Ecclesiastes, othervvise called The preacher Containing Salomons sermons or commentaries (as it may probably be collected) vpon the 49. Psalme of Dauid his father. Compendiously abridged, and also paraphrastically dilated in English poesie, according to the analogie of Scripture, and consent of the most approued writer thereof. Composed by H.L. Gentleman. Whereunto are annexed sundrie sonets of Christian passions heretofore printed, and now corrected and augmented, with other affectionate sonets of a feeling conscience of the same authors.

Chap. 2.

[verse 1] Then did I ioy proue at full, which also proued vaine. [verse 2] Mad laughter and short ioy, what ease do ye yeeld to my paine?

1.

I said in mine heart, goe to now, I will proue thee with ioy: ther∣fore take thou pleasure in plea¦sant things: and behold this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vanitie.

THus tired with these studies I repinde, And in my heart, I said, no more of this: Now will I try if pleasure I may find, To cheare my fainting soule in worlds amis: Perhaps in mirth and ioy is plast true blis, Let me to counsell, my affections take, And let them to their likings frolike make.

From reasons bonds, thus set at large awhile, They ech of them their appetites doe fit, Each seuerall sense, himselfe seekes to beguile, And all conspire the wished prise to git, But (ouer gorg'd) full soone they all do surfit: For lust complete sacietie doth breed, And vaine the fruite, that growes from such a seed.

2.

I said of laugh∣ter, thou art mad: and of ioy, what is this that thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Then did I first begin indeed to know, The vanitie of these vnconstant ioyes, For while the foggie myst of lust doth grow, As through a cloud, we see it so annoyes Our purest iudgement, euen with childish toyes: But then (as safe on shore) the storme I saw, Whose raging billowes did soules perill draw.

Then cald I laughter a deformed grace, More fit for fooles, then temp'rate men to try, Graue maiestie expelling from the face, And antike wise disguizing men, whereby As madnesse, I beganne it to defy: As forced mirth, which no sweet fruit doth bring, But to relenting soule a poysned sting.

[verse 3] With wine I wit and folly fed, to find mans liues content. [verse 4] In stately workes, of houses and of vineyards, study spent.

3.

I sought in mine hart to giue my selfe to wine, and to lead mine hart in wisedome, & to take hold of folly, till I might see whe•• is that goodnes of the children of men, which they enioy vn∣der the sunne, the whole num¦ber of the daies of their life.

The Antidote of hearts with care opprest, Earths bloud, wits bane, wines best delighting tast, I gaue my selfe to proue in my vnrest, To quicken so my sprights, with care defast, Not glutton like, with drunkennesse disgrast, But as in prickly bush men Roses take, So in my plentie I not measure brake.

For why, the obiect of my actions were So limited by wisedomes happy guyde, That I in them, did Gods offence forbeare, And in the bounds of temperance firme abyde: I onely sought by all things to haue tryde, Where, and what is, that good mans of-spring finds In life on earth, which so inchaunts their minds.

4.

I haue made my great workes: I haue built me hou∣ses: I haue planted me vineyardes.

And for I held magnificence to bee A vertue fitting well a princely mind, I built and dedicated (Lord) to thee A Temple, where thy Arke a rest might find: A worthlesse present for a God so kind: Yet best that skilfull Hyrams art could frame, In seauen yeares time, and cost vpon the same.

I raysed and reedified beside, Full many cities to withstand the foes, And Libanus, whose beautie farre and wide, In fame before all other cities goes: Besides a Pallace for my Queene, like those Where mightiest Monarks courts haue erst bin plast, Which was with many vineyards greatly grast.

[verse 5] I gardens had, and Orchards faire, of euery fruitfull tree. [verse 6] And Aqueducts to water them, the purest that might bee.

5.

I haue made me gardens & orchards, and planted in thē trees of all 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

I made me spacious gardens therewithall, Wherein to solace both my Queenes and mee, In which all kind of herbes both great and small, And all such flowers as either pleasing bee To sight or smell, you there might plentie see, Or which for health of man had any prayse, Or for delight might serue him any wayes.

My Orchards like to Paradice were held, Wherein for shadie walkes and sweete prospects, Ingenious art had nature so exceld, That things gainst kind produc'd most kind effects; All fruitfull trees of tast that man affects, Were planted plenteously, from Cedar tall To little shrubbe, that clymbeth by the wall.

6.

I haue made me Cesterns of water, to water therewith the woods that grow with trees.

From top of farthest cliffes through hils and dales, I set my fountaine heads and crystall springs, I forced riuers from the lower vales, To mount their neighbor hils, whose backs them brings Vnto those Cesternes, which by spouts them flings, Like Aprill showers dispersedly to fall, And so bedeaw those bordering trees withall.

Whence softly they distilling to the ground, Might coole the pride of sommers scorching rayes, And cause the happy soyle with frute abound, Which spring time like, thus flourished alwayes, Whose ouerplus of streames in chanell stayes: That euery fish and foule might solace take, Or men might bath on banke, and banquet make.

[verse 7] I housholds had of men & maids, and store of beefes and sheepe. [verse 8] With Princes treasures, singing folke, I did for pleasure keepe.

7.

I haue gotten seruants and maides, & had children borne in the house: also I had great possession of Beeues and sheepe, aboue all that were before me in lerusalem.

I was attended on in princely sort, As well of Nobles as of seruile kynd, Yea tributary kings did oft resort, To doe the homage fealty did bynd, Of Captiues I had store, vnto my mynd, And families of these and their of-spring, To populate a countrey for a king.

My flockes of sheepe, and heards of cattell great, Wherewith my royall Court I dayly fed, Who thirtie Beeues, and fiuescore Sheepe did eat, Besides such dainties as the countrey bred, I fortie thousand horse to battell led, And Charets more I had, I dare well say, Then any king in Iewry till this day.

8.

I haue gathe∣red vnto me also siluer and gold, and the chief treasures of kings and prouinces: I haue prouided me men singers and women sin∣gers, and the delights of the sonnes of men, as a woman ta∣ken captiue, & women taken captiues,

Of treasure I had store and reuenue, Sixe hundreth Talents, sixtie sixe of gold, Foure hundreth fiftie more, from Ophire due, And custome for all marchandize was sold, With tributes more then number well you could: So that like stones or drosse, I siluer gaue, And in my raigne for want few needed craue.

The choyse of all the spoyles of warre I had, Both men and women singers rare of skill, Whose melodie would cheare the mind most sad, Whose beauties with delight the eye might fill, And of these had varietie at will, And what so euer humaine kind can craue, To seeke delight therein, my selfe I gaue.

[verse 9] More mightie then forefathers all, with wisedome ruling mind, [verse 10] I fed my will, my will pleasd me, this fruit my paines did find.

9.

And I was great, and en∣creased aboue all that were before me in Ierusalem: all my wisedome remained w••th me.

Thus grew I mightie, and of greater fame Then any king Ierusalem had knowne: From farre and neare, great Princes sent and came To see my greatnesse, which abrode was blowne: Admir'd I was, and loued of my owne, Surpassing farre, report that went of mee, As Saba Queene, confest that came to see.

And (which few men, in prosperous state can do). By wisedomes rule I guided so my life, That holy Iustice still I leand vnto, And shielded innocence from Tyrants strife: And (had I not transgrest through heathnish wife, Who made me winke at her Idolatry) Few errors in my life you should espy.

10.

And whatsoe∣uer mine eies desired, I with∣held it not f••ō them: I with∣drew not mine hart from any ioy: for mine h••rt reioyced in all my la••or: and this was my portion of all my trauell.

Thus did I fill my eyes with their desire, And fed my heart at full with all content, No sooner did my thought a thing require, But forward to effect it straight I went: Thus I my dayes in ioy and solace spent, Peace gaue me wealth & power, power fed my will, My will sought happinesse in all things still.

But happinesse I had not as I thought, For though in vse of things I seemed glad, Yet afterward they to me loathing brought, And things begunne in ioy, were parting sad, And yet that present ioy was all I had, In recompence of all my trau'll and paine, And to haue that, was more then many gaine.

[verse 11] I viewd in fine all I had done, & found all vaine and fruitlesse. [verse 12] Both wit & folly, for of both none knew more: all prou'd bootlesse.

11.

Then I looked on all my workes that my hands had wrought, and on the trauell that I had la∣boured to doe: and behold, all is vanitie and vexation of the Spirit: & there is no profit vn¦der the iunn••

In fine, now surfetting indeede with all My deare bought pleasure, both begunne and past, Vnto a reckoning I my iudgement call, And true account of gaine, of them I cast, And did suruay my workes, which yet did last, To see the benefit I reapt thereby, Because I would the truth of all things try.

Which when I found for most part vanisht quight, And those remaining, subiect to like fate; I saw a world of vanitie and spight, Which made me world and all her workes to hate, As masse of miserie, and vnkind debate, As they shall find, who thus forwarnd will proue, Repentance being price of foolish loue.

12.

And I turned to behold wise∣dome, madnes, and folly: for who is the man that will come after the king in things which men now haue done.

Then I a new comparison did make, Twixt sacred wisedome (heauens infused gift) And humaine wisedome, which doth patterne take Of presidents, of morall actions drift, The skill wherein doth worldly minds vp lift, And this compard with foolish ignorance, Which in the world doth many sotts aduance.

For if that knowledge on experience grow, And that experience be the child of time, If time her powre do to the studious show, And labour doth to highest knowledge clime, If iudgement flourish where these are in prime, Then who hath me surpast, or shall succeed In these, whose censure may more credit breed?

[verse 13] Yet found I wisedome it excell, as light doth darknes farre. [verse 14] It sees, that gropes, yet wise and fond, both in one hazard are.

13.

Then I sawe there is profite in wisedome, more then in folly: as the light is more excellent then darknesse.

And what I could, impartiall conceiue Of ech of them, I will thee truely tell: I found that folly did a man deceiue, And woe to them within her snares that fell, But wisedome did all earthly things excell, Immortalizing man with worthy fame, And couering the defects of natures shame.

And looke how much the sunne in sommers day, When he in Zenith of our Hemis-pheres, Most glorious beames of brightnesse doth display, Suprasseth darkest nights that winter weares, In frozen Zone for light some face he beares: So farre and more, the wise do fooles surpasse, Or more then precious stones doe brickle glasse.

14.

For the wise mans eyes are in h••s head, but the foole wal∣keth in dark∣nesse: yet I know also that the same con∣dition falleth 〈…〉〈…〉.

For why, the wise call passed things to mind, Obserue the present, future doe fore-see, Compare effects, whereby they courses find, And make their actions to best rules agree, Like Eagle eyes, and Linxes sights theirs bee, Where fooles as blind-fold, groping misse the way, And vnto euery daunger are a pray.

Although in deede one end befalleth all, The wise and foolish, begger and the king: All made of earth, againe to dust doe fall, And euery state is crossed with some thing. Wisedome breedes care, and folly want doth bring: Wealth liues in feare, and pouertie in wo: Honor enuide, base bloud contemn'd doth go.

[verse 15] If so (thought I) then is it vaine, more wisedome to aspire, [verse 16] All is forgot in time to come, like death haue all for hire.

15.

Thē I thought in mine heart, it befalleth vn∣to me, as it be∣falleth to the foole: why therefore doe I then labour to be more wise? and I said in mine hart, that this also is va∣nitie.

I therefore in my heart beganne to thinke, If all estates some miserie must haue, If wise and foolish both of one cup drinke, If all by death must draw vnto the graue, If wisedome may not man from daunger saue: If sicknesse be the common guide to death, If death the end of all that draweth breath:

Why then do I contend for wisedomes prayse? With studious trauell, why do I applie My time, and spend away youthes pleasant dayes▪ With paine and toyle? why serues seueritie, And temperance of life, since all must die? It is meere madnesse to be too precise, Though fooles be vaine, vaine also be the wise.

16.

For there shall be no remem∣brance of the wise, nor of the foole for euer: for that that now is, in the dayes to come shall all be for∣gotten: and how dieth the wise man, as doth the foole.

Vaine in the highest point of vanitie, If they suppose on earth true blisse to find, As on a stage, each step they tred awrie Is markt, and fame defamd by slaunderous kind, And their best name that they do leaue behind Is soone forgot, as fooles facts also bee, As we by daily proofe full well may see.

Alas! is there no difference at all, In length of dayes betwixt the fond and wise? Can nought protect from death, but must all fall? As basest sort, so those in honour rise, Can man no way to lengthen life deuise? Then vaine is he in them reposeth trust, Whose ioyes with them so soone determine must.

[verse 17] Then lothd I life, all life bred griefe, and did the mind torment, [verse 18] My owne workes were vnpleasing then, possest by one vnment.

17.

Therefore I hated life: for the worke that is wrought vn∣der the sunne is grieuous vnto me: for all is vanitie & vexa∣tion of the Spirit.

The thought whereof made me the world to hate, And euery circumstance of life to blame, The day of birth, as day of cursed fate, The length of life, as heape of woe and shame, The dayly looke for death, as rotten frame Of natures weakest building, earth doth beare, Bred vp and nourished, with care and feare.

Conceiu'd in sinne, brought into world with paine, With iust laments bewayling future case, Who impotent, doth hopelesse still remaine, (If pitie in the parents had not place, Or foster mothers did him not embrace) Whose youth sharpe tutors, age the lawes restraine, Whose vexed soule still carkes and cares in vaine.

18.

I hated also all my labor, wher∣in I had trauel∣led vnder the Sunne, which I shall leaue to the man that shall be after me.

Yea, though my selfe was free from sundry things, By reason of the greatnesse of my state, With which the meaner sort full often wrings, (As want, and suffering stroke of mighties hate) Yet I my cares had in an other rate, And far more forcible in me they were, For prosperous states doe worst afflictions beare.

As feare of chaunge, care of the common good, Desire to eternize my name on earth: Yet nothing more (me thought) my ioy withstood, Then that I traueld for an others mirth, For whom, my fruits were gathred ere his birth, Which made me all my workes of most desert Hate and disdaine, euen from the very heart.

[verse 19] Vnknowne if fond or wise, who yet shall all enioy leaue. [verse 20] Which as most vain, made me abhor, my works which me deceaue.

19.

And who know¦eth whether he shall be wise or foolish, yet shal he haue rule euer all my la∣bour, wherein I haue trauel∣led, & wherein I haue shewed my selfe wise vnder the sun. This is also va∣nitie.

For what knew I, who should to me succeed, In vse of all the wealth and pompe I left, An infant of mine owne, and proper breed, Or else a stranger creeping in by theft; I knew how easly crownes might be bereft, If kings were Orphanes lacking yeares or wit, Ne knew I if my child for rule were fit.

The proofe he yeelds, and sentence God did giue, Prognosticateth little good at all: Yet (as vnto mine heire in whom I liue) I giue what wast he may, and feare he shall; The fruit euen of my wisest trauels all, So that the world which witnessed my paine, May hap record my trauels meerely vaine.

20.

Therefore I went about to make mine hart abhorre all the labour, wherein I had trauelled vnder the Sunne.

This made me oft, aide reason to contend With my affections and my pleased sence, And gainst my selfe, my selfe my wits to bend, The loue of all my workes expulsing thence, And taking on me truths sincere defence, Said perturbations (which affections guyde) Should not giue iudgement where her cause is tryde.

I made my mind confesse, the studie vaine Which was imployd, on transitory thing I made my body graunt, too great the paine Bestowd on any pleasure life doth bring, My senses to conclude, there was a sting And bitter tast attended on delight, And so resolu'd, worlds loue to banish quight.

[verse 21] One toyles to get with right and skill, a stocke for one most vaine, [verse 22] And no reward himselfe doth find, for all his trauell' and paine.

21.

For there is a man whose tra∣uell is in wise∣dome, and in knowledge, & in equitie: yet to a man that hath not tra∣uelled herein shall he giue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 portion, this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vanitie and a great 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

For could there be a greater griefe be••ide, Or iuster cause to make a man repent The paines and perils that he did abide, In honest trade to purchase his intent, Whereto his wits and diligence was bent: Then for to thinke he doth for others toyle, Manures the ground, where others reape the soyle.

Who buildeth but in hope to dwell therein? Who planteh, but in hope the fruit to tast? Though birdes and Bees their nests and combs begin, Though sheepe beare fleece, & Oxe the land haue trast, In hope of profite, which their masters wast: Yet wise men grieue to spend in vaine their time, For others sake the bush to beate or clime.

22.

For what hath man of all his trauell & griefe of his heart, wherin he hath trauelled vnder the sunne?

If man vncertaine be, as sure he is This night, if he the morrow day shall see, If he do doubt his dayes cannot endure, If he foresee his bed, his graue may bee▪ And yet of world haue care, vnhappie hee, I meane such care, as doth his powers possesse, And suffers not his soule, some ioy expresse.

For what he leaueth him behind is lost, What he enioyd, that only was his owne, What hath he gain'd, by wealth that comfort cost, If he not tast his fruits of trauell growne? Possession best by vse of things is knowne: Who doth not so, but lost his trauels are, A heauie burden bootlesse fetched farre.

[verse 23] His dayes are few and spent in cares, his nights in harts vnrest, [verse 24] If God yet grant to vse his wealth with ioy: then is he blest.

23.

For all his daies are sorrowes, & his trauel grief, his heart also taketh not rest in the night, which also is vanitie.

He doth thereby but massaker himselfe, And seeme vnkind to natures true intent, Whose bodie feeds not on the view of pelfe, But on the food the hands to mouth do lend, Which freely to ech part doth portion send: He well may thinke his wofull dayes too long, And trauell grieuous, thus requite with wrong.

If he the wished night ordain'd for rest, Consume in carefull thoughts of greedie mind, If he for others hoord his comforts best, And to himselfe (gainst kind) do proue vnkind: No blessednesse on earth then shall he find, But like a bubble vanish soone away, And in his life his vanitie bewray.

24.

There is no pro¦fit to man, but that he eat and drinke, and de∣light his soule with the profit of his labour: I saw also this, that it was of the hand of God.

For no true profit earth to earth can giue, But (whilst on earth man yet doth make his stay) The frutes of earth to vse by which we liue, And ech dayes care, deferre vnto that day. These Creatures plenteously enioy we may, To needfull sustenance of bodies strength, And to delight the mind, waxt dull at length.

Man onely must in plentie, plentie note Of Gods abundant blessing shewd therein; And not forget him whilst they passe the throte, And them abuse, as instruments of sin, But for his gifts, with prayse to him begin, With almes proceed, the needy poore to feed, And not repine, though oft they stand in need.

[verse 25] Who knowes the vse of plentie more then I, yet this I find, [verse 26] God makes the iust know ioy, the bad leaue welth for good behind.

25.

For who could eat, and who could hast to outward things more then I.

Of all that I do say, I haue made proofe, And therefore may the better thee aduise, Which as I now set downe for thy behoofe: So thereof make thy profit, be thou wise, He is a foole that counsell doth despise: And I who counsell thee, sure best could try, Earths pleasures, and the fruits that come thereby.

As being King, I all things might commaund, As being rich, I ech thing might procure, As being lou'd, to please me all men fawnd: As being feard, I might my will make sure: As being wise, I could make choyse most pure, If any earthlie thing might breed content, Then may I say, that God me part hath sent.

26.

Surely to a mā that is good in his sight, God giueth wisdom, and knowledg, and ioy: but to the sinner he giueth paine, togather and to heap, to giue to him that is good before God: this is also vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.

And for a full report of my conceit, I briefly say, as truth requires of mee, That wisedome as a blessing doth awaight Vpon the godly, who true knowledge see, And perfect ioy alone in them can bee: For God the author of all goodnesse is, And with his feare associats endlesse blis.

But to the wicked he alotteth griefe, In getting needfull things great wo and care, In their possession little sweet reliefe, In laying vp of wealth, a life still bare, Which for the godly they doe but prepare: Rent gathrers for the good, the wicked bee, Vaine vexers of their soules themselues may see.