That mine to speak, and theirs was to obey; For I in knowledge more than power did sway ; 685 Mofes eclips'd, and Jeffe's fon excell❜d. Humble a fecond bow'd, and took the word; Forefaw my name by future age ador'd : O live, faid he, thou wifeft of the wife; Parent of wicked, bane of honeft deeds, 690 695 700 705 710 Fix Fix fancy'd laws, and form imagin'd rules, Soon their crude notions with each other fought: O wretched impotence of human mind! His folly with connected leaves to fhade; 715 720 725 Too plain thy nakedness of soul espy'd, Why doft thou strive the confcious fhame to hide With outward fmiles their flattery I receiv'd; Own'd my fick mind by their discourse reliev'd; But, bent and inward to myself again, Perplex'd, thefe matters I revolv'd in vain. My search still tir'd, my labour ftill renew'd,, 730 736 Light flew the knowing fcale; the doubtful heavy weigh'd. Forc'd by reflective reason, I confefs, That human science is uncertain guess. 740 Alas! Alas! we grafp at clouds, and beat the air, Can thought beyond the bounds of matter climb ? In vain we lift up our presumptuous eyes To what our Maker to their ken denies : The fearcher follows faft; the object fafter flies. To fruitless fearch of fomething yet behind. How narrow limits were to wisdom given! Remember, that the curs'd defire to know, Which flaming swords and angry cherubs guard? 760 765 TEXTS CHIEFLY ALLUDED TO IN BOOK II. "I faid in my own heart, Go to now, I will prove thee "with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure." Eccl. ii. 1. "I made me great works, I builded me houses, I "planted me vineyards." Ver. 4. "I made me gardens and orchards; and I planted trees "in them of all kind of fruits." Ver. 5. "I made me pools of water, to water therewith the "wood that bringeth forth trees." Ver. 6. "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had "wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: “And behold all was vanity, and vexation of spirit; " and there was no profit under the fun.” Ver. 11. "I gat me men-fingers and women-fingers, and the de"lights of the fons of men, as mufical inftruments, " and that of all forts." Ver. 8. "I fought in mine heart to give myself unto wine (yet "acquainting mine heart with wifdom) and to lay “hold on folly, till I might fee what was that good "for the fons of men, which they should do under "Heaven, all the days of their life." Ver. 3. "Then I faid in my heart, As it happeneth unto the "fool, fo it happeneth even unto me; and why was “I then more wife? Then I said in my heart, that "this alfo is vanity." Ver. 15. "Therefore I hated life, because the work that is wrought "under the fun is grievous unto me.” Ch. ii. ver. 27. "Dead flies cause the ointment to fend forth a stinking "favour: fo doth the little folly him that is in repu"tation for wisdom and honour." Chap. x. ver. 1. "The memory of the just is blessed, but the memoiy of "the wicked fhall rot." Proverbs, ch. x. ver. 7. PLEASURE: THE SECOND BOOK. THE ARGUMENT. Solomon, again feeking happiness, enquires if wealth and greatness can produce it: begins with the magnificence of gardens and buildings, the luxury of mufick and feasting; and proceeds to the hopes and defires of Love. In two epifodes are fhewn the follies and troubles of that paffion. Solomon, ftill difappointed, falls under the temptations of Libertinifin and Idolatry; recovers his thought; reasons aright; and concludes, that, as to the pursuit of pleasure and fenfual delight, All is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit. T RY then, O man, the moments to deceive, That from the womb attend thee to the grave: Health be thy hope; and Pleasure be thy theme. Where ftudy brings thee; from the endless maze, VOL. II. K T. |