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[verse 21] Who knows mans soule ascends, or beasts vnto the earth descēds?
[verse 22] Best then say I, ioy in thy owne: which thee thy knowledge ends.
21.
Who knoweth whether the Spirit of man ascend vpward, and the Spirit of the beast descend down∣ward to the earth?
And though indeed, the soules immortall seed,
Which had his being from a cause more pure,
Vpon a higher hope doth iustly feed,
And shall in all eternitie endure,
Yet to the eye of man, who can assure
The same, if faith (the light vnto the soule)
Did not distrustfull fleshes thoughts controule?
For euen the selfe same instruments of life,
The same necessities of nutriment,
The same effects of sicknesse with vs rife,
The same abhorred death, hath nature lent
To euery creature that on earth she sent:
And at, and after, parting of the spright,
The carkasses of both, seeme like to sight.
22.
Therfore I see that there is nothing better then that a mā should reioyse in his affayres, because that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
So that I see no vse of earths increase,
Fit for our bodies, but (whilst here we liue)
With them to cheere our sprights, and purchase peace,
And vnto God for them, due praise to giue,
Mans wit no further can his pleasure driue:
For he and they are subiect as you see
To chaunge, and to earths fraile mortalitee.
As for the care the wise and goodly haue,
Of their successors competent estate,
It is but due, and nature doth it craue,
But for their loue, our selues we ought not hate,
And toyling vex our soules with worlds debate,
What they will proue, or what in time may grow,
We know not, nor should curious be to know.