Solomon's recantation Intituled Ecclesiastes, paraphras'd. With A Soliloquy or Meditation Upon Every Chapter. By Francis Quarles |
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 | CHAP. IX. Solomon's recantation |  |
There was a little City poorly man'd,
'Gainst which a potent King brought up a Band
Of martial Strength, besieg'd it, and withal
Built mighty Bulwarks 'gainst her slender Wall;
In this half conquer'd City there was found
A poor wise Man, whose Wisdom did confound
Both them and all the Works their Strength could plant;
Yet no Reward reliev'd this poor Man's Want.
O then (thought I) poor Wisdom will at length
Discover greater Worth than golden Strength;
Yet is the poor Man's Wisdom poorly priz'd,
His Word's not heard, or being heard, dispis'd:
The whispering wise Man's Tongue prevaileth more,
Than when the Lips of foolish Rulers roar:
Prudent Advice is more transcendent far,
Than Strength of Arm, or Instruments of War:
But rash Attempts of a misguided Hand
Defeat themselves, and ruin all the Land.
'Gainst which a potent King brought up a Band
Of martial Strength, besieg'd it, and withal
Built mighty Bulwarks 'gainst her slender Wall;
In this half conquer'd City there was found
A poor wise Man, whose Wisdom did confound
Both them and all the Works their Strength could plant;
Yet no Reward reliev'd this poor Man's Want.
O then (thought I) poor Wisdom will at length
Discover greater Worth than golden Strength;
Yet is the poor Man's Wisdom poorly priz'd,
His Word's not heard, or being heard, dispis'd:
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Than when the Lips of foolish Rulers roar:
Prudent Advice is more transcendent far,
Than Strength of Arm, or Instruments of War:
But rash Attempts of a misguided Hand
Defeat themselves, and ruin all the Land.
| CHAP. IX. Solomon's recantation | |