University of Virginia Library

Hereat, in passionate grief, Lamech exclaimed:
‘Heard I not Enoch? Am not even I
Son of Methuselah, sire of thy sire?
'Tis now long since that Wisdom found no place,
On earth, she might inhabit; though of old
She came to dwell among the sons of men,
Ere Cain forsook her presence. Banished thus,
She to her throne returned, her heavenly seat,
Amidst the angels; Sister-spouse of him,
The Secret, and Elect, whose name was named,
Even in the dwelling of the Holy Ones,
Ere that the sun, and starry signs were made.
Since then, of all mankind, she thee hath chose
To visit only, and with thee hath vowed
To live, and die. Better it thee befits,
Pity to shew to sorrow, than rebuke.
The arrows of the Almighty are within,
O, and their poison drinks my spirit up.
But wherefore should I be to thee, as one
Whose slipping feet are like a lamp despised
To him who walks at ease? Yet well I know,
That Wisdom unto thee hath not yet shewn
The palace of her treasure; nor declared
The secret path thereto, by lion's whelps
Untrod as yet, by lion never passed,
Known to no fowl, by vulture's eye unseen;
Since thou not knowest, that who would seek out this,
Must rise to higher wisdom, than concerns
Life natural, or spiritual life;
Whereof experience none hath yet been had.
Yet ask the beasts, and they shall teach thee true;
The fowls of air shall tell thee;—earth, and sea,
With voice oracular, avouch—with Him
Abides the Soul of every living thing,
The breath of all mankind—All-wise is he,
And his alike deceiver, and deceived.
Herein is wisdom; whoso knows her ways,
He can declare, that good, and evil both
Befall the righteous, and the wicked, too.
Nay, that the wicked prosper, and hold rule
In the dominions of sublunar life,
Such pregnant instance in these days have we,
Divine interposition needs prevent,
And he, who first created, now destroy.
They do remove the landmarks; and compel
Flocks not their own away, whereof they feed—
Afar they drive the orphan's Ass, and take
The widow's Ox in pledge; themselves meanwhile,
Like the Onagras of the desart, prey
Upon the needy, yet in their own fields
Reap every one his corn, and gather in
His vintage. This our eyes have seen; and how
The murtherer, rising with the day, hath slain
The poor; and, in the night, is as a thief.
Did He not now permit the robber band
To slay my offspring, children of the Just?
For is he not Jehovah? and besides,
There is no God but he. He formed the light,
And darkness he produced. Peace is his work,
And evil he creates. Be silent, clay.
—Yet will I trust in thee. Crush not, O God,
A withered leaf, thus driven to and fro.
My purposes are broken, with the heart
Which thought them; and for me the light is brief,
Anxious awaiting darkness, and the grave.
Corruption, welcome; thou my father art—
Hail, worm; my mother, and my sister thou.
Yet earth hides not my blood; nor God rejects
A father's tears. He knows my prayer is pure.’