That mine to fpeak, 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; 690 Parent of wicked, bane of honeft deeds, 695 700 All veil of doubt apart, the dulleft fee! My prophets and my fophifts finifh'd here 705 710 Fix fancy'd laws, and form imagin'd rules, Soon their crude notions with each other fought- O wretched impotence of human mind! With outward fmiles their flattery I receiv'd; 715 720 725 } 730 73$ Light flew the knowing fcale; the doubtful heavy weigh'd. Forc'd by reflective reason, I confess, 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 prefumptuous eyes To what our Maker to their ken denies : 745 750 } Earth fhe furveys; the thence would measure Heaven: And from the fummit of a pathless coast Remember, that the curs'd defire to know, For ever from that fatal tree debarr'd, Which flaming fwords 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 womenn-fingers, and the de"lights of the fons of men, as musical instruments, " and that of all forts." Ver. 8. "I fought in mine heart to give myself unto wine (yet "acquainting mine heart with wisdom) 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 wifdom and honour." Chap. x. ver. 1. "The memory of the just is blessed, but the memory of "the wicked fhall rot." Proverbs, ch. x. ver. 7. PLEASURE: THE SECOND BOOK. THE ARGUMENT. Solomon, again feeking happiness, enquires if wealth and greatnefs can produce it: begins with the magnificence of gardens and buildings, the luxury of mufick and feafting; and proceeds to the hopes and defires of Love. In two episodes 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 purfuit of pleasure and fenfual delight, All is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit. RY then, O man, the moments to deceive, TR That from the womb attend thee to the grave: Where ftudy brings thee; from the endless maze, 5 T. |