 | CHAP. IX. Poems on several subjects |  |
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 doneUnder 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'dTo 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, alwaysDo 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 farThan 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. IX. Poems on several subjects | |