TEXTS CHIEFLY ALLUDED TO IN BOOK I. "The words of the Preacher the Son of David King "of Jerufalem." Ecclefiaftes, chap. i. ver. 1. "Vanity of vanities, fays the Preacher, vanity of "vanities, all is vanity." Ver. 2. "I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am "come to great estate, and have gotten more wif"dom than all they that have been before me in "Jerufalem: yea my heart had great experience of "wisdom and knowledge." Ver. 16. "He fpake of trees, from the cedar-tree that is in "Lebanon, even unto the hyffop that springeth out "of the wall: he spake alfo of beasts, and of fowl, "and of creeping things, and of fishes.” 1 Kings, chap. iv. ver. 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 should "fear before him." Ecclefiaftes, chap. iii. ver. 14. "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: "alfo he hath fet the world in their heart, so that no "man can find out the work that God maketh from "the beginning to the end." Ver. 11. "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that "increaseth knowledge, increaseth forrow." Chap.i. ver. 18. "And further, by thefe, my fon, be admonished: of "making many books there is no end: and much "study is a weariness of the flesh." Chap. xii. ver. 12. KNOW. KNOWLEDGE: THE FIRST BOOK. THE ARGUMENT. Solomon, feeking happinefs from knowledge, convenes the learned men of his kingdom; requires them to explain to him the various operations and effects of Nature; difcourfes of vegetables, animals, and man; proposes some questions concerning the origin and fituation of the habitable earth; proceeds to examine the fyftem of the vifible heaven; doubts if there may not be a plurality of worlds; inquires 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 Science, All is Vanity. E Sons of men, with juft regard attend, YE Obferve the Preacher, and believe the Friend, Whofe ferious Mufe infpires him to explain, That all we act, and all we think, is vain; That, in this pilgrimage of feventy years, O'er rocks of perils, and through vales of tears, P 2 5. Deftin'd Deftin'd to march, our doubtful steps we tend, Happiness, object of that waking dream, 10 } 15 20 25 That joy, ftill fought, should never be attain❜d. 30 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, Sublime my court, with Ophir's treasures bleft, My name extended to the fartheft east, 35 My My body cloth'd with every outward grace, Strength in my limbs, and beauty in my face, For 'tis a godlike attribute to know. I faid; and fent my edict through the land: I know not why the beach delights the glade And with a pointed fpear divide the skies: 40 45 50 55 60 Wanting Wanting the fun, why does the caltha fade? 65 70 } 75 80 Why should one earth, one clime, one ftream, one breath, Raise this to ftrength, and ficken that to death? 85 Whence does it happen, that the plant, which well We name the fenfitive, fhould move and feel? Whence know her leaves to answer her command, And with quick horror fly the neighbouring hand? Along the funny bank, or watery mead, Ten thousand ftalks the various bloffoms spread: Peaceful and lowly in their native soil, 90 They neither know to spin, nor care to toil; Yet |