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Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher

Containing Salomons Sermons or Commentaries (as it may probably be collected) vpon the 49. Psalme of Dauid his father. Compendiously abridged, and also paraphrastically dilated in English poesie, according to the analogie of Scripture, and consent of the most approued writer thereof. Composed by H. L. Gentleman [i.e. Henry Lok]. Whereunto are annexed sundrie Sonets of Christian Passions heretofore printed, and now corrected and augmented, with other affectionate Sonets of a feeling conscience of the same Authors
Lok, Henry
  
[epigraph]
  
[dedication]

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[section]
  
To the vertuous Lady, the Lady Woollie.
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Certaine poems to the Authour of the worke.
  
To the worke.
  
To the Author.
  
TO THE QVEENES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE.
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[1. These sacred words king Dauids son did preach, who Israel taught ]
  
Adue to worlds vaine delight.
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Sundry Psalmes of Dauid translated into verse, as briefly and significantly as the scope of the text will suffer; by the same Author.

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87

9. Reioyce in thy chast spouses bed: since God her to thee gaue,
10. What so thou woldst atchiue dispatch, no works are don in graue.

9.

If that thy eyes behold a beautie rare,

Reioyce with thy wife whom thou hast loued all the dayes of the life of thy vanitie, which God hath giuē thee vnder the sunne, all the dayes of thy vanitie: for this is thy portion in the life, and in thy trauell wherein thou labourest vnder the sunne.


Which doth delight thy hart, and loue inflame,
If that in lawfull band she proue thy share,
And that vnto thy loue, her loue she frame,
Thou mayst with comfort ioy thee in the same.
A comfort sure, to mitigate the care,
Which worldly troubles may on thee inflict,
The sweetest, God or nature could prepare,
Or out of all earths beauties could be pickt,
So great as none can iudge that are vnkind,
And on a single life do set their mind.

10.

And (at a word for all) what else beside

All that thine hand shall find to do, do it with all thy power: for ther is neither work, nor intention, nor knowledg, nor wisedom in the graue whither thou goest.


In all the world, thou hast a mind vnto,
(So that in vse thereof a measure guide)
Thou art no whit restraind the same to do,
But do it quickly, least death all vndo.
For death diuerteth all, who can abide
The fury of his force, if once he smight?
To do (what thou woulst do) then take thy tide,
For in the darkesome graue of deadly night
No knowledge, wisedom, powre, there doth remaine,
All is forgot, all purposes are vaine.
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