The Wisdome of Solomon Paraphrased Written by Thomas Middleton |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
Chapter V.
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| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIIII. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
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Chapter V.
The Wisdome of Solomon Paraphrased |  |
Chapter V.
Uerse 1
As these two slumbers haue two contraries,
One slumber in the face, one in the minde,
So their two casements two varieties,
One vnto heauen, and one to hell combinde:
The face is flattery, and her mansion hell,
The minde is iust, this doth in heauen dwell.
One slumber in the face, one in the minde,
So their two casements two varieties,
One vnto heauen, and one to hell combinde:
The face is flattery, and her mansion hell,
The minde is iust, this doth in heauen dwell.
The face heauing her heauie eie-lids vp,
From foorth the chamber of eternall night,
Sees vertue holde plenties replenisht cup,
And boldly stands in Gods and heauens sight:
Shee opening the windowes of her brest,
Sees how the wicked rest in their vnrest.
From foorth the chamber of eternall night,
Sees vertue holde plenties replenisht cup,
And boldly stands in Gods and heauens sight:
Shee opening the windowes of her brest,
Sees how the wicked rest in their vnrest.
Verse 2 3
Quoth shee, those whom the curtaine of decay,
Hath tragically summoned to paine,
Were once the cloudes, and clouders of my day,
Deprauers and depriuers of my gaine;
The wicked hearing this descending sound,
Feare strucke their lims to the pale-clothed ground.
Hath tragically summoned to paine,
Were once the cloudes, and clouders of my day,
Deprauers and depriuers of my gaine;
The wicked hearing this descending sound,
Feare strucke their lims to the pale-clothed ground.
Amazed at the freedome of her words;
Their tongue-tide accents droue them to dispaire,
And made them change their mindes to woes records,
And say within themselues, lo what wee are:
We haue had vertue in derisions place,
And made a parable of her disgrace.
Their tongue-tide accents droue them to dispaire,
And made them change their mindes to woes records,
And say within themselues, lo what wee are:
We haue had vertue in derisions place,
And made a parable of her disgrace.
Uerse 4
See where she fits enthronizde in the skie,
See, see, her labours crowne vpon her head,
See how the righteous liue which erst did die,
From death to life with vertues loadstarre led,
See those whome we derided, they are blest,
They heauens, not hels, we hells, not heauens guest.
See, see, her labours crowne vpon her head,
See how the righteous liue which erst did die,
From death to life with vertues loadstarre led,
See those whome we derided, they are blest,
They heauens, not hels, we hells, not heauens guest.
We thought the righteous had beene furies sonne,
With inconsiderate speech, vnstayed way,
We thought that death had his dishonour wonne,
And would haue made his life destructions pray:
But we were mad, they iust, we fooles, they wise,
We shame, they praise, we losse, they haue the prise.
With inconsiderate speech, vnstayed way,
We thought that death had his dishonour wonne,
And would haue made his life destructions pray:
But we were mad, they iust, we fooles, they wise,
We shame, they praise, we losse, they haue the prise.
Verse 5
We thoght thē fools, when we our selues were fooles
We thoght them mad, when we our selues were mad,
The heate which sprang from them, our follie cooles,
We find in vs, which we but thought they had:
We thought their end had beene dishonors pledge,
They but surueyd the place, we made the hedge.
We thoght them mad, when we our selues were mad,
The heate which sprang from them, our follie cooles,
We find in vs, which we but thought they had:
We thought their end had beene dishonors pledge,
They but surueyd the place, we made the hedge.
We see how they are blest, how we are curst,
How they accepted are, and we refusde,
And how our bands are tied, their bands are burst,
Our faults are hourely blamde, their faults excusde:
See how heauens gratulate their welcomd sight,
Which comes to take possession of their right.
How they accepted are, and we refusde,
And how our bands are tied, their bands are burst,
Our faults are hourely blamde, their faults excusde:
See how heauens gratulate their welcomd sight,
Which comes to take possession of their right.
Uerse 6
But oh, too late we see our wickednesse,
Too late we lie in repentant tombe,
Too late we smoothe olde haires with happinesse,
Too late we seeke to ease our bodies doome:
Now falshoode hath aduauncde her forged banner,
Too late wee seeme to verefie truths manner.
Too late we lie in repentant tombe,
Too late we smoothe olde haires with happinesse,
Too late we seeke to ease our bodies doome:
Now falshoode hath aduauncde her forged banner,
Too late wee seeme to verefie truths manner.
The sunne of righteousnes which should haue shinde,
And made our hearts the cabines of his East,
Is now made cloudy night through vices winde,
And lodgeth with his downefall in the west:
That summers day which shuld haue bin nights bar
Is now made winter in her icie carre,
And made our hearts the cabines of his East,
Is now made cloudy night through vices winde,
And lodgeth with his downefall in the west:
That summers day which shuld haue bin nights bar
Is now made winter in her icie carre,
Verse 7
Too much our feet haue gone, but neuer right,
Much labour we haue tooke, but none in good,
We wearied our selues with our delight,
Endangering our selues to please our moode:
Our feete did labour much, twas for our pleasure,
We wearied our selues, twas for our leasure.
Much labour we haue tooke, but none in good,
We wearied our selues with our delight,
Endangering our selues to please our moode:
Our feete did labour much, twas for our pleasure,
We wearied our selues, twas for our leasure.
In sinnes perfection was our labour spent,
In wickednes preferment we did haste,
To suffer perills wee were al content,
For the aduancement of our vices past:
Throgh many dangerous waies our feet haue gone,
But yet the way of God we haue not knowne.
In wickednes preferment we did haste,
To suffer perills wee were al content,
For the aduancement of our vices past:
Throgh many dangerous waies our feet haue gone,
But yet the way of God we haue not knowne.
Uerse 8 9
Wee which haue made our harts a sea of pride,
With huge risse billowes of a swelling minde,
With tossing tumults of a flowing tide,
Leauing our laden bodyes plungde behinde;
What trafficke haue we got? our selues are drownd,
Our soules in hell, our bodies in the ground.
With huge risse billowes of a swelling minde,
With tossing tumults of a flowing tide,
Leauing our laden bodyes plungde behinde;
What trafficke haue we got? our selues are drownd,
Our soules in hell, our bodies in the ground.
Where are our riches now? like vs consumde,
Where is our pompe? decaide, wher's glory? dead;
Where is the wealth of which wee all presumde?
where is our profit? gone, our selues? misled:
All these are like to shadowes what they were,
There is nor wealth, nor pompe, nor glory here.
Where is our pompe? decaide, wher's glory? dead;
Where is the wealth of which wee all presumde?
where is our profit? gone, our selues? misled:
All these are like to shadowes what they were,
There is nor wealth, nor pompe, nor glory here.
Verse 10
The diall giues a caueat of the houre,
Thou canst not see it go, yet it is gone,
Like this the diall of thy fortunes power,
Which fades by stealth till thou art left alone.
Thy eies may well perceiue thy goods are spent,
Yet can they not perceiue which way they went.
Thou canst not see it go, yet it is gone,
Like this the diall of thy fortunes power,
Which fades by stealth till thou art left alone.
Thy eies may well perceiue thy goods are spent,
Yet can they not perceiue which way they went.
Lo, eu'ne as ships sailing on Thetis lap,
Plowes vp the furrowes of hard grounded waues,
Enforced for to go by Eoles clap,
Making with sharpest teeme the water graues:
The ship once past, the trace cannot be found,
Although shee digged in the waters ground.
Plowes vp the furrowes of hard grounded waues,
Enforced for to go by Eoles clap,
Making with sharpest teeme the water graues:
The ship once past, the trace cannot be found,
Although shee digged in the waters ground.
Uerse 11
Or as an Eagle with her soaring wings,
Scorning the dusty carpet of the earth,
Exempt from all her clogging gesses, flings
Vp to the ayre, to shew her mounting birth:
And euery flight doth take a higher pitch,
To haue the golden sunne her wings enrich.
Scorning the dusty carpet of the earth,
Exempt from all her clogging gesses, flings
Vp to the ayre, to shew her mounting birth:
And euery flight doth take a higher pitch,
To haue the golden sunne her wings enrich.
Yet none can see the passage of her flight,
But onely heare her houering in the skie,
Beating the light winde with her being light,
Or parting through the ayre where she might flie:
The eare may heare, the eye can neuer see,
What course she takes, or where she meanes to bee.
But onely heare her houering in the skie,
Beating the light winde with her being light,
Or parting through the ayre where she might flie:
The eare may heare, the eye can neuer see,
What course she takes, or where she meanes to bee.
Uerse 12
Or as an arrowe which is made to goe,
Through the transparent and coole-blowing ayre,
Feeding vpon the forces of the bowe,
Else forcelesse lies in wanting her repaire:
Like as the branches when the tree is lopt,
Wanteth the forces which they forcelesse cropt.
Through the transparent and coole-blowing ayre,
Feeding vpon the forces of the bowe,
Else forcelesse lies in wanting her repaire:
Like as the branches when the tree is lopt,
Wanteth the forces which they forcelesse cropt.
The arrow being fed with strongest shot,
Doth part the lowest elementall breath,
Yet neuer separates the soft ayres knot,
Nor neuer woundes the still-foote windes to death:
It doth seioyne and ioyne the ayre together,
Yet none there is can tell, or where, or whither.
Doth part the lowest elementall breath,
Yet neuer separates the soft ayres knot,
Nor neuer woundes the still-foote windes to death:
It doth seioyne and ioyne the ayre together,
Yet none there is can tell, or where, or whither.
Verse 13
So are our liues, now they beginne, now end,
Now liue, now die, now borne, now fit for graue,
As soone as we haue breath, so soone we spend,
Not hauing that which our content would haue:
As ships, as birds, as arrowes, all as one,
Euen so the traces of our liues are gone.
Now liue, now die, now borne, now fit for graue,
As soone as we haue breath, so soone we spend,
Not hauing that which our content would haue:
As ships, as birds, as arrowes, all as one,
Euen so the traces of our liues are gone.
A thing not seene to go, yet going seene,
And yet not shewing any signe to go;
Euen thus the shadowes of our liues haue beene,
Which shewes to fade, and yet no vertues shew:
How can a thing consumde with vice be good?
Or how can falshoode be are true vertues foode?
And yet not shewing any signe to go;
Euen thus the shadowes of our liues haue beene,
Which shewes to fade, and yet no vertues shew:
How can a thing consumde with vice be good?
Or how can falshoode be are true vertues foode?
Uerse 14
Vaine hope to thinke that wickednes hath bearing
When she is drowned in obliuions sea,
Yet can she not forget presumptions wearing,
Nor yet the badge of vanities decay:
Her fruites are cares, her cares are vanities,
Two, both in one destructions liueries.
When she is drowned in obliuions sea,
Yet can she not forget presumptions wearing,
Nor yet the badge of vanities decay:
Her fruites are cares, her cares are vanities,
Two, both in one destructions liueries.
Vaine hope is like a vane turnde with each winde,
Tis like a smoake scattred with euery storme,
Like dust, sometime before, sometime behinde,
Like a thin fome made in the vainest forme:
This hope is like to them which neuer stay,
But comes, and goes againe, all in one day.
Tis like a smoake scattred with euery storme,
Like dust, sometime before, sometime behinde,
Like a thin fome made in the vainest forme:
This hope is like to them which neuer stay,
But comes, and goes againe, all in one day.
Uerse 15
View Natures gifts, some gifts are rich, some poore,
Some barren grounds there are, som clothd with fruit,
Nor hath all nothing, nor hath all her store,
Nor can all creatures speake, nor are all mute:
All die by nature, being borne by nature,
So all change feature, being borne with feature.
Some barren grounds there are, som clothd with fruit,
Nor hath all nothing, nor hath all her store,
Nor can all creatures speake, nor are all mute:
All die by nature, being borne by nature,
So all change feature, being borne with feature.
This life is hers, this dead, dead is her power,
Her bounds begins, and ends in mortall state,
Whom she on earth accounteth as her flower,
May be in heauen condemnde of mortall hate:
But he whom vertue iudges for to liue,
The Lord his life and due reward will giue.
Her bounds begins, and ends in mortall state,
Whom she on earth accounteth as her flower,
May be in heauen condemnde of mortall hate:
But he whom vertue iudges for to liue,
The Lord his life and due reward will giue.
Uerse 16
The seruant of a king, may be a king,
And he that was a king, a seruile slaue;
Swans before death a funerall dirge do sing,
And waues their wings agen ill fortunes waue.
He that is lowest in this lowly earth,
May be the highest in celestiall birth.
And he that was a king, a seruile slaue;
Swans before death a funerall dirge do sing,
And waues their wings agen ill fortunes waue.
He that is lowest in this lowly earth,
May be the highest in celestiall birth.
The rich may be vniust, in being rich,
For riches do corrupt and not correct,
The poore may come to highest honours pitch,
And haue heauens crowne for mortall lifes respect:
Gods hands shall couer them from al their foes,
Gods arme defend them from misfortunes blowes.
For riches do corrupt and not correct,
The poore may come to highest honours pitch,
And haue heauens crowne for mortall lifes respect:
Gods hands shall couer them from al their foes,
Gods arme defend them from misfortunes blowes.
Verses 17 18 19 20
His hand eternitid; his arme, his force,
His armour zelousie, his breast-plate heauen,
His helmet iudgement, iustice, and remorce,
His shield is victories immortall steauen:
The world his challenge, and his wrath his sword,
Mischiefe his foe, his ayde his gospels word.
His armour zelousie, his breast-plate heauen,
His helmet iudgement, iustice, and remorce,
His shield is victories immortall steauen:
The world his challenge, and his wrath his sword,
Mischiefe his foe, his ayde his gospels word.
His arme doth ouerthrowe his enimie,
His breast-plate, sinne, his helmet death and hell,
His shield preparde against mortallitie,
His sword gainst them which in the world do dwell:
So shall vice, sinne, and death, world and the deuill,
Be slaine by him which slayeth euery euill.
His breast-plate, sinne, his helmet death and hell,
His shield preparde against mortallitie,
His sword gainst them which in the world do dwell:
So shall vice, sinne, and death, world and the deuill,
Be slaine by him which slayeth euery euill.
Uerse 21
All heauen shall be in armes against earths world,
The sunne shall dart foorth fire commixt with bloud,
The blazing starres from heauen shall be hurlde,
The pale-facde moone against the Ocean floud:
Then shall the thundring chambers of the skie,
Be lightned with the blaze of Titans eie.
The sunne shall dart foorth fire commixt with bloud,
The blazing starres from heauen shall be hurlde,
The pale-facde moone against the Ocean floud:
Then shall the thundring chambers of the skie,
Be lightned with the blaze of Titans eie.
The cloudes shall then be bent like bended bowes,
To shoote the thundring arrowes of the ayre,
Thicke haile and stones shall fall on heauens foes,
And Tethis ouerflowe in her despayre:
The moone shall ouer-fill her horny hood,
With Neptunes Oceans ouer-flowing flood.
To shoote the thundring arrowes of the ayre,
Thicke haile and stones shall fall on heauens foes,
And Tethis ouerflowe in her despayre:
The moone shall ouer-fill her horny hood,
With Neptunes Oceans ouer-flowing flood.
Uerse 22
The winde shall be no longer kept in caues,
But burst the iron cages of the clouds?
And Æole shall resigne his office staues,
Suffering the windes to combate with the flouds:
So shall the earth with seas be paled in,
As erst it hath beene ouerflowde with sin.
But burst the iron cages of the clouds?
And Æole shall resigne his office staues,
Suffering the windes to combate with the flouds:
So shall the earth with seas be paled in,
As erst it hath beene ouerflowde with sin.
Thus shall the earth weepe for her wicked sonnes,
And curse the concaue of her tyred wombe,
Into whose hollowe mouth the water runnes,
Making wet wildernes her driest tombe;
Thus, thus, iniquitie hath raignd so long,
That earth on earth is punisht for her wrong.
And curse the concaue of her tyred wombe,
Into whose hollowe mouth the water runnes,
Making wet wildernes her driest tombe;
Thus, thus, iniquitie hath raignd so long,
That earth on earth is punisht for her wrong.
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Chapter V.
The Wisdome of Solomon Paraphrased | |