Poems on several subjects

In this book he convinceth of the vanity of the world, and the foolishness of men: He shews that there is nothing better than to fear God, and to keep his commandments: and he maintains, that there shall be a future judgment. He wrote this book after his falling from God, in token of his true repentance.

Virtues are several paths which lead to heaven;
And they who tread those paths have graces given:
Repentant tears allay the dust of pride,
And pious sighs do blow vain thoughts aside.

On the BOOK.

King Solomon here, in this book, doth shew
What by experience he fully knew:
Well might he say, That all was vanity;
He found it so in truth and verity.

For having riches, pow'r and wisdom too,
T'accomplish what he had a mind to do,
He gave free scope to all his appetites,
And try'd all manner of this world's delights;
Till drown'd in pleasures, he forgot his God,
Who with his bounty did him so much load,
That none more rich, and none more wise, than he,
Yet all employ'd pursuing vanity.

But God by grace at last did let him see,
That all he sought was empty vanity;
That all amusements, pleasures, and each thing
Could here be found, behind them leave a sting;

315

And but short liv'd at longest he did find,
And as uncertain as the fleeting wind;
And that, for these short vanities, he must
In a short time return again to dust,
His soul to God, to get a sentence due,
And lasting doom for all he did pursue.

Reflecting thus, he did repent and grieve,
And pray'd that God would his sad state relieve,
Renounc'd each carnal and each vain delight,
And set himself this little book to write,
That others might escape these rocks whereon
He split himself, when he was dead and gone.

ALEX. NICOL. Collace, March 6th 1749.

King Solomon's Book of Ecclesiastes, in Verse.

CHAP. I.

[1]

These words the preacher, David's son and heir,
When king in Salem, wisely did declare.

2

Vanity of vanities, said he,
Behold all is nought else but vanity.

3

What profit can a man propose to have
Of all his labour on this side the grave?

4

One generation passeth hence away,
Another comes; but still the earth doth stay.

5

The sun ariseth, also downward goes,
And hastes to where he at the first arose.

6

The wind it goes toward the South, and then
It turns about unto the North again:
Continually it whirls in circuits round,
And knows no limits, nor restraint of bound.

7

All rivers run into the sea, yet we
No fuller can perceive the same to be:
From whence the rivers at the first do flow,
Thither again they nat'rally do go.

316

8

All things we see are full of labour; so
Man cannot utter, or their labour know:
The eye is not with seeing satisfied,
Nor yet the ear with hearing ever tir'd.

9

The thing that's been, is that which yet shall be;
And what is done, we done again may see:
And there is nothing any man can shew,
Below the sun that can be called New.

10

Is there a thing whereof it may be said,
See this is new, and never being had?
Yea, it hath been long time before us sure,
When our hid substance lay in earth obscure.

11

There's no remembrance of what's past and gone,
Nor after-ages mind what we have done.

12

Now I the preacher was in Salem king,
And over Israel with power did reign.

13

I gave myself by wisdom to search out
All things done under heaven round about:
This travel sore God gives the sons of men,
Therewith to exercise themselves in pain.

14

Yea I have seen all works below the sun;
And lo, they all are vanity when done.

15

That which is crooked straight we cannot see,
And what is wanting cannot numb'red be.

16

With mine own heart I commun'd as I sate:
Lo, now, thought I, I'm come to great estate:
I've got more wisdom, sure, than all of them
That were before me in Jerusalem:
Of wisdom I had great experience,
And I for knowledge us'd great diligence.

17

Wisdom to know I gave myself once wholly:
Also to know what madness was and folly:
And I perceiv'd nothing but grief of spirit
A man by these can any ways inherit:

18

For in much wisdom is much grief; and he
That gets much knowledge, many sorrows see.

317

CHAP. II.

[1]

I bade my heart prove mirth and pleasure; they
I also found but empty vanity.

2

I said of laughter, Surely it is madness;
And what does mirth but fills the mind with sadness?

3

With wine I sought to chear my heart; but, when
I thought on wisdom, this was also vain:
Folly I try'd, to see what's good for men
To do on earth while they alive remain.

4

Great works I made, and built me houses great,
And planted vineyards at a costly rate:

5

Gardens I made, and orchards to my mind,
And fruit trees planted therein of each kind:

6

I made me pools for wat'ring nurseries,
That bringeth forth the young and tender trees:

7

I got me servants, yea, and maidens fair,
And in my house too servants born were:
I had great store of cattle great and small,
Exceeding far my predecessors all:

8

I gath'red silver, gold, and ev'ry thing
That proper were for princes or a king:
I got me singers and delightful sports,
With instrumental music of all sorts.

9

So I was great, increas'd above all them
That were before me in Jerusalem;
Also my wisdom did with me remain.

10

Mine eyes desire I never did restrain;
I ne'er withheld my heart from any joys,
And in my labours greatly did rejoice:
This was the portion of my labours all,
That unto me of all these did befal:

11

I look'd on all the works my hands had wrought,
And on the labours my inventions sought;
And lo, I found them trifling vanity,
And sore vexation of my soul to be:
There was no profit in ought I had done,
Nor satisfaction here below the sun.

318

12

I turn'd myself sage wisdom to behold;
With madness too, and folly, I made bold:
What can the man do that comes after me?
Ev'n what is done, surely no more can he.

13

Then did I see that wisdom did excel
Folly, as far as heaven itself does hell.

14

The wise man's eyes are in his head; but lo,
The fool in paths of darkness on doth go:
And I myself perceiv'd, that unto all
One event still, for the most part, doth fall.

15

Then did I say, Why should I wiser be
Than is the fool? for now I plainly see
One event happ'neth both to him and me;
Then said I thereby this is vanity.

16

For there's no more remembrance of the wise
Than of the fool: in death all hidden lyes:
That which is now shall all forgotten be;
And as the fool, doth not the wise man, die?

17

Therefore I even hated life, because
The work I did unto me grievous was:
For surely all is empty vanity,
And sore vexation of the spirit be.

18

I hated all the labours I had done,
And my inventions here below the sun;
Because that he who shall come after me
Shall in short time thereof possessor be.

19

And who knows whether he'll be wise or fool?
Yet he o'er all my labours shall have rule,
Wherein I labour'd, and my wisdom shown:
This is a vanity below the sun.

20

Then did I seek to cause my heart despair
Of all the works whereof my heart took care.

21

For there's a man hath wisdom to invent,
And knowledge to work out his whole intent;
In equity he deals with all mankind:
Yet must he leave his labours all behind,
Unto a man that ne'er employ'd a thought
T'accomplish them, nor therein ever wrought:

319

This surely is a sordid vanity,
And also a great evil certainly.

22

For what hath man of all his labours done,
And heart's vexation here below the sun?

23

For all his days are sorrows, travel, grief;
Yea, all he doth can yield him no relief.
When as at night his heart can take no rest:
This is a vanity, and not the least.

24

There's nothing better for a man, I think,
Than that he should with pleasure eat and drink;
And let his soul enjoy the happiness
Of all he does, and all he doth possess:
But this I saw to mortals certainly
Came from the lib'ral hand of the Most High.

25

For who can eat, his soul to satisfy,
Or who can hasten thereto more than I?

26

For God gives still to good men in his sight
Wisdom and knowledge, joy and heart's delight:
But to the wicked travel, toil and pain,
God gives, that they may wealth and riches gain,
That he may give't to good men in his sight.
This is a vain vexation of the sp'rit.

CHAP. III.

[1]

To ev'ry thing a season is assign'd,
Time to each purpose under heav'n design'd:

2

Time to be born, and eke a time to die;
A time to plant, and time to pluck there be:

3

A time to kill, a time to heal; also
A time to build, a time to overthrow:

4

A time to weep, a time to laugh may chance;
A time to mourn, a time also to dance:

5

A time there is to gather stones full fast,
A time also the same away to cast;
Time to embrace another, time again
When from embracing we must needs refrain:

6

A time to get, a time to lose; there may
Be time to keep, and time to cast away:

320

7

A time to rent, a time to sew; and eke
A time of silence, and a time to speak:

8

A time to love, a time to hate may be;
A time of war, a time of peace, we see.

9

What profit hath his labours to him brought,
Wherein he oft so eagerly hath wrought?

10

I've seen the travel God hath given to men,
To exercise them constantly therein:

11

He in his time made all things beautiful,
And in their heart he makes the world to rule:
So that no man the work of God can find
Out from beginning thereof to the end.

12

In them I know there is no good to choice,
Save man through life do good, and so rejoice:

13

And that each man should eat, drink, and enjoy
The good of all wherein he doth employ
His hands or mind at home, or yet abroad;
And this for certain is the gift of God.

14

Whate'er God doth, I know for certainty
Shall be for ever to eternity:
Nought thereto can be added, neither can
Ought therefrom be diminished by man:
And what God doth, he doth it that men may
Fear constantly before him night and day.

15

What's been, is now; and that which is to be,
Hath been; and God requires what's past we see.

16

Yea, and I saw below the sun the place
Of judgment just, that there was wickedness:
Who to the place of righteousness repair,
Will shortly see iniquity is there.

17

I in my heart said, God shall surely be
Judge both of good and bad of all degree:
For there's a time for ev'ry work assign'd,
And for each purpose by our God ordain'd.

18

I in my heart perceiv'd the state of men,
And wish'd that God might manifest them plain;
And that they may perceive, and clearly see
That they are beasts, and thereby humbled be.

321

19

For what befals the sons of men, likewise
Befalleth beasts, and so alike both dies:
They've all one breath; man hath no pre'm'nency
Above a beast, for all is vanity.

20

Into one place all go, both beasts and men:
For dust they are; to dust they turn again.

21

Who knows man's spirit that doth upward go;
The sp'rits of beasts descend to earth below?

22

There's nothing better in this world, I see,
Than that a man rejoice and merry be
In his own works; for that's his portion sure:
What follows him there's none can him assure.

CHAP. IV.

[1]

So I return'd, consider'd all oppressions
Done here below, which are beyond expressions:
And lo, the tears of such oppressed ones,
Without comforters, utter'd grievous groans;
And on the side of their oppressors were
Pow'r (but, poor souls!) they had no comforter.

2

Wherefore I prais'd the dead, already dead,
Far more than he that liveth in his stead.

3

Yea better far is he that hath not been,
Than dead and living; for he hath not seen
The evil work that here below the sun
By sons of men so frequently is done.

4

Again, all travel I considered,
And each right-work, for which a man's envy'd
Ev'n of his neighbour: this is vanity,
And sore vexation of the mind, surely.

5

The fool together folds his hands afresh,
And by his sloth he eateth his own flesh.

6

Better's an handful, with a quiet possession;
Than both hands full, with travel and vexation.

7

Then on reflection I did plainly see
Below the sun another vanity:

8

There's one alone, and there is not another;
Yea, and he hath not either child or brother:

322

Yet endless toil his carnal heart bewitches,
So that he's never satisfied with riches;
Neither saith he, For whom now do I save
My riches, and my soul of good bereave?
This also is a vanity; yea more,
It is a travel, and a toil full sore.

9

Two better are than one, because they have
A good reward for labour to receive.

10

For if they fall, the one will make a shift,
And strive his fellow up again to lift:
But wo to him that is alone when he
Shall fall; hath none that will his helper be.

11

Again, if two together ly, anon
They've heat; but how can one be warm alone?

12

And if one shall prevail against him, two
Shall him withstand, and likely overthrow;
A threefold cord will not so quickly break,
As one that's single, certainly more weak.

13

A poor wise child is better far, than he
That's old and foolish, tho' a king he be,
Who to no admonition will agree.

14

From out of prison one may raised be
To rule and reign in royal dignity.
Whereas one born in his own kingdom may
Be render'd poor, and subject-like obey.

15

I then consider'd all the living which
Walk under heav'n, yea, both the poor and rich:
The second child, when as a man is dead,
That after him shall stand up in his stead.

16

There is no end of all the people seen
Even of all before them that have been;
Those that come after in him shall not joy.
This also is a vexing vanity.

CHAP. V.

[1]

When to God's house thou goest, then be sure
To keep thy foot; and be more apt to hear,

323

Than to present the sacrifice of fools,
For they ne'er mind that they transgress his rules.

2

Be thou not rash nor hasty in thine heart,
To let ought from thy sinful lips depart
Before the Lord: for God's in heav'n, and thou
Art on the earth; so let thy words be few.

3

A dream comes through a train of business,
And fools are known by words too numerous.

4

When thou shalt vow a vow to God, take care
To pay the same, and do not it defer:
For he in fools no pleasure sure can take;
Pay then thy vow, and venture not to break.

5

'Tis better far in vowing to delay,
Than one should vow, and then neglect to pay.

6

Let not thy mouth entice thy flesh to sin,
Nor angels see an error thou art in:
Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice,
And spoil the work wherein thou mayst rejoice?

7

In dreams and words are vanities right odd:
But shun them all, and only fear thou God.

8

If thou the poor oppressed sore dost see,
Though in a land judgment and justice be
Most vi'lently perverted, think't not strange,
For the Most High will recompence revenge.

9

All share the profits that the earth do yield;
The king himself is served by the field.

10

He that loves silver to excess, shall see
That he therewith shall ne'er contented be;
Nor he that loves abundance with increase:
This also is a vanity no less.

11

When goods increase, their eaters multiply;
Their owner only sees them with his eye.

12

The lab'ring man most sweetly takes repose;
No discontent in wealth or pen'ry knows:
Whereas the fulness of the rich doth keep
With anxious cares their drowsy eyes from sleep.

13

There's a sore evil I've seen here below,
Riches kept for the owner's overthrow.

324

14

But these same riches, by mismanagement,
For certain perish, and are quickly spent:
His son, that after in his stead should stand,
Is naked born with nothing in his hand.

15

As he at first came from his mother's womb,
Just as he came, so he'll go to his tomb:
Nought of his labours he can bear away
When his dead corpse shall mingle with the clay.

16

This also is an evil sore, that he
In all points goes as first he came to be.
What profit hath he? what can please his mind,
When he hath labour'd for the empty wind?

17

For all his days in darkness he shall eat,
And have much sorrow, wrath, and sickness great.

18

Behold that which I heretofore have seen
Is good and comely, and hath ever been,
Ev'n that a man should eat, drink, and enjoy
The good for which his hands he did employ
All his life days, which here, below the sun,
God gives to him; for 'tis his portion.

19

Each man to whom God gives abundant wealth,
And pow'r to eat with competent good health,
And takes his portion with a joyful heart;
This is a gift God doth to him impart.

20

For he'll not much remember his life days;
Because God grants him joy in all his ways.

CHAP. VI.

[1]

There is an evil I have often seen
Below the sun, that common is to men:

2

A man whom God gives honour wealth and ease,
And wants for nothing that his heart might please;
Yet God denies him pow'r to use the same;
But strangers thereto right and title claim:
This is a strange and sordid vanity;
An ill disease, as in the world can be.

3

If one man should an hundred children have,
And many days, yea many years, should live,

325

And yet his soul be never fill'd with good,
And have no burial, may be understood
To be far worse than an untimely birth:

4

For he comes in with vanity, and forth
Again in darkness he departs away;
And fame his name doth in oblivion lay.

5

Moreover he hath never seen the sun,
Nor any thing at all hath ever known:
This hath more rest in dark oblivion's shade,
Than th'other ever in his lifetime had.

6

Yea, tho' he live a thousand years twice told,
Yet with his eyes did never good behold:
Do not all mortals to one place descend?
What's made of dust, in dust again must end.

7

Man's labour all is for his mouth; yet he
His appetite can never satisfy.

8

What hath the wise more than the fool? what hath
The poor that walk within the living's path?

9

The eye sight's better, tho' it soon expire
Than is the wand'ring of the soul's desire:
This also is a very vanity,
And a vexation of the mind, surely.

10

That which hath been it is already nam'd,
'Tis known that man was by the Highest fram'd:
Therefore he may not once with him contend;
For he in no ways can himself defend.

11

Since many things do increase vanity,
What can a man be bettered thereby?

12

For who is he can tell what's good for man
In this frail life, all his life days so vain,
Which as a shadow he doth spend away?
For who is he can tell a man what may
Be after him, when he is dead and gone,
Into his stead here underneath the sun?

CHAP. VII.

[1]

A good name is more preferable far
Than precious ointments, ne'er so costly, are:

326

So is the day wherein we come to die
To be preferr'd to our nativity.

2

The house of mourning, better far go there,
Than to the house of feasting to repair:
For that's the end of all men, when they part;
Yea, and the living lays it to his heart.

3

Grief better is than laughter certainly;
For oft the heart is bettered thereby.

4

The wise man's heart the mourners house frequent;
But fools with mirth are always well content.

5

Better to hear the wise rebukes and rules,
Than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6

As crackling thorns beneath a pot, so be
Fools laughter: this is also vanity.

7

Oppression surely makes a wise man mad;
And gifts destroy, and make the heart more bad.

8

Better's the ending of a thing than the
Beginning thereof; also so is he,
That's patient in his spirit, better far
Than they whose spirits proud and lofty are.

9

Let not thy sp'rit to anger soon make haste;
For passions always in fools bosoms rest.

10

Say thou not, what could be the certain cause
The former time than now far better was?
For thou dost not with wisdom thus enquire
Concerning this too curious desire.

11

Wisdom is good with heritage; and they
That see the sun, are profited thereby.

12

For wisdom is, for certain, a defence;
And so is money in another sense:
But this is wisdom's great excellency,
That who hath knowledge, he gets life thereby.

13

The work of God consider, and take heed;
For who'll make straight what he hath crooked made?

14

Be joyful while in your prosperity;
But then, consider, in adversity,
That God hath set these two in opposition,
To th'end that man should here find no fruition.

327

15

All things I've seen, and marked carefully,
In my short life and days of vanity;
The just to perish in his righteousness,
The wicked's life prolong'd in wickedness.

16

Be not too good; thyself too wise not make:
Why shouldst thou spoil thyself for ruin's sake?

17

Be not too wicked; neither foolish be:
Before thy time why shouldst thou love to die?

18

'Tis good that thou shouldst take fast hold of this;
Slip not thine hand thine former hold to miss:
For who fears God, tho' in the greatest thrall,
Shall come triumphant forth out of them all.

19

One man by wisdom stronger is, by far,
Than ten stout men that in the city are.

30

For on the earth there's not a just man's lot,
That ever doth what's good, and sinneth not.

21

Take thou no heed to ev'ry word you hear,
Lest servants chance to curse thee in thine ear.

22

For thou art conscious to thyself thou hast
Oft cursed others, tho' not full exprest.

23

All this I prov'd by wisdom; said, I'll be
Wise; but, alas! it was too far from me.

24

That which is far off, and is very deep,
What man is he can find it out to keep?

25

I did apply mine heart to search and know,
And seek by wisdom cause of things below;
To know the folly and the wickedness
Of foolishness, and of most men's madness:

26

And lo! I find more bitter far than death,
The wicked woman's filthy noxious breath;
Whose heart is snares, yea, and her very hands
Are nets and traps, invincible strong bands.
Who pleaseth God, from her he shall 'scape free;
But sinners, they by her shall taken be.

27

The preacher saith, Lo! this I have found out,
In counting one by one to solve the doubt:

28

Which yet my soul seeks with all care of mind;
But, in my search, alas! I cannot find:

328

One man among a thousand have I found;
But not a woman all the world around.

29

Lo! this I found, that God made man upright;
But man in new inventions takes delight.

CHAP. VIII.

[1]

As the wise man, who can such knowledge bring
For plain interpretation of a thing?
A man's own wisdom makes his face to shine;
But time will make his strength and face decline.

2

I counsel thee to keep the king's command,
The oath of God you ought to understand.

3

Make no great haste out of his sight to go;
Shun evil things, for what he wills he'll do.

4

Where a king's word is, there his pow'r doth shew:
And who can say to him, Sir, what dost thou?

5

Whoe'er he be keeps the commandement,
No evil thing shall cause his discontent:
A wise man's heart will easily discern,
And also time and judgment both will learn.

6

Since to each purpose time and judgment be;
Therefore sure great is mortals misery.

7

For he knows nothing of futurity:
For who can tell him when, or how 'twill be?

8

No man hath pow'r the spirit to retain;
Nor hath he pow'r from dying to refrain:
There's no discharge of that warfare; nor can
A wicked life preserve a wicked man.

9

All this I've seen; and did my heart apply
To ev'ry work done here beneath the sky.
There is a time wherein a man doth bear
Rule over others, to his hurt full dear.

10

And so I saw the wicked buried, who
Did from the church oft-times both come and go;
And in the city quite forgot were they,
Where they so did: this is a vanity.

11

Because against an evil work sentence
Doth not on sinners presently commence;

329

Therefore the hearts of mortal men are still
Set in them always fully to do ill.

12

Altho' a sinner should an hundred times
Prolong his days, and multiply his crimes;
Yet sure I am it shall be well with them
That fear the Lord, and reverence his name.

13

But with the wicked well it shall not be,
Nor yet protract his lease of life shall he;
For as a shadow hath he here abode;
For why? because he never feareth God.

14

Here on the earth is done a vanity:
The just mens lot like wicked workers be,
The wicked's lot as they wrought righteously;
I said this also is a vanity.

15

Then I commended mirth; because a man
Hath nothing better here below the sun,
Than that he eat, and drink, and merry be;
For that abides of all his industry,
With him the days of his frail life alone,
Which God doth give him here below the sun.

16

Wisdom when I apply'd mine heart to know,
To see the bus'ness done on earth below;
(For there is that yea neither day nor night
Lets sleep once dim the optics of his sight.)

17

Then I beheld the work of God, that none
Can find out what is wrought below the sun:
Because though man should labour seeking it,
Yea though a wise man should employ his wit,
Thinking to know it; yet he grasps the wind,
And never shall attain the same to find.

CHAP. IX.

[1]

For all this I consider'd in my heart,
Yea ev'n all this inclining to impart,
That both the righteous' works, yea, and the wise
Are in God's hand, at his disposal lyes:
No man can fully love or hatred know,
By all that is before them here below.

330

2

All things alike come unto all, we see:
One event to the just and wicked be;
To good, and clean, and the unclean likewise;
To him that doth, or doth not sacrifice:
As is the good so is the sinner; both
That sweareth, yea, and he that fears an oath.

3

This is an evil 'mong all things that's done
Under the sun, that there is only one
Event to all; yea, and mens haarts are still
Of evil, yea, and madness ever full,
While here on earth they do enjoy their breath:
And after that, they go down unto death.

4

For unto him, for certain, that is join'd
To all the living, there is hope we find:
For sure a dog that lives, is useful more
Than a dead lion that had wont to roar.

5

For sure the living know that they shall die;
But those that dead are, know nought certainly:
Nor any more have they reward or lot;
The memory of them is quite forgot.

6

Also their love, their hatred and envy,
Are perished: nor any more have they
A portion here of any thing that's done,
Upon this stage, below the nat'ral sun.

7

Go, eat thy bread, and drink thy wine with joy;
For God accepts thy works and thine employ.

8

Thy garments always white and clean sure make,
And let thy head no useful ointment lack.

9

Live with the wise thou lovest joyfully,
All the life days of thy short vanity
Which he allows thee here below the sun,
Till thy few days of vanity are run;
For that's thy portion in this life, you know,
And in thy labour thou tak'st here below.

10

Whate'er thy hand doth find to do, always
Do with thy might; for there is no device,
Nor knowledge, work nor wisdom, in the grave,
In which e'er long thou must a lodging have.

331

11

Then I return'd, and saw below the sun,
The race is not to them that swiftest run;
Nor is the battle to the strongest side;
Nor to the wise is there continual bread;
Nor yet is riches always in the hand
Of prudent men, that well can understand;
Nor yet is favour ay to men of skill:
But time and chance still happen to them all.

12

An evil man, that sticks not at a crime,
He's not aware, nor knows the evil time:
As fishes caught are in an evil net,
And birds are trapt by snares in secret set;
So are men's sons snar'd in an evil time,
When suddenly it falleth upon them.

13

Below the sun this wisdom did I see,
And it seem'd great and very strange to me.

14

There was a city, and few men within;
And a great king to siege it did begin,
And round it built great bulwarks, and did raise
Great batteries, to take it with more ease.

15

Now there was found in it a poor wise man,
And by his wisdom he to work began,
And freed the city; yet no man did mind
The same poor man, unto him to be kind.

16

Then did I say, Wisdom is better far
Than the great strength of mighty mortals are:
But yet the poor man's wisdom few regard;
Yea, and his words are very seldom heard.

17

The wise man's words are heard in quiet more,
Than the fool's rulers, though aloud he roar.

18

Wisdom is better far than weapons choice,
But sure one sinner he much good destroys.

CHAP. X.

[1]

When flies among the surgeon's ointment sink,
It causeth it send forth a noisome stink;
So little follies, obvious in the wise,
Will make the mob their wisdom soon despise.

332

2

A wise man's heart is at his right-hand ay;
But the fool's heart doth at his left-hand stay.

3

Yea, also, when a fool doth walk abroad,
His wisdom fails him on the very road;
He acts and speaks without concert or rule,
And tells to all he meets that he's a fool.

4

If rulers spirits up against thee rise,
Leave not thy place as one that guilty flies;
For yielding great offences pacifies.

5

Below the sun an evil I have seen
Come from the ruler as an error keen:

6

Folly set in great dignity and trust,
The rich and wise in lowest places thrust:

7

I have seen servants on high horses ride,
And princes walking on the earth beside.

8

Who digs a pit, himself shall fall in it;
Who breaks an hedge, a serpent shall him bite.

9

He may be hurt, that stones removes; likely
Who cleaveth wood, in danger is thereby.

10

If th'ax be blunt, and he be not expert
To sharp the edge, more strength he must exert:
But wise men will not means of ease neglect;
For wisdom's useful therein to direct.

11

The serpent will without enchantment bite;
So babblers will in talking take delight.

12

The wise man's words, that come out from his mouth,
Are gracious words, yea words of precious truth;
But the fool's lips, poor senseless silly elf!
So froward are, they'll swallow up himself.

13

For he begins his words with foolishness,
And ends the same in mad mischievousness.

14

A fool also is full of words: surely
Man cannot tell what afterward shall be;
And who is he for certain can proclaim
To any man what shall be after him?
The foolish' labour weariness doth prove
For each of them; because if he remove

333

Abroad (poor wretch!) he's not so wise, or witty,
To find the way again into the city.

16

Wo be to thee, O land! thy state is wild,
When as thy king is but a minor child;
And when thy princes, be they ne'er so great,
Do in the morning too too early eat.

17

But blessed art thou, O thou happy land!
When doth the son of nobles thee command,
And when thy princes in due season eat,
For strength, not drunkenness, which spoils the state.

18

By slothfulness the building soon decays;
By idleness the house drops thro' likewise.

19

Feasts are for laughter, wine doth merry make;
But money answers all we undertake.

20

Curse not the king, yea, no not in thy thought,
Nor in thy closet curse the rich for ought:
Birds of the air thy voice shall sure reveal,
And what hath wings the matter clear shall tell.

CHAP. XI.

[1]

Thy bread cast on the waters diff'rent ways,
And thou shalt find it after many days.

2

To seven and eight a portion give; for thou
Know'st not what ill shall be on earth below.

3

If that the clouds be full of rain, they will
Empty themselves, and on the earth distil:
And if the tree fall South or North, ev'n where
The tree shall fall, it surely shall be there.

4

Who foolishly observes the wind, or who
Regards the clouds, shall neither reap nor sow.

5

As thou know'st not which way the spirits come,
Nor how the bones engender in the womb
Of her with child; so canst thou never know
The works of God, that maketh all things grow.

6

Then in the morning sow thy seed; and when
The ev'ning-comes, thy sowing not refrain:
For sure thou know'st not whether that or this
Shall prosper well, or both alike increase.

334

7

'Tis truly sweet and pleasant for the eye
To see the light and sun shine from on high.

8

But if a man live many years, and shall
Take much delight, rejoicing in them all;
Yet let him mind the days of darkness, they
Shall many be, and all in vanity.

9

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let
Thy youthful days on cheerfulness be set:
Walk in the ways which thine own heart devise,
And after what is pleasing to thine eyes:
But know thou, surely God for ev'ry thing
Will thee one day unto his judgment bring.

10

Therefore remove all sorrow from thy heart,
And cause all evil from thy flesh depart:
For all may know this for a certainty,
Childhood and youth are surely vanity.

CHAP. XII.

[1]

Remember now thy great Creator, while
The bloom of youth upon thy cheeks doth smile;
While ill days come not, nor the years draw near,
When thou shalt say, I have no pleasure here;

2

While sun, light, moon, nor stars, not dark'ned be,
Nor clouds returning after rain you see:

3

In that sad day, when the house-keepers shall
Tremble, and strong men bowing down shall fall,
The grinders cease, because they are but few,
And lookers from the windows lose their view.

4

The doors shall in the streets be shut, also
The sound of grinding turned very low;
And he shall rise up at the bird's small voice,
And all the daughters of the music cease:

5

When they shall be afraid of what is high,
Fears in the way appearing ever nigh;
The almond-tree shall flourish fair above,
The grashopper shall then a burden prove;
Desire shall fail, because that man must go
To his long home, and mourners walk in wo:

335

6

Or e'er the cord of silver loosed be,
Or golden bowl be broken, or you see
The pitcher broken by the fountain side,
Or wheel asunder at the cistern slide.

7

Then shall the dust to earth again descend,
Just as it was, like to its like still tend;
The spirit upward, as a spark, shall fly
To God, who gave it, where he is on high.

8

Vanity of vanities we see:
The preacher saith, All is mere vanity.

9

Likewise, because the preacher was most wise,
He knowledge taught the people all his days:
He gave good heed, sought out what he could get,
And many proverbs he in order set.

10

The preacher sought out words both plain and smooth;
And what he wrote was upright words of truth.

11

Words of the wise as goads and nails they are,
Fast'ned by masters of assemblies care,
Which from one shepherd freely given were.

12

Further, my son, by these admonish'd be;
Of making books there is no end you see;
And too much study is a weariness,
And very irksome unto human flesh.

13

Let's hear the whole conclusion of the matter,
Of all that can be said by word or letter:
Fear God, and keep all his commands; for this
Man's duty wholly and entirely is.

14

For God to judgment ev'ry work shall bring,
Together also with each secret thing;
Yea, whether it be good or bad, one day
In public manner he will open lay.

University of Virginia Library

KING SOLOMON's BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES, IN METRE.