursed in a step-dames breast.
Uerse 7
But righteousnes is of another sex,
Her roote is from an euerlasting seede,
No weake-vnable grounding doth connex,
Her neuer-limited memorialles deed:
She hath no branches for a tempests pray,
No deedes, but scornes to yeeld vnto decay.
Her roote is from an euerlasting seede,
No weake-vnable grounding doth connex,
Her neuer-limited memorialles deed:
She hath no branches for a tempests pray,
No deedes, but scornes to yeeld vnto decay.
She hath no withered fruit, no shew of store,
But perfect essence of a compleate power,
Say that she dies to world, she liues the more,
As who so righteous but doth waite deaths hower?
Who knowes not death to be the way to rest?
And he that neuer dies is neuer blest.
But perfect essence of a compleate power,
Say that she dies to world, she liues the more,
As who so righteous but doth waite deaths hower?
Who knowes not death to be the way to rest?
And he that neuer dies is neuer blest.
Uerse 8
Happy is he that liues, twice he that dies,
Thrice happy he which neither liu'd, nor died,
Which neuer saw the earth with mortall eies,
Which neuer knew what miseries are tried:
Happy is life, twice happy is our death,
But three times thrise he, which had neuer breath.
Thrice happy he which neither liu'd, nor died,
Which neuer saw the earth with mortall eies,
Which neuer knew what miseries are tried:
Happy is life, twice happy is our death,
But three times thrise he, which had neuer breath.
Some thinkes that pleasure is atchieude by yeares,
Or by maintaining of a wretched life,
When, out alas, it heapeth teares on teares,
Griefe vpon griefe, strife on beginning strife:
Pleasure is weake, if measured by length,
The oldest ages hath the weaker strength.
Or by maintaining of a wretched life,
When, out alas, it heapeth teares on teares,
Griefe vpon griefe, strife on beginning strife:
Pleasure is weake, if measured by length,
The oldest ages hath the weaker strength.
Verse 9
Three turnings are containde in mortal course,
Old, meane, and yong; meane, and old brings age,
The youth hath strength, the meane decaying force,
The old are weake, yet strong in angers rage:
Three turnings in one age, strong, weak, & weaker,
Yet age, nor youth, is youths or ages breaker.
Old, meane, and yong; meane, and old brings age,
The youth hath strength, the meane decaying force,
The old are weake, yet strong in angers rage:
Three turnings in one age, strong, weak, & weaker,
Yet age, nor youth, is youths or ages breaker.
Some sayes that youth is quicke in iudging causes,
Some sayes that age is witty, graue, and wise.
I holde of ages side with their applauses,
Which iudges with their hearts, not with their eyes:
I say graue wisedome lies in grayest heads,
And vndefiled liues in ages beds.
Some sayes that age is witty, graue, and wise.
I holde of ages side with their applauses,
Which iudges with their hearts, not with their eyes:
I say graue wisedome lies in grayest heads,
And vndefiled liues in ages beds.
Verse 10
God is both graue and old, yet yong and new,
Graue because aged, aged because yong;
Long youth may wel be called ages hew,
And hath no differing sound vpon the tongue:
God old, because eternities are old,
Yong, for eternities one motion hold.
Graue because aged, aged because yong;
Long youth may wel be called ages hew,
And hath no differing sound vpon the tongue:
God old, because eternities are old,
Yong, for eternities one motion hold.
Some in their birth, some dies when they are borne,
Some borne, and some abortiue, yet all die,
Some in their youth, some in old age forlorne,
Some, neyther yong nor old, but equally:
The righteous, when he liueth with the sinner,
Doth hope for death, his better lifes beginner.
Some borne, and some abortiue, yet all die,
Some in their youth, some in old age forlorne,
Some, neyther yong nor old, but equally:
The righteous, when he liueth with the sinner,
Doth hope for death, his better lifes beginner.
Uerse 11
The swine delights to wallow in the mire,
The giddy drunkard in excesse of wine,
He may corrupt the purest reasons gire,
And shee turne vertue into vices signe:
Mischiefe is mire, and may infect that spring,
Which euery flowe and ebbe of vice doth bring.
The giddy drunkard in excesse of wine,
He may corrupt the purest reasons gire,
And shee turne vertue into vices signe:
Mischiefe is mire, and may infect that spring,
Which euery flowe and ebbe of vice doth bring.
Fishes are oft deceiued by the baite,
The baite-deceiuing fish doth fish deceiue;
So righteous are allurde by sins deceit,
And oft inticed into sinners weaue:
The righteous be as fishes to their gin,
Beguilde, deceiude, allured into sin.
The baite-deceiuing fish doth fish deceiue;
So righteous are allurde by sins deceit,
And oft inticed into sinners weaue:
The righteous be as fishes to their gin,
Beguilde, deceiude, allured into sin.
Verse 12
The fisher hath a baite deceiuing fish,
The fowler hath a net deceiuing fowles,
Both wisheth to obtaine their snaring wish,
Obseruing time like night-obseruing owles:
The fisher layes his baite, fowler his net,
He hopes for fish, the other birds to get.
The fowler hath a net deceiuing fowles,
Both wisheth to obtaine their snaring wish,
Obseruing time like night-obseruing owles:
The fisher layes his baite, fowler his net,
He hopes for fish, the other birds to get.
This fisher is the wicked, vice his baite,
This fowler is the sinner, sinne his net,
The simple-righteous falles in their deceit,
And like a prey, a fish, a fowle beset:
A baite, a net, obscuring what is good,
Like fish and fowle tooke vp for vices food.
This fowler is the sinner, sinne his net,
The simple-righteous falles in their deceit,
And like a prey, a fish, a fowle beset:
A baite, a net, obscuring what is good,
Like fish and fowle tooke vp for vices food.
Uer. 13 14
But baites, nor nets, gins, nor beguiling snares,
Vice, nor the vicious sinner, nor the sin
Can shut the righteous into prisons cares,
Or set deceiuing baites to mew them in:
They know their liues deliuerer, heauens God,
Can breake their baites and snares with iustice rod.
Vice, nor the vicious sinner, nor the sin
Can shut the righteous into prisons cares,
Or set deceiuing baites to mew them in:
They know their liues deliuerer, heauens God,
Can breake their baites and snares with iustice rod.
When vice abounds on earth, and earth in vice,
Then vertue keepes her chamber in the skie,
To shun the mischiefe which her baites intice,
Her snares, her nets, her guiles, her companie:
Assoone as mischeife raignes vpon the earth,
Heauen calls the righteous to a better birth.
Then vertue keepes her chamber in the skie,
To shun the mischiefe which her baites intice,
Her snares, her nets, her guiles, her companie:
Assoone as mischeife raignes vpon the earth,
Heauen calls the righteous to a better birth.
Uerse 15
The blinded eies can neuer see the way,
The blinded heart can neuer see to see,
The blinded soule doth alwayes go astray,
All three want sight, in being blinde all three:
Blinde and yet see, they see and yet are blinde,
The face hath eies, buy eyelesse is the minde.
The blinded heart can neuer see to see,
The blinded soule doth alwayes go astray,
All three want sight, in being blinde all three:
Blinde and yet see, they see and yet are blinde,
The face hath eies, buy eyelesse is the minde.
They see with outward sight Gods heauenly grace,
His grace, his loue, his mercy on his Saints,
With outward faced eie, and eied face,
Their outward body inwarde soule depaintes:
Of hearts chiefe eye they chiefely are bereft,
And yet the shadowe of two eyes are left.
His grace, his loue, his mercy on his Saints,
With outward faced eie, and eied face,
Their outward body inwarde soule depaintes:
Of hearts chiefe eye they chiefely are bereft,
And yet the shadowe of two eyes are left.
Uerse 16
Some blinded be in face, and some in soule,
The faces eyes are not incurable,
The other wanteth healing to be whole,
Or seemes to some to be indurable:
Looke in a blinded eie, bright is the glasse,
Though brightnes banished from what it was.
The faces eyes are not incurable,
The other wanteth healing to be whole,
Or seemes to some to be indurable:
Looke in a blinded eie, bright is the glasse,
Though brightnes banished from what it was.
So (quoth the righteous) are these blinded hearts,
The outward glasse is cleare, the substance darke,
Both seeme as if one tooke the others parts,
Yet both in one haue not one brightnes sparke:
The outwarde eye, is but destructions reader,
Wanting the inwarde eye to be the leader.
The outward glasse is cleare, the substance darke,
Both seeme as if one tooke the others parts,
Yet both in one haue not one brightnes sparke:
The outwarde eye, is but destructions reader,
Wanting the inwarde eye to be the leader.
Verse 17
Our body may be calde a common-weale,
Our head the chiefe, for reason harbours there,
From thence comes hearts and soules vnited zeale,
All else inferiours be, which stande in feare,
This common-weale rul'd by discretions eye,
Liues likewise if shee liue, dies if shee die.
Our head the chiefe, for reason harbours there,
From thence comes hearts and soules vnited zeale,
All else inferiours be, which stande in feare,
This common-weale rul'd by discretions eye,
Liues likewise if shee liue, dies if shee die.
Then how can weale, or wealth common, or proper,
Long stand, long flowe, long flourish, long remaine,
When wail is weales, & stelth is welths chiefe stopper;
When sight is gone which neuer comes againe:
The wicked sees the righteous loose their breath,
But knowe not what rewarde they gaine by death.
Long stand, long flowe, long flourish, long remaine,
When wail is weales, & stelth is welths chiefe stopper;
When sight is gone which neuer comes againe:
The wicked sees the righteous loose their breath,
But knowe not what rewarde they gaine by death.
Uer. 18 19
Though blinde in sight, yet can they see to harme,
See to despise, see to deride and mocke,
But their reuenge lies in Gods mighty arme,
Scorning to chuse them for his chosen flocke:
He is the shepheard, godly are his sheepe,
They wake in ioy, these in destruction sleepe.
See to despise, see to deride and mocke,
But their reuenge lies in Gods mighty arme,
Scorning to chuse them for his chosen flocke:
He is the shepheard, godly are his sheepe,
They wake in ioy, these in destruction sleepe.
The godly sleepe in eies, but wake in hearts,
The wicked sleepe in hearts, but wake in eies;
These euer-wake eyes are no sleepie partes,
These euer sleepe, for sleepe is hearts disguise:
Their waking eies do see their hearts lament,
While heart securely sleepes in eyes content.
The wicked sleepe in hearts, but wake in eies;
These euer-wake eyes are no sleepie partes,
These euer sleepe, for sleepe is hearts disguise:
Their waking eies do see their hearts lament,
While heart securely sleepes in eyes content.
Uerse 20
If they awake, sleepes image doth molest them,
And beates into their waking memories,
If they doe sleepe, ioy-waking doth detest them,
Yet beates into their sleeping arteries:
Sleeping or waking they haue feare on feare,
Waking or sleeping they are ne're the neare.
And beates into their waking memories,
If they doe sleepe, ioy-waking doth detest them,
Yet beates into their sleeping arteries:
Sleeping or waking they haue feare on feare,
Waking or sleeping they are ne're the neare.
If waking they remember what they are,
What sins they haue committed in their waking,
If sleeping they forget tormentings fare,
How ready they haue beene in mischiefes making:
When they awake, their wickednes betrayes them,
When they do sleepe, destruction dismayes them.
What sins they haue committed in their waking,
If sleeping they forget tormentings fare,
How ready they haue beene in mischiefes making:
When they awake, their wickednes betrayes them,
When they do sleepe, destruction dismayes them.
| Chapter IV. The Wisdome of Solomon Paraphrased | |