University of Virginia Library

51 ECCLESIASTES 4.

When I be thought me well, vnder the restles soon
By foolke of power what crewell wourks unchastyced were doon,
I saw wher stoode a heard by power of suche opprest,
Oute of whose eyes ran floods of teares that bayned all ther brest;
Deuoyde of comfort clene, in terroure and distresse,
In whose defence none wolde aryse, such rigor to represse.
Then thought I thus, “Oh, Lord! the dead, whose fatall hower
Is clene roune owt, more happy ar, whom that the wormes deuoure;
And happiest is the sede that neuer did conceue,
That neuer felt the waylfull wrongs that mortall folke receue.”
And then I saw that welth, and euery honest gayne
By trauill woune and swete of browes, gan grow into disdayne
Throughe slouthe of carles folke, whom ease so fatt dothe feade,
Whose idell hands doo noght but waast the frute of other seeade;
Which to them selves perswade that little gott with ease
More thankefull is then kyndomes woon by trauayle and disceace.
A nother sort I saw, with out bothe frend or kynne,
Whose gredy wayes yet neuer sought a faithfull frend to winne;
Whose wretched corps no toile yet euer wery could,
Nor glutted euer wer their eyne with heaps of shyning gould.
But yf it might appeare to ther abused eyne
To whose a vaile they trauill so, and for whose sake they pyne,
Then should they see what cause they haue for to repent
The fruteles paynes and eke the tyme that they in vayne haue spent.
Then gan I thus resolue, “More pleasant is the lyef
Of faythefull frends that spend their goods in commone, with out stryef.”
For as the tender frend appeasith euery gryef,
So, yf he fall that lives alone, who shalbe his relyef?
The frendly feares ly warme, in armes embraced faste;
Who sleapes aloone at euery tourne dothe feale the winter blast.
What can he doo but yeld, that must resist aloone?
Yf ther be twaine, one may defend the tother ouer throwne.
The single twyned cordes may no such stresse indure
As cables brayded thre fould may, together wrethed swer.
In better far estate stande children, poore and wyse,
Then aged kyngs wedded to will, that worke with out aduice.
In prison haue I sene, or this, a wofull wyght
That neuer knewe what fredom ment, nor tasted of delyght;
With such, unhoped happ in most dispaier hath mete,
With in the hands that erst ware giues to haue a septure sett.
And by coniures the seade of kyngs is thrust from staate,
Wheron agreuyd people worke ofteymes their hidden haat.
Other, with out respect, I saw, a frend or foo,
With feat worne bare in tracing such, whearas the honours groo.
And at change of a prynce great rowtes reuiued strange,
Which, faine theare owlde yoke to discharg, reioyced in the change.
But when I thought, to theise as heuy euen or more
Shalbe the burden of his raigne, as his that went before,
And that a trayne like great upon the deade depend,
I gan conclude eache gredy gayne hath his vncertayne end.
In humble spritte is sett the temple of the Lorde;
Wher, yf thow enter, loke thy mouth and conscyence may accorde.
Whose churtche is buylte of loue, and decte with hoote desyre,
And simple fayth; the yolden hoost his marcy doth requyre.
Wher perfectly for aye he in his woord dothe rest;
With gentill care to heare thy sute and graunt to thy request.
In boost of owtwarde works he taketh no delight,
Nor wast of wourds; suche sacryfice unsauereth in his sight.