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CHIEFLY ALLUDED TO IN THE FIRST BOOK.

The Words of the Preacher the Son of David King of Jerufalem. Ecclefiaftes, cap. I. ver. 1.

Vanity of vanities, faith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Verf. 2.

I communed with mine own heart, faying, lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wifdom, than all they that have been before me in Jerufalem yea my heart had great experience of wifdom and knowledge. Verf. 16.

He fpake of trees, from the cedar-tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyop that fpringeth out of the wall he fpake alfo of beafts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. I Kings, chap. iv. verf. 33.

:

I know, that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for

ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men fhould fear before him. Ecclefiaftes, chap. iii. verf. 14.

He

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: alfo he hath fet the world in their heart, fo that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Verf. 11.

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth forrow. Chap, i. verf. 18.

And further by thefe, my Son, be admonished of making many books there is no end: and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Chap. xii,

verf. 12.

KNOW.

KNOWLEDGE:

THE

FIRST BOOK.

ARG

THE ARGUMENT.

Solomon feeking happiness from Knowledge, convenes the learned men of his kingdom; requires them to explain to him the various operations and effects of nature; discourses of vegetables, animals, and man; propofes fome queftions concerning the origin, and fituation of the habitable earth; proceeds to examine the fyftem of the vifible heaven; doubts if there may not be be a plurality of worlds; enquires into the nature of spirits and angels; and wishes to be more fully informed, as to the attributes of the Supreme Being. He is imperfectly answered by the Rabbins, and doctors; blames his own curiofity; and concludes, that, as to human fcience, ALL IS VANITY,

YE fons of men, with just regard attend,

Obferve the preacher, and believe the friend,
Whofe ferious Mufe infpires him to explain,
That all we act, and all we think is vain,

VOL. II.

B

Thas

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That in this pilgrimage of seventy years,
Over rocks of perils, and through vales of tears,
Deftin'd to march, our doubtful steps we tend,
Tir'd with the toil, yet fearful of its end.

That from the womb we take our fatal fhares

Of follies, paffions, labours, tumults, cares:
And at approach of death shall only know
The truths, which from these penfive numbers flow,
That we pursue falfe joy, and fuffer real woe.
Happiness, object of that waking dream,
Which we call life, mistaking: fugitive theme
Of my pursuing verfe, ideal fhade,
Notional good, by Fancy only made,
And by tradition nurs'd, fallacious fire,
Whofe dancing beams mif-lead our fond defire,
Cause of our care, and error of our mind:
Oh! hadft thou ever been by Heaven defign'd
To Adam, and his mortal race, the boon
Entire had been referv'd for Solomon:
On me the partial lot had been bestow'd;
And in my cup the golden draught had flow'd.
But O! ere yet original man was made;
Ere the foundations of this earth were laid;
It was opponent to our fearch, ordain'd,
That joy, ftill fought, fhould never be attain'd,
This fad experience cites me to reveal;
And what I dictate, is from what I feel.
Born as I was, great David's favourite fon,
Dear to my people, on the Hebrew throne,

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Sublime

Sublime my court with Ophir's treasures bleft,
My name extended to the farthest east,
My body cloath'd with every outward grace,
Strength in my limbs, and beauty in my face,
My fhining thought with fruitful notions crown'd,
Quick my invention, and my judgment found.
Arife (I commun'd with myself) arise;

Think, to be happy; to be great, be wife:
Content of spirit muft from science flow;
For 'tis a godlike attribute to know.

I said; and sent my edict through the land;
Around my throne the letter'd Rabbins stand,
Hiftoric leaves revolve, long volumes fpread,
The old difcourfing, as the younger read:
Attent I heard, propos'd my doubts, and faid:
The Vegetable world, each plant and tree,
Its Seed, its name, its nature, its degree
I am allow'd, as Fame reports, to know,
From the fair Cedar, on the craggy brow
Of Lebanon nodding supremely tall,
To creeping Mofs, and Hyffop on the wall:
Yet, juft and conscious to myself, I find
A thousand doubts oppofe the fearching mind.
I know not why the Beach delights the glade
With boughs extended, and a rounder shade;
Whilft towering Firs in Conic forms arise,
And with a pointed spear divide the skies:
Nor why again the changing Oak fhould shed
The yearly honour of his ftately head;

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