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 CHOHELETH, 
 
 O R 
 
 The Royal Preacher. 

 
 CHOHELETH, 
 
 O R 
 
 The Royal Preacher, 
 
 A 
 
 POEM. 
 
 Moft humbly infcribed to the K I N G. 
 
 LONDON, 
 Printed for the A U T H O R, 
 
 And fold by W. Johnston, in Liulgate Sireet. 
 MDCCLXVIII.
 
 i ' ) S^i I 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 WHAT firil: induced me to attempt the prefent Work, 
 was the fight of a Poem, which accidentally fell into 
 my hands, publiflied in the year 1691, with this 
 title, TheDefignofpartoftbcBo'jkofEcckJiaJies, or, TheUn- 
 reafonablenefs of Mens rejlkfs Contentions for prefent Enjoyments. 
 The anonymous Author, whoever he was, appears to have been 
 a man of learning and piety ; but as to Poetry, it was none of 
 his talent, as he truly obfervcs himfelfj and, indeed, the 
 Ipecimen he has given us, .is fo very indifferent, that, were it 
 our defign to make the Reader fmile, we might quote a great 
 number of paffages. Moreover, though he feems to have taken 
 the original plan for his guide, fo far as he goes, yet the 
 method he has purfucd, is far from judicious, and many of hie 
 cxcurfions, not only exceeding tedious, but Ibme quite foreign 
 to the fubjedl; having fo managed the matter, as to have fpun 
 out a fourth part of this book, (that is, the three firfl chapters, 
 which is all he undertakes to verfify,) to a much greater length 
 than we have done tlie entire piece : Nor is it eafy to conceive, 
 why he fliould entitle his Poem the defign of ^art of Eccle- 
 fiaftes, when the fame defign fo evidently runs through the 
 whole Book. This Gentleman, at the clofe of a long intro- 
 trodudlory Preface, exprefi'es his regret at having fettered him- 
 felf with Rhyme; and, indeed, it mufi: be owned, that Poetry, 
 which has nothing elfe to recommend it, but a mere jingle of 
 
 a 2 ~ words. 
 
 8331.57
 
 11 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 words, and this, for the moft part, extremely har(h and difTo- 
 nant, is but a dull entertainment. In this particular we have 
 followed his advice, and, at the fame time, mufl do him the 
 juftice to acknowledge, that there are about fix or eight lines 
 Ipirited enough, which we have made fome ule of, as alfo of 
 two or three of his notes, which are the moft valuable part of 
 the work, to clear up fome obfcurities in the text. 
 
 A'-, the principal defign I had in view, was, to give ajufl 
 idea of this venerable monument of antiquity, whofe exquifite 
 beauties and admirable conftru6lure are fo little underftood or 
 obferved by curfoiy readers, and, at the fame time, to fet the 
 whole piece in the moft agreeable light I could, without devi- 
 ating from its original plan, I was tempted to read over again 
 Prior's Solomon, which I had not looked into, fince I was capable 
 of forming any judgment of fuch kind of performances. This 
 admired Poem is thus prefaced : ** The noble images and re- 
 " fledlions, the profound reafonings upon human adions, and ex- 
 ♦' cellent maxims for the government of life, which are found in 
 " xhc Proverbs, Ecclefiajles, and other Books, comraovAy 2i\.inh\x\Qd 
 " to Solomon, aiford fubjedls for finer Poems than have, I think, 
 " yet appeared in Greek or Latin, or any modern language, — 
 " Out of this great treafure, which lies heaped up together in a 
 " confufed magnificence, I had a mind to coUedt and digeft fuch 
 " obfervations and apothegms as might naturally tend to the 
 " proof of that great aflertion laid down in the beginning oiEccle-' 
 **fiqfles, All is vanity — But as precepts, however true in them- 
 " felves, or ufeful in pradlice, would be but dry afid tedious in 
 " verfe, efpecially if the recital be long, I found it neceflary to 
 " form fome Story, and give a kind of body to the Poem." 
 
 I muft confefs, I was not a little furprized at fuch an introduc- 
 tion. Every one, but moderately acquainted with the facred vo- 
 lumes, well knows, that there are but three Books now extant, 
 attributed to Solomon, viz. The Canticles^ or. Song of Songs, 
 
 generally
 
 PREFACE. iii 
 
 generally fuppofed to have been written by him in his youth ; 
 the Book of Proverbs, in his riper agej and Ecclefiajies, in the 
 decline of life. As to the firft, which is of the paftoral kind, 
 though to be underftood in a fpiritual fenfe, notwithftanding the 
 attempts of fome late Writers to prove the contrary, it is, with- 
 out all difpute, a mofl: regular and perfect compofition, far ex- 
 ceeding any thing of the fame nature among the antients, and 
 from whence, it has been conjeftured, with the higheft proba- 
 bility, that Theocritus borrowed fome of the fineft paffages in 
 his Idylliums, which he might eafily do, by help of the Greek 
 Veriion publifhed at Alexandria. But nothing, as I apprehend, 
 can be extrafted from this piece, that has any relation to Prior's 
 fubjedt. The fecond Book, indeed, contains many independent 
 apothegms concerning life and manners, from fome of which, 
 mofl: excellent hints, pcHtical, moral, and divine, might have 
 been drawn, and gracefully enough interfperfed in the body of 
 his Poem, though little conducing to the main fubjeft. With 
 regard to the lafl: Book, which chiefly anfwered his purpofe, it is 
 fo far from deferving the charadler he gives to Solomon's works 
 in general, viz. that of confiifedly magnificent, that nothing was 
 ever built on a more beautiful and regular plan. 
 
 It is ominous, they fay, to ft;umble at the threfhold. How- 
 ever, as I concluded, notwithflianding Prior's falfe fuppofition, 
 that this Book was not a continued and well-connefted difcourfe, 
 that he mufl: unavoidably have made great ufe of it, in a Poem 
 which bears the title oi Solomon, or. The vanity of the World; 
 I perufed the whole piece, in hopes at lead of finding fome new 
 lights ftruck out from fuch copious matter, by one of his fertile 
 genius; but muft confefs, that the beauty of his Poetry made 
 me no amends for the difappointment. He has not only pafled 
 over the mofl: fl:riking paflages, which would have greatly em- 
 belliflied his Poem, even on its prefent plan, but given to others 
 a fenfc fo low and grovelling, and fo widely different from that 
 of the fublime original, as would fcarce be pardoned in the mofl: 
 
 ordinary
 
 IV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ordinary Writer. We fliall produce but one inftance, out of 
 •miny, taken from that noble dcfcription of Old Age in the laft 
 chapter, where Solomon, after having enumerated the various 
 infirmities attending old men, till they drop into the grave, 
 mentions the lafl: fymptom, immediately forerunning death, viz. 
 the total ftagnation of the blood in the heart, under the em- 
 blem of a Pitcher fJjnttered in pieces at the Fountain, This 
 allegorical expreffion is thus turned by Prior, 
 
 • " Unhonour'd from the board, 
 
 " The chryflal Urn, when broken, is thrown by, 
 *' And apter Utenfils their place fupply." 
 
 The plain Englifli of which is, that a Urinal is fubftituted 
 inftead of a drinking Cup. A very odd circumflance, indeed, 
 to be taken notice of, on fo folemn an-occafion as the feparation 
 ©f foul and body. 
 
 We do not intend what we have here faid, as a reflecStion on 
 that juftly admired Writer's poetical talents, but only to exprefs 
 our regret at his not having followed the model fet him by fo 
 great a Mafter ; and may venture to add, that, had he taken but 
 half as much pains in fludying and copying the beauties of this 
 facred Book, as he has done with thofe of the Claflics, particu- 
 larly his favourite Horace, we fliould probably have had a much 
 finer Poem, beyond all comparifon, than we have at prefent : 
 For as to the reafon he has given for fo ftrangely indulging the 
 flights of his own imagination, judicious readers, J believe, will 
 be as much furprized, and as little fatisfied, as Monfieur Le 
 Blanc feems to have been, in his criticifm on our Englilh Poets, 
 at Solomon's being made to expatiate fadargely on the glories of 
 Great Britain, and the wonderful fuccefs of our arms in Flan- 
 ders under Queen Anne, The ftory, which our Poet has form- 
 ed, was, no doubt, intended to enliven his piece, which, he 
 thinks, would have appeared too dry ai>d tedious, 5s it came 
 from the infpired Author's hand ; but few, as I apprehend, who 
 
 examine
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 examine it with due attention, will agree with him in this par- 
 ticular. For, to fay nothing of the narrative part, wherein the 
 Preacher gives fo affedling a detail of the various methods he 
 purfued to fpend his days in the moft pleafing manner, and how 
 little they anfwered his expeftations; what reader of tafle could 
 have been tired with the gravity of the precepts, confidering 
 the uncommon ftrain in which they are delivered, the amazing 
 variety of fubjefts treated of, in fo narrow a compafs, the rapid 
 £uid almoft imperceptible tranfition from one thing to another, 
 and yet the exqulfite fy mmetry and coherence of every part, the 
 whole illuftrated and enlivened with the apteft fimiles, moft fig- 
 nificant allufions, loftinefs of ftyle, and dignity of fentiment ? 
 
 With regard to the admired performance above fpoken of, 
 
 this may be faid of it in general, without depreciating its merit, 
 
 • that we fee too much of Prior in it, and too little of Solomon. 
 
 The lines, it is true, are, for the moft part, both harmonious 
 
 and fentimental; but as to the body he has given to his Poem, 
 
 although it is dreffed up very handfomely, yet ftill it wants one 
 
 of the principal graces that diftlnguifhes the original from all 
 
 other compofitions of the fame nature, of which we (hall pre- 
 
 fently take notice ; and, in Hiort, though it breaths fo much cf 
 
 the fpirit of Poetry, it feems to have but little of that foul in it 
 
 which animated the Royal Preacher. Mowever, before we take 
 
 . our leave of this celebrated Writer, it may be prudent juft to 
 
 , intimate, left we fliould be charged witli plagiarifm, efpecially 
 
 from one, on whom we have taken the liberty of criticizing, 
 
 that we have made fome ufe of about three or four of his lines. 
 
 As I knew of no others, who have attempted any thing of 
 this kind, either in our own or any other language, I judged it 
 ■ the beft and fhorteft courfe to recur to the fountain-head, that 
 is, to the Original Hebrew. This I did with great application, 
 confulting, at the fame time, both antient and modern Verfions, 
 with the moft judicious Commentators I could conveniently meet 
 
 with J
 
 V'i P R E F A C E. 
 
 V. lih ; all \vhich alTiftances are little enough towards coming at 
 the genuine lenle of a Book, confefled to be the moft difficult and 
 ohlcure of the metrical parts of Scripture, if not of all the Sacred 
 Writings. When, by thefe helps, I had made myfelf, as I ap- 
 prehended, a tolerable mafter of the fubjedl, I fet about the 
 work, which, after all, proved a far more laborious tallc thaa 
 I at firll: imagined, not only from the phrafeology peculiar 
 to this Book, which, in many places, is dark enough in itfelf, 
 and rendered fWl darker from the prodigious variety of arbitrary 
 interpretations, but fometimes alio from the difficulty of finding 
 out the true connexion of the feveral parts, which, on a curfory 
 view, feem to have no dependence on each other. It ought 
 likewife to be noted, that the injudicious divifion of the chap- 
 ters and verfes, which appears in almoft all the modern editions 
 and tranflations of the Bible, very often embarrafles the fenfe, 
 and adds not a little to its obfcurity, efpecially in the Book novy 
 before us. 
 
 Thofe, who are apt to judge of the facility of a Work from 
 its rtiortnefs, will fcarce believe what pains the prefent under- 
 taking cofi: me ; and, indeed, had I forefeen the whole fatigue, 
 it is probable, I fhould have been difcouraged from attempting 
 it. But as, in the continued refearches I made, fo many new 
 beauties occurred, which I had no idea of before, the very fa- 
 tigue gave me pleafure ; and this encouraged me to proceed, 
 'till the taik was accompliflied. Not that I am fo vain as to 
 flatter myfelf, that I may not have been fometimes miftaken in 
 the explanation of a Book, wherein fo many paflages occur, 
 which have perplexed men of much greater learning and faga- 
 city than I can pretend to. This, however, I may venture to fay, 
 that, as I have fpared no pains to come at the genuine fenfe' and 
 fcope of the Original, fo have I not paiTed over a fingle paflage 
 in the whole piece, (as the anonymous Author, firft mentioned, 
 has frequently done, in the fpecimen he has given us of only a 
 part,} nor Lnferted any thing of my own, but what feemed natu- 
 rally
 
 PREFACE, vii 
 
 rally to arlfe from the fubjeft : in which refpedt I have been io 
 fcrupulous as to have marked every verfe in the margin, agree- 
 able to the divlfion in our common Englifli Tranllation ; that 
 the reader, fliould his curiofity lead him Co far, may, with the 
 greater eafe, compare this Effay with the Text. 
 
 Having premifed thus much, it may not be impertinent to fay 
 fomething of the Royal Author, and his motive for writing thi.s 
 inimitable Piece, with a brief account fubjoined of its exquifite 
 ftrucSure and ufeful tendency. 
 
 As the hiftory of Solomon is fo well known, we fhall only 
 touch on one particular, which, we are perfuaded, will appear 
 in the fame extraordinary light to the generality of our readers, 
 as it does to us. Certain foreign Divines, judging of the Al- 
 mighty from their own four and gloomy difpofitions, have not 
 only miftaken the defign of Ecckfiajles, but are filled v/ith fuch 
 indignation at the Author, as even to call his falvation in queflion. 
 It appears, fay they, from facred hiftory, that, notwithflanding 
 he had been twice favoured with divine illuminations in fo 
 ftupendous a manner, he moft fliamefully apoftatized, and this 
 almofl: at the clofe of life, when he ought to have had the moft 
 ferious refledions ; that, befides his other enormous exceifes, 
 the crime he committed, was in contempt of the true Religion, 
 by erefting public monuments of Impiety, to the infinite fcan- 
 dal of good men, and the perdition of fuch as followed his ex- 
 ample; that there is no inftance on record of his having ever 
 repented ; but, on the contrary, that it may be inferred, from 
 the divifion of the Kingdom, which happened foon after his 
 deceafe, that God did not pardon his offence. 
 
 It mufl: be acknowledged, indeed, . that the apoftacy of this 
 great Prince was attended with very aggravating circumfi:ances, 
 and brought down moft grievous calamities both on his Family 
 and Kingdom. Yet this inftance, glaring as it is, gives no maa 
 a right to pry into the fecret judgments of Heaven, and much 
 
 b left
 
 Vlll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 iels to pafs fentence, In a matter which does not fall under human 
 cognizance. There is fufficient reafon to believe, that Solomon 
 had a jurt: fenfe of his errors, and heartily repented his pad 
 follies : nor can there, I think, be a ftronger proof of this, than 
 the Book now before us, which appears, from a variety of ftrik- 
 ing circumflances, applicable to none but him, to have been 
 written in his old age, and wherein he lays open, in the moll 
 pathetic terms, the fource both of his crimes and misfortunes. 
 For what can that expreffion mean, of his ha'-cing found Woman 
 7nore hitter than Death, to whofe allurements his apoftacy was 
 undoubtedly owing, but the moft pungent forrow for his own 
 wilful blindnefs r Moreover, it is well worthy of remark, that, 
 after having begun his Poem witli this folemn exclamation, 
 O vanity of 'vanities! (for fo the words ought to be turned,) 
 when he fpeaks of himfelf, he never mentions, either here, or 
 on any other occafion, the name of Solomon, once io glorious, 
 and dear to his people, but only afTumes that of tlie Preacher. 
 And, what is flill more obfervable, when he has laid down his 
 general propofition, of the vanity of all things under the Sun, in 
 order to give the greater weight to his difcourfe, we are inform- 
 ed that this fame Preacher, who now makes fo little account of 
 the grandeur and pleafures of the world, was King of Ifrael, 
 though he then adlually fat on the Throne. 
 
 A modern Critic, indeed, has inferred, from this expreffion, 
 that we are to look on the whole difcourfe as a Sermon preach- 
 ed by Solomon, long after his deceafe, or, in other words, 
 publiflied for the people's inftrudtion, many years after he was 
 laid in his grave. The foul of that Prince, now in its feparate 
 ftate, is here preaching to the world, which, the very title of 
 the Book, as well as that expreffion fo frequently repeated, 
 under the Sun, plainly import, as this Gentleman fuppofes. 
 It is obfervable, fays he, that Solomon fpeaks of himfelf, as one 
 who formerly exifled, and reigned in Jerufalem. The very ex- 
 preffion, / the Preacher was King, cannot, with any propriety, 
 
 be
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IX 
 
 be underilood of one flill living. But how much foever this 
 Criticifm may weigh with fome, we muft beg leave to diffent 
 from it, as we think, a far more natural interpretation may be 
 drawn from the prefent expreffion. Solomon had, no doubt, 
 once reigned as became a King, but now, being confcious of the 
 abufe of his Royal Dignity, and alliamed of the fcandal his 
 exceffes had occafioned, would intimate, by thefe words, that 
 he had rendered himfelf unworthy of that title, as, without all 
 dilpute, every King does, whofe fubje6ls are perverted to vice 
 and impiety by his evil example. The only atonement he could 
 now make, was to point out the rock on which he had Iplit, 
 to the end that future Princes might take warning by his exam- 
 pie. He, therefore, thought it a duty incumbent on him, to 
 make his Repentance as public as his crimes, and to leave an 
 eternal monument to pofterity, that the wifeft of men, when 
 left to their own condudt, are liable to the greateft failings ; 
 that a contempt of Religion, efpecially when Princes fet the 
 example, always introduces a general corruption of manners, 
 and that thofe in the moft exalted ftations, no lefs than thofe in 
 the meaneft, have occafions enough to be reminded of their 
 duty; in a word, that the welfare or ruin of a Nation depends, 
 in great meafure, on the virtuous or vicious deportment of thofe 
 who hold the reins of government. When this difcourfe, 
 which is both moral and philofophical, is feen in this light, it 
 may well be faid.with the learned Critic abovementioned, though 
 not in the fenfe he feems to underftand the words, that Solomon, 
 being dead, yet fpeaketb. 
 
 Not to perplex our readers with the various expofitions of the 
 word, Choheleth, the title of this Book in the Original; (for, in 
 truth, we can find none better nor more figniiicant than that 
 commonly received, viz. Ecclejiajles, or, the P7-cacher,) let us 
 now come to the merits of the Book itfelf. Nothing can be mors 
 xnterefting than the fubjedt it treats of, to wit>. the chief, ovfo've- 
 reign Good, which Man, as a rational and accountable Being, 
 
 b 2 fliould
 
 X P R K F A C E. 
 
 fliould here propofe to himfelf. Every human creature, it Is 
 certain, naturally aims at Happinefs ; but though all apply 
 thcmfelves with equal ardor to this defireable end, yet luch is 
 the violence of paflion, and want of reflexion in the generality 
 of mankind, that the means they ule for obtaining it, inftead of 
 condudlingto the fafe and direft road, only ferve to miflead and 
 bewilder them in dark and intricate labyrinths, where it is im- 
 poffible to find what they feek for. Now as it was~abfolutely 
 necelfary to convince fuch men of the vanity of their purfuits, in 
 order to induce them to turn back into the right way, Solomon 
 lliews, in the firft place, what is not Happinefs, and then what 
 it really is. Like a ikilful Phyfician, he fearches deeply into 
 the latent caufe of the malady, and then prefcribes a radical 
 cure. 
 
 In the former difqulfition, he enumerates all thofe particulars 
 which mankind are moft apt to fix their hearts upon, and fliews, 
 from his own dear-bought experience, and the tranfient and un- 
 fatisfadory nature of the things themfelves, that no fuch thing 
 as folid Felicity is to be found in any of them. What he afferts 
 on this head, carries with it the greater weight, as no man upon 
 earth was ever better qualified to ipeak decifively on fuch a fub- 
 jeft, confidering the opportunities he had of enjoying to the ut- 
 moft, all that this world affords. After having thus cleared 
 away the obrtacles to Happinefs, he enters on the main point, 
 which is to diredl us, how and where it may be found. This, 
 he affirms, at the conclufion of the Book, where he recapitulates 
 the fum and fubftance of the whole Sermon, as fome not im- 
 properly have ftyled it, confilb in a religious and virtuous life, 
 with which, as he frequently intimates, a man, in the lowefl 
 circumftances, may be happy, and without which, one in the 
 higheft muft be miferable. As the whole Book tends to this 
 fingle point, fo in difcuffing thereof, many excellent obferva- 
 tions are Interfperfed, relating to the various duties of life, from 
 the highefl: to the lowefl: ftation, the advantages refulting even 
 
 from
 
 PREFACE. xi 
 
 from Poverty, the genuine ufe of Riches, and extreme folly of 
 abuiing them, the unequal difpenfations of divine Providence, 
 the immortality o£ the human foul, and great day of final Retri- 
 bution. All thelc noble and important fubjefts are treated of, 
 in fuch a ftyle and manner, as nothing among the Antients can 
 parallel. 
 
 We have here given the genuine charadler of this ineflima- 
 ble piece. Yet fuch has been the ignorance, inattention, or 
 depravity of fome perfons, that it would be hard to find an in- 
 - fiance of any thing written on fo ferious and intere'fting a fub- 
 je(ft, which has been fo grofsly mifreprefented. How often has 
 an handle been taken from certain pafi"ages, ill underftood and 
 worfe applied, to patronize Libertinifm, by fuch as pretend to 
 judge of the whole from a fingle fentence, independent of the 
 reft, without paying the leaft regard to the general fcope and 
 defign ? According to which rule, the moft pious difcourfe that 
 ever was written, may be perverted to Atheifm, and the great 
 Apoftle of the Gentiles himfelf produced as an advocate for riot 
 and debauchery : Let lis eat and drink, for to-morrow loe die. 
 It has been well obferved by a Commentator on this Book, with 
 refpedl to thefe perverted paflages, that the piiflure therein 
 drawn by the Preacher, purely to expofe vice and folly, is mif- 
 taken by fuch as willingly deceive themfelves, for the genuine 
 features and complexion of Wifdom itfelf 
 
 Some Fanatics have fallen into the contrary extreme ; for, on 
 reading that all here below was vanity, they have been fo 
 wrong-headed, as to condemn every thing as evil in itfelf. 
 This world, according to them, cannot be too bitterly inveighed 
 againft, and Man has nothing elfe to do in it, but to fpend his 
 days in fighing and mourning. But it is evident that nothing 
 could be farther from the Preacher's intention : for notwith- 
 flanding he fpeaks fo feelingly of the inftability and unfatis- 
 fad:ory nature of all fublunary things, and the vanity of human 
 cares, fchemes, and contrivances, yet, left any one ftiould mif- 
 
 take
 
 xu 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 lake his meaning, he advifes every man, at the fame time, to 
 reap the fnait of his honefl: labours, and take the comfort of 
 what he poffefTes, with a fober freedom and cheerful fpirit, not 
 to harrafs and difturb his mind with anxious cares and reftlefs 
 Ibllicitudcs about future events, but to pafs the fhort fpace which 
 Heaven has allotted him here, as pleafantly as his flation will 
 admit, with a quiet confcience. He does not condemn the 
 things themfelves, fuch as Science, Prudence, Mirth, Riches, 
 Honours, &c. but only their abufe, that is, the ufelefs ftudies, 
 unreafonable purfuits, and immoderate delires of thofe who 
 pervert God's bleflings to their own deflrudtion. 
 
 On this head Solomon gives his fentiments, not only as a 
 Divine and Philofopher, but tike one thoroughly acquainted 
 with the foibles of the human heart. It was not his defign to 
 drive people out of the world, nor to make them live wretch- 
 edly in it, but only that they fhould think and ad like rational 
 creatures, or, in other words, be induced to confult their own 
 happinefs. This, without difpute, is what we are to undcr- 
 fland on our being exhorted to Jiy f?-om, or hate the ivorld; for 
 what can this expreflion mean, either in the Scripture ftyle, or, 
 indeed, in the ftylc of common fenfe, but that we fliould keep 
 our paflions within due reftraint, and not exped from the world 
 more than it can poffibly afford us ? As it was made for man's 
 ufe, fo it cannot be enjoyed without chearfulnefs, which, we are 
 told, is fo far from being inconfiftent with Piety, that it is the 
 natural confequence of it. This point, a miftake in which 
 would be extremely pernicious, if not deftrudlive to Society, is 
 frequently touched on, infomuch, that when he is difcourfing 
 on the moft ferious and alarming topics, fuch as Death and a 
 future Judgment, he forgets not to remind us, at the fame time, 
 that Religion does not confift in gloominefs and melancholy, 
 nor require any one to deprive himfelf of the common recrea- 
 tions of life. Among the many remarkable inftances of this 
 kind, nothing can be more ilriking than that beautiful paffage 
 
 in
 
 P R E F A C E. 
 
 xiu 
 
 in the ninth chapter, where, after having moft emphatically 
 defcribed the land of darknefs, where all things are forgotten, in 
 order to remove the doleful impreffion which fo fad a fubjedl 
 muft naturally raife, he breaks out, all on a fudden, into fuch a 
 ftrain of gayety, as can fcarce efcape the moil curfory reader's 
 obiervation. 
 
 From every one of thefe paffages, particularly the laft, it ap- 
 pears, that, though Solomon looked on human life as a fcene of 
 vanity at beft, yet Ml he thought, that a well-difpofed mind 
 might fupport its burdens, not only with eafe but comfort, and 
 therefore fo frequently points out the Angular advantages which 
 refult even here, from a pious, fober, and regular deportment, 
 and how we may acquire that inward peace and tranquillity, 
 which alone can render life defirable, and make us have a true 
 relifh of its enjoyments. There are, without doubt, calamities 
 enough in the world to wean us from an over fondnefs to it, in- 
 fomuch, that no wife man would chufe to flay always in it; yet 
 ftill it has a fufficient ftore of bleffings to enable us to pafs throuo-h 
 it with tolerable cheerfulnefs, would we learn to make a proper 
 ufe of them. This great ConnoilTeur of human nature would 
 not have us to be always laughing, with Democritus, nor ahvays 
 weeping, with Heraclitus ; but as, on fome occafions, to be \'ery 
 ferious, fo, on others, to indulge focial Mirth with more than 
 Ordinary freedom, provided we keep within the bounds of rea- 
 fon and moderation. This, as we before hinted, is the pecu- 
 liar charaderiftic of the book of Ecclefiaftes, whereby it is dif- 
 tinguifhed from all other moral difcourfes ; and this, it muft be 
 granted, is a far more effedtual method of promoting Re]io;ion, 
 than drawing fo hideous and fliocking a pidure of it, as fome 
 have done. 
 
 There is nothing in the whole body of Pagan Philofophy fo 
 elevated and magnificent, as what fome have written on the 
 important fubjedl of this Poem ; but we find their opinions fo 
 varigus and contradidory, and the moft plaufible fo blended 
 
 with
 
 xiv PREFACE. 
 
 witli errors, (even thofe of the Divine Plato not excepted,) that 
 their fublimeft fentiments on the Sovereign Good, or uhimate 
 happincfs of Man, when compared with thofe of the Royal 
 Preacher, not only appear cold and languid, but always leave 
 the mind unfatisficd and reftlefs. We are loft in a pompous 
 flow of words, and dazzled, but not illuminated. One Seft, 
 by confining Happinefs to fenfual pleafures, fo greatly flackened 
 the Cord, as to render it wholly ufelefs : Another, by their too 
 auflere and rigid maxims, ftretched it fo tight, that it fnapt 
 afunderi tho' the experience of all ages has evinced, that thefe 
 latter impofed both on themfelves and the world, when they 
 taught, that Virtue, however afflidled here, was its own reward, 
 and fufiicient, of itfelf, to render a man completely happy, even 
 in the brazen Bull of Perillus. Truth will cry out from the 
 Rack, againft fuch fallacious Teachers, and prove them Lyars. 
 The extravagant figments, therefore, of the Stoical Apathy, no 
 lefs than thofe of the voluptuous Epicurean, both equally vanifli 
 at the fplendor of the divine Truths delivered by Solomon. He 
 alone decides the great queftion, in fuch a manner, that the foul 
 is inftantly convinced, it need feek no farther. For, after all 
 that can be faid by Divines and Moralifts on the fubjed, it 
 amounts to no more than this, that, fince the purfuit of Plea- 
 fure is implanted in our Nature, the main point is to feek it 
 in the right channel, and' not to be fo far blinded with preju- 
 dice and paffion, as to miftake its empty (hadow for the folid 
 fubftance ; in a word, that, fo long as we live in this world, 
 we fhould endeavour to make the road as fmooth and pleafant 
 as we can, and yet never to forget, that it is but a paflage to 
 another. 
 
 To prevent all mifapprehenfions, which a flight and curfory 
 reading of this Book is apt to raife in many perfons, it will be 
 requifite to obferve two cautions, to wit, that Solomon, who 
 tells us, that he applied his heart, not only to the fearch of 
 Wifdom and Knowledge, but alfo of Folly and Madnefs, fre- 
 quently
 
 PREFACE. XV 
 
 quently fpeaks, not according to his own fentiments, though 
 he propofes the thing in a naked and fimple manner, defignedly 
 making ufe of fuch terms as might fet the picflure in a fuller and 
 clearer light; fo that we often meet with certain expreffions, 
 which, unlefs we fearch into their true defign, feem to have a 
 quite different force and meaning from what the Author really 
 intended. We muft, therefore, take particular care to dillin- 
 guifh the doubts and obje<5lions of others, from Solomon's an- 
 fwers; the want of attending to which, has made this Book 
 much more obfcure than other wife it would appear. Secondly, 
 we iLould not judge of the entire difcourfe from fome parts of 
 it, fince many things are pertinently faid, according to the pre- 
 fent fubjedt, which, in themfelves, and ftrid:ly taken, are far 
 from true. In order to come at the genuine fenfe, we fhould 
 form our opinion from the different circumftances of the matter 
 treated of, comparing the antecedent with the confequent 
 paffages, and always confidering the Preacher's real fcope and 
 defign. By carefully attending to thefe two cautions, this Book 
 will be feen in a very different light from what it now appears 
 in, to the generality of Readers. 
 
 Yet, although the rules here prefcribed, are allowed to be 
 not only reafonable, but abfolutely neceffary, in judging of all 
 other pieces, whether antient or modern ; yet fuch has been 
 the fate of this noble iyflem of Ethics and Divinity, and, indeed, 
 of the Holy Scripture in general, that, as no wriiings have 
 been fo feverely criticized, fo none have been treated with fo 
 little candor and ingenuity. Some there are, of no fmall re- 
 pute in the Learned World, who could perceive nothing in 
 them worthy of their notice, much lefs of their admiration. 
 With what difdain do they pafs over an infinite number of ex- 
 preffions, which, had the fame appeared in a Pagan Author, 
 would have made them burft out into raptures ! Among thefe 
 wretched Critics, we fhall fingle out the famous Angelas Poli- 
 
 c tianus.
 
 XVI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 tianusj no lefs diftinguillied for the purity of his Latin Style, 
 than the impurity of his Morals, who, though he bore the 
 name of a Chriftian, held the Bible in the utmoll contempt, on 
 account of the fimplicity, or, as he is pleafed to term it, the 
 barbarity of its didlion. This man, it feems, valued no Book, 
 however important the fubjeft, but for the harmonious cadence 
 oi its periods : Confequentiy, as he had never read any thing of 
 the Scripture, except in the Roman Verfion, commonly called 
 the Vulgate, which is far from exadt or elegant, and, in 
 fbme places, fcarce intelligible, it is not much to be wondered 
 at, that one of his depraved turn of mind fhould be extremely 
 dilgufted with it. Though even in this Verlion, (for whofe 
 uncouthncfs the Original, however, is not at all accountable,) 
 he ntight have difcovered matter enough for the higheft ad- 
 miration, had he attended more to the fenfe than the found, 
 and his heart had any relifti for the divine truths therein con^ 
 tained. 
 
 Rut as this may be thought a digreflion from the prefent fub- 
 jedl, let us confine our remarks to Ecclefiaftes. This Book, 
 befidcs the figurative and proverbial expreffions, to be found in 
 no other part of Scripture, is undoubtedly metrical, and confe- 
 quentiy, the grammatication, in many places, not a little per- 
 plexed, from the frequent ellipfes, abbreviations, tranipofition of 
 words, and other poetic licences, allowed in all languages, to 
 fay nothing of the careleflhefs or ignorance of Tranfcribers, as 
 appears from the variety of readings. Yet, notwithftanding 
 we are fo little acquainted with the nature of the Hebrew 
 Metre, and the propriety of certain words and phrafes, which, 
 at this vaft diilance of time, in a language that has been dead 
 upwards of two thoufand years, muft unavoidably occafion the 
 fame difficulties and obfcurities as occur in works of far leis 
 antiquity, and in languages more generally ftudied and better 
 underftood; notwithftanding this, I fay, a diligent and attentive 
 
 examiner
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 :xvii 
 
 examiner will always find enough to recompence his trouble, 
 and, if he has any tafte, cannot avoid being flruck with the ex- 
 quiiite beauties and regularity of the plan. For although, as 
 we before obferved, fome have, looked on part of this Book at 
 leaft, like that of Proverbs, as fo many independent fentences, 
 and therefore have only attempted, like mere Grammarians or 
 Lexicographers, to explain each verfe feparately, or rather, to 
 give us the literal meaning of each particular word in it, yet 
 others, of far more extenfive views, have difcovered, that a 
 certain chain of reafoning runs through the whole piece, and 
 that the feveral parts are linked together with fo mafterly an 
 hand, fuch exaft fymmetry and delicate proportions, that the 
 vlery order and method, which fome men, of more learning 
 tnan fagacity, have chiefly objedled to, are, in reality, its 
 principal recommendations, even looking on the performance 
 in no other light than as a mere human compofition. For as 
 to what the minute Critics above mentioned have furmifed, to 
 wit, that many verfes inferted in this Book, have no vifible con- 
 ne(flion with the fubjed:, and, therefore, may be prefumed to 
 have been added to it, by the perfons employed by King Heze- 
 kiah to colleft the wife Sayings of Solomon, purely to preferve 
 them from being loft ; it may be anfwered, that thefe Sayings, 
 fuppofing them to have no relation to the fubjedl, might have 
 been full as well preferved, and would have ftood with a much 
 better grace, in a mifcellany wholly confifting of a variety of inde- 
 pendent matters, than in a Book which is allowed, on all hands, 
 to confift, for the moft part, of one well conne6ted difcourfe. 
 
 The moll judicious Commentators have remarked on this 
 Book, that we have here a confpicuous example of that form 
 of difputing, which was fo juftly admired in the foundeft of the 
 Pagan Philofophers, particularly in Socrates, who, whilft others 
 were taken up with abftrufe fpeculations about the nature of 
 things, and inveftigating the number, motions, diftance, and 
 
 c 2 magnitude
 
 XVlll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 magnitude of the Stars, brought down Philofophy from the 
 upper regions, and fixed its abode on earth ; that is, by teach- 
 ing fuch precepts as ferved for the regulation of life and man- 
 ners, by far the ufefullefl: of all Sciences, as being mofl: condu- 
 cive to the welfare of Society, and the general benefit of man- 
 kind. Of this we have a noble fpecimen in the Ai'-nnoirs of 
 that antient Moralift coUetted by Xenophon. It is, I ihink, 
 beyond all contradiction, that no one ever made deeper re- 
 fearches into Nature, or had made fo great a pr;igrefs in every 
 br=inch of Science, both fpeculative and experimental, as our 
 Royal Philofopher. But what, after all, was the refult of his 
 enquiries ? A thorough conviftion of the inutility of fuch 
 fludies, and how little they conduce towards the obtaining that 
 peace and tranquillity of mind, wherein true Happinefs confiils. 
 lie app'ied himfelf, therefore, to that ftudy which might pro- 
 duce a ical and lafting advantage, namely, to render men wife 
 to fome purpofe, that is, truly virtuous. The manner of his 
 treating this important fubjed:, bears fome relemblance to that 
 of the celebrated Greek Moralift. He does not give us a long 
 roll of dry formal precepts, with which the mind is foon tired; 
 but, to confirm the truth of every thing he fays, appeals not 
 only to his own experience, but the general {enCe of unbiafTed 
 Realon : At the fame time, he fets before us, in the liveliefl: 
 colours, the fad etFedls of Vice and Folly, and makes ufe of 
 every incentive to engage the heart to be enamoured with Vir- 
 tue, and purfue its own intereft. Whatever he intends to in- 
 culcate, is firlf barely propofed, and then more accurately ex- 
 plained and illuftrated, though by gentle and almofl impercep- 
 tible tranfitions ; with this peculiarity, that there is always much 
 more implied than exprefied; infomuch that the reader, from si 
 flight hint given him, is left to draw fuch inferences as his own 
 reflexion muft naturally fuggeft. Every thing, in {hort, is drawn 
 in this admirable compofition, with equal fimpHcity and ele- 
 gance, and hath as diftinguifhed a fuperiority to whatever the 
 
 beft
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 XIX 
 
 beft Pagan Philofophers have given us on the fame fubjeft, as 
 the borrowed light of the Moon is furpafled by that of the Sun 
 in his full meridian luftre ; or, to ufe a ftill ftronger comparifon, 
 as Solomon's knowledge of the one true God, excelled the idle 
 notion of their fidlious Deities. 
 
 To point out every beautiful pafTage, would fvvell the Preface 
 to an immoderate length, which fome may think too prolix 
 already : And this, indeed, may feem the lefs necefTary, as we 
 have, in fome meafure, endeavoured to do it, in the Notes 
 fubjoined to the Text, which are not inferted, to make a ufelefs 
 parade of Learning, or to perplex the reader with grammatical 
 niceties and verbal criticifms, which, as we apprehend, would be 
 of Uttle benefit or edification to thofe for whom the prefent work 
 is chiefly intended ; but merely to explain fuch dark pafTages as 
 have hitherto greatly embarrafled the fenfe, and fet others in a 
 clearer light ; to account for our having fo widely deviated, in 
 certain places, from the generally received interpretation, and 
 more eipecially, to fhew, how exadtly the rule laid down by 
 Horace, is obferved through the whole piece, 
 
 ^alis ab incepto procejferit, et fibi cotijiet. 
 
 Finally, that the ftyle and fentiments always rife in proportion 
 to the dignity and importance of the fubjed:. 
 
 The truth of this latter remark is more particularly obferva- 
 ble towards the clofe of the Poem, where the deepeft imprefii- 
 ons ought to be made. We have, therefore, dwelt fomewhat 
 more minutely in our remarks on the two lafl: chapters, efpe- 
 cially the firft fix verfes of the twelfth ; the aenigmatical ftyle of 
 which moil required it ; and belieVe, it will be allowed, by real 
 ConnoifTeurs, that fo ftriking and natural a pidure of Old Age 
 was never drawn by any of the Greek or Latin Poets This 
 may with juftice be affirmed of the defcription in general, that 
 what is comprized in thefe fix ihort verfes, far exceeds, both 
 
 for
 
 XX 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 for %le and matter, whatever is to be met with in the mofl 
 voluminous Authors on the fame fubjca. We muft, however, 
 ingenuoufly confefs, that the laft of thefe verfes gave us more 
 embarrafTment than any other in the whole Book ; not fo much 
 from the difficulty of finding out the Preacher's meaning, as 
 how to exprefs it in a proper manner. To have entered into a 
 minute detail of the parts of the body, which the fymbols there 
 made ufe of, were intended to reprefent, tho' it might have 
 done very well in a treatife of Anatomy, would have been in- 
 confiflent with a work of this nature. On the contrary, to 
 have mentioned the bare fymbols, without adding fome kind 
 of explication, would have left the generality of readers in the 
 dark. We have therefore taken a middle courfe, that is, by 
 retaining the original terms, which could not be altered without 
 diminifliing the beauty of the defcription, and at the fame time 
 endeavouring to render them intelligible, in as few words as 
 poflible. For as to the Text itfelf, it is fo asnigmatical, that, 
 were we not apprized before hand, what the words relate to, 
 it would be morally impoffible to find out their meaning. 
 
 Innumerable have been the interpretations of this verfe, and 
 fome extremely impertinent, not to fay, ridiculous. The Ex- 
 pofition we have given, is not only authorized by the beft Com- 
 mentators, but the fubjed itfelf fufficiently evinces, that it mull 
 have been Solomon's meaning; as we find, that, after having 
 enumerated the various diforders botli of body and mind, which 
 are continually making their progrefs, he mentions, laft of all, 
 thofe that drive the foul out of its crazy manfion, that is, fuch as 
 occafion their immediate feparation. And what can thefe be, 
 but fuch as affedl the two nobler parts of our corporeal frame, 
 the Brain and Heart, which are the fprings of fenfe, life, and 
 motion ? How far, indeed, the fymbols exadly agree with the 
 parts reprefented by them, mull: be left to Anatomifts. We 
 lliall only obferve by the way, what others have done before us, 
 
 that.
 
 PREFACE. xxi 
 
 that, in all comparifons and allufions, it is fufficient that there 
 be a general refemblance. We are not to enter into a too nice 
 andminute examen of every circumftance j for, by this rule, the 
 moft admired Similes among the Heathen Poets will appear ex- 
 tremely delicient, which we are far from thinking to be the 
 prefent cafe. 
 
 An objedtion, perhaps, may be flarted, to our having applied 
 the laft claufe in the fixth verfe. Or the Wheel broken at the 
 Cijlern, to the Circulation of the Blood. But if it be granted 
 that thefe emblems allude to the in'ternal and nobler parts of 
 the body, which is now difputed by no man of judgm.ent, it 
 may, I think, be inferred with the highefl probability, both 
 from the expreffion itfelf, (the propriety of which we have 
 fhewn in our note on that paffage,) and from the well-known 
 charadler of the Writer, who was not only the moft magnifi- 
 cent Prince of his age, but the greateft Philofopher who ever 
 exifted, that this muft have been his real meaning. Nor can 
 it feem ftrange, that one of his univerfal knowledge, boundlefs 
 euriofity, and indefatigable refearches into the fecrets of Na- 
 ture, fhould, in the courfe of his ftudies and experiments, have 
 found out, fo many ages ago, what is now looked upon as a 
 modem difcovery. So true is his remark on another occafion, 
 that there is nothing new under the Sun. 
 
 Some, indeed, have thought, that this whole defcription 
 (the fingle explication of which has filled a volume of no in- 
 confiderable bulk) would have been more inftrudive, had fuch 
 terms been made ufe of, as are adapted to the meaneft capa- 
 city. But Solomon, it feems, was of a quite different opinion. 
 The emblematical ftyle was familiar to the oriental nations, 
 and, as we may prefume, intelligible enough to fuch as would 
 take the pains to inveftigate its meaning. Among the Jews in 
 particular, things were purpofely wrapt up in figure and alle- 
 gory, to excite euriofity, and exercife the mind, which feels a 
 
 peculiar
 
 x\n 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 peculiar pleafure in difcovering fecrets. Solomon, no doubt, 
 might have laid, and fo the moft ignorant ruftic might have 
 f.iid, that an old man's intelleds are impaired, his hands fliake, 
 his legs totter under him, his teeth drop out, and eye-fight 
 fails, that he lofes his appetite, and is liable to preternatural 
 obflrudions or evacuations, that he is too deaf to be affefted 
 with the charms of mufic or converfation, grows peevifli and 
 low-fpirited, a burden to himfelf and to every one about him, 
 and at length, when Nature can no longer flruggle under fuch 
 a complication of diforders, the blood begins to ftagnate in his 
 veins, its circulation is flopped, and Death enfues. But fuch 
 ordinary forms of Ipeech would not only have deprived the 
 Poem of one of its principal ornaments, and confequently made 
 far lefs imprefTion, but totally fruflrated the Preacher's defign, 
 in making ufe of fuch expreffions, which was to animate his 
 piece with the finefl flrokes of his inimitable pencil, and at 
 the fame time to fet the reafoning faculty at work. 
 
 We Ihall here beg leave to fubjoin a few words, with refpeft 
 to the Hebrew Poetry in general. Though nothing can be 
 more nervous and expreflive, yet the terms are fo concife, and 
 little tied down to the ordinary rules of Grammar, fo frequent 
 and unexpedled its change both of tenfe and perfon, and fb 
 rapid its tranfitions from one thing to another, that it requires 
 not only great fkill in the language, but a very clofe attention 
 to the fcope of the fubjed:, in order to judge of its flrudlure and 
 coherence. Yet, notwithftanding all its obfcurity, for which 
 the fame allowances are to be made, as in other antient pieces, 
 with refped to the idiom of the tongue, difference of cufloms, 
 and peculiarity of the metre; yet flill it has fomething fo in- 
 trinfically grand and truly fublime in it, as cannot be entirely 
 concealed, even in the baldefl Profe-Tranflation. Witnefs our 
 old Verfion of the Pfalms, with feveral other parts of Scripture, 
 efpecially in the Book of Job, and Prophecy of Ifaiah, which 
 
 he
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 XXlll 
 
 he that can read without being affedled, muft have loft all fenfi- 
 bility. This, I am perfuaded, is more than can be {aid of the 
 moft admired pieces among the Heathen Poets, which, were 
 they literally rendered, and with the fame fcrupulous exadnefs, 
 as thofe few we have ftill extant in the facred records, would 
 appear extremely uncouth, and often contemptible, as the greater 
 part of their beauty confiils in the harmonious arrangement of 
 the words; all which would be loftj and God knows, the 
 fenfe that remains, is of very little value. Let any one, diverted 
 of prejudice and paffion, (and fuch alone are competent judges,) 
 make a verbal tranflation of the fineft Ode in Pindar, or Horace, 
 and, after having compared it with many of the Pfalms of 
 David in our common Englifh Verfion, coolly decide the differ- 
 ence. Certain it is, that, in the latter, the dignity and im- 
 portance of the fubjedl always conduce to mend the heart; 
 whilft the former too often ferve to corrupt it, and are at beft, 
 with few exceptions, but mere Nugce canorce. All the pre- 
 ference, therefore, which the Greek and Latin Poetry may 
 feem to claim over that of the Hebrews, confifts in nothing but 
 the metre, that is, in the diipofition and cadence of the words: 
 Though even in this particular, we may prefume, that the 
 latter, which now founds fo harfh to our ears, is not without 
 its harmony : As to the fentiments, which conftitute the life 
 and foul of Poetry, (for words are only its drefs,) it has the 
 advantage, beyond all comparifon. 
 
 I fliall add but a word more, with regard to the prefent per- 
 formance. Though I never loft fight of the Text, yet am I 
 too confcious, that, as in fome of the moft ftriking pafiages a 
 great deal of their ftrength and elegance muft unavoidably be 
 loft in the beft Trai»flation, fo much more in a Paraphrafe, 
 wherein, like effence poured out of a fmall phial into a large 
 Veflel, it frequently happens, that the fpirit almoft entirely eva- 
 porates. I wifli this may not have been fometimes my own 
 
 d cafe.
 
 XXIV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 cafe, though I have endeavoured to retain as much of the ori- 
 ginal as poflible : And as I have been always more intent on 
 fetting the plan of this noble Work in the cleareft point of view, 
 and difplaying its exqnifite ftrudlure and contrivance, than about 
 the harmony of the Poetry, this may plead fomewhat in my 
 excufe, {hould the lines, in feveral places, be found lefs fmooth 
 and polifhed than they ought to be. 
 
 Though many, I apprehend, may look on this Work as not 
 well calculated to the tafte of the prefent age, yet ftiU there are 
 fome, I flatter myfelf, who may be induced to read it, in the 
 form it now makes its appearance, who perhaps would not take 
 the trouble of reading it in any other. The very novelty of the 
 performance may be fome kind of allurement, and poflibly give 
 fome pleafure, at the fame time that it raifes ferious refleclions. 
 In fhort, after all that can be faid in favour of our vain amufe- 
 ments, it mud be owned by every one, who has a right notion 
 of Happinefs, that peace and tranquillity of mind, which this 
 world can never give, are the greatert of all pleafures, and confe- 
 quently, none fo fweet and lafting as thofe which make us 
 ferious. For my own part, I have nut fo ill an opinion of the 
 times, as to fufpeft that this Work, with all its defeds, will be 
 rejefted, merely on account of its ferioufnefs, in cafe I have been 
 fo fortunate as not to have debafed fo noble a fubjed: by my 
 manner of handling it. For, notwithftanding the perpetual 
 , declamations we hear, of the horrid degeneracy, and falfe and 
 trifling tafle of the prefent age, yet we find, from fome recent 
 inftances, that pieces of the moft ferious tendency, both in Profe 
 and Verfe, have met with fo favourable a reception from the 
 Public, as to have gone through feveral impreffions, in a ihort 
 ipace of time. From whence one might infer, as I think, in 
 reafon, we ought, that there is flill a greater propenfity to Piety 
 and V' irtue among us, than fome perfons feem willing to allow. 
 For the' it cannot be denied, that we have too many examples 
 
 of
 
 PREFACE. XXV 
 
 of Vice and Irreligion, yet the fame remark may ju% be made 
 now, which the wifefl man upon earth has made, near three 
 thoufmd years ago, in this very Poem, where he charges thofe 
 with folly and ignorance, who are eternally complaining of the 
 times they live in, and infixing that former ages were better 
 and happier than the prefent. The truth is, we find, from the 
 hiflory of all nations, that Vice, with its infeparable attendant, 
 Mifery, have been the produdt of every age and every cHmate, 
 and fo are like to continue to the end of the world. It is every 
 man's duty to endeavour, fo far as lies in his power, to check 
 the progrefs of both. What I have attempted, may at leaft 
 claim the merit of having aimed at this falutary end: Whether 
 it has any other kind of merit, muft be left wholly to the judg- 
 ment of the Public : It now lies at the mercy of every Reader, 
 and, if it cannot make its way in the world, muft dye in ob- 
 fcurity with its Author. 
 
 CHOHELETHi
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 391 Line 6. for will read wills. 
 
 Page 56. Line 17. for flitting read fleeting*" 
 
 Page 96. iaft Line but one, for trailing reai trav'llng;
 
 ( I ) 
 
 CHOHELETH 
 
 O R, 
 The ROYAL PREACHER. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 OVain, deluding world ! whofe largeft gifts c. i. y. 2. 
 Thine emptinefs betray, like painted clouds, 
 Or watry bubbles: as the vapour flies, 
 Difpers'd by lighted blaft, fo fleet thy joys, 
 And leave no trace behind. This ferious truth 
 The Royal Preacher loud proclaims, convinc'd 
 By fad experience j with a figh, repeats 
 The mournful theme, that nothing here below 
 Can folid comfort yield : 'Tis all a fcene 
 
 B Of
 
 of vanity, beyond the powV of words 
 
 T' exprefs, or thought conceive. Let evVy man v. $. 
 
 Survey himfelf, then afk, What fruit remains 
 
 Of all his fond purfuits ? What has he gain'd, 
 
 By toiling thus for more than Nature's wants 
 
 Require ? Why thus with endlefs projects rack'd 
 
 His heated brain, and to the lab'ring mind 
 
 Deny'd repofe? Why fuch expence of time, 
 
 That Heals away fo faft, and ne'er looks back ? 
 
 Could man his wifh obtain, how fhort the fpace v. 4.. 
 For its enjoyment ! No lefs trandent here 
 The time of his duration, than the things 
 Thus anxioufly purfu'd. For as the mind, 
 In fearch of Blifs, fix'd to no folid point, 
 For ever flu6luates ; fo our brittle frames. 
 In which we glory, hafte to their decline. 
 Nor ftable place can find. The human race 
 Drop like autumnal leaves, by Spring reviv'd : 
 One generation from the ftage of life 
 Withdrawn, another comes, and this makes room. 
 For that which follows. Mightieft realms decay, 
 Sink by degrees, and, lo! new-form'd Eftates 
 Rife from their ruins. E'en the Earth itfelf, 
 
 Sole
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 Sole object of our pride, our hopes and -fears, 
 Shall have its period, though to Man unknown 
 
 Behold ! the Sun his orient luftre fheds, 
 Awhile refulgent ; but how foon defcends, 
 
 *• 
 
 V. 
 
 * V. 4. " One generation pajfeth 
 aivay, and another cometh, but the 
 Earth abideth for ever." Thus the 
 words run in our Tranflation -, and 
 as fome may be therefore greatly 
 furprized, that we have given fo 
 different a turn to the latter part, 
 v/e fhall here tranfcribe the remark 
 of an anonymous Commentator on 
 this paflage. " After all the va- 
 rious accounts, fays he, of the 
 word D7J/ here rendered for ever, 
 it, in truth, fignifies a duration of 
 time, of which we either know not 
 the beginning or end, or perhaps 
 neither. Thus in Job, xxii. 15. it 
 fignifies time immemorial. The 
 fame term is applied to many of 
 the Jewifh Statutes, becaufe they 
 were to continue in force to that 
 unknown period, when the Mef- 
 fiah fliould abolifh them. With 
 refped: both to time paft and fu- 
 ture, Abraham, fpeaking of the 
 Almighty, Gen. xxi. 23. ufes the 
 fame word, a God, of whofe begin- 
 ning or end he knew not ; which, 
 though in flridlnefs it does not ex- 
 prefs eternity, might ferve for it, 
 in thofe fimple and lefs philofophi- 
 cal ages; or, however, in Abra- 
 ham's judgment, was enough to dif- 
 tinguiili him from the faljfe Gods, 
 
 the hoft of Heaven, viz. the Sun, 
 Moon, and Stars, of whofe creation 
 he could not be ignorant ; as alfo 
 from thofe idols, whofe beginning 
 was known, or, at leaft, whofe end 
 might be known by an eafy expe- 
 riment. This fignification I have 
 pitched upon, becaufe the place re- 
 quires it J nor is it true that the 
 earth abideth for ever. It likewife 
 appears, from the foregoinginftan- 
 ces, that it may be exadlly accom- 
 modated to all other places where 
 the word occurs. Moreover, it re- 
 moves that unfufFerable uncertainty 
 of fignification, which Lexicogra- 
 phers have put upon this word, 
 making it to denote both infinite 
 and finite -, at which rate, if one and 
 the fame word may fignify two 
 contraries, Language ferves not 
 to inform, but confound us, Laft- 
 ly, the word flows naturally from 
 a root which fignifies to hide.'* 
 Thefe reafons have induced me to 
 turn the pafTage as I have done ; 
 and, indeed, nothing feems farther 
 from Solomon's intention, than to 
 fpeak of the permanency, and much 
 lefs, of the eternal duration of the 
 Earth, where he is treating of the 
 inflability of all things under the 
 Sun, 
 
 B 2 
 
 And
 
 (4) 
 
 And leaves the face of Nature wrapt In gloom, 
 
 Then haftes to bring the fmiling Dawn again 5 
 
 With fwift career his crooked journey takes 
 
 To Southern CHmes* there, reftlefs, back revolves 
 
 To cheer the frozen North*. See, how the winds v. 6. 
 
 From ev'ry point are whirl'd, and ftill renew 
 
 Their circuit. Rapid torrents rivers fill, 
 
 And thefe their tribute to the Ocean pay, 
 
 Whofe vaft abyfs ne'er overfwells its bounds 5 v. 7. 
 
 For ftrait, in vapours, by the Sun exhal'd, 
 
 Or throuQ-h Earth's fecret caverns, it reftores 
 
 All back again f. Thus, in perpetual rounds 
 
 * V. 5. ' The Sun alfo arifeth, 
 and the Sun goeth down., and hafteth 
 to the place from whence it came.' 
 Our verfion here concludes the 5th 
 verfe, and applies the next entirely 
 to the wind, the beginning of which 
 is thus tranilated, The Wind goeth 
 towards the South, and turneth about 
 unto the North. Now the learned 
 reader need not be informed, that 
 the word IVind does not ftand in 
 the original, as placed in our Tranf- 
 lation, but evidently begins the 6th 
 verfe, which runs thus, The Wind 
 is whirled about continually., and the 
 Wind returneth again, according to 
 its circuits. This is all that was 
 neceffury to be faid of the Wind ; 
 for certainly it would have been 
 
 very inaproper to mention only the 
 South and North, when every one 
 knows, it blows from fo many dif- 
 ferent quarters. The foregoing paf- 
 fage, therefore, is not to be applied 
 to the Wind, but the Sun, whofe 
 two motions, diurnal and annual, 
 Solomon, no doubt, there alludes 
 to ; the former in the Ecliptic, from 
 Eaft to Weft, from whence pro- 
 ceed the viciflltudes of day and 
 night; the latter in the Zodiac, 
 from the Southern to the Northern 
 Tropic, and fo back again, which 
 caufeth the difference of feafons. 
 
 ■j- Many forced conftruftions 
 have been put upon the three pre- 
 ceeding inftancesof the Sun, Wind, 
 and Rivers ; but nothing, as I ap- 
 
 Of
 
 (5) 
 
 Of hurry and difquiet, human life 
 
 Is whirl'd, ftill In purfuit of Happinefs, 
 
 With ceafelefs toil : For, after all our pains, 
 
 What progrefs have we made? When near it feems, 
 
 Th' illuding Phantom difappears, or mocks 
 
 Our eager grafp. Though cheated, we purfue 
 
 The frantic chafe, and, at our journey's end. 
 
 Have ftill as far to feek. Should Heav'n allow v. s. 
 
 The frail Probationer a larger fpace 
 
 Of life, what from the world could he obtain, 
 
 Which nothing offers, nor, indeed, has aught 
 
 To give, that Man's capacious foul can fill ? 
 
 No objed: long can charm the roving eye : 
 
 And what can fatisfy the craving ear, 
 
 Greedy of novelty ? Chagrin'd and cloy'd 
 
 E'en with our pleafures, every fcene dilgufts ; 
 
 For ftill there's fomething wanting, which in vain 
 
 We feek below. Why doft thou hope to find 
 
 . . . V. 9. 
 
 That Blifs in earthly things, which mortal man 
 
 Has never found ? Shall future ages fee 
 
 prehend, can be clearer, than that was contrary to Solomon's deficrn ; 
 
 they are here introduced, not to de- but as emblems of man's perpetual 
 
 note the conftancy and invariable hurry and reftleflhefs, which, after 
 
 regularity of their motions, as fome all, leave him juft where he was at 
 
 interpreters underftand them, which his firft fetting out. 
 
 More
 
 (6 ) 
 
 More than the pafl: have feen ? The fame events, y ^^_ 
 
 The fame purfuits, have ever been -, and thofe. 
 
 Who Hv'd before us, made the fame complaints, 
 
 As thofe to come fhall make. The fons of men 
 
 Have nothing new to try : Though chang'd the fcene, 
 
 'Tis the fame tirefome round of anxious cares 
 
 And fruitlefs toils. Perhaps the flatt'ring thought. 
 
 That fculptur'd marble, or th' hiftoric page, y. u. 
 
 With lafting glory fliall record thy name, 
 
 Gives thee fome tranfport. Vain, delufive hope ! 
 
 Where is that fancied immortality 
 
 Of thoufands, who once made fuch mighty noife, 
 
 Diftinguifh'd for their wealth or dignity, 
 
 For arts or arms renown'd ? Are they not loft 
 
 In dark oblivion's grave, perifh'd their names, 
 
 As they had never been ? So that, which now 
 
 Of vaft importance feems, to future times 
 
 Shall leave no record : thefe, alike forgot, 
 
 Shall pafs without memorial to the next*. 
 
 Think not that paflion's impulfe, fudden ftart ^. u. 
 Of zeal, blind prejudice, or fuUen mood 
 
 * Solomon, having hitherto laid thing In this world, now proceeds 
 down the main propofition, in fuch to a particular proof of it, from his 
 general terms as comprehend every own example and experience. 
 
 The
 
 (7 ) 
 
 The ferious theme infpir'd : 'tis the refult 
 Of grey experience, and •refle<5lion deep. 
 The lone Reclufe, immur'd within his cell, 
 This world defpifes, which he never knew : 
 The wretched Mendicant, with bitter taunts, 
 Inveighs, becaufe he cannot tafte its fweets : 
 Some, like difcarded Lovers, vent their rage, 
 When it begins to frown, no more regards 
 Their warm addrefles, which had long been paid 
 In fofteft fmiles. Was this the Preacher's cafe ? 
 Is there a man on earth, who better knew. 
 Or more enjoy'd of what this world affords. 
 And, were it worth his care, might fkill enjoy ? 
 Witnefs, thou Sun, who faw my royal pomp 
 Shining with rays diffufive as thy own ; 
 Thou porch of Judgment, where I fat, and heard 
 The dubious caufe : Witnefs, ye chofen feed . 
 Of Abra'm, who my fcepter'd hand obey'd ; 
 Ye treafures, which from Ophir's wealthy coaft 
 My fleets tranfported ; and, to crown the fcene 
 Of Glory, witnefs that unrival'd Fame, 
 Which from far diftant regions Princes drew 
 To hear my voice, with admiration fill'd : 
 
 Ev'n
 
 \ 
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 Ev'n Eaftern Sages came, and flood amaz'd *. 
 
 Thus with the choiceft Gifts of Heav'n endow'd, 
 With ev'ry help that my exalted rank 
 Could amply furnifh, as became a King, 
 (For once the Preacher was a King indeed) 
 The fearch of Wifdom firft employ'd my care f : 
 
 V.13. 
 
 * V. 12. " /, the Preacher, was 
 King over Ifrael in Jerufalem." We 
 refer the reader to what we have 
 remarked on this verfe in the Pre- 
 face, and flull only repeat here, 
 that, as the latter part of Solomon's 
 reign was fo inglorious, in compa- 
 rifon of the former, he feems to in- 
 timate in thefe words, that a King, 
 who is diftinguflied by nothing but 
 the title, and ads beneath his cha- 
 rafler, is but a mere fliadow of 
 Royalty. As to the doubt which 
 fome have ftarted, whether he was 
 the real author of this book, be- 
 caufe his name is not exprefsly 
 mentioned, it ought to be noted, 
 that, befides the many ftriking paf- 
 fages, which can be applied to none 
 but Solomon, there was no other 
 Prince after David, who kept his 
 Court at Jerufalem, and at the fame 
 time reigned over the ten tribes of 
 Ifrael, which, on his deceafe, were 
 torn from the kingdom, and never 
 after united. 
 
 ■f Solomon, in his enquiry after 
 Happinefs, begins with that, which, 
 of all other things, bids the faireft 
 for it, namely, the acquifition of 
 Wifdom and Knowledge, wherein 
 
 he had made fuch amazing pro- 
 grefs, that, if any fatisfaflion was 
 to be found in it, he muft certainly 
 have had it. Befides his own natural 
 abilities, improved by indefatiga- 
 ble application, (to fay nothing of 
 his fupernatural endowments,) he 
 had the greateft advantages to make 
 himfelf mafter of the whole circle 
 of arts and fciences. Jerufalem, 
 where he kept his Court, then de- 
 ferved, much better than Athens 
 ever did, to be called the eye of the 
 world: His immenfe wealth put 
 him in a capacity of making it the 
 centre of Learning and Learned 
 Men ; of furnifhing himfelf with 
 the mofl valuable books ; and either 
 converfing or correfponding with 
 the wifeft part of mankind. So 
 that it is not to be wondered at, 
 that he fliould have fo greatly fur- 
 pafled all men then living, and, per- 
 haps, ever fince, in every branch of 
 natural Philofophy, Politics, Ethics, 
 &c. of which we have many ex- 
 traordinary inftances on record. 
 And as to his exquifite tafte io 
 Poetry, the piece now before us, 
 with the Song of Songs, are mofi 
 admirable fpecimens. 
 
 More
 
 More anxious none t' explore the hidden fprings 
 Of Nature's wondrous works; nor lefs intent, 
 Though more abftrufe the fludy, to trace out 
 The mazy lab'rinths of the human heart, 
 Its dark receffes, various and perplex'd 
 Its motions, diff'rent paflions and purfuits. 
 Immenfe the labour, thorny was the road : 
 Still I perfifted with unwearied pains, 
 "Till in my view, glitter 'd the long fought gem 
 With feeming luftre : Such the infatiate thirft 
 Of Knowledge, toil and torment of the mind. 
 To which the fons of men arejuftly doom'd 
 By Heav'n, negleding ufeful folid truths 
 For empty dreams and fpeculations vain. 
 
 For when I ftopp'd a moment to furvey y, ,4., 
 
 The mighty acquifition, all appear'd 
 But labour loft. How little do we know 
 Of Nature's fecrets ! Lefs can we difcern 
 The dark myfterious ways of Providence. 
 Condemn'd to earn corporeal food with fweat 
 And toil incefiant, far more pains we take 
 The mental to procure, and oft are worfe 
 Repaid : the tir'd and hungry foul, depriv'd 
 Of nourifhment, fatigues itfelf in vain. 
 
 C Our
 
 ( 10 ) 
 
 Our fcanty Knowledge only ferves t' inflate 
 
 With airy notions^ which delude our hopes, 
 
 And like a worm corrode. How impotent v. ij. 
 
 Mere human Science to prevent or cure 
 
 The grievances of life ! Can it reftore 
 
 To its primeval reditude the mind 
 
 By vice perverted ? How defedive all 
 
 Our boafted Wifdom, which, at ev'ry ftep, t 
 
 Betrays our ignorance, and fwells our pride ! 
 
 Lur'd with the flatt'ring profped, I purfu d v. i5. 
 
 The vifionary fcene, with my own heart 
 Thus wont to commune. — See the vaft renown 
 Thou haft acquir'd, ftill more for wifdom fam'd, 
 Than grandeur. O enchanting rapt'rous thought ! 
 Who fuch confummate Prudence e'er could fhew, 
 In life's perplex'd affairs, fo well decide, 
 Or fuch refearches make ! In ev'ry branch 
 Of Science' deeply Ikill'd, my luftre fhines 
 
 * Y . I ^. " That which is crookedy natural depravities ; that the wifeft 
 
 cannot be madejlrait, and that which men are inftances of the weaknefs 
 
 is wanting, cannot be numbered." of human underftanding, fince that 
 
 We fhall not trouble the reader little knowledge they acquire, is 
 
 ■with the various interpretations of very imperfefl at bell, and they 
 
 this verfe -, the plain meaning ap- will ever remain ignorant of infi- 
 
 pears to be, that mere human Learn- nitely more than what they are able 
 
 ing (for of this alone Solomon here to difcover. 
 treats) is infufficient to correfl men's 
 
 Beyond 
 
 iM>
 
 ( II ) 
 
 Beyond compare. What glory to be deem'd 
 
 Wifeft among the wife! Nothing efcap'd v. i-j. 
 
 My piercing eye ; for ftill the more I learnt, 
 
 The more I grafp'd ; from ev'ry object drew 
 
 Something which might inftru£t or entertain ; 
 
 Each idle fyftem, by learn'd Triflers form'd, 
 
 I weigh'd, and their fallacious reafonings quick 
 
 Difcern'd ; Ev'n Fools and madmen taught me rules 
 
 Of ufe, in public or domeftic cares, 
 
 No lefs than hoary Wifdom's precepts grave. 
 
 But, after all this toil, what fruit remain'd * ? 
 
 Anxious for Knowledge, hard to be acquir'd, v. is. 
 
 Ufelefs, if not pernicious^ to ourfelves, 
 And meeting oft reproaches or contempt. 
 As fome rich prize, well worth our care, we feek. 
 Though forrow clofe attend the vain purfuit ; 
 What ferves the fcanty portion here obtain'd, 
 JBut to exhauft: our fpirits, to confume 
 This brittle frame, and haflen its decay ? 
 
 *V. I y:^^ And I gave my heart to relates to life and manners. And 
 
 "know wifdoWy and to know 7nadnefs as mankind have been much the 
 
 and folly." It appears from thefe fame in all ages, we may prefume, 
 
 words, that Sole non did not confine .that there were, in his days, as er- 
 
 himfelf to fpeculative Sciences, or 'roneous fyftems, both of Moral and 
 
 the ftudy of Nature, but employed Natural Philofophy, as there are at 
 
 much of his time in what merely prefent. 
 
 C 2 Happy
 
 ( li) 
 
 Happy for Man, were thefe the worft effedls \ 
 
 From whence the deadly fource of all our woes, 
 
 But fond delire to know ? By this impell'd, 
 
 Our firfl deluded Parent, in conceit 
 
 A God, would comprehend the Unrverfe, 
 
 But foon betray 'd his nakednefs of foul, 
 
 And knew that he was wretched : all his Race 
 
 Have done the fame.— Stop here, nor hope to find 
 
 WhatHeav'n denies: (ov could'ft thou count the StarSj 
 
 Defcribe their motions, found the vaft abyfs, 
 
 Pafs to Earth's utmoft verge, make ev'ry art 
 
 And fcience thine, records- of ancient times 
 
 Familiar as thy own, each fecret fpring 
 
 Of Nature, and the Moral World explore, 
 
 Stripp'd of their veil, and naked to thy view, 
 
 Still would' ft thou be to feek for Happinefs*. 
 
 Tir'd with the fruitlefs fearch, yet anxious ftill ^- ^^- ^' 
 To find that inward peace, for which the foul 
 
 * V. 1 8. "For in muchJVifdom, of men, fo they are very far from 
 
 is much grief, ard he that increafeth being the happieft, and often the 
 
 Knowledge, increafeth forrow." Tho' moft wretched. There is fbmething 
 
 Solomon, it is certain, was no ene- in the nature of all human Learn- 
 
 my to human Learning, yet, I be- ing, which difappoints our expedla- 
 
 lieve, his remark on it, has been tions, and confequently difturbs 
 
 ever fince found true, to wit, that, that tranquillity of mind wherein 
 
 as the greateft Scholars and deepeft true happinefs confifts. 
 Politicians are not always the wifeft 
 
 Is
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 Is ever panting, Nature's pow'rful voice 
 
 Thus whifper'd,— From the rugged thorny road 
 
 Of Wifdom, which fo ill repays thy toil, 
 
 Turn back, and enter Pleafure's flow'ry paths ; 
 
 Go, take thy iill of joy, to paflion give 
 
 The reins, nor let one ferious thought reftrain 
 
 "What youth and affluence prompt.The charming found 
 
 Touch'd ev'ry fibre of my heart : I turn'd, 
 
 And enter'd heedlefs, but how foon perceiv'd, 
 
 'Twas all a cheat ! 'Midft the licentious train 
 
 Of Dance and Song, Jelling with fcandal mix'd, 
 
 Buffoonry vile. Tales, whether true or falfe, 
 
 Idle and vain, the loud tumultuous roar 
 
 Of midnight revels, with contemptuous glance 
 
 I look'd around indignant : (for mine eyes 
 
 DifdainM to dwell on fuch unmanly fcenes.) 
 
 I faid to Laughter, Thou art furely mad*, y 2. 
 
 And thine aflbciates the contagion feel. 
 
 * V. 2. " I faid of Laughter, it things of this world, butofintem- 
 is mad, and of Mirth, what doth it." perate Pleafure, whofe two Atten- 
 Thus the words ftand iri our Tran- dants. Laughter and Mirth, are in- 
 flation, but may be rehdered more troduced, hy zb&5.m\{u\profopop^ia, 
 elegantly and nearer to the original, as two perfons ; and the contemptu- 
 Jfaid to Laughter, thou art mad, or, ous manner wherewith he treats 
 makejl mad; and to Mirth, what is it them, has fomething remarkably 
 doing ? Solomon is not fpeaking ftriking. He tells the former to 
 here of a fober enjoyment of the her face, that (he is mad; but as 
 
 Strait
 
 ( 14 ) 
 
 Strait hafl'ning thence, What is that Mirth, IcryM, 
 Whofe iioife and frantic geftures thus enchant ? 
 V/hat ferves it, but t' intoxicate the mind, 
 And banifli cool refledtion ? What the fruit, 
 But (liame of time mifpent, and fharp remorfe ? 
 
 Fly then the Sorc'refs, for fhe leaves a fting 
 Behind, and, when indulg'd, brings certain death : 
 Falfe and deceitful are her fmiles at beft. 
 How often lurks beneath the vifage gay 
 An aching heart, and loudeft laughter ends 
 In deepeft fighs ! To oppofite extremes, 
 In fearch of Happinefs, we run, and ftill 
 Repent the change. 
 
 Once more refolv'd to try v. 3, 
 
 Wherein confifts that fov'reign good, which Mani 
 During this toilfome pilgrimage of life, 
 Should to himfelf propofe, a middle courfe 
 I fteer'd, not wholly wrapt in ftudious thought, 
 Nor yet in joys of fenfe too deep immers'd, 
 But fuch as fmiling Chearfulnefs points out, 
 With Prudence temper'd. At the Feaft I fat 
 
 to the latter, he thinks her fo much and very natural pidlure of Man's 
 
 beneath his notice, that he only reftlefs difpofition, which runs from 
 
 points at her, and inftantly turns one extreme to another, 
 his back. This is a fine contrafte, 
 
 Jocund
 
 ( IS ) 
 
 Jocund, and freely quafF'd the fparkling bowl j 
 Ev'n Folly enter'd there, and ferv'd to fmooth 
 The wrinkled brow; at her approach, I feiz'd 
 The wanton Trifler, ev'ry feature view'd. 
 And fometimes fported with her, yet reftrain'd 
 From all excefs, and mafter of myfelf : 
 For Wifdom, ftill preiiding o'er my heart, 
 Its motions guided. Reafon feem'd t' approve 
 The choice, and with delight the plan purfu'd*. 
 
 What Fabrics I contriv'd, for public ufe. 
 Or to difplay my fkill or grandeur, far 
 Exceed defcription. Cedar, Marble, Gold, 
 
 * V. 3. " I fought in mine heart 
 to give myfelf to wine^ (yet guiding 
 my heart with wifdom,) and to lay 
 hold on Folly, till I might fee what 
 ivas that Good for the fans of men." 
 Solomon having difpatched, in few 
 words, the former fubjedt, as unwor- 
 thy of farther confideration, now 
 proceeds to what appears a more 
 rationar courfe of life, and there- 
 fore dwells more largely on it. The 
 word, Wine, according to the He- 
 brew Idiom, implys a more chear- 
 ful and free manner of living, with 
 all the ufual gayeties of fplendid en- 
 tertainments, which he declares, 
 from his own experience, is not 
 incompatible with the wifdom here 
 fpoken of. There is a peculiar force 
 and beauty in the expreflion, to lay 
 
 hold on Folly, to which I have given 
 a turn fomewhat like that of Horace, 
 which feems to bear fome faint re- 
 femblance to it, Duke eft defipere in 
 loco. Folly, it may be obferved, 
 is here alfo introduced as a perfon, 
 like Mirth and Laughter in the 
 preceding verfe, who, notwithftand- 
 ing the familiarities flie is admitted 
 to, was fo far from gaining the af- 
 cendant over Solomon, that he had 
 her in his power, and confequently 
 could get rid of her company, 
 when he pleafed. In the interim, 
 he kept her under proper reftridions, 
 and laid hold on her, like a wreftler, 
 who feizes on his antagonift, and 
 will not part with him, till he has 
 try'd his ftrength, and feen what 
 he is made of. 
 
 Were
 
 (i6 ) 
 
 Were the materials, with fuch wondrous art 
 
 Difpos'd, that future times fliall vainly drive 
 
 To equal*. In the royal Seats I rais'd, 
 
 United fhone magniiicence and tafle ; 
 
 With ev'ry precious thing within adorned, 
 
 That wealth immenfe could furnifh ; planted round 
 
 With choiceft vines, in beauteous order rank'd, 
 
 Whofe racy juice fupply'd the fumptuous board, 
 
 And cheer'd the heavieft heart. When tir'd with pomp v. j. 
 
 Of Court, and Solitude to rural fcenes 
 
 Invited, entertainment fweet I found 
 
 In gardens, which with Eden might compare f. 
 
 Here flow'rs profufe exhal'd their odours, more 
 
 Reviving than Arabia's fpicy gales j 
 
 * V. 4. '■^ I made me great works., 
 Ibuilded me houfes, ^c. The Fa- 
 brics, which Solomon ereded, 
 were, according to the facred hifto- 
 ry, fuperlatively magnificent. A 
 German Author has given us a 
 fine plan of the Temple he raifed, 
 and fhewn, by many probable ar- 
 guments, in a treatife he wrote ex- 
 prefsly on the fubjeft, that the 
 mofl: admired pieces of architedure 
 among the antient Egyptians, 
 Greeks, and Romans, were taken 
 from his models. 
 
 ■f- V. 5. ^"^ I made mc gardens and 
 orchards, and planted trees in themy 
 of all kinds of fruit.'" The word, 
 rendered, orchards, is, in the ori- 
 ginal, Pardifim, from whence the 
 Greeks called a large and deli- 
 cious enclofure, containing all forts 
 of trees, plants, and flowers, a Pa- 
 radice. We may eafiiy conceive, 
 how delightful Solomon muft have 
 made his gardens, who was fo well 
 acquainted with the nature of Ve- 
 getables, that he wrote a treatife of 
 their virtues and properties, from 
 the Cedar to the HyfTop. 
 
 Nor
 
 ( 17 ) 
 
 Kor could Aurora paint on clouds, nor bow 
 
 Of Heav'n, by folar beams refleded, fliew 
 
 Colours fo various, or of lovelier hue. 
 
 There lofty trees th' extended vifta form'd, 
 
 Or fliady grove. The moft delicious fruits 
 
 Of ev'ry kind, fo plenteous, that, beneath 
 
 Their weight, the branches funk. Nor chryftal flrcams-V. 6. 
 
 Were wanting, which in pleafing torrents roU'd 
 
 From high cafcades, or, in meanders flow, 
 
 Through artificial channels taught to glide, 
 
 Or rife in figur'd fhapes from marble font. 
 
 Each tender plant the kindly moifture fhar'd, 
 
 Nor felt the fcorching rays. In this retreat 
 
 I pafs'd my vacant hours, the cares of life 
 
 In fweet oblivion lofl. For though my works v. -. 
 
 Were great, and num'rous hands required, the toil 
 
 On others fell , to me alone accru'd 
 
 Th' enjoyment. Thoufands, when I gave the wordj 
 
 To their refpedive ftations flew, and all 
 
 Performed their talks, to labour or infpe£t 
 
 Employ 'd, or on my perfon to attend 
 
 With duteous care ; yet flill I purchas'd more. 
 
 For with my flocks and herds, the hills and dales 
 
 Were covered, far furpafling all the wealth 
 
 D Gf
 
 
 ( i8 ) 
 
 Of former times*. The fplendor to maintain v.9. 
 
 Of fuch a Court as mine, how vaft th' expence ! 
 
 Yet ft ill, the more I fpent, the more increas'd 
 
 My treafure : iincxhaiifted was the ftore : 
 
 Of Gold fuch heaps, of orient luftre gems, 
 
 That filver vile appeared : all that was rare 
 
 Or exquifite, to regal Majefty 
 
 Peculiar, brought from diftant climes f. The charms 
 
 Of Mufic highten'd ev'ry joy : each Sex 
 
 Confpir'd with fweeteft fymphony of voice 
 
 And ev'ry^well-tun'd inftrument, to feize 
 
 The wiUing Captive's heart : fuch melting airs 
 
 Were daily warbled, that my ravifli'd foul 
 
 Sat lift'ning, all attention. To complete 
 
 This fcene of earthly blifs, how large a fhare 
 
 Of that which moft delights the fons of men 
 
 * V. 5. '■'■ I had large poJfeJfwHs deer, fatted fowl, and all other 
 
 of great and [mall cattle^ above all kind of provifion. 
 that were before me in Jerufalem." -f V. 8. I gathered me alfo filver 
 
 We may learn from the firft book and gold, and the peculiar treafure 
 
 of Kings, how exceeding nume- of Kings a7td Provinces. The Scrip- 
 
 rous Solomon's Court was, and what ture informs us, that, in Solomon's 
 
 a prodigious expence he was at to time, filver was as plenty in Jeru- 
 
 maintain it. We are there informed, falem as ftones. We may judge 
 
 that he confumed every day, for the of the prodigious quantity of gold 
 
 ufe of his Houfhold, no lefs than he had heaped up, from what he 
 
 ten ftall-fed oxen, and twenty from employed only on the Temple and 
 
 the pafture, with an hundred flieep, his Palaces. 
 befides harts, roe- bucks, fallow 
 
 Fell
 
 ( 19 ) 
 
 Fell to my portion ! What a lovely train 
 Of blooming Beauties, by connubial ties, 
 Or gift of neighb'ring Kings, or fpoils of war, 
 Or made by purchafe mine * ! Exalted thus 
 
 V.g. 
 
 * V. 8. fin. " / got me tnen- 
 Jingers, and women-Jingers, and the 
 delights of the Sons of Men, as mtiji- 
 cal inftruments, and that of all forts." 
 We need not inform the learned 
 reader, that what moft of the mo- 
 dern tranflations, as well as our own, 
 have rendered, muftcal injiruments, 
 and that of all forts, is exprefied by 
 only two words in the original, viz. 
 Siddah and Siddcth, the true mean- 
 ing of which, all interpreters honeftly 
 confefs their ignorance of; fo that 
 this verfion is to be looked upon as 
 quite arbitrary. Among the great 
 variety of interpretations, therefore, 
 we have chofen that which applys 
 the words to Solomon's Wives and 
 Concubines, as beft adapted to the 
 prefent fubjeft, and having moft 
 probability to fupport it. For, in 
 the firft place, there is fufficient 
 reafon to believe, that, under the 
 two preceding words, men and ijoo- 
 men-ftngers, is comprehended in- 
 ftru mental as well as vocal Mufic, 
 and that they are not feparately 
 mentioned, fo much to diftinguifh 
 the difference of their fexes, as to 
 denote the variety of their harmony : 
 Nor can the leail fhadow of reafon 
 be affigned, why the preference 
 fhould be given to the former, fince 
 
 it is, I believe, univerfally allowed, 
 that a fine melodious voice has fome- 
 thing far more fweet and affeding 
 than any inftrument, tho' touched 
 by the beft hand. Moreover, it may 
 be juftly inferred from that remark- 
 able expreffion, the delights of the 
 fons of men, wherewith thefe two 
 laft v/ords are introduced, that So- 
 lomon intended to fpeak of fome 
 new objecft of human felicity, of a 
 quite different nature, and ftill more 
 engaging than any thing he had 
 hitherto mentioned. Nowifwecon- 
 fult the hiflory of this Prince's life, 
 which informs us, what an amazing 
 number of Wives and Concubines 
 he had, (no lefs than 300 of the 
 former, and 700 hundred of the 
 latter,) and confider what influ- 
 ence they had over him, it will 
 feem incredible, that one, who had 
 been fo excefTively enamoured with 
 the Sex, and is now giving fo mi- 
 nute a detail of the variety of plea- 
 fures he enjoyed, and the methods 
 he took to fpend his life in the moft 
 agreeable manner, fhould pafs over 
 in filence what he then thought the 
 moft delightful part of it. For 
 tho' he afterwards fpeaks of wo- 
 men, it is on a different occafion, 
 and with the bittcreft farcafm. 
 
 f'- 
 
 D 2 
 
 There
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 On grandeur's loftiefl: pinnacle, my name 
 Grew more illuftrious, as my wealth increas'd. 
 Full well I knew the world, how to extra£l - 
 IJie quinteficnce of all that it affords 
 Delightful, and with poignant relifli tafte 
 Its pleafures, as became my rank, with eafe 
 And dignity : For Wifdom held the reins j 
 Yet with fuch gentle hand, that whatfoe'er 
 
 V. 10. 
 
 There he fpeaks as a Penitent, be- 
 wailing his paft follies : Here he is 
 all gaiety, and thinking of nothing 
 but how to gratify his inclinations. 
 Bifliop Patrick is of opinion, that 
 the words fignify moft excellent 
 compofitions of Mufic, or mod 
 elegant verfes fet by a rare Mafter 
 (amongthe Phoenicians, called ^'/^(j) 
 to the moft ravifhing and melting 
 notes ; which, fays he, is a pro- 
 bable conjedture of Bochai't, and 
 therefore that he has taken no no- 
 tice of their interpretation, who 
 derive the word from a root, which 
 fignifies Spoil, alluding to female 
 Captives taken in war ; or, from 
 another root which fignifies /i^/)j or 
 hreajls, becaufe no fmall part of a 
 "Woman's beauty confifts therein. 
 But as that learned man's con- 
 jefture feems wholly founded on 
 the fimilarity of found -, and it 
 does not appear that the Phoeni- 
 cians in general, or the Sidonians 
 in particular, were celebrated for 
 their mufical compofitionsj or to 
 
 be compared with the Jews in this 
 refpeift j nothing can be more im- 
 probable than that Solomon fhould 
 have taken them from fuch a peo- 
 ple. The Hebrew Mufic was no 
 lefs admirable than their Poetry. 
 What ftronger proof could he have 
 of the wonderful power of both, 
 than in his Father David, whofe 
 poetical talents will not be dif- 
 puted ? And as to his exquifite 
 fkill in Mufic, we need only in- 
 ftance the eftefts of his harp on 
 King Saul ; from whence fome 
 have conjeclured, that the ftory of 
 Orpheus drew its origin. It is 
 therefore more reafonable to fup- 
 pofe, in cafe thefe controverted 
 words have any reference to the 
 Phoenicians, that, as Solomon's 
 Seraglio was fo well ftored with 
 the fineft women from all the 
 neighbouring countries, he might 
 have had fome of extraordinary 
 beauty from that people, who are 
 here diftinguiflied by name from 
 the reft. And perhaps he might 
 
 purpofely
 
 ( ^I ) 
 
 Could charm the eye, and ev'iy fenfe regale, 
 No fooner craved but granted. Take thy reft, 
 My foul exulting cry'd, and reap the fruit 
 Of all thy pleafing cares. Sweet was the toil. 
 And fweeter the fruition ; for mine heart 
 O'erflow'd with joy, and lafting Blifs propos'd. 
 To crown my fondeft hopes. But foon, alas ! 
 The gay inchanting profpedt difappear'd, 
 
 V. II. 
 
 purpofely have made ufe of thefe 
 foreign terms, to denote ftrange 
 women in general, that is, in the 
 Scripture ftyle, fuch as had tempt- 
 ed him to idolatry. 
 
 As to the objeftion to the firfl: 
 interpretation, namely, that Solo- 
 mon had no wars, till towards the 
 latter end of his reign, when he 
 was rather worfted than victori- 
 ous, and confequently had no cap- 
 tives to take, 'tis of little weight, 
 fince he might have eafily got 
 them, either as prefents or by pur- 
 chafe, from the neighbouring na- 
 tions, who, tho' making frequent 
 depredations on each other, all 
 courted his friendfhip, when he 
 was in the height of his glory, the 
 time he is now fpeaking of. In 
 fhort, whatfoever the words may 
 have originally m.eant, or whence- 
 foever derived, they cannot be fo 
 properly applied to mufical inftru- 
 ments as to women ; to which in- 
 terpretation we are fo naturally led 
 by the introdu6tory words. The 
 moft favage nations, who have no 
 
 tafte for Mufic, are paffionately 
 fond of the fex. Some Rabbins 
 will have the words to fignify 
 Chariots ; but as Solomon is evi- 
 dently fpeaking of fomething with- 
 in his palace, this needs no confu- 
 tation. Others render them, cups 
 and fiaggons for drinking and pour- 
 ing out of ivine ; in which fenfe 
 they are taken by the LXX. and 
 Vulgate. Now as both the words 
 are of the feminine gender, and, 
 for aught we know to the contra- 
 ry, may fignify perfons as well as 
 things, why may they not allude 
 to thofe young females who, for 
 their beauty andgracefulnefs, were 
 deftined to wait at their Prince's 
 table, as cup-bearers ; which then 
 made, and ftill makes, part of the 
 Eaftern magnificence ? Thefe rea- 
 fons, I muft confefs, have fome 
 weight with me, how light focver 
 they may appear to others, and 
 fufficiently juftify the prefent in- 
 terpretation, which, amidO: fuch 
 a variety of conjectures, carries 
 with it the greateft probability. 
 
 And
 
 ( 2.2 ) 
 And lowering clouds enfu'd. When I furvey'd, 
 With ftrider fcrutiny, the glaring pomp 
 And fplendor of my Court, the dubious feafl, 
 And fervile flatt'ring train, no more it feem'd 
 Than the remembrance of an idle dream : 
 Ev''n thofe ftupendous works, which fo engag'd 
 My lab'ring thoughts, and promis'd, when atchiev'd, 
 Some laftlng foHd pleafure, left the mind 
 Unfatisfy'd and reftlefs, flill to feek 
 For what they could not give, Content and Peace. 
 The tranfport o'er, by expedlation rais'd, 
 Regret took place, and with contempt I look'd 
 On that which once fo charm'd. How infinite 
 The diff'rence 'twixt divine and human Plans! 
 When, by th' Almighty form'd, this beauteous frame 
 From non- exigence rofe, pleas'd he review' d 
 His works j for all, in their refpedlive kinds, 
 Were good, fubfervient to the ends defign'd. 
 And anfwer'd his idea. But when Man 
 His labours with impartial eye furveys, 
 How difappointed ! oft his noblefi; works 
 But monuments of pride and vanity, 
 Rais'd with immenfe fatigue, preferv'd awhile 
 With vaft expence and care, to accidents 
 
 Expos'd,
 
 ( ^3 ) 
 
 Expos'd, which ev'ry moment interrupt 
 Their fliort enjoyment, tranfient as the wind, 
 And, weigh'd in Reafon's ballance, lighter found. 
 Such the reward attending human toils ! 
 
 Sick of the World, no lefs furpriz'd than griev'd ^- '-• 
 To find its offers all mere outward fhevv, 
 But no intrinfic worth, penfive I turn'd, 
 And with attentive eye again furvey'd . 
 That Wifdom which engag'd my firft purfuit, 
 Whofe wholefome precepts in due bounds reftrain 
 Our vague defires, and teach us how to fhun 
 The fnares by Folly fpread. Refolv'd to fix 
 On fomething where the wand'ring foul might reft, 
 This the fole obje6l worth my care appear 'd. 
 (For who with more difcernment can pretend 
 To judge, or fentence more decifive pafs 
 Than fuch a King ? Hereafter who (hall find 
 More in the world than He, on trial, found ?] 
 
 Strait I perceiv'd, that Folly's blind purfuits y, ,^, 
 
 No lefs by thofe of Wifdom are excell'd, 
 Than gloomy night by the Sun's radiant beams. 
 The Wife are circumfped, maturely weigh 
 The confequence of what they undertake, v. 14. 
 
 Good ends propofe, and fitted means apply 
 
 T' ac-
 
 ( ^4 ) 
 
 T' accomplifh their defigns. But fools, depriv'd 
 Of Reafon's guidance, or in darknefs grope, 
 Or unreflcfting, like a frantic man, 
 Who, on the brink of fome fteep precipice, 
 Attempts to run a race, with heedlefs fteps, 
 
 Rufli to their own perdition*. Yet, alas ! 
 
 Though wide the diif 'rence, what has human pride 
 To boafl; ? Ev'n I myfelf too plainly fav/. 
 That one event to both alike befalls, 
 To various accidents of life expos'd. 
 
 * Some look on the parallel here 
 drawn between Wifdotn and Folly, 
 as a mere digreflion, and abrupt 
 breaking; off the thread of the dif- 
 courfe : But the connedlion is fo 
 evident, and the remark fo perti- 
 nent and feafonable, that, had it 
 been omitted, the book would have 
 loft one of its greateft beauties. 
 Solomon haying been difappointed 
 in his purfuit of Knowledge, turns 
 to that of Pleafure. This he found 
 lefs fatisfadtory than the former, 
 and therefore tried what they both 
 would do together. Being here 
 alfo difappointed, he returns to his 
 firft and nobleft purfuit, and gives 
 it the preference, as it deferves. 
 There was an abfolute neceflity of 
 fettling this point, which he had 
 left undecided, left fome fliould be 
 induced to think, that he made no 
 
 diftinflion between a fagacious fore- 
 fight and prudent management of 
 our affairs, and a blind and heedlefs 
 precipitancy ; for it is evident, that 
 he now confines himfelf to this 
 ufeful branch of Philofophy. He 
 therefore gives to the former its 
 due encomium, by fiiewing from 
 its effeds, that, tho' it be feme- 
 times miftaken, it is beyond com- 
 parifon, more eftimable than the 
 latter. Notwithftanding all he 
 has faid of the vanity of human 
 Wifdom, he would not have us 
 miftake his meaning, as if he ir^- 
 tended to amufe us with a para- 
 dox, like Erafmus^ who wrote a 
 treatife in praife of Folly. Thefe 
 are the fports of a luxuriant ima- 
 gination. All that Solomon writes, 
 is grave and ferious, and founded 
 in truth and nature. 
 
 Without
 
 ( ^5 ) 
 
 Without diftindiion , nor can Wifdom fkrecn 
 From dangers, difappointment, grief, and pain. 
 
 This fad refledtion forc'd a figh ~- Why then 
 Have I thus labour'd to excell ? Where Hes 
 Th' advantage, if the fame to me befalls. 
 To me, with fuch fuperior gifts endow'd, 
 As to the thoughtkfs Fool ? What have I gain'd 
 From all my deep refearches, but to know. 
 That ev'n our furef!: guide. Prudence itfelf, 
 Tin6lur'd with vanity, is oft deceiv'd * ? 
 
 For as to that immortal Fame, to which 
 The Fool has no pretence, and Wifdom claims 
 As its juft due. Oblivion's dufky fhade 
 Makes no diftindion : all-confuming Time 
 Will fweep away th' illuftrious and the vile 
 
 V.4 
 
 v. 16. 
 
 * V. 15. 7'henfaid I, as it hap- 
 feneth to the Fool, Jojhall it happen 
 to me., even to me" Thus the 
 words run in the original, and 
 there is a pecuhar beauty and em- 
 phafis, as the reader will eafily 
 perceive, in the repetition of me. 
 Having pointedout the advantages 
 that wifdom hath over folly, he 
 takes this opportunity to remind 
 us of the danger of trufting too 
 much to it, by fhewing, that it is 
 equally fubjedl to the calamities 
 and common accidents of life, and 
 therefore incapable of making us 
 
 completely happy. The experi- 
 ence of all ages has evinced the 
 truth of his remark ; and this cau- 
 tion was the more necefiary, as- 
 mankind are apt to flatter them- 
 felves, that, by their own forefight 
 and fagacity, they can guard againft 
 contingencies. Having given his 
 fentiments on this point, in ge- 
 neral terms, he proceeds to thcfc 
 particular inftances, wherein human 
 Prudence chiefly exerts itfelf, and 
 fhews how egregioully it is deceived 
 in every one of them. 
 
 E 
 
 la 
 
 4»
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 111 tlie flime rapid flood. And, gloomy fcene ! 
 
 Flow do the Wife and Foolifli vi6lims fall 
 
 I'o the fame ftroke of Death ! This doleful thought v. 17. 
 
 Such deep impreflions made, that all the works, 
 
 Wherein my foul had taken fuch delight, 
 
 Were grievous to mine eyes, the cheering Sun 
 
 Grew irkfome, life itfelf a tirefome load. 
 
 For as the Pilgrim, with his journey faint, 
 
 Dreams of fome rich repafte, but waking feels 
 
 The gripes of hunger fharper than before ; 
 
 No lefs fantaftic my purfuits appear'd 
 
 To Reafon's eye, nor lefs chagrin enfu'd 
 
 From dif^ppointed hopes. Still more abhorr'd ^- «8. 
 
 My goodly fabrics, once fo dear, and rais'd 
 
 My glory to perpetuate, now became, 
 
 W^hen this reflecflion, like a Scorpion, flung : 
 
 How foon, alas ! muft all be left behind 
 
 To one I know not whom ! For what mine Heir v. 19. 
 
 Will prove, or wife or foolifh, who can tell ? 
 
 Yet, of my fubftance Lord fliall he remain, 
 
 The whole at his difpofal, to confume, 
 
 Perhaps in brutal riot and excefs, 
 
 What I, with prudent care and ceafelefs toil, 
 
 Have fpent my life in gath'ring. To prevent 
 
 Such evils, or provide a cure, how vain 
 
 Is 
 
 tt«i
 
 ( 27 ) 
 Is human forefight ! Therefore black defpair v. 20. 
 
 Began to feize my heart : o'crwhelm'd with grief 
 To find the Bnfs propos'd fo far beyond 
 My reach, uncertain what th' event would prove 
 Of plans fo wifely form'd, my foul was fill'd 
 With fad forebodings*. The fame Lot, I figh'd, v. 21. 
 Which hath to others fall'n, may be my fliare. 
 How oft have I obferv'd th' induftrious man, 
 No lefs with probity and truth endowed, 
 Than judgment clear his int'reft to difcern^ 
 Sagacious to promote : yet, lo! his wealth 
 To fome lewd worthlefs Prodigal defcends, 
 Who never toil'd, nor fpent a moment's thou2;ht, 
 How much it coft to gain, too dull t' acquire 
 A fortune * when, without his care, poffefs'd, 
 
 * V. 20. As Solomon fpeaks fo heavy at Solomon's heart as tliis 
 
 feehngly on this fubjeft, it is pro- fad reflecSlion, that his SuccefTor 
 
 bable, that he hints at his Son might have it in his power to difli- 
 
 Rehoboam, in whofe behaviour he pate the fruit of fo many years 
 
 had obferved fomething that gave profperity, and totally fruftrate the 
 
 him great uneafmefs. Certain it is, wife plans he had formed. He 
 
 that this young Prince's condu6l fpeaks here, both as a King and a 
 
 fufficiently confirmed all his Fa- Father, and purfues the fubjed in 
 
 ther's apprehenfions •, fince we find the three following verfes, in the 
 
 from the facred records, im- fame melancholy ftrain. Undoubt- 
 
 mediately on his acceffion to the edly there is nothing that fo deeply 
 
 throne, what calamities his folly aflfefts a wife and good Prince, as 
 
 and rafhnefs brought on the king- the thought that his SuccefTor will 
 
 dom. Nothing feems to lay fo prove foolifh and vicious. 
 
 E 2 ToQ
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 Too indolent and vicious to preferve. 
 
 If this be not a glaring proof, how vain 
 
 Our beft-Iaid fchemes, where fhall we fix the name? 
 
 Such cares are vanity indeed, fore plague . v. 22. 
 
 And torment of the mind ! What other fruit 
 
 Do all our labours yield ? This the reward 
 
 Of all our toilfome days and fleeplefs nights ! v. 25. 
 
 That Prudence, which fhould teach us how t' enjoy 
 
 Thefe fleeting goods below, ferves to no end ■ 
 
 But to increafe our woes, imbitter life, 
 
 And far more wretched make than Heav'n dcfign'd. 
 
 For thefe diforders would'ft thou find a cure, v. 24, 
 
 Such cure as human frailty will admit, :» g*^ . . 
 
 Drive from thee anxious cares, let Reafon curb 
 Thy paffions, and with cheerful heart enjoy 
 That little which the world affords : for here 
 Tho' vain the hopes of perfe<fl happinefs, 
 Yet ftill the road of life, rugged at befl. 
 Is not without its comforts. Let thy foul 
 Rejoice in what thou haft, and reap the fruit 
 Ol: prefent bleflings, unfollicitous 
 Of what's to come : nor, whence deriv'd, forget, 
 Would'ft thou their fweetnefs tafte : Look up to Heay'n, 
 And praife th' all- bounteous Donor, who beftows 
 The pow'r to ufe aright : (For who can tafle v. 25. 
 
 The
 
 ( ^9 ) 
 
 The joys of life, without his gracious aid ? * ) 
 This blefling fole referv'd for thofe, whofe hearts. 
 With awe rehgious, make his will their guide • 
 To fuch he grives true wifdom to direct 
 Their fteps, amidft the world's tempeftuous Tea, 
 A mind ferene : Whilfl: thofe, who difregard 
 His righteous laws, nor tremble at his name, 
 To their own vague defires and reftlefs cares, 
 The cruelleft tormentors, left a prey. 
 
 v.-zk 
 
 * V. 25. " For who can eat, or 
 liiho elfe can hajlen hereunto mere 
 than I? Thefe words, as they ftand 
 in our tranflation, have always ap- 
 peared co me extremely embar- 
 rafiing. Tiie latter part of the 
 verfe is rendered by St. Jerome, 
 Who can abound in delights, by 
 others, Who can enjoy him felf more 
 than I? But neither of thele ver- 
 fions clears up the obfcurity which 
 arifes from the two lafl; words, the 
 original reading whereof feems to 
 have been li^D'J \"in, and not, as 
 the ordinary copies, >12'.3- So 
 ■that thefe words, inftead of being 
 tranflated, as they are in moft of 
 the modern verfions, as \vell as the 
 antient Vulgate, more than T, (hould 
 have been rendered ivilhout him, i. e. 
 without God, juft before mention- 
 ed: According to which con- 
 ftruclion, the meaning is, that no 
 one can have a true relifh of the 
 comforts of life, without the di- 
 vine blefTmg. For firlt, the fsnfe 
 
 can be made out, no other way, 
 fo coherent and proper. Secondly, 
 becaufe I perceive the LXX. the 
 oldeft verfion now extant, read it 
 fo, and other tranflations alfo fol- 
 low the fame reading. But if any 
 one, who allows this reading, 
 Iliould demand, how thefe words 
 come to fignify without him ; I an- 
 fwer, that indeed I do not remem- 
 ber to have met with this phrafe in 
 any other part of Scripture, and 
 therefore it admits of nothinp- but 
 conjeclure : Bur that the fenfe 1 have 
 put upon it, is mofi: probable, as 
 fuiting beft with the defign cf this 
 place, and the ufe of the word Vin 
 in other places, which generally 
 fignifies abroad, or at a diftance. 
 -Thus Dan. xxiii. 12. Thou faalt 
 have a place abroad, at a diftance 
 from, or without, the Camp : So 
 here, Who can ear, &c. abroad, 
 at a diftance from, i. e. as I appre- 
 hend, without him. 
 
 With
 
 ( 30 ) 
 
 With toil incefiant raife a vaft eftate, 
 
 Which, by Hcav'n's juft decree, at length becomes 
 
 His portion, who of tranlitory goods 
 
 Knows the full worth, and how to make the moil. 
 
 Behold! that Treafure, ufelefs to yourfelyes, 
 
 For which your fouls were flrangers to repofe. 
 
 Is now fome comlort to the virtuous man, 
 
 For whom the fmalleft part ye ne'er defign'd *. 
 
 Learn then, ye men of Prudence, learn from hence, c. iii, v. i. 
 How vain your fchemes, deceitful your iond hopes. 
 For as th' unerring hand of God has iix'd 
 The courfe of Nature, fo to all events 
 Are certain bounds prefcribM, which human fkill 
 
 * C. ii. V. 26. Solomon, haviriG; 
 dwelt fo largely, in this chapter, 
 on a very melancholy fiibjed, pre- 
 fcribes, in the three laft verfes, a 
 cure againft defpondency, which 
 he repeats at proper intervals, left 
 iome fhould be too much afFedled 
 with fuch ferious difcourfe. It was 
 far from his intention to throw 
 people inco defpair, but rather to 
 convince them, that the heft reme- 
 dy againft the vanity of this world, 
 was to leave futurity to the fove- 
 reign Difpofcr of events, and cheer- 
 fully to enjoy what his providence 
 has beftowed upon us. This he 
 affirms to be the peculiar gift of 
 God, to thofe that fear him ; and 
 indeed it may be generally ob- 
 iervedj that the truly Religious 
 
 are the moft chearful of all men. 
 As nothing therefore can be more 
 impious than to pervert the Preach- 
 er's words, as fome have done, by 
 making him an advocate for li- 
 centioufnefs, fo nothing can be 
 more abfurd and impertinent than 
 the interpretation of others, to wit, 
 that the enjoyment of temporal 
 goods is a judgment of God for the 
 puniftiment of our fins ; fince it is 
 only the abufe that renders them 
 pernicious : And thofe, who teach 
 the contrary, fhew, by their own 
 example, that they do not believe 
 what they inculcate to others. 
 Without all difpute, there is a 
 certain complacency which may be 
 lawfully taken in the things of this 
 world ; and nothing is more to be 
 
 detefted
 
 { 31 ) 
 
 In vain attempts to pafs. Life's various fcenes 
 Are, like the Seafons, orderly difpos'd ; 
 And iince v^^e cannot change their fettled courfe 
 True Wifdom teaches calmly to fubmit ; 
 T' embrace th' occafions offer'd, nor let flip 
 The precious moments which may ne'er return, 
 And then impute to Heav'n our own negledl ; 
 T' enjoy thefe earthly goods, whilft in ourpow'r. 
 Yet ftill refledl, how foon they may be loft : 
 That Life hath its viciflitudes of pain 
 And pleafure, nothing ftable here below. 
 
 As in its Mother's womb the Embrio lies 
 A fpace determin'd ; to full growth arriv'd. 
 
 v. 2. 
 
 detefled than thehypocrifyof thofe, 
 ^i Curios fimulant, et Bacchanalia 
 viviint. Tho' this world is but a road 
 to another ; yet it is both natural 
 and realbnable to procure as many 
 conveniences as we honeftly can 
 in the pafiage. Solomon is fo far 
 from condemning the innocent 
 pleafures and enjoyments of life, 
 that Mirth itfelf, v/hich in the be- 
 ginning of this chapter, he had rank- 
 ed with Folly and Madnefs, on 
 account of the excefTes it is apt to 
 lead us into, is here put on a level 
 with Wifdom and Knowledge, and 
 made peculiar to good men : For 
 it is to be obferved, that Solomon 
 makes ufe of the very fame word 
 in both places. Notwithftanding 
 
 the vanity he afcribes to human 
 Prudence, no one knew it's real 
 value better than himfelf, how ufe- 
 ful it is in all our a£lions, even to 
 regulate our pleafures, and that to 
 pay no regard to its diftates, would 
 have the fime efted on the moral 
 world, as to remove the Sun out 
 of the natural. As Prudence, in 
 fhort, direfts us to make our lives 
 as comfortable as we can, fo the 
 good of Society requires, that we 
 fliould endeavour to improve our 
 eftates, let who will inherit them. 
 The houfes we build, and the trees 
 we plant, will be ufeful to the next 
 geneiation, let who will dwell in 
 them, or eat the fruit. 
 
 From
 
 ( 30 
 
 From Its dark prifon burfts, and fees the liglitj 
 So is the period lix'd, when man (liall drop 
 Into the Q-rave. A time there is to plant 
 And few, another time to phick and reap. 
 Ev^n Nations have their deftin'd rife and fall ; 
 Av.'hile they flourifh, for defl:ru61ion ripe 
 When grown, are rooted up, like wither'd plants. 
 
 The Healing Art, when out of feafon us'd, v. 3. 
 
 Pernicious proves, and ferves to haften death ; 
 But timely Med'cines drooping Nature raife. 
 And health reftore.— Nov/ Juftice weilds her fword 
 With wholefome rigor, nor th' offender fpares j 
 But Mercy now is more expedient found. 
 
 On crazy fabrics ill-tim'dcoft beflow'd, 
 No purpofe anfwers, when Difcretion bids 
 To pull them down, and wait a feafon fit 
 
 To build anew. When private griefs afFedl v. 4. 
 
 The heart, our tears with decentJbrrow flow ; 
 Nor lefs becoming, when the Public mourns, 
 To vent the deepeft fighs. But all around 
 When things a fmiling afpedl bear, our fouls- 
 May well exult; 'tis then a time for joy. 
 
 One while domeftic cares abortive prove, v. 5. 
 
 And then fuccefsful. — Nature now invites 
 Connubial pleafures, but, when languid grown, 
 
 Regards
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 Regards no more. — Commerce produces wealth, v. 6. 
 
 Whilft time of gaining lafts ; from ev'ry point 
 
 Blow profp'rous gales : now Heav'n begins to low'r, 
 
 And all our hopes are blafted. — Prudence bids 
 
 One while our treafure to referve, and then 
 
 With lib'ral hand to fcatter wide. How ofr, 
 
 In raging ftorms, the Owner wifely cafts 
 
 Into the deep his precious Merchandize, 
 
 To fave the found'ring Bark ! — Inteftine broils v. ^. 
 
 And fadlion rend a State: at length the breach 
 
 Is heal'd, and calm enfues.* — Wifdom reftrains 
 
 The tongue, when words are loft : but now 'tis time 
 
 To fpeak, and Silence would be criminal. 
 
 Love turns to hatred \ int'reft or caprice v. g. 
 
 Diftblves the firmeft knot by Friendfhip ty'd. — 
 Contending Nations with revenge inflam'd, 
 Or luft of powV, fell Difcord fhakes awhile 
 Her baleful torch. Now fmiling Peace returns. 
 
 Why cheat we then ourfelves with flatt'ring hopes v. 9. 
 Of Blifs that's never found, or quickly loft? 
 
 * V. .7. " A time to rent^ and to include both public and private 
 
 a time to few." Thefe words are ■ diftrefies, we have rather chofen to 
 
 cbmmonly fuppoled to allude to follow St. Jerome's opinion, who 
 
 jl the Jewilh Cullom of renting their applys the paflage to the great rent 
 
 garments, on hearing the name of or fc'hilrn, which Solomon forefaw, 
 
 God blafphemed, or at the news was near at hand, both in Cliurch 
 
 of any grievous and national cala- and State, and not to beclofed, 
 
 mity,^ But as the 4th verfe feem.s till the coming of the KemaH. 
 
 ';■■■' F Say,
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 Say, what avail thy refllcTs toils and cares 
 
 For things below ? Can'ft thou their nature change? 
 
 Or Heaven's immutable decrees reverfe ? 
 
 Man's utmoftefForts will no more fucceed, 
 
 Beyond the time by Providence ordain'd, 
 
 Than blooming Spring the fruits of Autumn yield*. 
 
 God to the Tons of men this world hath giv'n, ^- 'o- 
 
 Not for a place of reft, but exercife, 
 To try their patience, and fubmiiHon learn 
 To his difpofal, who hath all things rank'd v. u. 
 
 Jn beauteous order, tho' to us, confus'd 
 Their motions feem, becaufe the wondrous plan 
 Is hid from human eyes. Can mortals judge 
 From partial views, which now fo intricate, 
 Involv'd appear, how Nature's fov'reign Lord 
 Will clofe the dark perplexing fcene, at length 
 Wind up the whole, to anfwer his great endspf 
 
 * V. 9. Solomon would teach would attempt to anticipate, or pafs, 
 
 us, by the preceding inftances, that might as well expeft to reap corn, 
 
 all events, particularly thofe rela- before it has fprung out of the 
 
 ting to human affairs, depend on ground. 
 
 the difpofition of things, which in- f V. 1 1. " He hath made every 
 
 elude an infinite variety of circum- thing beautiful in his time ; alfo he 
 
 fiances, wherein man's will hath hath fet the world in their hearts, 
 
 very little fhare,. and often none at fo that no man can find out the 
 
 all ; that every thing is arranged in work that God doth^ from the begin- 
 
 its due order, by an over-ruling ning to the end" This expreflion 
 
 Providence, and hath its deter- Dnb:i ^DJ D^VH Hie, rendered 
 
 mined feafons, which he, who in our Englifh tranQation, alfo he 
 
 hath 

 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 Since things are therefore thus difpos'd, no more 
 Let cares difturb thy mind: whatever this world, 
 Vain as it is, affords, with chearful heart 
 Enjoy ; and, bleft thyfelf, let others (hare 
 The tranfient blefling : -f- 'tis the gift of God; 
 Thankful its fweetnefs tafte, whilft in thy pow'r, 
 Nor fret with impious murmurs, when refum'd : 
 For whatfoe'er befalls, is the refult 
 Of his unerring wifdom: all events, 
 Link'd to each other, by eternal laws 
 Are fix'dj and who can break the golden chain? 
 His providential care, as beft befeems, 
 Or gives or takes; to grieve the fons of men 
 
 V. 14. 
 
 hathfet the world in their heart, has 
 perplexed interpreters with as little 
 reafon as fuccefs. For take the 
 words as they lie, in their common 
 acceptation, and they make an 
 elegant proper fenfe — He hath given, 
 or placed, an hidden duration in the 
 *midft of them, or, in them, i. e. in 
 every thing mentioned in the pre- 
 ceding fentence. Thus all know 
 that jnj is ufed : thus I have 
 fhewed, in the note on v. 4. c. i. 
 that Dbyn is generally to be un- 
 derftood : thus, according to the 
 Hebrew Idiom, ^^^ is frequently 
 taken: and thus the plural affix 
 joined to it, by zfynthefis common 
 to all languages, may relate to that 
 colleftive noun Vdh in the former 
 
 part of the verfe. So that the 
 plain and natural fenfe of thefe 
 words, which have fo greatly em- 
 barrafled Commentators, is, that 
 tho' God has difpofed all events 
 with infinite wifdom, yet we can- 
 not difcover the regularity of the 
 whole plan, becaufe their periods, 
 viciflitudes, and admirable con- 
 nexions are hid from us. It muft 
 be owned, that this conftruflion, 
 which the original will bear, is bed 
 adapted to the fcope of the dif- 
 courfe. 
 
 * V. 12. " The council, which 
 Solomon here gives, from his own 
 obfervation and experience, is not 
 unlike that of the antient heathen 
 Moralift, Bene agere et latari. 
 
 F 2 
 
 Delighteth
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 Delighteth not, but only to withdraw 
 
 From vain purfuits, that they may learn to feek 
 
 Subftantial Good ; amidft the ftorms of life, 
 
 As the fure anchor of their fouls, to truft 
 
 In him alone, and, as the worft of ills, 
 
 To dread his anger. By no other laws ^*'"- '^" 
 
 He governs now, than fuch as fway'd the world 
 
 From its creation, and will ever fway 
 
 To its laft period. Nature ftill purfues 
 
 The fame unvaried courfe, and Providence, 
 
 111 all its difpenfations, ftill the fame. 
 
 But what enjoyment can our labours yield, ^"- "^• 
 
 When ev'n the remedy prefcrib'd by Heav'n. 
 To cure diforders, proves our deadlieft bane ? 
 When God's Vicegerents, deftin'd to protect: 
 The weak from infolence of Pow'r, to guard 
 Their lives and fortunes, impious robbers turn. 
 And, or by force or fraud, deprive of both ? 
 
 Too long indeed the Commonwealth has groan'd 
 Beneath this heavy fcourge. With deep regret 
 How oft have I obferv'd thofe Courts, which bear 
 The rev'rend name of Juflice, thus abus'd ! 
 To what afylum fhall the injur'd fly 
 From her tribunal, where perverted Law 
 
 Acquits
 
 ( 37) 
 
 Acquits the guilty, innocence condemns?* 
 
 Yet let not Virtue deem it felf by Heav'n v. 17. 
 
 Abandon'd and forgot, tho' here opprefs'd : 
 
 For fure a time will come, when God fhall plead 
 
 Its caufe: before his awful throne, the Judge 
 
 Himfelf fhall then be judg'd, to ftrid: account 
 
 Be brought, and hear the righteous doom pronounc'd. 
 
 Such grievances, which fore infefh a State, v. 18. 
 
 Hard to redrefs the beft of Princes find. 
 This fad refledion forc'd me thus to figh, — 
 Oh! that th' Almighty would difpell the mifts 
 Which blind the Great, by pride and paflion rais'd., 
 Lay open to themfelves their own defedls, 
 And teach them to difcern, that mighty men, 
 Tho' for their dignity to Gods compar'd. 
 Are like the beafts that perifh.-t — Man was born v. ,n. 
 
 *,V. 16. " And moreover, Ifaw 
 under the Sun the place of Judgment, 
 ■that wickednefs was there, and the 
 place of righteoufnefs, that iniquity 
 'was there." Solomon here enters on 
 a new topic of Vanity, to wit, the 
 abufe of Power. It appears from 
 hence, that he had obferved many 
 iniquitous practices, even in the 
 Courts of Juftice, which were fo 
 artfully carried on, as to elude all 
 his vigilance, infomuch that he 
 was forced to leave thofe wicked 
 Magiftrates to the judgment of 
 Heaven, 
 
 -f- V. 18. " / y«/i in my heart, 
 concerning the ftate of the fens of 
 men, that God might manifejl them, 
 and that they might fee, that they 
 themfelves are beafls." Thus the 
 words ftand in our TranflatiGn, 
 and have always appeared to me 
 fo obfcure, that I was extremely 
 embarrafled about their true mean- 
 ing, 'till I perceived, on confulting 
 the original, that, by turning the 
 affirmative into an earncft v.'ilh, or 
 paflionate exclamation, as the fenfe 
 evidently requires, they are not 
 only rendered more elegant, but 
 
 become
 
 (38 ) 
 
 To die, nor aiiglit exceeds, in this refped 
 
 The vilcft Brute: Both, tranfient, frail j and vain, 
 
 Draw the fame breath, ahke grow old, decay, v. 20. 
 
 And then expire : both to one grave defcend, 
 
 There blended lie, to native duft refolv'd. 
 
 The nobler part of Man, 'tis true, furvives v. zi. 
 
 This frail corporeal frame ; but who regards 
 The difF'rence? Thofe, who live like beafts, as fuch 
 Would die, and be no more, if their own fate ■ 
 Depended on themfelves. Who once refleds, 
 Amidfl: his revels, that the human foul, 
 Of origin celeftial, mounts aloft, 
 Whilft that of Brutes to earth (liall downward go, 
 And its exiftence lofe?* — Since therefore thus v. 22. 
 
 become perfeftly clear and intelli- N\:x\^zx.t,l£ oftcndent ftmiks effe bef- 
 
 gible. '•'■ I faid in 7ny heart, re- tiis, as the fcope of Solomon's rea- 
 
 fieP.ing on thejlate of the fans of men, foning plainly requires. It ought 
 
 Oh ! that God would enlighten them, to be farther obferved here, thai 
 
 and wake them fee, that even they from the prefent comparifon of 
 
 iheinfelves are \\k.t beafls." Theju- great wicked men to beafts, Solo- 
 
 dicious Reader will inftantly per- mon takes occafion to enforce the 
 
 ceive, that the whole difficulty and fubjedt, by mentioning the ftate of 
 
 obfcurity are removed by this flight mankind in general^ with refpeft 
 
 alteration. Various are the inter- to the mortality of their bodies, 
 
 pretations of this verfe ; but no- and then, by an cafy tranfition, 
 
 thing, I think, can be clearer than touches, in the next verfe, on the 
 
 that the words are to be referred great point, which is of fuch infi- 
 
 to thofe in authority, who abufed nite confequence to Religion, 
 
 their power, particularly to the cor- * V. 21. '■'■Who knoweth the 
 
 ruptMagiftrates,juft before fpoken fpirit of Man that goeth upwards, 
 
 of. The latter part of the verfe I and the fpirit of 'the beafi that goeth 
 
 have turned, in conformity to the downwards to the earth ? " Mofl; 
 
 modern
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 Diforders reign, and here fo fliort our ftay, 
 The Preacher, by experience taught, has found 
 That 'tis by far the wifeft courfe to make 
 The moft of what this world affords, and tafle 
 Its fleeting joys, with mind ferene and calm, 
 As reafon will : for 'tis our portion here, 
 And all that from the world we can exped:. 
 How, or to whom thy wealth fhall be difposM, 
 Or of thy toils and cares what the refult, 
 When thou art gone, is no concern of thine : 
 For who fhall bring thee back to fee th' event 
 Of things, o'er which in mercy Heav'n has thrown 
 A veil too dark for mortal eye to pierce ? 
 
 modern Verfions, following the which evidently implies, that there 
 
 Vulgate, make this queftion to be is a moft eflential diftinftion, the' 
 
 propofed by way of doubt, as if wicked men feldom refleft on it, 
 
 man could have no certain know- and when they do, wifh that both 
 
 ledge, whether there is any real were on a level. The two firft 
 
 difference between the human foul words are rendered by Junius and 
 
 and that of brutes. But here we Tieme\\ius,qulsammadvertit,yNhich 
 
 have followed our own Tranfla- €xa6lly comes up to the fenfe we 
 
 tion, as nearer to the original, have given them. 
 
 BOOK
 
 (40 ) 
 
 BOOK 11. 
 
 AS when the weary Trav'ler, having paft c.iv.v. i. 
 
 Some lonely difmal Wafte, in hopes to find 
 An eafier road, fees mountains fteep arife, 
 And craggy rocks impending o'er his hea.dj'-i . * 
 Or hears th' impetuous torrent fiercely roar, 
 Whilft night approaching fpreads her fable wings, 
 And adds new horrors to the dreary fcene : 
 So when I turn'd indignant from the feat 
 Of Judgment with corruption ftain'd, and took 
 A more extenfive view, gloomier appear'd 
 The profpedl. Ev'ry rank of men I faw, . .^"^ 
 
 The methods vile by each purfu'd, t' increafe "' 'jv^ri 
 The weight of human woes. On ev'ry fide, 
 Th' effedls of force, or fraud, or calumny, 
 Spread univerfal mourning. All diffolv'd 
 In tears, th' opprefs'd fent up their fighs to Heav'n, 
 But no relief could find. Who dar'd refifl 
 Th' Opprefibr arm'd with pow'r ? Not one prefum'd 
 
 To
 
 ( 41 ) 
 
 To fliew ev'n pity to the fore-diftrers'd. * 
 
 Struck with the deepeft grief, How bleft, I cry'd, v. ,. 
 Are thofe, who from Life's ftormy fea have 'fcap'd, 
 And reft within the grave ! Still happier thofe 
 Who never liv'd at all, nor knew the plagues 
 That flefh is heir to ! Prone the fons of men 
 Each other to torment, how widely fpreads 
 The dire contagion, both in Small and Great 
 Alike malignant ! Ev'n the meaneft Wretch y 
 
 Has pow'r to hurt, nor fkill nor rancour wants 
 To wring his neighbour's heart. When juft applaufe 
 The dextrous Artift, to perfe<5tion brought 
 His honeft labour, claims, how vain his hope ! 
 For tho' from great Oppreflbrs he efcape. 
 Yet Equals or Inferiors oft combine 
 To murder his repofe : by Envy mov'd, 
 That canker of the foul, which, like a worm, 
 Preys on the faireft fruit, at his fuccefs 
 
 * V. I . " So I returned, and either to the perfon, eftate, or re- 
 
 conjtdered all the Ofprejfions that are putation of any one -, it is taken in 
 
 done under the Sun ; and behold ! the the latter fenfe by the LXX and 
 
 tears of fuch as were opprejfed, and Vulgate ; and, as appears from the 
 
 they had no-ne to comfort them ; and, fubfequent verfes, is fo chiefly ap- 
 
 on the part of their Oppreffors was plied by Solomon. Undoubtedly, 
 
 power, but there was no Comforter " there cannot be a more grievous 
 
 The word, Oppeffions, compre- opprefllon than robbing a man of 
 
 hends all kinds of injuries done his good name. 
 
 G They
 
 ( 4^ ) 
 
 TLey pine, his worth depreciate, blaft his name.* 
 
 With folded arms the lazy Caitiff fits, 
 And, grip'd by penury, gnaws his own ilefh;- 
 Pleads in excufe, that eafe, v/ith fcantieft fare. 
 Is fvveeter far than affluence gain'd with toil 
 And cares inceffant. Specious is the plea, 
 But ill-apply'd by Sloth, whofe wretched flate, 
 Tho' none will envy, juftly draws contempt, t 
 
 Again refle(5ling, I perceiv'd, how oft 
 Induftry, which, apply 'd to ufeful ends, 
 Is wont t'invigorate the mind, betrays 
 To foul extremes, fordid as Sloth itfelf. 
 See there a man, whofe foul is fo engrofs'd 
 
 V. 
 
 V.6. 
 
 V.7. 
 
 V. 8, 
 
 * V. 4. " Jgain I cotijidered all 
 travel., and every right, or fuccefs- 
 ful work, that for this a man is en- 
 vied of his neighbour. This is alfo 
 vanity and vexation offpirit." Solo- 
 mon intimates here, what everyone 
 may find by his own experience, 
 to wit, that the great variety of 
 diftrefles we fee in the world, is 
 not entirely owing to the pride, 
 eruelty, and injuftice of the Great 
 and Wealthy, but,' in good mea- 
 fure, to the malignant difpofition 
 of the lower rank of people towards 
 each other. 
 
 t V. 5. " The Fool foldeth his 
 hands, and eateth his own flejh. 
 V. 6. Better is one handful with 
 quietnefs, than both the hands full 
 
 with travel and vexation offpirit.''* 
 In the former of thefe verfes we 
 have a ftriking pifture of Sloth and 
 Envy, which are generally infepa- 
 rable companions. Some will have 
 the latter verfe to contain the Fool's 
 or envious man's excufe for his in- 
 dolence, as the Vulgate under- 
 ftand it. Others look on the words 
 as Solomon's own refl(;d:ion, on the 
 happinefs of a middling ftation and 
 moderate competency. "We have 
 taken them in both fenfes, as equally 
 applicable to the fubjedl. It may 
 be obferved, frpm the fix preceding 
 verfes, that Solomon had a very 
 tender compaffion for the miferablc 
 part of mankind, in what manner 
 foever injured. 
 
 By
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 By Avarice, that, tho' in him expires 
 His race, yet ftill he toils with endlefs care 
 To fwell the glitt'ring heap that feeds his eyes • 
 Nor once refledls, For whom do I thus toil, 
 Of ev'ry comfort thus my foul bereave ; 
 Thus wretched live, and unlamented die ? 
 No Child, no Relative, to fhare my wealth, 
 No Friend to fheda tear, when I'm no more? 
 
 How difF'rent this from Nature's law, which bids v. 9, 
 The human race in mutual commerce join, 
 To bear each other's burdens, that the weight 
 May lighter fit ! For what is Man alone ? 
 Forlorn indeed the man who hath no friend 
 To pity his diftrefs, relieve his wants, 
 And raife his drooping fpirits ! When he falls. 
 In vain he fighs for help. — But what Co fweet 
 As the Connubial State, ordain'd by Heav'n, 
 Source of domeftic joys, where fouls unite 
 In mutual love ! Did not th' all-bounteous Lord, 
 Who knows our frailties and our wants, forefee. 
 That man, amidft ev'n Paradice itfelf. 
 Still wanted fomething to complete his blifs. 
 And therefore gave an Helpmate, who might fhare 
 His toils, with foft endearments footh his cares, 
 If cares he had, and double all his joys? '' 
 
 G 2 Such
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 Such are the fruits of fecial life ! And fiich 
 Ev'n now the marriage-ftate attend ! Two fouls, 
 When join'd in one, mufl feel each other's wrongs. 
 And with united force repel th' affault : 
 Th' indignant offspring fly, as duty calls, 
 To aid their injur'd Parent ; ev'ry Friend 
 Extends his hand : And as a three-fold cord 
 Is hardly broken, no lefs hard the tafk 
 Will malice find to break thro' fuch a fence. 
 
 Perhaps thou'lt cry, Since man was not defign d v. i?. 
 For folitude, 'tis beft to live in crouds : 
 Behold a Prince ! With what obfequious air 
 Courtiers attend, and num'rous guards furround! 
 Alas ! A Throne, with all its glaring pomp, 
 What is it, if with wifdom unadorn'd. 
 But a difgrace to Royalty ? The wife 
 And virtuous Youth, tho' fprung of humble race, 
 And poor of fortune's gifts, by far excells 
 The mightieft Monarch, hoary grown in vice, 
 Slave to his paflions, obftinate and proud, 
 And deaf to wholefome councils. Such a Youth, y. ,4, 
 Tho' much abas'd *, fhall bravely force his way 
 
 * V. 14. The Youth here fpoken houfi of bandage, which is ex- 
 of is faid to come out of prifon, lite- plained, in the next note, 
 rally, from the houfe of chains, or 
 
 To
 
 ( 45 ) 
 
 To dignity fupreme and lafting fame j 
 Whilft he, who fat aloft in regal ftate, 
 And boafted a long line of Anceftors 
 Illuftrious for their virtues, fhall defcend 
 Beneath the meanefl: Slave, by Folly ftript 
 Of all his glory, poor, defpis'd, forgot, 
 Or, if remember'd, only to his (hame. 
 
 Yet ftill another fcene remains, to grieve v. i<;. 
 
 The aged Monarch's heart. — What is't that moves 
 Yon giddy people thus in crouds to throng, 
 And rend w^ith acclamations loud the air ? 
 Lo ! .their young Prince, deftin'd to mount the throne, v. 16. 
 Appears. — See, with what raptures on him gaze. 
 And, as the rifing Sun, all ranks adore ! 
 Vain human grandeur I How precarious thine 
 Exiftence, which depends on vulgar breath 
 So prone to change ! Ev'n thus the hoary King 
 Was once carefs'd : thus ev'ry tongue confpir'd 
 To found his praife, and ev'ry knee was bent 
 In duteous homage. Thus the blooming Heir 
 Shall feel the fad reverfe, honour'd awhile, 
 Then, like his Sire, contemn'd, abhorr'd, forgot.* 
 
 * V. 16. Every circumftance that vanity is no lefs confpicnous 
 evinces, that Solomon, in the four in the higheft than the lowed fta- 
 preceding verfes, alludes to him- tion. Having been perverted to 
 felf, as a melancholy inftance, idolatry in his old age, and, in all 
 
 proba-
 
 { 46 ) 
 
 Since all things thus our fondeft hopes elude, 
 And, like a lonely Pilgrim, the tir'd foul 
 Still wanders on, thro' devious paths, in fearch 
 Of what it ne'er can find; where fliall we fly 
 For folid comfort? — Turn, yefbn&of men, 
 And hearken to the Preacher's voice, who points 
 The road that leads to Happinefe : in this 
 Alone, your journey will fuccefsful prove. 
 
 When to the facred Temple ye diredt 
 Your fteps, be fiU'd with reverential awe 
 At God's all-piercing eye, and cleanfe your hearts 
 From foul affedions. Would ye ofFer up 
 Such facrifice as his acceptance claims, 
 Hope not with fragrant incenfe to attone 
 
 C. V. V. I, 
 
 probability, paying no regard to 
 the remonftrances of fome good 
 men who dared to tell hirn the 
 truth, he might well ftyle himfelf 
 an old and foolijh King, who would 
 not he admoniped. About this time, 
 as the facred hiftory informs us, 
 God ftirred up feveral enemies 
 againft him, the principal of which 
 was Jeroboam, an obfcure young 
 man, who, having diftinguiflied 
 himfelf for his virtue or courage, 
 and thereby raifed the jealoufy of 
 Solomon, was forced to fly into 
 Egypt, which in Scripture is em* 
 phatically called the houfe of bon- 
 dagCy from whence he returned, 
 
 after that Prince's deceafe, and 
 feized on the greater part of the 
 kingdom. There is fufficient rea- 
 fon to believe, that this is what he 
 glances at, in the two former 
 verfes, as forefeeipg the confe- 
 quences of his own mifmanage- 
 ment. In the two latter, he plainly 
 hints at his fon Rehoboam, and has 
 therein drawn a very natural pic- 
 ture of the ficklenel's of the peo- 
 ple, as well as ingratitude of Cour- 
 tiers, who are wont to defpife their 
 King, when he is in the decHne of 
 Jife, and to turn their eyes towards 
 his Succeflbr, who feldom conti- 
 nues long in their favour. 
 
 His
 
 (47 ) 
 
 His wrath, nor ev'n with coftly hecatombs 
 
 To bribe his gracious prcfence. What avail 
 
 External rites, when inward fandity 
 
 Is wanting ? Thoughtlefs Fools ! ye cheat yourfelves 
 
 With vain expence, and Heav'n mocks at your pray'rs.* 
 
 When ye approach his altar, on your lips v. 2. 
 
 Set ftrideft guard, and let your thoughts be pure. 
 Fervent, and recolledled : thus prepar'd. 
 Send up the Ulent breathings of your fouls 
 SubmifTive to his will : for he looks down 
 From Heav'n, and with paternal care prevents 
 Our real wants, before we a{k ; nor heeds y. 3. 
 
 Long empty bablings, which proceed from want 
 Of due attention, no lefs vain, abfurd. 
 And incoherent, than thofe idle Dreams 
 Which daily cares produce, when Reafon yeilds 
 The reins to fportive Fancy's wild career. 
 
 Perhaps fome deep diftrefs, or fit of zeal 
 Has rais'd a tranfient glow within thy breafl, 
 And prompts the folemn vow. Beware, my Son, 
 
 * V. I . Solomon, having be- excellent direftions with regard to 
 
 fore intimated, tho' very briefly, the right performance of divine 
 
 that the only cure againft human fervice, the nature of vocal and 
 
 vanity, is a due fenfe of Religion, mental prayer, the danger of rafh 
 
 now enters more largely on this vows, &c. 
 important fubjeft, and gives fome 
 
 Of
 
 ( 48 ) 
 
 Of fclf-deceit ; maturely weigh thy ftrength^ 
 
 Nor railily trifle with Omnipotence : 
 
 But when th' irrevocable word hath pad 
 
 Thy lips, feek no pretences for delay : 
 
 Perform it inftantly ; for thou art bound v. j. 
 
 By facred ties ; 'tis a juft debt thou ow'ft 
 
 To the tremendous Majefty of Heav'n, 
 
 And plac'd to thine account : Heav'n will require 
 
 Full payment, and, on failure, fure avenge 
 
 The impious mockery. Let not thy words, y ^^ 
 
 Thus rafhly utter'd, draw upon thine head 
 
 The guilt of Sacrilege ; nor hope t' excufe 
 
 That crime, which th' unfeen meffengers of Heav'n, 
 
 Who watch o'er human adions, ftridt obferve, * 
 
 That crime, which, in eternal regifters, 
 
 Recorded ftands, by pleading ignorance, 
 
 Or want of due refledion. Why fuch pleas, 
 
 Falfe and deceitful as thy broken vows, 
 
 Whiph aggravate their guilt, and God provoke 
 
 * V. 6. Nor fay before the Angel, ludestothofegIorifiedrreatures,fty- 
 
 ihat i't %vas an error, ^c." Amidfl: led miniftring Spirits who arefup- 
 
 the variety of interpretations given pofed, both by Jews and Chriftians, 
 
 of this verfe, particularly of the to watch over mankind, to infpedV, 
 
 word. Angel, we have followed the with more than ordinary attention, 
 
 opinion of thofe Commentators, their deportment in places dedl- 
 
 svho think that Solomon here al- cated to divine worfliip. 
 
 To
 
 \ 
 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 To blafl thy fairefl hopes? For as in dreams v. 7. 
 
 Fantaftic fcenes are form'd, which inftant fade • 
 
 So all thy fchemes fhall vanifli into air 
 
 Bafelefs and vain. Say, what haft thou to dread, 
 
 If Heav'n approve thy works, or what to hope, 
 
 If Heav'n is wrath? Fear him alone, who guides 
 
 The courfe of Nature. — Unrefledling men v. 8. 
 
 Are apt to be alarm'd, and ev'n to doubt 
 
 His providential care of things below, 
 
 When they behold Virtue deprefs'd, and Vice 
 
 Triumphant. 'Tis a gloomy fcene, indeed, 
 
 And fhocking : but the profpedl foon will end, 
 
 And fet all right. Tremble, ye mighty ones, 
 
 Who thus your pow'r abufe* for he, that fits 
 
 On high, the Judge fupreme, is mightier far : 
 
 He, from his Throne fublime, with piercing eye, 
 
 The dark receffes of each human heart 
 
 Obferves, and ev'ry adion ftridly weighs 
 
 In his impartial ballance. Marvel not, 
 
 Ye Righteous, if his difpenfations here 
 
 Unequal feem. What tho' diforders reign ? 
 
 He ftill prefides, and with unerring hand 
 
 Direds the vaft machine : his Widom can 
 
 From difcord harmony produce, and make 
 
 H Ev'n
 
 ( 50 ) 
 
 Ev'n Vice itfelf fubfervient to his ends, 
 
 As when from Chaos rude, he form'd the World. 
 
 Nor here below, in this diforder'd ftate, v. 9, 
 
 Is Heav'n fo partial, as ungrateful Man 
 Complains. How little Nature fatisfies, 
 Let th' Earth, indulgent Mother, tell, whofe fruits 
 Supply the real wants of all : ev'n Kings 
 Were Tillers once, nor rural toils difdain'd, 
 And ftill fubfift on what her culture yields. 
 Why then do we thus murmur at the want v. 10. 
 
 Of ufelefs wealth ? Why from her bowels tear, 
 And hoard the fhining ore, which only ferves, 
 Like pining Atrophy, t' augment the rage 
 Of hunger, but no fuflenance affords ? 
 Why join we houfe to houfe, and field to field, y. n. 
 
 If this increafe our cares, enlarge th' expence. 
 And make us flaves to thofe who ftill confume 
 The produdl ? To the haughty Lord remains 
 What but mere empty fliew, a vain parade, 
 To feed his eyes ? — Ev'n Poverty itfelf, y ^^ 
 
 The' deem'd by feme the heavieft curfe, is not 
 Without its bleffings : See the man, who toils 
 For daily bread, with fcanty fare content : 
 How fweet his fleep ! Whilft tirefome indolence 
 And luxury, attendants of the Great, 
 
 Drive
 
 
 f SI ) 
 
 Drive {lumber from their couch. — Still other plagues, v. 13. 
 
 A gaftly train, frequent on wealth attend. 
 
 Havx I not feen the hoarded treafure prove 
 
 Deftrudlive to its Owner, ftript of all, 
 
 Perhaps of life itfelf, by Rufhan fly ? 
 
 Should he efcape this danger, yet how ofr, v. 14. 
 
 By fatal accidents, are blafted all 
 
 His hopes! like melting fnow before the Sun, 
 
 Behold, his large poffeflions wafte away, 
 
 Nor has he aught to leave th' expe6ling Heir. 
 
 But whatfoe'er th' event, fix in thy mind ^"- '^' 
 
 This ferious Truth, — Tho' he retain his wealth. 
 
 And hug the darling idol of his foul 
 
 To his laft breath, yet fhall he carry nought 
 
 Away, but naked to his Mother's womb, y^^ ^g 
 
 Juft as he came from thence, return. Say, then, 
 
 What has he gain'd, by lab'ring thus to grafp 
 
 Mere fmoak and wind ? How wjretched his eftate ! v. 17. 
 
 Stranger to ev'ry joy of life, and torn 
 
 With moft tormenting paffions, at th' approach 
 
 Of Death : for tho' his wealth was of no ufe 
 
 Or to himfelf or others, yet the thouaht. 
 
 The racking thought of leaving it behind. 
 
 Fills him with, rage and madntfs : not more fad 
 
 And doleful is the lafl adieu 'twixt foul 
 
 H 2 And
 
 And body ; fharp as death itfelf the pangs, 
 
 And bitter is the parting. * — Should'ft thou afk, y. is 
 
 What then the ufe of riches ? To what end 
 
 Were they beftow'd ? Let me repeat once more 
 
 That precept, which, by long experience taught, 
 
 I counfel thee to pradice. What thou haft. 
 
 With chearfulnefs enjoy, and as becomes 
 
 Thy ftation : reap the fruit, whilft Heav'n permits. 
 
 Of all thy honeft labours j and, fmce Life 
 
 Is but a fpan, let not fuperfluous cares. 
 
 Or gloomy thoughts contract its narrow fpace ; 
 
 For 'tis thy portion here, t This fage advice 
 
 Reafon and Nature diftate. Learn from hence, 
 
 That Riches unenjoy'd, or mifapply'd, 
 
 Are fatal fnares, and oft as curfes fent : 
 
 The greateft bleffing is a mind difpos'd 
 
 To ufe them right : 'Tis God's peculiar gift, 
 
 *• V. 17. It may be gathered earth, Co much addided to the 
 
 from the preceding verfes, as well fcraping up of m.oney, by right or 
 
 as from other pafl'ages on the fame wrong, and fo little reaping the 
 
 fubjcft, that Avarice was Solo- benefit of it. 
 men's peculiar averfion, and it + V. 18. This advice to live 
 
 mull be owned, he has painted it chearfully, as we before obferved, 
 
 in very ftrong and lively colours, is repeated at proper intervals ; and 
 
 This odious Vice, it feems, was no the reader can fcarce avoid taking 
 
 lefs . frequent in his days, among nctice how judicioufly it always 
 
 the Jews, than it is at prefent. comes in, after fome fad and me- 
 
 Terhaps there is not a people on lancholy fubj-d. 
 
 Beftow'd 
 
 V. ig.
 
 ( S3 ) 
 
 Beftovv'd on few, and doubly bleft the man y. 20. 
 
 By Heav'n thus favour'd : no corroding thoughts 
 
 Difturb his mind ; fafe on the ftrand, he views 
 
 The foaming Deep, and hears the billows roar, 
 
 Calm and fcrene : The road of Life to him, 
 
 Or long or £hort, rugged or fmooth, with thorns 
 
 Cerfpre.id, or gay with tioVv''rs, is but a road : 
 
 Such fare as offers, grateful he accepts, 
 
 And fmiling to his native Home proceeds. 
 
 But here below, how rarely to be feen c.vi. v. i. 
 
 Is this delightful profpe<£l ! Ail around 
 The hideous contrafte flrikes mine eyes, and fliews 
 How frequent thofe, who, though in worldly goods 
 Abounding, have not pow'r to tafte their fweets. 
 God, in his heavy wrath, fuch ample wealth y. 2. 
 
 Has fhow'r'd, that no enjoyment wanting feenis 
 To their fouls' largeft wifhes, but deny'd 
 A well-difpofed mind, of greater price 
 Than all the gold of Ophir. Hence, like Slaves 
 Condemn'd to mines, who for their Mafters dio- 
 The precious metal, they, with plenty curfi:, 
 IncefTant toil t' enrich they know not whom, 
 Wretched and poor themfelves. How glaring this 
 A proof, that Wealth alone to Happinefs 
 
 Will not conduce! But in a flronser li^ht 
 
 C3 t> 
 
 The
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 The picflure let us place. Suppofe a man 
 
 Of this unhappy turn, (for Rich there are) 
 
 Who hath a num'rous offspring, and his years 
 
 Prolong'd. What then ? If he ne'er knew the' joys 
 
 Of life, and wants, when dead a fepulchre, 
 
 Or monumental flone, * to tell the world, 
 
 That once he was ; happier by far I deem 
 
 Th' untimely Birth, which to no purpofe came, 
 
 Departs unnotic'd, in eternal fhades 
 
 Of darknefs loft ; yea, ftill more bleft in this, 
 
 That if its eyes ne'er faw the cheering Sun, 
 
 It likewife never knew the plagues and cares 
 
 To man allotted. Some, too fond of Life, 
 
 May think, perhaps, becaufe the one lives long, 
 
 The other not at all, that this man's ftate 
 
 Is far to be prefer r'd. O vain furmife ! 
 
 I tell thee, felf-deceiver, tho' his years 
 
 Surpafs'd the antient Patriarch's age twice told. 
 
 They would but multiply his woes : and fure, 
 
 V.4- 
 
 v.s- 
 
 V.6, 
 
 "f v. c?. " If his foul be not filled 
 with good, and alfo that he have no 
 burial." Some iinderftand thefe 
 words, as if the rich Mifcr, here 
 fpoken of, were of fo fordid a tem- 
 per as to begrudge himfelf the ex- 
 pence of a decent funeral. The 
 moft common interpretation is, 
 
 that his lieirs have fo little regard 
 for him, as to give themfelves no 
 concern at all about his interment, 
 or at lead, ered: no monument to 
 his memory, which was looked 
 upon as a great misfortune both 
 among Jews and Pagans. 
 
 Life,
 
 ( 55 ) 
 
 Life, on fuch terms, is worfe than not to be. 
 
 His years, at length expir'd, no more appear 
 
 Than as a moment paft. What then avail 
 
 His toils and cares, or cv'n his hoarded wealth ? 
 
 Will riches then exempt him from the grave. 
 
 The fame dark manfion, where th' Abortive fleeps ? * 
 
 What pains do mankind take to render life ^- 1 
 
 Gloomy and wretched, when, with fo much eafe 
 They might be happy ! If we fought no more 
 Than fimple Nature craves ; and what fhe craves 
 How eafily fupply'd, content with food 
 And raiment !) all our wants would be confin'd 
 To narrow Bounds : but Pride and Avarice 
 Enlarge them, 'till they fwell to infinite. 
 And therefore never fatisfy'd. For what 
 Of real ufe, can all our toils produce. 
 But mere fubfiftence ? What advantage have 
 The Wife, in this refped, o'er Fools ? Or what 
 
 * V. 6. It appears from this , often make an ill ufe of them, and 
 ftriking inflance, that Solomon has think no more of us, when we are 
 placed Avarice in the only light , gone. It may be gathered from 
 wherein it may feem ro plead fom6 this and other paflac-es, that as no 
 excufe, and fliewn the felly of it. one took more care than Solomon 
 Undoubtedly, nothing can be more to make a plentiful provifion for 
 prepofterous than to deprive our- his Family, fo he was naturally 
 felves of all the comforts of life, inclined to cheerfiilnefs, and en- 
 for the fake of heaping up vaft joying himfeif the fruit of his 
 riches for our children, who too labour. 
 
 The 
 
 V. 8.
 
 ( 56 ) 
 
 The Vv^calthy o'er the Poor? To fix our hearts 
 On that which Heaven's immediate Bounty gives, 
 Is to enjoy this World, as Heav n defign'd : 
 Whilft vague defires for what may never come. 
 Or granted, would pernicious prove, diftradl 
 The mind, imbitter life with endlefs cares, 
 And late convince, how vain our fond purfuits. 
 
 What is this bufy, reftlefs creature, then, v. lo. 
 
 Who forms fuch mighty fchemes, fuch wondrous plans 
 T' immortalize his glory, and would grafp 
 The Univerfe ? 'Tis Man : his very name 
 Declares him frail and mortal, made of duft ; * 
 And yet fo arrogant, he would reverfe 
 Heaven's firm decrees. How feeble fuch an arm 
 Contending with th' Almighty ! Learn to know v. n. 
 Thyfelf : for fince this world was not defign'd 
 For thine abode, and flitting as the wind. 
 Are all its offers ; fince thefe earthly things, 
 The more purfu'd, betray their emptinefs, 
 Elude our hopes, and add to our chagrin ; 
 What gain we, at the journey's end, but fhame 
 Of time mifpent, and bitternefs of foul ? 
 
 * Folomon here alludes to the nal, fignifies earth or duft. 
 word, Jdam, which, in the origi- 
 
 Suppofe
 
 V. 12. 
 
 ( 57 ) 
 
 Suppofe thy ardent wifli accomplifli'd, ftill 
 How wide a gulph 'twixt thee and Happinefs! 
 That things are vain and tranfient, all agree : 
 The point in queftion, is, what ftate the moft 
 For Man's advantage, during this fhort Hfe, 
 Which, Hke a fhadow, fwift, but unperceiv'd, 
 Hafteth to its decHne ? In this great point 
 The fatal error Hes. For who but God 
 Can tell th' event ? Since that, which feem'd the mark 
 Of his difpleafure, oft a bleffing proves j 
 And fondeft expedlations gratify 'd, 
 Are dearly purchas'd with our certain bane. 
 
 Yet ftill, amidft thefe tranfitory fcenes, c.vu.v.i. 
 
 Something there is, well worth a wife man's care. 
 And fcorn'd by none but Fools. — A fpotlefs name. 
 By virtuous deeds acquir'd, is fweeter far 
 Than fragrant Balms, whofe odours, round difFus'd, 
 Regale th' invited guefts : It cheers the heart, 
 Like fome rich cordial, gives the Owner joy 
 Whilft here, and, when no more, with lafting praife 
 His memory embalms. Well may fuch men 
 Rejoice at Death's approach, and blefs the hour 
 That ends their toilfome pilgrimage, affur'd. 
 That, 'till the race of Hfe is iinifh'd, none 
 Can be completely bleft. — Stop here, ye fons y. z. 
 
 I Of
 
 (58) 
 
 OF Pleafure ; hearken to the Preacher's voice, 
 . Whofe fage advice, harfli as it feems, will guide 
 Your wandring fteps, and to that calm Retreat, 
 So vainly fought in Folly's mazy paths, 
 At length condud: your fouls. 'Tis fad, indeed. 
 To enter into Mourning's fable room. 
 Where lies the pale extended coarfe, and fighs 
 Deep-fetch'd bewail the dear departed Friend : 
 Yet let not this deter. Here may'fl: thou learn 
 Into thyfelf to enter, here reflecSt 
 On thy own frail condition, and how foon 
 Others may mourn for thee. Such ferious thoughts y 3. 
 May o'er thy vifage caft a penfive air, 
 And force the trickling tear ; but they colled 
 The diflipated mind, reftrain th' excefs 
 Of our tumultuous pafHons, and amend 
 The heart. Such wifdom thou canft never learn 
 From noify Mirth, which at the Feaft prefides, v. 4. 
 
 And ftifles cool refledion. Oft the Wife 
 Retir'd, in fadly-pleafmg folitude 
 And filent contemplation, meditate 
 On Man's frail nature : thus familiar grown 
 With Death, they wait undaunted his approach: 
 Whilft Fools, who in continu'd revels wafte 
 Their fleeting moments, drive away fuch thoughts 
 
 'TiU
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 'Till fudden the grim Meffenger appears, 
 
 And ftares them in the face. Oh ! let my words y- 5- 
 
 Sink deep into thy foul : for fuch rebukes, 
 
 Like pow'rful med'cines, bitter to the ta/le, 
 
 Tho' harfh, proclaim the Friend ; whilft Flatt'ry fofc 
 
 And fmiling, offers thee her golden cup 
 
 With deadly poifon fraught. At length thou'lt find 
 
 That all the mighty expe<5lations rais'd 
 
 By Pleafure, fweet Enchantrefs, with her train 
 
 Of Laughter, Jeft, and Song, the fumptuous Feaft, 
 
 FLdl-flowing Bowl, and midnight Roar, will end v. 6. 
 
 Like crackling Thorns, beneath a cauldron plac'd. 
 
 Which blaze awhile, but foon reduc'd to fmoak. 
 
 Methinks, I hear thee cry. Is Wifdom, then, v. 7. 
 Which gives fuch fage advice, always exempt 
 From Vanity's aflaults ? Alas ! 'tis true. 
 That ev'n the Wife, when robb'd by flandrous tongues 
 Of their good name that jewel of the foul, 
 Or much opprefs'd by lawlefs pow'r, are apt 
 To vent indecent murmurs, unreftrain'd 
 By Reafon's fober guidance: And too oft, 
 The cleareft judgment tempting bribes pervert, 
 And foundeft heart corrupt. — Wilt thou, for this, 
 Juftice divine arraign, and rafhly charge 
 Eternal Reditude ? Prefumptuous Man ! y.s 
 
 I 2 Wait
 
 ( 6o ) 
 
 Wait the refult ; nor afk, with frantic rage, 
 Why God permits fuch things : his ways, tho' now 
 Involv'd in clouds and darknefs, will appear 
 All right, when from thine eyes the mifl is cleared : 
 'Till then, to learn fubmiffion to his will, 
 More wifdom fhews, than vainly thus t' attempt 
 Exploring what thou canft not comprehend. 
 And God, for wifeft ends, thinks {it to hide. 
 
 Therefore when impious men bear fway, and fcourge v. 9. 
 The world with iron rod, look up to Heav'n ; 
 Let not thine indignation fwell too high, 
 Nor paflion's hafty impulfe thee tranfport 
 Beyond the bounds of Reafon: ftrait reprefs 
 The rifino; motions of thine heart with calm 
 Reflcdiion ; for fuch Anger blinds the foul, . 
 
 And refteth only in the breaft of Fools. 
 
 Nor fay, as Fools are wont, Why liv'd I not y. 10.. 
 
 In happier days of old ? Why was I thrown 
 On fuch fad times as thefe ? Groundlefs complaint! 
 By Pride fuggefted, and which Folly vents. 
 The former ages like the prefent were, 
 And Man the fame ungrateful creature then 
 As now, alike, in Eden's garden plac'd. 
 As in the pathlefs Defert, murm'ring ftill 
 At Heav'n. No age fo bleft, as not to feel 
 
 The 
 
 I 
 I
 
 (6I ) 
 
 The dire effeds of vice ; and none fo cuift, 
 I:ut might abound in bleflings, would we learn 
 To ufe them as we ought. Accufe not then 
 The times, but blame thy own deceitful heart. 
 
 Yet thou reply 'ft, Wifdom, when join'd to wealth, v. u. 
 Is furely beft, and much to be preferr'd. 
 Well haft thou faid; for Wifdom not confifts 
 In fcorning Riches, but in uftng right, 
 And both united on our Virtues throw 
 A luftre, gain protedion, and command 
 Refpedt. * Yet ftill thou'lt find, that Wifdom fole v. .2, 
 Hath the pre-eminence : not all the Wealth 
 On earth, can give thee patience to fupport 
 Afilidlion's heavy load ; whilft ftie alone, 
 Superior to th' attacks of Fortune, fmiles 
 Beneath her burden, and with cheering balm 
 Revives the drooping foul. Would'ft thou acquire v. 1^ 
 This Wifdom, gift divine, refled:, how vain 
 Our efforts to obftrud the fettled courfe 
 Of things; andfince, by God's unerring hand, 
 Diredled for the beft are all events^ 
 
 * V. II. ^^ Wifdom is good with was of a very different opinion 
 
 an inheritance, and by it there is from that wrong- headed Philofo- 
 
 profit to them that are under the pher, who threw his money into 
 
 Sun." It appears from this, and the fea, as a ufelefs incumbrance, 
 the following verfe, that Solomon 
 
 How
 
 ( 62 ) 
 
 How impious to condemn what He approves. 
 
 Learn then, whate'er thy lot, to reft content. v. 14. 
 
 If all around thee fmiles, with grateful heart 
 Enjoy the prefent bleffing, nor forget 
 How foon dark clouds may gather. When the fky 
 Begins to low'r, defpair not, but ftill hope 
 For brighter days, aflur'd that Nature's Lord 
 Hath fo exadly ballanc'd the returns 
 Of profp'rous and adverfe, like thofe of night 
 To day, and hoary winter's chilling froft 
 To fummer's genial heat, that none have caufe 
 To murmur at his ways. How gracious thefe 
 Alternate fcenes of good and ill ! They teach 
 The meaneft never to defpond, nor think 
 Themfelves th' out-cafts of Heav'n ; and thofe remind 
 Who fit on glory's pinnacle, how foon 
 Ev'n to the dull their pride may be abas'd. 
 
 To thefe grave precepts, well am I aware, Ver. 15. 
 
 By long and fad experience taught to know 
 The various foibles of the human heart, 
 What fcruples may be ftarted. How, cry fome, 
 If Goodnefs infinite prefide, fhould thofe, 
 Entitled mofl to its protedtion, fhare 
 The fmallefl part, expos'd to ruin, fhame. 
 And death itfelf J whilft harden'd Profligates 
 
 Whofe
 
 ( 63 ) 
 
 Whofe crimes to Heav'n for vengeance cry aloud, 
 
 Protradl their days without remorfe or fear, 
 
 And to the grave defcend in peace ? Exclaim 
 
 Not thus. Have I not told thee, God will judge 
 
 The Righteous and the Wicked ? This alone 
 
 Should (ilence all thy clamors. Not to dwell 
 
 On this great point, it ought to be obferv'd. 
 
 That ev'n the Righteous, thro' intemp'rate zeal v. i6. 
 
 And indifcretion, oft bring on themfelves 
 
 Dangers which honeft prudence might avoid. 
 
 Why wilt thou, from an over-weening fenfe 
 
 Of Virtue more than human, irritate, 
 
 By fharp invedlives, and ill-tim'd rebukes. 
 
 The hand of Pow'r to crufh thee, and then lay 
 
 The blame on Providence ? — As to the Wretch, v. 17. 
 
 Who mocks at Virtue, thus the Preacher faith. 
 
 Let not unpunifh'd crimes tempt thee to run 
 
 Enormous lengths, nor Folly blind fo far, 
 
 As to perfuade, that thou fhalt fcape the fword 
 
 Of human Juftice, which the Public Good 
 
 Oft draws, to rid the world of fuch a peft, 
 
 E'er that of Heav'n {hall ballance the account. 
 
 Of which thou mak'ft no reck'ning.* — This advice v. is 
 
 * V. 16. 17. '■'■ Be not righteous felf? Be not over much ■nicked, nei- 
 over much, neither make thyfelf over ther be thou foolijh. IFIjy Jhould'Ji 
 -wife. Why Jhould'fi thou dejlroythy- thou die before thy time ? The fiif- 
 
 ferings
 
 ( 64 ) 
 
 Lay hold on ftridlly, in thine heart retain, 
 
 Nor let it e'er depart. True Piety, 
 
 Which in an awful fenfe of God confifts. 
 
 Sedate and prudent, fteers the golden mean 
 
 'Twixt cold Indiff'rence and Temerity, 
 
 Defirous always to reform the world. 
 
 Yet cautious of offending. Such a Guide 
 
 Will fafe conduct thee, through this vale of tears, 
 
 And prove a ftronger guard, when fears invade. 
 
 And dangers threaten, than a mighty hoft 
 
 In city ftation'd, to repell th' aff^ults 
 
 Of fierce befiegers. But beware, my Son, 
 
 Of trufting to thyfelf, and learn, how frail 
 
 Thy nature, from the much-lamented fall 
 
 Of thofe who once excell'd. The Judge fupreme 
 
 V. ig. 
 
 I 
 
 V. 20. 
 
 feringsof good men, andprofperity 
 of" the wicked, have afforded an 
 handle to the atheiftically inclined, 
 in all ages, to queftion a divine 
 Providence. To clear up this point, 
 Solomon refers .to the final day of 
 retribution. But as too many are 
 apt to grow impatient at fo dif- 
 tant a profpeft, he very feafonably 
 reminds them, in thefe two verfes, 
 that even good men often bring 
 misfortunes on themfelves, by their 
 own imprudence and indifcretion, 
 which are unjuftly charged on Pro- 
 vidence. And as to great wicked 
 
 men, every age and country can 
 produce inftances enough, of Juf- 
 tice laying hold of them, and cut- 
 ting them off, in the midft of their 
 iniquities. In both thefe inftances, 
 God's over-ruling Providence is 
 fufficiently juftified, exclufive of 
 the great argument of future re- 
 wards and punifhments. In the 
 next verfe he carries the point ftill 
 farther, with regard to good men, 
 to wit, that God may juftly afflift 
 them here, fince the very beft on 
 earth are not without fin. 
 
 May
 
 ( 6s ) 
 
 May juftly all the fons of men chaftlfe, 
 
 Since ev'n the beft are not without their flains : 
 
 For as the ftars hide their diminiili'd heads 
 
 When his bright beams the radiant Sun difplays, 
 
 So our moft fliinino- virtues dare not ftand 
 
 The tefl of his all-piercing eye. This thought v. n. 
 
 Should make thee lefs fevere to others' faults, 
 
 So confcious of thy own j to difregard 
 
 Injurious words, nor, with fufpicion mov'd, 
 
 To feek to know what known would give thee pain. 
 
 Perhaps, by lift'ning to each idle tongue, 
 
 Thy own Domeftics fcoiEng thou may'ft hear, 
 
 Or bitterly reviling : Such the fate 
 
 Frequent attending Lift'ners! Such the fame 
 
 Of greateft men, which at the mercy lies 
 
 Of the moft abjed ! Art thou fir'd with rage y. z>. 
 
 At fuch indecent freedoms ? Think how oft 
 
 Thy tongue has done the fame, to thofe perhaps, 
 
 Who lefs deferv'd it. — All thefe wholefome rules, v ,. 
 
 Not only ftudied with unwearied pains. 
 
 But, on repeated trials, ever found 
 
 The fource of folid peace and lafting joy. 
 
 Convinced me of their truth and excellence. 
 
 Firm I refolv'd to pra6life what I teach. 
 
 And never to forfake the heav'nly Guide : 
 
 K But
 
 ( 66 ) 
 
 But oh ! how Tar, by neadftrong paffions driv'n, 
 
 I ftray'd from Virtue's paths, deaf to the calls 
 
 Of Reafon, let my follies paft declare. 
 
 No mortal e'er with keener eyes furvey'd 
 
 That vain deluding phantom, which appears 
 
 In Wifdom's garb, and yet more eager none 
 
 Embrcc'd its cheating offers. Who can tell, 
 
 When once he links beneath himfelf, and fins 
 
 Againft the light implanted in his foul. 
 
 How deep he may be plung'd ? For what he feeks 
 
 Is far beyond his reach, and too profound 
 
 Th' abyfs to fathom.* — Tir'd with fruitlefs fearch, 
 
 Yet anxious ftill to find the precious gem 
 
 Whofe worth intrinfic all our toil repays. 
 
 Once more I turn'd, each flatt'ring objedt view'dj 
 
 And my own heart, with fcrutiny fevere, 
 
 By far the harder talk, furvey'd, intent 
 
 V.24. 
 
 V. 
 
 * V. 23. "-^ All this have I proved 
 hy wifdom : I /aid, I will he wife^ 
 but it was far from me. V. 24. 
 ^hat which is far off, and exceeding 
 deep, who can find it out ? We are 
 perfuaded, that the reader will not 
 look on the paraphrafe here given, 
 and particularly on the cenfure 
 which the Preacher paflcs on his 
 own conduft, but as what naturally 
 arifes from the fubjeft, and is fully 
 fupported by the four following 
 
 verfes, wherein he fhews, in the 
 moft pathetic terms, how wretch- 
 edly he had been deceived in that 
 very thing, from whence he pro- 
 pofed to himfelf the greateft happi- 
 nefs. Well might he fay, that 
 Wifdom, on this occafion, was far 
 from him ; for certainly there is not 
 an inftance on record, of fo wife a 
 man having been betra3ed into fuch 
 glaring follies, by the violence of 
 his paffions. 
 
 To
 
 ( 67 ) 
 
 To trace that Wifdom which from Heav'n defcends, 
 
 Fountain of living waters, and t' explore 
 
 The fource of human Folly, whofe foul ftreams 
 
 Intoxicate and kill. What the refult ^•'^" 
 
 Of this enquiry ? The remembrance ftrik.es 
 
 My foul with horror : not the pangs of death 
 
 So bitter. Woman, falfe deluding Sex, 
 
 I found the deadly fource of all my woes ; 
 
 Woman, whofe heart is fraud itfelf, well-fkill'd 
 
 T' infnare with crafty wiles th' uncautious Youth, 
 
 And even hoary Wifdom to beguile. 
 
 Both captives held in her inglorious chains; 
 
 Her fmiles inchanting, foft her blandifhments, 
 
 But cruel as the Grave. Curft be tbofe arts, 
 
 Which taught me to forget Heav'n's King fupreme, 
 
 And foreign Gods, vain idols, to adore. 
 
 How are the Mighty fall'n! juft vengeance due 
 
 To perfidy and luft! none from fuch fnares 
 
 Shall 'fcape, but he whofe condu6b Heav'n approves; 
 
 Whilft th' impious man, to paflions vile a Have, 
 
 Left to himfelf, a wretched vidim falls. * 
 
 * V. 26. " And I found Woman no apology for the words here put 
 
 more hitter than death, whofe heart in Solomon's mouth ; fince every 
 
 is fnares and nets, and her hands one, acquainted with his hiftory, 
 
 fetters. Whofo fhafeth God fhall knows, that his apoftacy was ow- 
 
 efcapefrom her, but the Sinner fhall ing to the allurements of his Wives 
 
 le taken iy her." We need make and Concubines. 
 
 K 2 At
 
 V. 28. 
 
 , (68) 
 
 At length this dear-bought Knowlege have I gainM, Ver. 27. 
 And warn thee of the danger. Long I fought 
 With fruitlefs toil, flill feek in vain, to count 
 The fum of thofe albrements which betray 
 Man's heart ; but furely, 'midft the countlefs train, 
 None fleal fo foft, none charm, Hke Female Arts, 
 None fo pernicious, nor fo foon deftroy. 
 One man, among a thoufand, may perchance 
 Be found: but Woman, faithful, undifguis'd. 
 Of foul fincere, mine eyes have never feen.* 
 
 In this fore plague, what balm can Reafon bring 
 To heal the rankling wound, or Twage its fmart ? 
 What haven offers, where the troubled foul. 
 Thus with contending paffions toft, may find 
 Repofe ? Shall we the world's Creator charge 
 With our diforders? Far be fuch furmize, 
 
 V. 29. 
 
 V. 
 
 27' 
 
 28. " Behold! this 
 
 have I found, faith the Preacher, 
 often have 1 fought, (or reckoned,) 
 one by one, to find out the account, 
 ii-hich my foul is ftill in fcarch of, 
 and I find not. One man among a 
 thoufand have I found ; hut a Woman 
 among all thefe have I not found." 
 The fenfe of thefe two verfes is 
 plain ; but we think, both the 
 pointing and conftruftion, in the 
 verfion of Junius and Tremellius, 
 are much clearer than in our 
 Englifli Tranflation. It ought to 
 be remarked here, that the fevere 
 
 cenfure Solomon pafles on Women, 
 only relates to thofe by whom he 
 had been perverted, and is not to be 
 looked upon as a fatyr on the whole 
 fex, as fome other paflaccs in this 
 very book fufficiently evince. 
 Moreover, we find that in the book 
 of Proverbs, he frequently points 
 out the difference between a virtu- 
 ous and a wicked woman, and 
 gives a juft encomium of the for- 
 mer. What a noble defcription is 
 there, in the laft chapter, of a 
 faithful, difcreet, and induftrious 
 Wife! 
 
 Far
 
 ( 69 ) 
 
 Far from the Preacher's thought, of this alone 
 
 Affur'd, that, as Nature's unerring Lord 
 
 Made all things good, fubfcrvient to their ends, 
 
 So Man, his nobleft workmanfliip, he form'd 
 
 With underftanding clear to judge aright, 
 
 Affedions pure, and reditude of will ; 
 
 No other rules of life prefcrib'd, but fuch 
 
 As tend to Happinefs, nor aught forbid 
 
 But that which tends to ruin. Whence proceeds 
 
 The rod of human woes ? From paffions fierce, 
 
 By Rcafon unreftrain'd, and Liberty 
 
 Abus'd. Hence Man perverfe fought fpecious pleas 
 
 To fwerve from Duty's road, to give the reins 
 
 To ev'ry craving appetite, and quench 
 
 The fpark divine that glow'd within his breaft. 
 
 'Midfl our refearches, fpeculations vain. 
 
 Our felf-deceptions, arrogant conceits, 
 
 And blind purfuits, this one important Truth 
 
 At length darts forth, through Error's mifty cloud. 
 
 Like that refulgent Star, whofe friendly beams 
 
 Point out a certain courfe in flormy night, 
 
 To wand'ring Pilots, through the pathlefs Deep; 
 
 That all the good within us, we derive 
 
 From God, and all that's evil, from ourfelves. 
 
 Whom
 
 ( 7^ ) 
 
 Whom to the Only Wi s e fliall we compare, *' 
 So wondrous in his ways ? What mortal eye 
 Can pierce the dark myfterious labyrinth? 
 How bleft the Man, with wifdom from above 
 Endow'd, and taught to pradlife what he knows! 
 Such wifdom, through perplex'd affairs of Hfe, 
 Shall with diftinguifli'd luftre guide his fteps, 
 Make him rever'd, and yet abate his pride. 
 
 C.VIII. V.K 
 
 * C. viii. V. I. " Who is as the 
 
 'juife man? ^nd who knoweth the 
 
 interpretation (or folution) of a 
 
 thing ? A man's wifdom maketh his 
 
 face to fhine, and the fiercenefs of 
 
 his countenance fliall be changed. 
 
 Thefe words, which are varioufly 
 
 tranflated, and have a great variety 
 
 of expofitions, begin the eighth 
 
 chapter, not only in our ownjverfion, 
 
 but in mod of the modern, as we 
 
 have noted in the margin ; being 
 
 made an introduction to what 
 
 immediately follows, concerning 
 
 Kings and Government, and the 
 
 whole applied to the wife man. 
 
 But, with regard to the firft claufe, 
 
 notwithftanding ourTranflation has 
 
 inferted the word matit (which, 
 however, is in Italics, to denote, 
 that it is not in the original,) yet 
 it feems to be much more applica- 
 ble to God, who is emphatically 
 ftyled in Scripture, the only Wife^ 
 and here more particularly fo de- 
 nominated, as knowing how to 
 bring good out of fo much evil, 
 which human Wifdom is incapable 
 of doing. We have therefore not 
 only followed the Vulgate, which 
 concludes the difcourfe with thofe 
 words, but alfo the tranflation of 
 Junius and Tremellius, who infert 
 this whole verfe at the end of the 
 feventh chapter. 
 
 BOOK
 
 (71 ) 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 As I have taught thee what thou ow'fl to Heav'n, c- viii. v. 2. 
 And how thy pray'rs may God's acceptance find, 
 So let me warn thee to difcharge the debt 
 To his Vicegerent due : for furely none 
 Can rev'rence God, who honour not their King. 
 If then to piety thou haft regard, 
 To thy own fafety, or the pubHc weal, 
 Be ever mindful of thy folcmn oath. 
 And his commands, whom Heav'n has o'er thee plac'd, 
 With duteous care attend. Let nought induce y. 3. 
 
 Rafhly to quit his fervice, nor perfift, 
 When thou his juft difpleafure haft incurr'd, 
 Obdurate in thy crime : for royal hands ^ 
 
 Are arm'd with pow'r refiftlefs, far can ftretch. 
 Nor hold the fword in vain. Who then fhall dare 
 To rife againft his Sov'reign, or prefume 
 
 To
 
 ( 7^ ) 
 
 To call him to account?* By thefe fage rules v.j. 
 
 He that his condud fteers, will fure efcape 
 
 Such ftorms as rafhnefs overv.'helm. The Wife 
 
 With patience fuffer what they can't amend, 
 
 Judge candidly, and wait the feafon fit 
 
 Such errors to rebuke, which oft difgrace 
 
 Beft-order'd States : but Fools difturb the world v. 6. 
 
 With their intemp'rate zeal, raife civil broils, 
 
 Difcord foment, endlefs confufion breed. 
 
 And thus themfelves and others wretched make. 
 
 Bhnd to the prefent, what can Fools difcern y. 7. 
 
 Of future ? All events to them are wrapt 
 
 * V. 2. " / couvfd thee to keep 
 the King's commandment, and this, 
 in regard of the oath of God. V. 3. 
 Be not hafly to go out of his fight ; 
 ftand not in an evil thing : for he 
 doth whatfoever pleafeth him. V. 4. 
 Where the word of a King is, there 
 is poiver, and "who may fay unto 
 him. What dofi thou ?" Though it 
 may be gathered from thefe ex- 
 preifions, that Solomon had very 
 high notions of Kingly Govern- 
 ment, as all the Eaftern Princes 
 had, vet nothing can from hence 
 be inferred, in favour of arbitrary 
 power and Tyranny. For it ought 
 to be obferved, that the obedience 
 he claimed, was no more than what 
 the Jewiili Policy allowed, and al- 
 ways built on the fuppofition, as the 
 
 words themfelves evidently imply, 
 that he commanded nothing re- 
 pugnant to the fundamental Jaws 
 of the Country, or inconfiftent 
 with the laws of God •, in which 
 cafe, he had an undoubted right 
 to the obedience of his fubjedls, 
 •who very probably, about this 
 time, were forming confpiracies a- 
 gainfl: him, and greatly difturbed 
 the public tranquillity. There 
 might indeed have been fome griev- 
 ances under his adminiftration, as 
 there ever will be under the beft of 
 Governments. But this is not fo 
 great an evil as Faftion, Anarchy, 
 and Rebellion, and therefore to 
 be born with, 'till a feafonable op- 
 portunity of redrefs offers. 
 
 In
 
 ( 73 ) 
 
 In thickeft gloom : And who, the' wife, can tell, 
 What fhall hereafter be ? — But let no Prince v. j. 
 
 Howe'er fo mighty, uncontroul'd his fvvay. 
 That pow'r abufe which Heav'n has lent, to right 
 Th' opprefs'd who to protedion have jufl: claim. 
 Not guards nor fpies can reach the lab'ring mind 
 Of fuch as groan beneath his iron yoke. 
 Nor curb their fecret murmurs, which at length 
 Burft out to rage, and overturn a throne. 
 Tho' long he reign, yet when the fatal hour 
 Is come, and vengeance, due to tyrants, near, 
 What will avail his armies ? He alone 
 Muft, like the meaneft of his vaffals, ftand 
 The dreadful conflidt; nor will force or fraud 
 One moment from the King of Terrors fhield 
 The proud Oppreflbr. — Oft have I furvey'd v. 9. 
 
 The various fcenes of life, all things obferv'd 
 With fliarp attentive eye, and none have found 
 More vain than lufl: of arbitrary fvvay. 
 Behold Ambition's never-ceafing toil ! 
 When to the fummit of its wifh arriv'd. 
 What has it gain'd ? Heart-gnawing care, diftruft. 
 The people's hate, and dread of fudden fall : 
 Tott'ring at length, headlong it rufhes down 
 With its own weight, beneath the pond'rous load v. 10. 
 
 L Cruih'd
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 Crufh'd and reduc'd to nothing. Nor mine eyes 
 
 Have thofe unrighteous Minifters efcap'd, 
 
 Who, on the Judgment- feat exalted high, 
 
 Were honour'd once as Gods. What fun'ral pomp 
 
 Attends their obfequics ! How foon forgot ! 
 
 Their glory with them to the grave defcends 
 
 There everlafting darknefs blots their names, 
 
 As they had never been : fo vain a thing 
 
 Is human grandeur ! * Impious men are apt v. u. 
 
 To fcofTat fuch fevere rebukes : but whence 
 
 The root of their prefumption? 'Tis becaufe 
 
 Th' Almighty does not inftant hurl the bolt 
 
 At their devoted heads : his vengeance, flow, 
 
 But fure as fate, like a dark lowering cloud, 
 
 Hangs o'er 'em, big with ruin ; fix'd their doom, 
 
 And the irrevocable fentence pafs'd, 
 
 Tho' for a wKiIq deferr'd. From hence th' abufe 
 
 Of Heav'n's forbearance: hence, without reftraint, 
 
 Fearlefs they ftill fin on, fwell the black roll, 
 
 * V.I o. The three preceding verfes, it expofes to. Having thus given 
 efpecially the laft, are not with- his fentiments of tyrannical Princes 
 out their obfcurity, as appears from and corrupt Minifters, he endea- 
 thedifterent verlions and variety of vours to comfort thofe who are op- 
 interpretations. Solomon, no doubt, prefted by them, and from thence 
 would intimate, that Power is not takes occafion to anfvver the ob- 
 fo defireable a thing, as moft men jeftions againft divine Providence, 
 are apt to imagine, confidering how for permitting fuch grievances in 
 much it is abufed, and the danger the world. 
 
 And
 
 ( 75 ) 
 
 And more outrageous grow. But let fucli men v. iz. 
 
 Run e'er fo long career, how oft foe'er 
 
 Repeat their crimes, of this am I affur'd, 
 
 That when the day of final reck'ning comes, 
 
 (And come it furely will) the righteous man, 
 
 Tho' fore afflidled here, beyond compare 
 
 Shall happier be. At Heaven's tremendous bar, v. 13. 
 
 Nought will the mighty Sinner then await 
 
 Bat mighty torments equal to his guilt. 
 
 What are his days on earth, which feem fo long. 
 
 But a mere fleeting fliadow, in his fight. 
 
 To whom a thoufand years no more appear 
 
 Than as a moment ? Vain thy triumph then 
 
 At length of days! For as the ev'ning fhade. 
 
 The more extended, (hews approaching night ; 
 
 So life, the more prolong'd to impious men. 
 
 Denotes the Sun of Mercy going down, 
 
 And certain vengeance near : Ev'n in this world 
 
 Juftice how oft purfues ! their days cut fhort. 
 
 Or by the hands of others, or their own. * 
 
 * V. 12. ^^ Tbo' a Sinner do evil which are as a Jbadow, hecaufe he 
 
 an hundred imes, and his days be feareth not before God." Little 
 
 prolonged^ yet furely I hiozv, that Critics, who have neither tafte for 
 
 it fhall be well 'with them that fear the noble funplicity of the Hebrew 
 
 God, with them, I fay, who trem- Poetry, nor judgment to difcern its 
 
 hie at his prefence. V. 13. But it beauties, will find, perhaps, a con- 
 
 fhall not be well with the wicked, tradiftion in thefe two verfes, as, 
 
 TKither fhall he prolong his days, in the former, the Sinner is fup- 
 
 L 2 pofed
 
 V. li 
 
 (76) 
 
 But fuch examples faintly ftrike, nor thofe, 
 Who mock at Heav'n, deter, when they behold 
 Virtue fo ill rewarded, left a prey 
 To fraud and rapine. Still I hear thee cry. 
 If there's a Pow'r fupreme that rules the world, 
 Why fo unequal in his ways ? What more 
 Repugnant to th' eternal laws of Right, 
 Than thus t' inflid the forrows due to Vice 
 On Virtue^ thus with partial Hand beftow 
 Its choiceft gifts on thofe that leaft deferve ? 
 Well may the Pious droop their heads and mourn, 
 When thus their Perfecutors, fwoln with pride, 
 In fplendor, eafe, and affluence pafs their days, 
 Nor heed the curfeson their heads denounced. 
 
 To thoughtlefs men, who judge from outward fhew, ver. 15. 
 Too oft Religion feems an empty name. , 
 
 This world, I've told thee, is at beft a fcene 
 Of trouble, vain and tranfient all its joys; \ 
 
 Yet, fince we muft pafs through it, let us make 
 The road as fmooth and eafy as we can. ' 
 
 pofed to prolong his days, and in 
 the latter, it is affirmed, that he 
 fhalTnot prolong them; but when 
 we refleft, that Solomon com- 
 pares his days to a fhadow, we 
 ftiall inftantly perceive the pro- 
 priety of the exprclTions ; for let a 
 
 fhadow be long or fhort, it is ftill 
 no more than a fhadow, that is, no 
 reality or fubflance, a mere no- 
 thing. As to the turn I have 
 given to the laft verfe, it will not, 
 I flatter myfelf, be deemed wholly 
 impertinent. 
 
 Whatever
 
 ( 77 ) 
 
 Whateer thy lot, commit th' event to Heav'n; 
 Its ofFer'd blefling thankfully accept, 
 Cheerful enjoy : the prefent hour embrace, 
 And make the moft of life. What other fruit 
 Will all thy labours yield ? Or what befide, 
 Can here be call'd our own ? Reft fatisfy'd v. 16. 
 
 In this ; nor feek, with unavailing toil. 
 To know why things are ordered thus. What pains 
 Inceffant have employ'd my thoughts, to found 
 The vaft abyfs ! (Such fpeculations deep 
 ' Fatigue our fouls by day, nor fuffer fleep 
 To clofe our eyes by night.) Yet what at laft, >"• >7- 
 
 Of certain knowledge have I gain'd ? That God 
 Directs the Univerfe : this all his works 
 Aloud proclaim : but by what fecret fprings 
 The various parts are mov'd, and fo difpos'd 
 That beauteous order from the whole refult, 
 And perfedl harmony, to mortal man 
 Is hid in gloomieft night. How weak th' attempts 
 Of human Reafon, whofe profoundeft fearch 
 Such ignorance betrays ! For, after all c. ix. 
 
 My endlefs wand'rings, ftill the more perplex'd. 
 And loft in the inextricable maze, 
 No other leflbn have I learn'd but this, 
 And of its truth convinc'd, to others teach, 
 
 As
 
 (78) 
 
 As the fole point on which our fouls may reft. 
 
 Doubt not, whate'er the Righteous here befall, 
 
 That their concerns are God's peculiar care j 
 
 Tho' from his prefent difpenfations none 
 
 Can judge, Vv'ho are the objccls of his love 
 
 Or hatred, fo myfterious are his ways: 
 
 For tho' to individuals he may fhcw 
 
 Tokens of wrath or favour, as befeems 
 
 His wifdom, yet fuch inftances are rare. 
 
 No diflPrence in the gen ral courfe of things, v. ; 
 
 And common accidents of life we find 
 
 Between the Righteous and the Wicked : All 
 
 Alike his bleffmgs and his curfes fhare. 
 
 Does not the Sini to both arife, and cheer 
 
 With equal light and heat ; from both withdraw 
 
 Its kindly influence, wrapt in low'ring clouds ? 
 
 Say, what diftindion makes the deadly fha ft, 
 
 When war begins to rage, and thoufands fall ? 
 
 Do not they breathe the fame infedtious air, 
 
 Both ofFer'd to wide-wafting Peftilence 
 
 Promifcuous Vidlims ? Both alike deplore 
 
 The lofs of children, friends ; alike expos'd 
 
 To ftorms, by the fame fhipwreck driv'n on rocks 
 
 And quickfands, or by fweeping floods depriv'd 
 
 Of all their fubfcance. Does the virtuous man, 
 
 Of
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 Of morals uncorrupted, more partake 
 
 Of Fortune's gifts than the lewd Profligate ? 
 
 Or he, who conftant adoration pays 
 
 To Heav'n, with humble gefture, heart flncere, 
 
 Than the vile hypocrite ? Nay, ev'n the wretch, 
 
 Whofe tongue breaks out in blafphemies, and dares 
 
 Invoke th' Omnifcient to atteft a lye. 
 
 No lefs enjoys the fweets of life, and thrives, 
 
 Than he that trembles at the facred Name. 
 
 Long has the world been grievoufly difturb'd v. 3 
 
 At this diforder'd ftate of things below, 
 Where all thus blended in confufion feem, 
 As if th' Almighty look'd with equal eye 
 On Vice and Virtue, difregarding both. 
 Reafon is fhock'd, ev'n Piety itfelf 
 Too oft alarm'd. Hence unreflecflins; men. 
 Licentious grown, to paffion give the reins, 
 And rufh with frantic impulfe to th' excefs 
 Of vice and folly, till the blind career 
 Is fudden ftopp'd by Death, when all their rage 
 And madnefs end. — If things are thus'difpos'd, 
 Alas! thou cry 'ft, why fliould we labour then? 
 Why thus fubmit to lawlefs pow'r, and bear 
 Life's heavy load, when no reward attends 
 Our toils and fuiFrings ? In this doubtful ftrife, 
 
 What 
 
 V.4-
 
 { 8o ) 
 
 What fl^ould a wife man choofe, or how direct 
 
 His fteps ? Is it not better to throw off 
 
 The fretting burden, to fit down and dye? 
 
 No. Thou'rt deceiv'd : for tho', as fiery fparks 
 
 By nature upwards fly, fo man was born 
 
 To pain and forrow : yet ftill human Hfe 
 
 Is not without its comforts. Still there's Hope, 
 
 Reviving cordial to the languid foul, 
 
 'Midft this dark fcene of toils, and plagues, and cares, 
 
 Whilft life remains. * The Sun, tho' clouded now, 
 
 May fhine again, and fill thine heart with joy. 
 
 Time may corredl thofe errors which have caus'd 
 
 Thy woes, and peace reftore. In this refpedt 
 
 The meaneft wretch that breathes on earth, may boaft 
 
 An happier lot than his who wore a crown. 
 
 * V. 4. " Fcr to him that is 
 joined to all the living, there is Hope." 
 I'hefe words have exceedingly per- 
 plexed Commentators, and with a 
 good deal of reafon, as they are 
 commonly trandated. Various in- 
 terpretations are given of them ; 
 but that of MelmiSfhon feems to 
 come neareftthe original meaning, 
 and to agree bed with the fubjeft. 
 He turns the words thus : IFhat 
 therefore is to be chofen ? In him that 
 is living, there is Hope. In anfv/er 
 to thole who afked. What muft 
 we then do ? Muft we continue to 
 labour, when we meet with no re- 
 ward ? Yes, by all means, fays 
 
 Solomon •, for whilfl: there is life, 
 there is hope. Some have fancied 
 that he contradifts here what he 
 had faid ch. iv. where he makes 
 Death preferable to Life •, but it 
 ought to be obferved, that he there 
 fpeaks only of the miferies and ca- 
 lamities of life, and here of its 
 advantages and comforts. The 
 Preacher, in (hort, feems to mean 
 the fame thing here, as the Hea- 
 then Poets have intimated, in the 
 Fable of Pandora's Box, wherein 
 Hope alone remained, after every 
 thing elfe that was good in it, had 
 
 taken its flight. 
 
 And
 
 ( 8i ) 
 
 And is no more. Ev'n in a living Dog 
 Some ufe we find : but what's a Lion dead ? 
 
 The living know, indeed, that they fliall dye, v. 5. 
 And therefore for their exit may prepare : 
 'Till then, as Reafon dictates, let them learn 
 To ufe with fober freedom what this world 
 Affords : What farther part remains to adt ? 
 What fruit of earthly toils, when from Life's ftage 
 Withdrawn ? Arc they not ftrangers then to all 
 That paffeth here, their very names forgot 
 By the furvivors ? Nor imports it whom v. 6. 
 
 They lov'd or hated, fince none court their fmiles, 
 Or dread their frowns j this bufy world to them, 
 They to its joys and griefs, for ever loft. 
 
 Go then, whilft Heav'n permits, and tafte the fweets v. 7. 
 Of life : Vex not thy foul with anxious cares 
 And terrors vainj nor from the world expect 
 More than it can afford, or God defign'd ; 
 And if thy works are fuch as he approves, 
 With cheerful heart enjoy what he beftows. 
 
 Put on the feftal robe, with fragrant balm y. s. 
 
 Thy locks bedew, and crown thine head with flow'rs : 
 Let focial mirth, with prudence temper'd, fmootli 
 The wrinkled brow, and, as becomes thy ftate. 
 Such honeft pleafures as relax the mind, 
 
 M Regale
 
 I 
 
 ( 82 ) 
 
 Regale tliyfelf and friends, alike remote 
 From fordid av'rice, and profufion vain. * 
 
 But chiefly let the chafte endearing Wife, 
 Beft, fweeteft gift of Heav'n, delight thy foul. 
 Nor ever from her part : to her alone 
 Let thy affedlions be confin'd, nor feek 
 Th' adult'rous paths of lewdnefs, which will lead 
 To the dark chambers of the grave, f What fruit 
 Befide, here can'it thou reap, but to rejoice 
 In that which Providence divine has giv'n 
 
 in pity to our frailties ? This fhort fpace 
 
 Is the fole time for adlion ; therefore make 
 The moft of fuch occa£ons as prefent. 
 
 Ver. gj 
 
 V. 10. 
 
 * V. 7, 8. " Go thy 'cvay, eat thy 
 bread with joy, and drink thy wine 
 with a tnerry heart, for God now 
 accept eth thy work. Let thy gar- 
 ments he always white, and let thy 
 head lack no ointment." No reader 
 oftafte can avoid being ftruck with 
 the fiidden air of cheerfulnefs, 
 that Solomon difcovers on this 
 occafion ; which mt-thod, as we 
 before obferved, he purfues through 
 the whole Poem. From hence we 
 may infer, that well-regulated 
 Mirth is not inconfiftent with Fiery, 
 and that a very good man may 
 not only enjoy all the innocent 
 gayeties of life, but, on feme oc- 
 cafions, indulge himfelf in more 
 than ordinary freedoms. 
 
 -f V, 9. " "Live joy fully with the 
 Wife whom thou loveji, all the days 
 of the life of thy vanity, which God 
 hath given thee under the Sun." 
 Thefe words, I think, are a fu'fR- 
 cient proof, that the bitter farcafm 
 Solomon had before caft on Wo- 
 men, was not intended as a fatyr on 
 the whole fex. It appears from 
 hence, that he thought a good 
 Wife was to be found, and that a 
 man might live joyfully with her. 
 It may likewife be inferred, with 
 great probability, that he here 
 glances at his own folly, in dividing 
 his afFe(5tion among fuch a prodi- 
 gious number of women, not one 
 of v>hom, as he complains, had 
 any of thofe qualities which render 
 the fex truly amiable. 
 
 And^ 
 
 m
 
 f 83 ) 
 
 And fnatch the fleeting moments, e'er they fly 
 Beyond thy reach. Whate'er thou hafl: to do, 
 Whate'er to learn (and much thou hafl: of both, 
 Tho' fliort the fpace for fuch important work,) 
 Strait do, and learn it now : with all thy might, 
 Intenfe exert each faculty, whilfl: Day 
 Appears : nor loiter till the Night comes on : 
 'Tis then too late : the work of Life is o'er : 
 For in the grave, to which at ev'ry ftep 
 Thou nearer draw'ft, that opportunity 
 Offer'd by Heav'n, which here thou might'fl have feiz'd, 
 Is fled ; 'tis irrecoverably lofl:. 
 
 But hope not here for lafting Blifs, nor let v. u. 
 
 Self-confidence delude : for tho' 'tis fit 
 That Man fliould ufe the beft adapted means, 
 And ev'ry nerve of induftry apply, 
 T' obtain his end • yet the fuccefs depends 
 On God, nor always anfwers to the plan 
 By Reafon form'd. How oft the prize we fee 
 By fwifteft Racer loft ? What mighty Hofts, 
 Whofe marflial'd ranks fure viclory denounc'd, 
 Routed by flender force ? Behold the Learn'd 
 And Wife : their minds, on fcience deeply fix'd, 
 Life's vain amufements fhun, fl:udious t' improve 
 The head, and mend the heart. What their reward ? 
 
 M 2 1 o
 
 (84) 
 
 To want, perhaps, e'en bread. Should not the Man, 
 
 Well-fkill'd in council, by experience taught, 
 
 And deep reflexion, to diredl aright 
 
 Affairs of public weal, adorn a Court, 
 
 And fliine among the Great ? How fmall a fhare 
 
 Of wealth and honour to his portion falls, 
 
 So ill beflow'd on Fools ! Nor ufeful Arts 
 
 That favour and protedion always meet, v. 
 
 Which merit claims. Hence may we learn, how weak 
 
 Our own endeavours, frail our prefent ftate ; 
 
 What accidents may ftart, our beft-laid fchemes 
 
 To fruftrate, far beyond the utmoft flrength 
 
 Of human Prudence to forefee, much lefs 
 
 Prevent th' effedls. Yet ftill we cheat ourfelves 
 
 With hopes ill-grounded, nor refledl how foon 
 
 The charming profpedt fond defire has form'd, 
 
 In fadnefs ends. For as the finny Brood, 
 
 Whilft in purfuit of prey, or wanton fport, 
 
 Rufh on th' infidious hook, nor heed the net 
 
 For their deftrudlion fpread ; or, as on trees 
 
 The feather'd Race fit warbling, nor perceive 
 
 The fatal fnare, till caught : fo heedlefs Man 
 
 Thinks not of his precarious ftate, deceiv'd 
 
 With flatt'ring hopes ; nor from his golden dream 
 
 Awakes, till rouz'd by the impending ftorm 
 
 That
 
 ( 8s ) 
 
 That Ridden overvvlielms him. * — But events v. 13. 
 
 Tho' not in Man's difpofal, yet fuch means 
 
 As Prudence didlates, ftill we ought to ufe, 
 
 When dangers threat, to extricate ourfeh^es ; 
 
 Remcmbring always, that, as deepePc fchemes 
 
 Of Pohticians oft abortive prove, 
 
 So Heav'n, by meaneil inftruments, can bring 
 
 Wondrous events to pafs. This have I feen j 
 
 And howfoe^er of Hght account to fome 
 
 Such wifdom may appear j 'tis in mine eyes 
 
 Above the price of rubies. — Let me give v. 14 
 
 One ftriking inftance. Was there not a Town 
 
 Of narrow circuit, feeble in itfelf. 
 
 And feebler ftill, from the few tim'rous hands 
 
 To guard its walls ? A potent Monarch came 
 
 With num'rous forces, clofe befieg'd it round, 
 
 And batt'ries rais'd. Th' affrighted Citizens 
 
 Gave all for loft, unable to relifi:, 
 
 Hopelefs of fuccour; nor expedient found 
 
 To ward th' impending blow. In this diftrefs, v. i- 
 
 * V, 12. ^'' For man alfo knowelh beauty of thefe two comparifons, 
 
 not his time. As the FiJIoes that are which fo naturally defcribe the fi- 
 
 taken in an evil net, and as the Birds tuation of thofe, who are unex- 
 
 that are caught in the fnare, fo are peftedly cut oft, in the height of 
 
 the Sens ofmenfnaredin an evil hour, their favourite projects and fondeft 
 
 which falleth fuddenly upon them." pleafures and amufements. 
 Nothing can exceed the force and 
 
 Wh 
 
 en
 
 ( 86 ) , 
 
 V/hen Courage droop'd its head, and Council iail'd, 
 
 Up rofc a man, of humble ftation, poor, 
 
 Yet blcft with prudence, and with honed zeal 
 
 Infpir'd, by whofe advice the Town was fav'd. 
 
 But on the Patriot what reward conferr'd 
 
 For fuch important fervice? He was left 
 
 In poverty obfcure ; his gen'rous cares, 
 
 O foul ingratitude! evn in the place 
 
 He had preferv'd from ruin, quite forgot. 
 
 Yet let not fuch example thee deter, v. i6. 
 
 When Duty and thy Country's danger call, 
 Nor flack in pointing out what may promote 
 The public weal : for 'tis a maxim fure, 
 That prudent councils over brutal force. 
 Calm Reafon o'er tumultuous noife prevail. 
 
 How then befalls it, that the Poor, tho' wife, v. 17. 
 Are difregarded, to their wholefome words 
 None pay attention? — Wifdom lofeth nought 
 Of its intriniic worth, how light foe'er 
 Efteem'd ; and tho' by infolence of wealth 
 Too oft defpisM ; yet when Diftrefs, which clears 
 The dimmefl: eyes and foftens hardeft hearts. 
 Hath feiz'd a People wanton grown with eafe, 
 The wife and virtuous Patriot, tho' array 'd 
 In homelieft garb, is heard : his words weU-welgh'd, 
 
 But 
 
 I
 
 ( 87 ) 
 
 But fewj pronounced with modefl diffidence 
 And gentle tone, far more attention gain 
 Than all th' unmeaning, loud, verbofe harangues, 
 And frothy eloquence of Fools in pow'r. * 
 
 This wifdom fafety brings, when fhields and fpears, v. i8. 
 With all th' alarming inftruments of war, 
 Yield no defence. Such bleffings may produce 
 One wife and virtuous man! But what dire plagues 
 One pow'rful Sinner on a State draws down. 
 Let thofe, who of his raflinefs feel th' efFeds, 
 
 * V. 1 6, 17. " Then faid /, 
 Wifdom is better than ftrength. 
 Neverthelefs, the poor man's ivifdom 
 is defpifed, and his words are not 
 heard. Ihe li-ords of the Wife are 
 heard in quiet, more thdn the cry of 
 him that ruleth among Fools." So- 
 lomon, as I apprehend, does not 
 fpeak here of the fame poor man 
 juft before mentioned, but only 
 takes occafion from that remarka- 
 ble inftance, which, in all proba- 
 bility, was a cafe in faft, to give 
 us, by an eafy tranfition, the cha- 
 rader of true Wifdom, whofe 
 power and efteifls he compares with 
 thofe of mere ftrength and vain 
 confidence. The reafon which in- 
 duces me to apply this paflage to 
 any poor wife man in general, is, 
 that in the former inftance, the 
 poor man's words muft have been 
 heard and attended to, fince other- 
 v/ife how could the City have been 
 faved by his advice ? Whereas it is 
 
 fald, in the fixteenth verfe, that his 
 "words are not heard. In order to 
 remove the obfcurity and feeming 
 contradiction, it ought to be noted, 
 that, after Solomon had given a 
 juft encomium of Wifdom, in the 
 former part of the verfe, the next 
 words are to be confidered as an ob- 
 jedlion to the inftance juft pro- 
 duced. Certain it is, that St. Je- 
 rome thus underftood thefe words, 
 and has therefore rendered them 
 interrogatively, ^omcdc ergo Sa- 
 pientia pauperis contempta efi, fc? 
 ejus i-crba non audita funt? To 
 which objeftion Solomon anfwers : 
 Tho' this be too often the cafe, yet 
 experience evinces, that the modeft 
 fpeech of a poor wife man, is not 
 only alvv-ays more worthy to be 
 heard, but is frequently attended 
 to, and proves far more efficacious, 
 than the moft dam.orous and im- 
 perious language of rich and povver- 
 ful Fools. 
 
 Declare :
 
 ( 88 ) 
 
 Declare ; the more exalted, ftill the more 
 Pernicious. Children yet unborn may rue 
 That weak or wicked Prince, who, in a day, 
 Ruins the work of ages. * He that fhines 
 With gifts fnperior to the vulgar rank, 
 Should on his condudl fet the flri6left guard : 
 For what is harder gain'd, or eafier loft. 
 Than reputation ? Envious eyes obferve, 
 
 ex. V.I. 
 
 * V. 1 8. " Wifdom is better 
 than weapons of war % but one Sinner 
 dcftroyeth much good." As no Prince 
 v/as ever endowed with finer quali- 
 ties than Solomon, fo none ever 
 feil into greater follies and ex- 
 cefil's. It may therefore be pre- 
 fumed, that, as he had before 
 ftigmatized himfclf, under the cha- 
 racter q{ an old and foolijlo King-, fo 
 here he particularly reflefts on his 
 own mifcondudt, under the oppro- 
 brious name of a Sinner-, which 
 appellation he had given toojuft an 
 handle for, both on account of the 
 unbiiiUed indulgenceof his paflions, 
 and his idolatrous practices •, and 
 not improbably he alludes to the 
 fatal coiifequences thence refulting 
 to his people. For though, for 
 fomc confiderablc time after his ac- 
 ceflion to the throne, he conducted 
 himfelf with fuch exquiiite pru- 
 dence, that the people were happy 
 under his adminiflration, and the 
 government feemed fo firmly efta- 
 bliflied, that nothing could fiiake 
 it ; yet we find how fadly they 
 
 were difappointed, towards the lat- 
 ter part of his reign, and what un- 
 fpeakable calamities fell on the 
 kingdom, foon after his deceafe. 
 No doubt, the happinels ormilery 
 of a Nation depends in great mea- 
 fure on their Prince's condud : fo 
 true is the Poet's trite remark, 
 ^iicquid dcUrant Reges, ple^iinlur 
 Achivi. We fhalljuft note here, 
 that, in fome verfions, the three 
 following verfes, which commonly 
 begin the tenth chapter, are, in 
 others, made the conclufion of the 
 ninth. This latter airangement 
 feeins moll judicious, as the words 
 appear to have a connexion with 
 the preceding fubjeft, and may not 
 improperly be applied, efpecially 
 the firft verfe, to Solomon himfelf, 
 who, having taken occafion from 
 the fubje6l, to draw another gene- 
 ral compariibn between Wifdom 
 and Folly, gives fome ufeful in- 
 ftrudlions, as to our deportment, 
 when we have loft our Prince's 
 favour. 
 
 With
 
 (89 ) 
 
 With piercing ray watch ev'ry ftep, and feek 
 
 Occafions, which the flighteft fault affords, 
 
 To tarnifh all his glory. For as Flies 
 
 Envenom'd make the precious unguent lofe 
 
 Its fragrance, and t' exhale a fetid fmell ; 
 
 So the leaft indifcretion, in the Man 
 
 Confpicuous for his dignity, and fam'd 
 
 For wifdom, renders vile. 'Tis hard, indeed, v. 2. 
 
 Ev'n for the Wife fo ftri£t to guard their fteps 
 
 As never to offend ; yet flill, in this 
 
 Are they diftinguifti'd from the herd of Fools : 
 
 They feldom err, nor fails in arduous tafks 
 
 Their judgment, which the road diredb purfues. 
 
 And fitteft means t' obtain the end propos'd 
 
 Applies. But Fools always miflake their aim, v. ^ 
 
 No lefs bewilder'd in the fmallefl: things 
 
 Than greateft : Ev'ry word and adt betray 
 
 Their folly, yet fo proud, as with difdain 
 
 To look on others. — Wifdom rarely meets v. 4.. 
 
 An harder trial than a Prince's frowns 
 
 To bear with temper : Let me give, once more, 
 
 ir 
 
 Some ufeful leffons, when thou haft incurr'd 
 His indignation, and perhaps he treats 
 Too harfh. Let no refentment prompt to quit 
 His fervice, nor, with paffion hurried on, 
 
 N The
 
 ( 90 ) 
 
 The duty of a fubjedl to forget ; 
 
 Much lefs, from perfonal difguft, t' engage 
 
 In Fadion's dark retreat : for tho' incensed. 
 
 His wrath is not implacable ; nor aught 
 
 So foon appeafeth, favour loft reftores, 
 
 As yielding to the prefent ftorm, exprefs'd 
 
 By gentle words, demeanour mild, and air 
 
 Submifllve.* — But fuppofe the Prince unjuft, 
 
 Sway'd by Caprice, to real merit blind, 
 
 And loading Flatt'rers and vile Sycophants 
 
 With honours not their due. — This have I feen . 
 
 With deep concern j and 'tis, it muft be own'd, 
 
 A grievance, which the wife and good have long 
 
 Bewail'd : nor can a forer plague befall 
 
 The Public than abufe of Royal Pow'r, 
 
 That raifeth to the higheft dignities 
 
 Such men whofe vices would difgrace the leaft, 
 
 f».i 
 
 Ver. s. 
 
 V.6- 
 
 * V. 14. A late Commentator 
 has introduced this and the three 
 next verfes with the following re- 
 mark, which we think very perti- 
 nent : " The fcope, fays he, of 
 thefe verfes is, to teach Subjefts to 
 be loyal and dutiful to the Go- 
 vernment they live under. In So- 
 lomon's time, the people were very 
 rich, and lived in great profperity, 
 which perhaps made them proud 
 and petulant j and when the Taxes 
 
 were high, though no more than 
 they had enough to pay them, it is 
 probable, many carried it infolent- 
 ly towards the Government, and 
 threatened to rebel. To fuch per- 
 fons Solomon gives fome neceffary 
 cautions, and fpeaks for himfelf, 
 and for every wife and good man, 
 who is a Mafter or Magiftrate, 
 that he could eafily forgive, upon 
 their fubmilTion, thofe he had been 
 very angry with." 
 
 Weak
 
 fpl) 
 
 Weak heads, corrupted hearts: whilfl thofe endow'd 
 With ev'ry noble talent which adorns 
 The Patriot and the Statefman, fit deprefs'd, 
 Unnotic'd, mingled with the vulgar herd. 
 
 Who could with patience fee the vileft Slave, ^'- 7* 
 
 A wretch by Nature born for fervitude, 
 Riding in princely pomp, and looking down 
 Contemptuous on the man, who, tho' no lefs 
 Illuflrious for his virtues than his birth, 
 Is forc'd to walk on foot, perhaps to fwell 
 The upftart Courtier's train ? — To gen'rous minds v- s. 
 'Tis hard, indeed ; yet ftill let Subjedts bear 
 Such evils ; nor a Prince forget, that Pow'r 
 Abus'd exafperates, and danger brings. 
 Let neither Prince nor People dare invade 
 Each other's rights : fatal to both will prove 
 Th' attempt. As Hunters dig for favage beafts 
 A pit, and, heedlefs fain therein, become 
 Themfelves a prey ; fo thofe, who give or take 
 Pernicious councils, are involv'd and lofl: 
 In their own crafty wiles. He that breaks down 
 Another's hedge, by lurking Serpent ftung, 
 Pays with his life the wrong. What gains the man v, 9. 
 But curfes and chaftifement, who removes 
 
 N 2 His
 
 ( 9^ ) I 
 
 ■ 
 
 Kis neio-hbour's land-mark ?* Are not they who pull 
 An houfe uncautious down, crufh'd with the ftones ? 
 Thus he, ,\vho fir'd with luft of Pow'r, or mov'd 
 With difcontent, would change eflablilli'd forms, 
 And break thofe wholcfome laws, which long have fenc'd 
 The Conftitution, his own ruin feeks. ^| 
 
 Who knotty wood attempts to cleave, how oft v. i 
 
 By fplinters pierc'd, or wounded by his axe ! SJJ 
 
 If blunt the tool, nor pains the Workman takes 
 Its edge to fharpen, he fatigues himfelf 
 In vain, tho' ftriking with redoubled force. 
 No lefs deftru6tive to themfelves, and vain 
 Their toil, who would by violence reform 
 A State corrupted, or exactly fquare 
 Whate'er they find amifs or difapprove, 
 To their own peevifh humours. Kings themfelves 
 Are but frail Mortals, therefore fhould reiledl 
 That fubjeds are no more, and, when they err. 
 Like froward children treat, but not enrage 
 
 * Y. ^. ^'- Whofo removethjlones, nounced, and probably, they were 
 
 Jkall be hurt thcreiznth." Thefe alfo liable to the punifhment, fo 
 
 words, befides their application to frequent among the Jews, viz. 
 
 illegal encroachments on the laws Stoning to death. We have taken 
 
 and conftitution of a Country, may the expreffion in both fenfes, not 
 
 be literally underftood of thofe who forgetting the other interpretation 
 
 removed their neighbour's land- ufually given, which is to the fame 
 
 mark, on whom a curfe is de- purpofe. 
 
 With
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 With ill-tim'd rigor. Subjedls, tho' aggriev'd, 
 Should gentleft methods try, nor hope t' obtain 
 Redrefs by arms, or harfh indecent words 
 Sharper than tvvo-edg'd fvvords, which only fervc 
 T' inflame the fore. True wifdom both directs 
 To bear each other's failings, fittefl: cure 
 In each diforder to apply, and wait 
 The feafon fix'd by Heav'n, This Rule is ftrait, 
 A guide that ne'er deceives ; from hence refult 
 Order and fmilino; Peace : all other Rules 
 Are crooked and fallacious : what their end 
 But anarchy and ruin?* — Yet, tho' ftorms, 
 By prudent care, the watchful Pilot 'fcape, 
 What Monarch to the rage of fland'rous tongues 
 Is not expos'd, and feels the dire effect ? 
 
 V. II. 
 
 * V. 10. The three preceding 
 verfes contain fo many proverbial 
 exprelTions, the appHcation of 
 which was, no doubt, well known 
 to the Jews, and, indeed, cannot 
 be eafily miftaken. The great 
 difficulty lies in this tenth verfe, 
 which has been rendered ftill more 
 obfcure from the variety of tranfla- 
 tions and different conftrudlions. 
 In our verfion it runs thus; " If the 
 iron be blunt, and he (i. e. the 
 workman) do not whet the edge, 
 then nmjl he put more Jlrength ; but 
 Wifdom is profitable to direil; which 
 ^ems to imply, that he, who 
 
 works with a blunt tool, and 
 does not take pains to fhar- 
 pen its edge, muft redouble his 
 efforts, and ftrike with greater 
 force, in order to complete his 
 work. But this fenfe is utterly re- 
 pugnant to the fcopeof the fubjefl. 
 We have therefore connedled thefe 
 words v/ith the preceding, on 
 which they evidently have a de- 
 pendence, as the fame allegory is 
 ftill carried on, though fet in a diffe- 
 rent light. We have, for this rea- 
 fon, followed that verfion, which 
 Bilhop Patrick confeffes the ori- 
 ginal vvill bear, and is authorized 
 
 by
 
 t 94 ) 
 
 Let none cxpcdl, howe'cr fo juft and wife, 
 
 Detradlion's keen cnvcnom'd darts t'elude : 
 
 For as the deadly Serpent, foe to Man, 
 
 Bites unperceiv'd, nor heeds the Ckarmer^s voice; 
 
 So Calumny, to Virtue foe declared, 
 
 And flabbing in the dark, no charm can tame. 
 
 The Statefman's honeft zeal, unwearied pains, 
 
 Are all traduc'd, and with pretences forg'd, 
 
 The people's minds inflam'd : his virtuous deeds. 
 
 Which claim immortal praife, or buried lie 
 
 In dark oblivion's grave, or wrote in fand, 
 
 Scatter'd by lighteft blaft ', but ev'ry fault, 
 
 If fault he has, (and who from faults is free ?) 
 
 Svvoln up by foul-mouth'd Scandal's breath, to fize 
 
 by the Vulgate, viz. If the iron be 
 blunt, and he do not whet the edge, 
 it 'will overcome all the force he can 
 life, or, he -ijoill labour in vain. This 
 appears to be the genuine fenfe ; 
 for certainly he that works with an 
 improper inflrument, tires himfelf 
 to no purpofe. There is one more 
 difficulty ftill remaining, with ref- 
 peft to the lafl words, wherein a 
 new metaphor feems to be taken 
 from the Rule or Square, an in- 
 flrument ufed by Workmen to di- 
 rett them in the exacft meafurement 
 of any thing-, by which it is inti- 
 mated, that, as force and fraud 
 are confounded in their own de- 
 
 vices ; fo, in all aftairs of life, 
 whether of a public or private na- 
 ture, a certain addrefs and dex- 
 terity are to be made ufe of; that 
 Prudence will teach us how to ap- 
 ply the propereft means, on all oc~ 
 cafions, to obtain the end propofed, 
 and that the founded: policy, both 
 in Prince and People, is to fquare 
 their aftions by the rules of Juftice 
 and Honedy. We have, therefore, 
 fome reafon to flatter ourfelves, 
 that the refleftions, which fuch a 
 fubjeft fo naturally offered, will 
 not be thought foreign to the pur- 
 pofe. 
 
 Enormous,
 
 f 95 ) 
 
 Enormous, and, on brafs or marble grav'd, 
 
 Remains to lading infamy confignM. 
 
 Hath not the Sun himfell: his dufky fpots ; 
 
 Yet who attends to thefe, perhaps fcarce feen 
 
 Through optic tube, whiid the refulgent orb 
 
 Its cheering influence fheds? Scandal alone, 
 
 To Virtue's luftre blind, with fharpeft eye 
 
 Explores, and with malignant glee proclaims 
 
 Whate'er the brighteft character may ftain. 
 
 Thus the loath'd Scarabseus, infedl vile, 
 
 Flies buzzing o'er the flow'ry mead, nor flops 
 
 To tafte its fragrant fweets, but, lur'd at length 
 
 By dung- hill fleams that taint the ambient air, 
 
 With eager joy down ruflies, to regale 
 
 On filth and ordure. * How remote from this v. iz. 
 
 * V. II. " Surely the Serpent could, to excite a jufi: horror at 
 
 will bite without enchantment^ and the original. In the four follow- 
 
 the Babler is no better." Thefe ing verfes, wherein Solomon draws 
 
 words are generally applied to the a third comparifon between Wif- 
 
 malignity of Slanderers and Back- dom and Folly, he feems to allude 
 
 biters. This interpretation is coun- chiefly to a fett of men, not much 
 
 Knanced by St. Jerome's verfion, unlike fome modern Politicians, 
 
 which thus renders the words : If who were perpetually canvaffing 
 
 a Serpent bite injilence, no lefs per- the weightieft affairs of State, and 
 
 nicious is he, iioho fecreily detraBeth. calling in queftion the conduit of 
 
 As Calumny is fo odious a vice, their Superiors, of which they were 
 
 and nothing fo frequent, we have no competent Judges. Such men, 
 
 dwelt the longer on this verfe, and no lefs confident than ignorant, 
 
 endeavoured to draw its ugly pic- have done a great deal of mifchief 
 
 ture in the ftrongeft colours we in every age. 
 
 Are
 
 ( 96 ) 
 
 Are Wifdom's precepts, which the tongue reftrain 
 Within due bounds ! The Wife maturely weigh 
 Their words, of ev'ry one with candor fpeak ; 
 Thus they conciUate favour, win the heart. 
 And profit thofe that hear. But Fools, with fpeech 
 Rafli and envenomed, blaft the faireft names: 
 Their words, begun without reflecftion, fhew 
 The weaknefs of their heads, and end in rage 
 And madnefs, when appears in hideous light 
 The blacknefs of their hearts : they fcatter round 
 Firebrands, and fliafts, and death, and headlong plunge 
 Themfelves in mifchief's gulph. Still, tho' rebuk'd, 
 The fenfelefs Babbler prates and ftabs, unwarn'd 
 By paft examples, nor perceives the fword 
 Sufpended o'er his head ; his whole difcourfe, 
 Tho' fraught with malice, fo abfurd and vague, 
 That where it tends, none can divine, nor tell 
 What will from thence refult. With felf-conceit 
 Svvoln up, more confident the lefs he knows. 
 And rafhly pafling judgment in affairs 
 Of weightieft moment, tho' in trivial things 
 At lofs, and groping in the noon-day Sun, 
 Fatigu'd v/ith fruitlefs toil he hurries on, 
 Like one, who trailing home with heedlefs fleps, 
 The road dired forfakes, and ftill, the more 
 
 V. IV 
 
 14. 
 
 V. 
 
 He
 
 (97 ) 
 
 He mends his pace, in devious paths involv'd, 
 Is farther from his deftin'd journey's end. 
 
 How wretched is the Country which abounds v. i6. 
 In tempers fo perverfe ! But woe to Thee, 
 And doubly curs'd, O Land ! how mild foe'er 
 Thy clime, fertile thy glebe, immenfe thy wealth, 
 When He that governs, tho' of age mature, 
 In underftanding ftill remains a Child ; 
 Of ev'ry talent which adorns a Throne, 
 Devoid, capricious, fond of change, averfe 
 To ferious bus'nefs, eafily deceiv'd, 
 And hard to be convinc'd ; no lefs a flave 
 To his own headftrong paflions than to thoie 
 Of wicked Counfellors, who facrifice 
 To vain amufements and intemperate feaft 
 Thofe hours which care of public weal demands. * 
 
 * V. 1 6. "M'^ce to thee, Land, pofition, as the words (land with 
 ■V)ken thy King is a Child, and thy much more propriety and elegance 
 Princes eat in the morning." Some where they now ai"e, than they 
 are of opinion, that this and the would do in that place. Solomon, 
 next verfe are introduced here in a having com.pared the happy-effeds 
 very abrupt manner, as having of wifdom and candor with the 
 little or no connection with the pre- ruinous confequences of folly and 
 ceding fubjeft ; for which reafon, detraclion, and feverely cenfured 
 they fuppofe, the Rabins have tranf- thofe fooiifla Bablers, who, wirat- 
 ferrcdthem from their properplace, ever government they^ live under, 
 and that they would come in much are always murmuring, and giving 
 .better after the fifth verfe. For their fentiments, without the leaft 
 tny owQ part, I cannot fee the leaft caution or m.odeitv, as to the ma- 
 ground for fuch a fuppofition, or . nagem.ent of public affairs, t?!'ie 
 any manner of neceffity for a tranf- fprings and mciivcs of which they 
 -^' 6 arc
 
 ( 98 ) 
 
 But oh! what mighty bleifings wait the realnij v. 17. 
 Whofe King, train'd up in V/ifdom's fchool, exerts 
 Thofe virtues which add luftre to his birth! 
 A King ennobled by himfelf, the Sou 
 Of his own princely adions, which proclaim 
 
 are utter ftrcn^iers to, he takes 
 occafion from hence to fhew the 
 difference between a wife and vir- 
 tuous, and a foolifli and wicked 
 Adminiilration •, by the latter, he 
 perhaps glances at himfelf, and 
 thofe who acled under him ; and, 
 indeed, confidering the many ex- 
 cefies he had fallen into, it can 
 fcarce be doubted that riotous and 
 unfeafonable Feafcing was one of 
 them, and that his own diforderly 
 courfe of life had a very pernicious 
 influence on his Courtiers and Mi- 
 nifters, who, following the evil ex- 
 ample of their Sovereign, neglefted 
 theduty of their ftations, and ipent 
 that time, which fhould have been 
 appropriated to the public fervice, 
 in frivolous amufements and luxu- 
 rious entertainments, implied by 
 eating in the morning. Solomon, 
 therefore, though now far advanced 
 in years, might well call himfelf 
 a Child, according to the trite ex- 
 prefTion common to all languages, 
 applied to old men, when they fall 
 into lefs dotages than he did. Cer- 
 tain it is, that mere childhood in a 
 Prince is not aUvays a misfortune 
 to a Nation, as there are inftances 
 of the government being wifely ad- 
 miniftred during his minority ; and 
 
 Solomon himfelf is a moflilluftrlous 
 proof, that a very young Prince 
 may prove a great bleffing -, for 
 when he was but a mere Child, 
 with refpeft to his age, no nation 
 upon earth was happier. He might, 
 indeed, as we before remarked, 
 have perceived ibmething, which 
 gave hifn melancholy apprehen- 
 fions, in the irregular deportment 
 of his fon Rehoboam, who re- 
 mained a Child all the days of his 
 life. This, I fay, might perhaps 
 have forced from him fo paffionate 
 an exclamation •, and the Chaldee 
 Paraphrafe affures us, that he not 
 only forefaw the revolt of the ten 
 Tribes, owing to his Son's impru- 
 dence, but the total deftruftion of 
 his family and kingdom. In fine, 
 we have too much reafon to be- 
 lieve, confidering the great cor- 
 ruptions which reigned in his Court, 
 that he had not taken fo much care 
 of his Son's morals and education, 
 as he ought to have done •, and 
 from hence may learn, how much 
 the future happinefs of a Nation 
 depends on the ftrideft care taken 
 of a Prince in his youth, and root- 
 ing in his mind the principles of 
 true Piety and folid Virtue. 
 
 How 
 
 il
 
 ( 99 ) 
 
 How worthy of a Throne, ev'n the' not born 
 
 To Royalty ! His prefence none approach, 
 
 But men who, deeply {kill'd in council fage, 
 
 Upright and vigilant, {hun all excefs, 
 
 Nor recreation feek, but to relax 
 
 The wearied mind, which, for a while unbent, 
 
 Refumes its charge important, more alert 
 
 And vig'rous.* Thofe, who fteer the helm of State, v. ig. 
 
 Should ever watchful ftand, left fleep invade 
 
 The drowfy eye, when ftorms begin to rife : 
 
 Abandon'd then to fport of winds and waves. 
 
 The found'ring Bark is loft. In all affairs. 
 
 Private or public, ruin waits on Sloth. 
 
 For as, through want of timely care, an Houfe 
 
 Decays ; the fhatter'd roof left unrepaired 
 
 To dropping rain gives entrance, which foon rots 
 
 The well-compadted beams, and faps at length 
 
 * V. 17. " Blejfed art thou, it,) will not, I f.atter myfelf, be 
 
 Landt 'when thy King is the Son of thought foreign to the fubjeft." 
 
 Nol/les, and thy Princes eat in due Indeed this appears to be tlie mod 
 
 feafon^ for Jirenph, and not for natural and genuine interpretation : 
 
 drunkennefs." The turn I have for what extraordinary happinefs 
 
 given to the exprefllon, Son of No- is it to be governed by one of royal 
 
 l/ks, in alkifion to the fignificant defcent, exclufiveof the qualifica- 
 
 Spanifli Proverb, Cada uno es hijo tions requifite to ib important a 
 
 de fus ohds, i. e. Every one is the truft? How many glaring inilances 
 
 Son of his own adions, (in which arethereof Princcsof thischarafter 
 
 fenfe both the Vulgate and Junius upon record, who have proved the 
 
 andTremcUius feem to underlland heavieft curfe to their people ? 
 
 O 2 The
 
 ( 100 ) 
 
 The firm fupportcrs, when with finldcn crafh 
 The crazy Building falls ; So mightieft Realms 
 Are by degrees to defolation brought, 
 When, funk in eafe, no care their Guardians take 
 The firft diforders to prevent, or cure 
 Apply immediate. — Much to be deplor'd 
 That Prince, whofe Minifters corrupt, intent 
 On trifles, but in weighty points remifs, 
 Kegledl their Country's welfare, to indulge 
 Excefs of riot : If they labour aught, 
 'Tis only Gold t' acquire, which may fupport 
 Their pleafures : (for 'tis Gold alone fupplies 
 Whate'er man's craving appetite demands.) 
 For this, the wealth of Nations they confume, 
 Then fqueeze the people with oppreflive loads, 
 To fill th' exhaufled ftore, alike profufe 
 And avaricious. Should not this fujffice, 
 Honours to merit due, Juftice itfelf 
 Expos'd to fale, increafe the glitt'ring heap. * 
 
 V. 19. 
 
 * V. 19. " A feajl is made for 
 laughter, and wine maketh merry -, 
 hut money anfwereth all things." 
 Thus the words run in our Tranf- 
 Jation, but may be rendered more 
 literally, as well as nearer to the 
 fenfe, They (i. e. the indolent and 
 diflblute) prepare bread for laughter., 
 end wine maketh their lives or 
 
 houfes merry. Some think that this, 
 verfe ought to be connedled with 
 the feventeenth, and that it denotes 
 the happinefs of a Nation, whofe 
 Prince takes care that his people 
 want not provifions, (implied by 
 the words, bread and wine, which, 
 in the Hebrew Idiom, fignify every 
 neceflary of life,) and efpecially 
 
 that 
 
 ^>'
 
 ( lOI ) 
 
 Yet let not fuch diforders thee provoke 
 To entertain diiloyal thoughts, or curfe 
 The Lord's Anointed, who, with all his faults, 
 Tho' ftain'd his glory, and with years deprefsM, 
 Is ftill thy King ; Nor treat his Delegates 
 
 V.23. 
 
 that the money of the Country, 
 with which all things are procured, 
 be not exported. Bifhop Patrick, 
 in his annotation on this verfe, 
 fcems to think, that the words may 
 bear fome fuch meaning •, but we 
 have rather chofen to follow his 
 Paraphrafe, wherein he has given 
 the fame turn to them as we have 
 done : which appears to be the 
 genuine fenfe, and is authorifed by 
 the Vulgate and other verfions. 
 As a farther confirmation, it ought 
 to be obferved, that Solomon, 
 having moft emphatically defcrib- 
 ed the fatal effedls of indolence in 
 a Government, under the fignifi- 
 cant figure of a Houfe, which, 
 though it ftands in need of imme- 
 diate repair, is fuffered to run to 
 ruin, through the Owner's carelefs- 
 nefs, very naturally proceeds in his 
 cenfure of thofe Minifters, who 
 are more concerned about the gra- 
 tification of their pleafures than for 
 the public fervice. In his panegyric 
 on awife Adminiftration, the great 
 men are defcribed as eating in due 
 feafon, for Jirength, and not for 
 drunkennefs, the meaning of which 
 is too obvious to need a comment ; 
 and as the Minifters of an oppofite 
 charader, whofe picture he hadjuft 
 
 before drawn, are fa id to eat in the 
 mornings that is, to indulge fuch 
 unfeafonable pleafures as indifpofed 
 them for the difcharge of their duty, 
 fo in the verfe now before us, he 
 farther adds on the fame fubject, 
 that they not only wafte that pre- 
 cious time, of which thofe at the 
 helm of affairs have very little to 
 fpare, but fo far pervert the end of 
 fecial mirth and recreations, which 
 is to relax the mind, as to m.ake 
 pleafure their bufinefs, and to fall 
 into the moft luxurious exceffes. 
 The feafts they prepare, are not 
 for ftrength, or to recruit the ex- 
 haufted fpirits, but for riot and 
 drunkennefs. In rifum faciunt pa- 
 nem, et viniim ut epulentur bibentes, 
 as St. Jerome renders the words. 
 With regard to the laft claufe. 
 Money anfjoereth all things^ which 
 hath fo much perplexed Commen- 
 tators, no doubt, the Jews of thofe 
 tim'^s knew the ufe of money as 
 well as the prefent-, and it may be 
 prefumed, that diffolute Minifters 
 then, how indolent or remifs Ib- 
 ever in the duty of their ftation, 
 fluck at nothing to procure as 
 much of it as they could, in order 
 to maintain their exceffes, which 
 could not be otherwife fupported. 
 
 With
 
 f 102 ) 
 
 With liarfh opprobrious words, which, on pretext 
 
 Of public grievance, oft from felfifh views, 
 
 Or private rancour flow. Such words take wing, 
 
 And howfoe'er in fecret utter'd, reach, 
 
 By leaft fufpeded means, the royal ear : 
 
 For Kings are Heav'n's peculiar charge : more fvvift 
 
 Than airy flight of Birds, the Treafon dark 
 
 Tranlpircs • and Vengeance, arm'd with thunder, waits. * 
 
 * V. 20. " Curfe not the King, 
 no not in thought ; and curfe not the 
 Rich in thy bed-chamber : for a bird 
 of the airfoall carry the voice, and 
 that ivhich hath ivings, floall tell 
 the matter." Solomon here con- 
 cludes his difcourfe concerning Go- 
 vernment. It may be inferred 
 from thefe words, compared with 
 fome of the preceding ones on the 
 fame fubje6l, that though his con- 
 dud: was, in fome refpecls, juftly 
 cenfurabie, as he himfelf feems 
 more than once to acknowledge, 
 yet he was fl:ill jealous of his au- 
 thority, and fenfible of the refpeft 
 and deference due to the royal 
 charadler. And as there have been 
 always murmurings at the beft as 
 well as worft of Princes, it is not 
 improbable, that many of the grie- 
 vances complained of, under his 
 
 adminiftration, were excelTively ag- 
 gravated by malcontents ; and per- 
 haps his wiieft and faithfulleft coun- 
 fellors, and moft falutary mea- 
 fures for the general benefit of his 
 people, mifreprefented and tradu- 
 ced by a fett of Incendiaries, purely 
 to render him odious and contemp- 
 tible, and to ferve their own felfilli 
 defigns, which is no uncommon 
 cafe. Fie therefore intimates to 
 fuch men, that their moft fecret 
 pradtices could nor be long con- 
 cealed from his notice, and warns 
 them of the danger. Not to enter 
 here into a difquifition of the mean- 
 ing of the words, bird of the air, 
 and thai ivhich hath wings, it may 
 be fufficient to obferve, that in all 
 ages and countries, treafonable 
 confpiracies have been detedled in 
 an unaccountable manner. 
 
 BOOK
 
 ( i<^3 ) 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 INftrudled thus how to deport thyfelf c. xi. v. i. 
 
 To thofe above thee, learn with tender eye 
 To look on thofe beneath, and let them fliare 
 Some portion of thy comforts. Alms, beftow'd 
 On fuch as no return can make, perhaps 
 Unworthy or ungrateful, yet if giv'n 
 With heart benevolent, altho' they feem 
 Quite loft, like feed caft in the rapid flood, 
 Or fown on barren fand, Heav'n will requite. 
 When leaft expeded. Thou at length fhalt find 
 Thy fcatter'd wealth far more fecurely kept 
 Than Mifer's hoarded treafure, and receive 
 Ampler increafe than he that plows the deep, 
 And trufts his all to faithlefs winds, in hopes 
 Of gain.* Howe'er fo num'rous then, who crave v.2 
 
 * In this and the five following ety of figurative exprefTions, whofe 
 verfes, we have a moft noble ex- beauty and energy may be better 
 hortation to Charity, under a vari- conceived, on confuking the ori- 
 
 gmaj,
 
 ( 104 ) 
 
 Or need thy bounty, tho' ailiam'd to beg, 
 
 Let none go unreliev'd j and when Diftrefs 
 
 With meagre face appears, rather exceed 
 
 Thy powV, than with too fparing hand beflow : 
 
 Nor fay, Why fhould I wafte my flore ? Who knows 
 
 The turns of Hfe ? What doleful times may come, 
 
 When I fhall want myfelf ? Defponding wretch ! 
 
 This thought alone fhould melt thy frozen heart, 
 
 Excite compaflion, and more anxious make 
 
 T' embrace th' occafions offer 'd, which will yield 
 
 Comfort and fuccour, when thou ftand'ft in need 
 
 Of others' mercy. Lift thine eyes to Heav'n, 
 
 And imitate the Clouds : for thefe, when full. 
 
 Empty themfelves in kindly fliow'rs of rain 
 
 On the parch'd glebe : So let thine Alms, diffus'd 
 
 With lib'ral hand, the drooping foul revive. 
 
 For as the Tree, torn from its roots by rage 
 
 Of ftorms, which way foe'er it chance to fall. 
 
 Or to the fervid South, or frozen North, 
 
 ' ■■. ") ■;• '• 
 
 There muft it lie \ fo will thy doom be fix'd. 
 And, on the ufe of Riches here, depend 
 
 v., 
 
 f 
 
 ginal, which is extremely concife, to the poor ^ lendeth to the Lord; 
 
 than explained in any modern Ian- which expreflion has more true fub- 
 
 guage. Solomon fays the fame limity and meaning in it, than all 
 
 thing here, the' in other words, that has ever been laid by the beft 
 
 which he had before faid in the Heathen Moralifts on the fame 
 
 Book of Proverbs, He that giveth fubjeft. 
 
 Thy
 
 { 105 ) 
 
 Thy lafting weal or woe.* Should fcruples vain, v. 4. 
 
 Diftruft of Providence, or fuch pretexts 
 
 As Man's deceitful heart is wont to feek, 
 
 Protract the time, it then may be too late. 
 
 For as the Ruftic, who with anxious eye 
 
 Is ftill obferving ev'ry blaft of wind, 
 
 And, till from the expedled point it blows, 
 
 His feed witholds, and lets the feed-time pafs ; 
 
 Or, fcar'd with ev'ry lowering cloud, forbears 
 
 To reap, 'till Heav'n with cloudlefs front appears. 
 
 And waiting fees the golden harvefl loft : 
 
 So thofe, who plead excufes to defer 
 
 The time of fhewing mercy to the Poor, 
 
 Or fitter feafon wait, as they pretend. 
 
 Will find themfelves deceiv'd. The feafon paft 
 
 Of doing spody will never more return. 
 
 * V. 3. '■'■if the clouds he full of opportunity of doing good, whilft 
 
 rain, they empty themfelves liponthe here, he can do nothing after he is 
 
 ea-fth. And- if the tree falls t(rj:ards dead, and no more change his fiate 
 
 the South, or toivards the North, in than a tree, torn from its roots, 
 
 the place lijhereit falleth, there fhall can bear fruit, or alter its pofition, 
 
 it lie." Both -thefeexprefTions were, in the place where it has fallen. 
 
 no doubt, proverbial: the.appli-- This allufion conveys a moft im- 
 
 cation of the former is eafy enough: ■ portant- truth, and there is fuffi- 
 
 as to the latter, of which there are cient rcafon to believe, that the 
 
 many interpretations, the moft pro- Jews applied it to' fomething of 
 
 bable is, that, in .whatever difpo- this nature, from what immediately 
 
 fition any man dies, in th?it fliall he follows, 
 
 remain for ever. If he has loft the _. , , 
 
 - '' P But
 
 ( io6 ) 
 
 But fome reply, Much have we glv'n, yet flill ver. 5. 
 See no reward, no profped that our Alms 
 Shall e'er be recompens'd. — Wilt thou not truft 
 Th' Almighty, tho' his ways to thee unknown? 
 Can'ft thou difcern whence comes the Wind, or where 
 It blows ? What makes it rage, and then to ceafe ? 
 How thy own foul, of origin divine, 
 Amazing union ! join'd to brittle clay, 'rhyj] 
 
 Feels all its frailties ? By what plaftic povvV, 
 The Foetus in its Mother's womb is form'd ? 
 If fo myfterious Nature's works, and Man 
 A ftranger to himfelf, wilt thou attempt 
 To comprehend the ways of Heav'n ? Yet reft 
 Affur'd, that as the Embryo, to full growth 
 Arriv'd, from its dark prifoii inftant breaks ; 
 So thou, at God's appointed time, fhalt reap 
 A plenteous harveft from the pious works 
 Thou here haft fown : for wealth thus giv'n away, 
 Yields vaft increafe, but hoarded up, is loft, 
 And melts to nothing. Therefore, in the morn v. e. 
 
 Of life, fome portion of that wealth referve, 
 The wretched to relieve, which Youth confumes 
 In brutal pleafures and amufements vain : 
 Nor in the ev'ning of Old Age withdraw 
 Thine hand, tho' griping Av'rice loud reclaim : 
 
 For 
 
 i
 
 ( ^o7 ) 
 
 For as the prudent Hufljandman both late 
 And early fows, nor, of his fc^tter'd feed, 
 Knows which will profper beft j fo, of thine Alms 
 Thou know'ft not which will moft acceptance find 
 With Heav'n, or thofe In dawn of life beftow'd. 
 Or its decline ; or whether both alike 
 Will int'reft yield ; of this alone aiTur'd, 
 The more thy bounty feel, thou haft ftor'd up 
 A larger fhare of bleflings for thyfelf. 
 
 With each delightful objed: round thee charm'd, ^- 7* 
 In eafe and affluence funk, How fweet, thou cry 'ft, 
 To fee the cheering Sun, and with full glee 
 To tafte the joys of life ! 'Tis fweet, indeed. 
 And well may'ft thou exult : Yet ftill, amidft v. s. 
 
 Thy tranfports, recoiled:, that tho' man's years 
 To green Old Age prolong'd, ftiould conftant flow 
 In circling rounds of joy, all bright, ferene, 
 Exempt from difappointment, grief, and care; 
 Thy Sun will furely fet, and rife no more ; 
 For in the grave is all perpetual gloom. 
 The days of darknefs near approach, to which, 
 Lefs than a moment, will the paft appear. 
 What comfort then will thefe gay fcenes afford, 
 Which are for ever fled? The night of Death 
 
 P 2 Will
 
 V 
 
 ( io8 ) 
 
 Will force thee to reflect, and late convince, 
 How vain and tranfient thy purfuits below.* 
 
 Perhaps thou'lt fay, The only time for joy. 
 Is when the blood runs high, and every fenfe 
 With poisnant relifh taftes the fweets of life. — 
 Go then, fond, heedlefs Youth, whate'er thy foul 
 Defires, enjoy without reftraint j indulge 
 
 V. 9. 
 
 * V. 7, 8. " I'ruly thelight isfweet, 
 and a fleajant thing it is for the eyes 
 to behold the Sun. — "But if a 7na?i live 
 many years, end rejoice in them all, 
 yet let him remember the days of 
 darknefs, for iheyfhall be many : all 
 that Cometh is vanity.'^ Some are of 
 opinion, that the former of thefe 
 verfes contains the fentiments or 
 exultation of one wholly enamoured 
 with the charms of this prefent life. 
 Be this as it will, we cannot, by 
 any means, agree with thofe, who 
 make the latter verfe a continuation 
 of the fame perfon's fentiments, as 
 if he had faid, I am not infenfible 
 that I muft certainly die, fome time 
 or other, and, when this Sun of 
 life is kt, that all thefe gay 
 fcenes around me will be loft in 
 perpetual darknefs : Since there- 
 fore it argues folly and vanity to 
 difturb our minds about what we 
 cannot prevent, let us live a merry 
 life, fo long as it lafts, and deny 
 ourfelves no gratification in our 
 power. But neither the text, nor 
 fcope of the matter, will admit fuch 
 an expofuion. The latter verfe 
 
 evidently contains the Preacher's 
 refledion on the former. He 
 makes, indeed, a reafonable con- 
 ceffion, as to the fweetnefs of Life, 
 and its prefent enjoyments ; but 
 from hence takes occafion, by way 
 of check to the Libertine's trans- 
 ports, to mention Death, implied 
 by the days of darknefs, which, as 
 he obferves, will furely come, tho* 
 a man fhould live many years, and re- 
 joice in them all; which, how- 
 ever, is no more than a mere fup- 
 pofition of his, for argument's 
 fake; fince no man upon earth, 
 ever did, or ever will do fo. The 
 happieft have but hours of joy for 
 months of forrow. The turn we 
 have given to the laft words, is 
 agreeable to the fenfe of the Vul- 
 gate, which, though not a literal 
 verfion, (as it feldom is, efpecially 
 in the metrical parts of Scripture,) 
 feems to come up to the true mean- 
 ing. 7'et he ought to remember the 
 dark time, and the days to come, 
 which will fhew the vanity of thofe 
 things that are pafl. 
 
 Each
 
 ( 109 ) 
 
 Each craving appetite, and ev'ry fenfe 
 
 With pleaiing objedls charm, as inftant guft 
 
 Of pafTion moves.* — Yet let this ferious thought 
 
 Check thy career, and, like a thunder clap, 
 
 Roufc from th' enchanting dream. Thefe precious hours, 
 
 In childlefs follies fpent, tho' here they feem 
 
 To perifli unobferv'd, are ftridlly charg'd 
 
 To thine account: for God will furely bring 
 
 Thy works and thee to his tremendous Bar, 
 
 And Judgment pafs on both. Does the harfh found v. lo. 
 
 Of future Reck'ning ftrike a fudden damp, 
 
 And fill with fadnefs ? Or art thou enrag'd 
 
 At fuch rebukes? Would'ft thou be happy, learn 
 
 Thofe fierce tumultuous paflions, which difturb 
 
 Thy mind, with calm refledlion to reprefs ; 
 
 And brutal Luft, that wars againfi; the foul, 
 
 Brins;s on, with hafty ftrides, decrepit Age, 
 
 Reafon dethrones, and plunges in a gulph 
 
 * V. 9. " Rejoice, young mm, the very next verfe, Touth and 
 
 in thy youth, and let thine heart cheer Pleafure. Some will have this paf- 
 
 theeinthedayscf\.\\y{ondT^Mx(^i\x.s, fage to be a permifTion, or advice, 
 
 and walk in the ways of thy heart, of the Preacher's, like fome others 
 
 and in the light of thine eyes. As before taken notice of, which are 
 
 the two words, which our Verfion undoubtedly fo to be underflood ; 
 
 renders in both places, Touth, are but here the words are to be taken 
 
 different in the original, the con- ironically, and by way of farcafm, 
 
 ftruclion we have given the latter as the turn of the exprelTion, with 
 
 is countenanced by the Vulgate, what follows, evidently evinces. 
 
 which renders the fame words, in 
 
 Whence
 
 ( "0 ) 
 
 whence none can fave, far from thee to remove. 
 
 For unexperienc'd Youth is but a fcene 
 
 Of vanity at beft, and unreftrain'd 
 
 By vvholefome admonitions, foon betrays 
 
 Itfelf, and headlong its own ruin feeks. 
 
 What powerful antidote (hall we prefcribe c. xn. v. " 
 
 Againfl: the foul contagion ? How prevent 
 Its dire efFedls ? — Early, my Son, begin* 
 To think of thy Creator : in the bloom 
 Of life, with reverential awe reflecfl. 
 That all the various bleflings here beftow'd, 
 And ev'n thy own exiftence, are deriv'd 
 From his paternal love. Let this great Truth, 
 Deep-rooted in thy foul, its influence fhed. 
 And guide thy wand'ring fteps to Virtue's paths. 
 That frame, in which thou glorieft, fo robuft 
 And vig'rous, will not always laft : Old Age 
 
 * Solomon here begins a mod ders incident to this ftate, which 
 admirable defcription of the infir- afFeft both the body and mind, are 
 mities of Old Age, which are fet comprized in the five following 
 in contrafte to the vigour and verfes, under a variety of emblems, 
 gaieties of Youth, that, on com- Nothing can be more concife or 
 paring both, we may learn this exprefljve,inibmuch that the great- 
 important Truth, that he, who er part of their force and beauty, 
 neglefls his duty to God, whilft in if not entirely loft, muft be confi. 
 the prime of life, will be indifpofed derably diminiflied,by aparaphrafe, 
 for it, when grown old and feeble, or circumlocution of words, which 
 and finking under a complication was almoft unavoidable in a work 
 of diftempers. The feveral difor- of this nature. 
 
 Steals 
 
 41>
 
 ( "I ) 
 
 Steals on apace, and, with its chilling froft^ 
 
 Will freeze th' impetuous current in thy blood. 
 
 And ev'ry pleafure, which now charms, will lofe 
 
 Its relifli. Wilt thou dedicate the dregs 
 
 Of life to him ? 'Till then, th' important work 
 
 Defer, when feeble grown, with maladies 
 
 O'erwhelm'd, a burthen to thy deareft friends. 
 
 And weary of thyfelf ? Remember this, Ver. 2. 
 
 E'er Reafon's light be quench'd, and Mem'ry fail j 
 
 E'er all thine intelledual pow'rs, decay 'd, 
 
 Or funk in dotage, can no more exert 
 
 Their wonted fundions. In that doleful hour, 
 
 To thee in vain the Sun will fhine by day, 
 
 The Moon and Stars by night ; each beauteous fcene 
 
 Irkfome or difregarded ; all around 
 
 Gloomy and fad. The harbingers of Death, 
 
 With fierce attack on ev'ry fide, fcarce grant 
 
 A moment's relpite : for, as big-fwoFn Clouds, 
 
 Juft emptied, ftrait begin to low'r again. 
 
 And heavier fhow'rs pour down; fo thy complaints 
 
 In conftant rounds of grief and pain fucceed, 
 
 And ftill increafe. * Is this a feafon fit v. %. 
 
 * V. 2. *' When the Sun, and dimnefs of fight incident to Old 
 the Light, and the Moon, and the Age, but very injudiciouny, as 
 Stars Jhall be darkened, and the Clouds this circumftance is afterwards ex- 
 return after the rain. Some apply prefsly taken notice of; and it can 
 the former part of this verfe to the fcarce be fuppofed, that, in fo fliorc 
 
 a def- 
 
 %
 
 (112 ) 
 
 Religious duties to commence, and raife 
 
 Thofe hands to Heav'n, which, tho' by Nature form'd 
 
 To guard thy brittle manflon and fupply 
 
 Its wants, with paralytic tremors feiz'd, 
 
 Enervate hang? (0 When the firm Columns bend 
 
 Beneath its weight, unable to fupport 
 
 The tott'ring fabric? (2) When the Mill, worn out 
 
 By all-confuming time, no more can grind, 
 
 a defcription, Solomon fhould men- 
 tion the fame thing twice. 'Tis far 
 more agreeable to the Scripture 
 Style, as well as to the prefent iub- 
 jeft, to apply thefe words to the 
 decay of the intellectual faculties, 
 which are the luminaries of the 
 Soul; as alfo to the fad and un- 
 comfortable ftate that age reduces 
 men to, infomuch that the mod 
 cheerful objeds in nature growirk- 
 ibme and diftaftcful. The Preacher 
 therefore besiins with the nobler 
 part, and then proceeds to enume- 
 rate thofe diforders which chiefly 
 atfeft the body, to which the words 
 in the latter part of the verfe are 
 a fine introduction. 
 
 V. 3. (i) " In the day when the 
 keepers of the Hciife pall tremble." 
 We need not obierve here, that 
 Man, finking under a load of age 
 and infirmities, is moil aptly com- 
 pared to an old crazy Houfe, whofe 
 inhabitant is unable to keep it in 
 repair. The hands and arms ai'e, 
 no doubt, intended by the Keepers 
 of this Houfe, which being deftined 
 for its defence, and to provide it 
 
 with necelTaries, are now fo afFcdted 
 with paralytic diforders, as to be 
 incapable of either. 
 
 (2) And the Strong Jljall bow 
 themfelves." Our Verfion has in- 
 ferted in this claufe the word men ; 
 but we think, that of Junius and 
 Tremellius is to be preferred, who 
 have rendered it valentes robore, 
 a. e. the mighty ones', or thofe that 
 excell in ftrength ; not only as the 
 word man does not appear in the 
 original, but by this expreflion 
 fomething is left to the reader's 
 imagination, and thereby the alle- 
 gory made more of a piece. Some 
 underftandby thekjlrong ones, the 
 back aiid (houlders ; others the 
 reins ; but the moft generally re- 
 ceived expofition is, that the legs 
 and thighs are here denoted, which, 
 like two pillars, fupport the whole 
 weight of the body. In v.'hich fo- 
 ever of thefe fenfes they be taken, 
 the difference is not material, as 
 thofe parts are undoubtedly in- 
 tended, wherein man's principal 
 ftrength confifts. 
 
 Nor 
 
 #
 
 ( "3 ) 
 
 Nor for the pining Inmate food prepare ? (3) 
 
 Ev'n thofe, who on the lofty watch-tow'r fat, 
 
 And, through the windows of the foul, furvey'd 
 
 Far diftant objedls, now too dim are grown 
 
 The neareft to difcern. (4) Is this a time v. 4. 
 
 With Heav'n to gain acceptance, when thy plaints, 
 
 Tirefome to thine affociates, and abhorr'd 
 
 Thine ailments, feeble, low, and tremulous 
 
 Thy voice (tho' once fo loud) that none can hear. 
 
 From public intercourfe exclude ? Behold ! 
 
 Thy lips, the two-leav'd doors without, are clos'd, 
 
 And each internal pallage, or denies 
 
 Admittance, or refufes to convey 
 
 Such due fupplies as languid Nature craves. (5) 
 
 (3) '■'■AndtheGrindersJhallceafey Optics, and acquainted with the 
 becaufe they are few." That by the wonderful ftrudlure of the eye, 
 grinders are meant the teeth, ad- (through which organ the foul dif- 
 mitsofnodifpute ; forthefe, being cerns all external objefts painted on 
 partly dropped out from their fock- the Retina,) can have any idea of. 
 ets, and the few that remain, loofe And, indeed, it muft be acknow- 
 or draggling, are of no more ufe ledged, that notwithftanding the 
 to the maftication of food than a many ingenious trafts written on 
 broken mill-ftone to the grinding the theory of Vifion, there is fome- 
 of corn. . thing fo aftonifhing in its nature, as 
 
 (4) " Jnd thofe that look out of to be utterly inexplicable. 
 
 the JVindows fhall be darkened." It (5) '■'■And the Boors (or two leav'd 
 
 is univerfally agreed, that by this portals) fhall he fhut in the flreets, 
 
 exprelTion is meant the dimnefs of (or open paffages,) when the found 
 
 fight fo remarkable in old m.en. of the Grinding is low." Thek words 
 
 As to the phrafe, Lookers out of the are not without their obfcurity, as 
 
 windows, or cafetnents, it hath a pe- appears from the variety of arbi- 
 
 culiar force and fignificancy, which trary interpretations. Some ex- 
 
 none but thofe who are verfed in pound them literally, as meaning 
 
 Q. no
 
 ('14) 
 
 Nor can the wretch, as he was wont, recruit 
 Himfclf with reft ; ftranger to fleep, he ftarts 
 From his loath'd couch at earHeft dawn, to change 
 The fcene of woes ; and, whilft in f >iteft notes 
 The feather'd choir begin t' exprefs their joy. 
 
 no more than that old people are 
 forced to keep v ithin doors, their 
 voice being fo low and feeble, that 
 none can hear what they fay •, for 
 which reafon, they are excluded 
 from public aflembiies ; that their 
 Lips are (hut in eating, becaufe 
 they haveloft their teeth, and there- 
 fore can only mumble their food. 
 It mufl: be owned, that old men are 
 gene! ally in the condition here def- 
 cribed ; and I believe it is found, 
 by daily experience, that, when 
 they are grown tired of themfelves, 
 their mod intimate acquaintance 
 are no lefs tired of their company, 
 and would willingly get rid of 
 them. Bilhop Patrick, in his para- 
 phrafe, feems to underftand the 
 words in this fenfe, which there- 
 fore we have partly followed ; tho' 
 Critics, we apprehend, will not be 
 thoroughly fatisfied with it. As 
 to Dr. Smith's comment on this 
 obfcure palTage, which that learn- 
 ed Prelate allows to be very inge- 
 nious, though he thinks it too phi- 
 lofophical, it appears to us by far 
 the moft eligible. Solomon, ac- 
 cording to the Dotftor, by thefe 
 words, intended that internal grind- 
 ing in the flomach, and other parts, 
 
 wherein the food, having been firft 
 coarfely ground in the mouth, 
 (which may properly be ftyled the 
 outward Mill,) is, by a peculiar 
 fermentation, ground over again, 
 and reduced into the minuteft par- 
 ticles, of a different colour and 
 confiftence, called Chyle : and that 
 this fame Chyle, in its continued pro- 
 grefs through the other vefiels de- 
 fined for its reception, ftill receives 
 farther alterations, till at length the 
 finer and more volatile parts re- 
 ceive their utmoft degree of per- 
 fection, being exalted into blood, 
 and laft of all, into animal fpirits. 
 From this fuppofition, which ap- 
 pears to be no lefs probable than 
 ingenious, the Doctor infers, that, 
 by the low found of the Grinding, 
 here mentioned, are denoted a total 
 indigeftion, with all thofe fymp- 
 toms which indicate that Nature 
 can no longer perform her ordinary 
 funftions. We have paid the more 
 regard to this explication, as it 
 carries on the metaphor of an Old 
 Houfe, whofe paflages to all the 
 chambers and inward apartments, 
 as well as the Street-door, the two- 
 leaved portal (the Lips) are of no 
 farther ufe. 
 
 Penfive
 
 ( "5 ) 
 
 Penfive and fad renews his plaints : (6) for now 
 Mufic itfelf hath loft its charms ; no more 
 The fweeteft voice, or tuneful inftrumcnt, 
 Affecl the deafen'd ear. (7) Far now are fled 
 Each mild and tranquil palFion ; none remain 
 But fuch as harrafs and torment the mind, 
 
 V.j. 
 
 (6) " Jnd hejhall rife up at the 
 "coke of the Bird." Some expound 
 thefe words rhus — Hefhall beftar- 
 tled out of his fleep at the fmalleft 
 noife, even at the chirping of a 
 little bird. But this interpretation 
 contradicts what immediately fol- 
 lows, which implies deafnefs. Others 
 take the meaning to be, that his 
 voice fhall be now fo low and fee- 
 ble, as to rife to no higher a pitch 
 than tiiat of a Sparrow. Among 
 many other expofitions, that of 
 Do6lor Edwards is very fingular, 
 to wit, that the old man, though 
 he has loft his appetite, yet at the 
 mention of fome nice delicate bit, 
 fuch, for inftance, as a Partridge 
 or i'he:dant, will be tempted to 
 rife and eat ; which is contrary to 
 the tenor of the whole defcription, 
 that fuppofes him incapable of 
 taking the leaft pleafure in any 
 thing. We have followed the in- 
 terpretation which is moft obvious 
 and natural, to wit, that the wreich- 
 ed old man, being tired of his bed, 
 where his complicated infirmities 
 would not fuffer him to take any 
 reft in the night, rifes at break of 
 day, when the Cock begins to 
 
 crow and the Birds to warble out 
 their notes ; not that he is difturb- 
 ed at the noife they make, which 
 the very next words, as v/e before 
 obferved, fuppofe him incapable 
 of hearing, but becaufe he cannot 
 fleep, on account of his ailments. 
 It is likewife to be noted here, that 
 as, in the preceding inftances, the 
 expreftions are evidently allegorical, 
 alluding to the feveral parts of the 
 Houfe, and the different offices of 
 the Domeftics, if we may be allow- 
 ed to ufe the term, fo in the paflage 
 now before us, the words, which 
 are plain and fimple, niay be faid, 
 with propriety enough, to denote 
 the forlorn condition of the Mafter 
 of the Houfe himfelf. 
 
 (7) " And all the daughters of 
 Muftc fhall be brought lav." Thefe 
 words, according to the Hebrew 
 Idiom, may fignify either thofe 
 organs which modulate the voice, 
 and produce Harmony, or thofe 
 which receive it, and are affedled- 
 by it. We have taken them in 
 the latter fenfe, with St. Jerome, 
 who thus renders tiiis paffage; Et 
 obfurdefcetit cmnes filite Carminis. 
 
 0.2 
 
 And
 
 ( "6 ) 
 
 And fhake its crazy manlion : Fear prefides 
 
 In chief, and, from his weaknefs, gathers ftrength ; 
 
 Tho' nothing once could daunt, yet now alarm'd 
 
 At ev'ry fhadow, and with terrors feiz'd, 
 
 And dark forebodings, where no danger threats. 
 
 With tott'ring pace he moves, and pants for breath 
 
 At ev'ry ftep ; to him the fmootheft path 
 
 Seems rugged. (0 Thus enfeebled, not unlike 
 
 To early bloffoms of an Almond-Tree, 
 
 The hoary honours of his head fhall fall, 
 
 And baldnefs leave. (2) The dull Grafshopper, late 
 
 ( i) " Alfo "jjhen he Jhall he afraid 
 of that which is high, and terrors 
 Jhall be in the way" The plain 
 meaning of thefe words is, that, 
 among all the uneafy and difquiet- 
 ing pafTions, to which old men 
 are liable, fuch as Anger, Hatred, 
 Grief, Impatience, &c. Fear, or 
 Diftruft, chiefly predominates. The 
 fame man, who, in his youth and 
 vigour, was intimidated at nothing, 
 when broken with age, is apt to be 
 fo difpirited and enfeebled, both in 
 body and mind, as to be alarmed 
 at every thing. In this condition, 
 he is not only terrified at that 
 which is high, (whether this expref- 
 fion is to be underftood of emi- 
 nence of place, as difficult of ac- 
 cefs to one who can fcarce Hand 
 on his legs ; or of matters which 
 require deep ftudy and application 
 of mind ; or of any great and ha- 
 zardous undertaking; for in all 
 
 thefe fenfes the words have been 
 expounded,) but Fears alfo Jhall be 
 in the way ; that is, the eafieft things 
 fhall feem to be attended with in- 
 fuperable difficulties : he fhall be 
 full of dreadful apprehenfions, and 
 flatting mighty obflacles, where no 
 danger or difficulty appears. This 
 feems to be the moft natural expo- 
 fition, and therefore we fhall trou- 
 ble the reader with no other. 
 
 (2) " And the Almond-Tree Jloall 
 Jlourifl}." As we have given a turn 
 to the lafl word fo different from 
 moft Verfions, it may be necefTary 
 to give our reafons for this devia- 
 tion. It is agreed on all hands, 
 that under the emblem of an Al- 
 mond-Tree, is denoted the hoary 
 head of an Old Man : But then, why 
 is thisTreefaid/o_/?cz^r.7?),which na- 
 turally implies joy and gladnefs .? 
 Does not fuch an expreffion convey 
 an idea totally repugnant to all the 
 
 preceding
 
 ( 1^7 ) 
 
 So adive, gay, and fprightly, to Itfelf 
 
 A pond'rous burden grown, wrinkled its fkin. 
 
 Of ugly hue, diftorted limbs, its flefh 
 
 Worn to the bones, which far protrude, it crawls, 
 
 And drags with pain its weight. (3) The fenfual flame. 
 
 preceding and fubfequent ones, 
 whether allegorical or literal, which 
 imply nothing but what is defec- 
 tive,fad, gloomy, and melancholy ? 
 With regard to an old man, as here 
 defcribed, quite broken with infir- 
 mities, and juft dropping into the 
 grave, every one knows, that his 
 hair, inftead of growing or flourifh- 
 ing, is apt to fall off, and leave the 
 head entirely bald. Is it not there- 
 fore reafonable to conclude, that 
 this emblematical Almond- Tree, 
 in order to make the emblem to 
 anfwer the thing reprefented, and 
 that the whole defcription might 
 be of a piece, inftead of being faid 
 to flourifh, fhould rather be ftrip- 
 ped of its white bloffoms ? For 
 tho' Solomon, on other occafions, 
 ■when he fpeaks of the reverence 
 due to old age, calls the hoary head, 
 its crown, its glory, and ornament ; 
 yet nothing could be farther from 
 his intention here, than to render 
 fuch a ftate defirable : on the con- 
 trary, he endeavours to fet it in the 
 moft wretched and contemptible 
 light that his exalted imagination 
 could fuggeft. How then fhall we 
 clear up the matter ? Another inter- 
 pretation is to be fought for, of the 
 ■word "(^ay, commonly rendered, 
 fliall flourijhy which, as fome ob- 
 
 ferve, muft, according to the radical 
 letters, be derived from *^*KJ, which 
 has never fignified to flourifh, nor 
 any thing like it, but quite the re- 
 verfe, viz. to caft away, dijfipate, 
 tread under foot ; and tho' to this 
 derivation it has been objefled, that 
 the word in difpute is the future 
 from p», yet others reply, that 
 this is to force a fenle on the word, 
 ■which it will by no means bear, as 
 there is no example of an X, inferr- 
 ed in the middle of an Hebrew 
 word, between the two radicals. 
 Some indeed infift, that this letter 
 is redundant, ftanding in the room 
 of 1 , and, to fupport their allcr- 
 tion, derive the word from another 
 root. We fhall trouble the reader 
 with no more of thefe grammatical 
 niceties, the difcufiion of which we 
 leave to thofe who are better verfcd 
 in the original ; and have only to 
 add, that, whatever may be tliought 
 of the prefent Criticifm, we flatter 
 ourfelves, we fhall be eafily par- 
 doned the liberty we have taken, 
 as it does not afifeft the eflcntial 
 beauties of this ancient Poem, and 
 what we have here attempted, was 
 never defigned as a formal Com- 
 ment. 
 
 (3) " And the Grafshcfper fijaU 
 he a burden" The common ex- 
 
 pofltion
 
 ( ii8 ) 
 
 That flame which glow'd fo fierce within the breaft, 
 Fntirely qucnch'd, cold, impotent, and dead 
 To Beauties charms. (4) How iliort an interval 
 
 poflcion of thefe words, is, that 
 Mi',n fliall be fo weakened by the 
 inlirniities of age, as to be unable 
 to fupport the hghteft weight, even 
 thit of fo fmall a creature as a Lo- 
 tuft, or Grafshopper. Rut it ap- 
 pears from the grammatical con- 
 fbruftion of the words, that, what- 
 ever is denoted by this emblem, 
 the burden afcribsd to it, evidently 
 relates to the thing itfelf. There 
 is the fame ambiguity in our Ver- 
 fion, as in the Latin Phrafe, oncri 
 erh^ which fignifies either to be 
 burdenfome to another, or to be 
 burdened one's felf -, in which latter 
 fenfe the prefent pailage muft ne- 
 cefilirily be taken. Now what can 
 be meant by this burthened Grafs- 
 hopper ? Undoubtedly Man, who 
 is the fubjeft of the whole de- 
 scription. The feveral refemblan- 
 ces between this infeft in its de- 
 clining date, and a decrepit old 
 man, have been minutely pointed 
 out by Commentators \ and it muft 
 be owned, that fome of them, of 
 which v/e have taken notice, are 
 fo ftriking, that an apter emblem 
 could not be eafily thought of, 
 • But the comparifon, as we appre- 
 hend, chiefly holds, with refpedt to 
 the dulnefs and fluggi[hnefs of that 
 infeft, which, tho' at fir ft fa ex- 
 ceeding fprightly in its motions, 
 •yet, when the feafon of its youth 
 and ravages is over, is fo changed, 
 
 that it can fcarce crawl on the 
 earth. It is not improbable, as an 
 ingenious Commentator has ob- 
 ferved on the prefent paflage, that 
 the Ancients were no flrangers to 
 the propriety of this emblem, and 
 that the fable of Tithonus, who is 
 faid by the Poets to have been fo 
 extremely emaciated with age, that 
 at length he was turned into a 
 Grafshopper, from hence took its 
 origin. Be this as it will, it can- 
 not be wondered at, that fo noble 
 a creature as Man ftiould, on this 
 occafion, be reprefented by fo def- 
 picable an infedl, when we find 
 him compared, in other places of 
 Scripture, toawild Afs'sColt, nay, 
 even to the vileft Reptile. Whan 
 can be more fublime, and, at the 
 fame time, more mortifying, than 
 that expreffion of Job ? I faid to 
 Corruption, Thou art my Father, 
 a7id to the Worm, 'Thou art my Mo- 
 ther and my Sifter. 
 
 (4) " And Defirejhall fail." Some 
 underftand nothing elfe by thefe 
 words, but the weaknefs of the 
 ftomach, which now loaths all kind 
 of food : but as this fymptom has 
 been already mentioned, we muft 
 recur to the original word, here 
 trandated Defire, which, according 
 to the LXX, means the fruit of the 
 Caper-flirub, and from the known 
 property of this vegetable, in not 
 only exciting the languid appetite, 
 
 but
 
 ( "9 ) 
 
 Betwixt this trandent ftate, and that long Home (5) 
 
 Allotted to the Tons of men ! Ev'n now 
 
 Thy mourning friends the fun'ral rites prepare, 
 
 but as a provocative to venereal 
 pleafures, is here transferred from 
 its primary fignification, and chief- 
 ly, if not iblely, applied in the 
 latter fenfe. The old man, draw- 
 ing near his end, and ahnoft at the 
 laft gafp, is quite cold and dead to 
 thofe fenfual enjoyments wherewith 
 he was once {6 tranfported. Not 
 only the organs themfelves, which 
 adminiftred to thofe pleafures, as 
 fome underftand the word, are to- 
 tally enervated ; but the very flame 
 of Concupifcence, as it is well ren- 
 dered in ourantient EnglifhTranf- 
 lation, extinguifhed. Solomon un- 
 doubtedly wrote this Poem when 
 he was grown old himfelf, and 
 therefore could fpeak more feeling- 
 ly on the fubjedt ; and, in all pro- 
 bability, the infirmities of age, 
 which he fo pathetically defcribes, 
 came the fafter upon him, from 
 the immoderate indulgence of his 
 paffion for women. There is rea- 
 fon to believe, that he hints at the 
 pernicious confequences of this ex- 
 cefs, in the laft verfe of the prece- 
 ding chapter, where he advifes 
 young men to put away evil from 
 their flejh, being convinced, from 
 his own experience, that as Luft 
 caturally enervates the mind, and 
 clouds the underftanding, fo no- 
 thing more debilitates the body, 
 nor fooner haftens its decay, 
 
 (5) " For Man goeth to his long 
 Home^ and the Mourners go about 
 
 thsftreets." Thefe words, being a 
 plain and^eafy tranfition from the 
 various fymptoms attending nian's 
 declining ftatc, to thofe which im- 
 mediately precede his difiblution, 
 need no explanation. However, 
 it may not be wholly impertinent 
 juft to obferve, with refpecl to the 
 word t^V (of which we have al- 
 ready taken notice in the firfcchap.) 
 here rendered long, that it has three 
 fignifications in Scripture, every 
 one of v.'hich are ftridly applicable 
 to the prefent fubjedl. The firft, 
 which feems to be its original mean- 
 ing, as we before remarked, is fe- 
 cret, hidden, imknoiL'n ; in which 
 fenfe it is undoubtedly ufed in the 
 lall verfe of this chapter. Now the 
 Grave, that Home to which the 
 fons of men are perpetually travel- 
 ling, is the hiding-place, or fecret 
 receptacle of the whole human 
 race, where they are no more feen ; 
 and belides the impenetrable fe- 
 crecy and obfcurity of the place it- 
 felf, which, for this reafon, is em- 
 phatically ftyled the Land of Dark- 
 nefs, who can tell how long he fhall 
 remain in it ^ The Preacher has 
 told us, that the days we muft 
 fpend there, are many ; but what 
 man can afcertain their number ^ 
 Secondly, the word fignifies an in- 
 definite fpace of time, commenfu- 
 rate to the thing or perfon fpoken 
 of; in which fenfe, the term for 
 ever, fo frequently occurring in 
 
 Scripture,
 
 ( 12,0 ) 
 Will foon bear out the breathlefs coarfe, and pay 
 The tribute of their forrows o'er thy grave : 
 For warmcfl: Friendfhip then can do no more. 
 
 Poor unreflecting Wretch! 'Tis now too late 
 To think of thy Creator, when thou haft 
 Forgot thy felf, and like an Harp unftrung, 
 Which to obey the fkillful Artift's touch 
 Refufes, ev'ry organ of the Ibul 
 Is grown quite ufelefs ; when the Silver Cord, 
 Which held the frail machine in ftridl embrace, 
 And, fwift as thought, to ev'ry nerve convey'd 
 The fubtil animating flame, relax'd. 
 Hangs like a flacken'd Bow-ftring, which no more 
 The pointed fliaft can fend. (6) Well may the ftreams 
 
 V.6. 
 
 Scripture, may here alfo be taken, 
 fince every man muft continue un- 
 der the dominion of Death, till 
 that final period when the grave 
 fhall give up its dead. Finally, it 
 fignifies an endlefs duration ; in 
 which fenfe it is taken by St. Je- 
 rome, who renders this pafiage, in 
 dommn ceternitatis fu^e ; forafmuch 
 as the ftate, which Death puts a 
 man into, is abfolutely irrevoca- 
 ble and eternal. We fnall add no 
 more on this head than jufl to hint, 
 that the phrafe, long Home, ufed 
 in our own Verfion, is an Angli- 
 cifm, and not without its pe- 
 culiar beauty, and, as it comes 
 up, at leaft, as near to the ori- 
 ginal as any of the other con- 
 ftrudlions, could not be changed 
 for a better. 
 
 (6) "Or ever the Silver Cord be 
 loafed." The moft judicious Com- 
 mentators are now univerfally a- 
 greed, that by the Silver Cord is 
 meant the Spinal Marrow, with 
 the various nerves thence derived, 
 whofe ramifications, although in- 
 numerable, are here exprefied in 
 the fingular number, becaufe they 
 have ail the fame origin, ferve to 
 the fame ufe, and have a mutual 
 connedion with each other. They 
 are caWed^her, on account of their 
 white fhining colour, remarkable 
 even in a dead-body. And every 
 one, who knows the dreadful effedrs 
 of Nervous Diforders, will eafily 
 comprehend what is meant by this 
 Cord being relaxed, or lofing its 
 due tone. 
 
 And
 
 ( r^l ) 
 
 And riv'lets ceafe to flow, when ev'n the Spring 
 Of fenfe and motion fails ; for now, alas ! 
 The precious Golden Bowl itfelf, of frame 
 Stupendous, or flirunk up, or overftretch'd, 
 No longer can, with frefh recruit, fupply 
 Th' exhaufted fpirits. (7) Gafping Nature fighs 
 In vain for fuccour. At the Fountain-head, 
 The fhatter'd Pitcher can no more receive 
 The vital Fluid ; (8) nor the circling Wheel 
 Raife from its Refervoir, and fwift repell 
 
 (7) " Or the Golden Bowl be 
 broken." As the Silver Cord de- 
 notes the whole nervous fyflem, 
 which ferves to convey the animal 
 ipirits, as in fo many channels and 
 rivulets, to every part of the body, 
 fo by the Golden Bowl we are to 
 underftand the Brain, which is the 
 Spring of fenfe and motion, the 
 origin of all the nerves, and from 
 whence they continually receive, 
 in a ftate of health, a due fupply 
 of animal fpirits. It is denomi- 
 nated Goiden, not only from the 
 colour of the inner and finer mem- 
 brane wherein it is enwrapped, 
 which fomewhat inclines to yellow, 
 but from the noble purpofes it 
 ferves, herein excelling all other 
 membranes, as gold excels other 
 metals. When this Golden Bowl 
 is broken, or rather, fhrunk into 
 itfelf, or (as others render it) when 
 the golden Orb moves eccentrical, and 
 out of its regular courfe, it muft in- 
 
 flantly put the whole animal cer ' 
 nomy into diforder, and end in 
 incurable apoplexy. 
 
 (8) '■'■ Or the Pitcher be Jhat- 
 tered in pieces at the Fountain." 
 By the Pitcher is to be under- 
 ftood the Vena Cava, or rather the 
 Veins in general, which are the 
 proper receptacle of the Blood, 
 containing it as in a veflej, and 
 whofe peculiar office it is to car- 
 ry it, for a frelh fupply, to the 
 right ventricle of the Heart, which 
 is therefore fitly denominated the 
 Fountain. This Pitcher may well 
 be faid to be fhattered, or ren- 
 dered ufelefs, when the veins have 
 fo far loft their adtion, as to be in- 
 capable of carrying to the heart the 
 vital fluid they contained, and re- 
 ceiving from thence a frefh impreg- 
 nation. Confequently the Blood 
 muft now grow cold, languid, and 
 fpiritlefs. 
 
 R 
 
 The
 
 ( 12.2 ) 
 The purple Current thence to parts remote. (9) 
 
 Long had the King of Terrors laid clofe fiege v. 7. 
 And ev'ry outwork feiz'd : now ruiliing in, 
 With merc'lefs rage he ftorms the Fort of Life. 
 ^ho' indifpos'd for mutual help, yet loth 
 To part, the dear Aflbciates now are torn 
 Reludant from their cold embrace : the Houfe 
 Is falFn, nor to its Inmate can afford 
 A moment's fhelter ; all around it lies 
 An heap of ruins. To its native duft 
 This earthly frame returns : the heav'nly fpark, 
 That glow'd within, kindled by breath divine, 
 Inflant returns to God. (0 What phrenzy, then, v.s. 
 
 (9) " Or the Wheel broken at the culty, the confequence of which is, 
 
 Cijiern" By the Wheel is here a total ftagnation of the blood, and 
 
 denoted the great Artery, with its inftant Death, as follows in the 
 
 branches i and confequently, by the next verfe. 
 
 Ciftern, the left ventricle of tlie (i) '■'■ I'hen fiall the Duji return 
 
 heart, from whence the blood is to the Earth, as it was, and the 
 
 impelled, as from a refervoir, and, Spiritfljall return unto God who gave 
 
 in a ftate of health and vigour, cir- it." With regard to the nature of 
 
 culated to the remoteft parts, by the human and brutal Soul, the* 
 
 a perpetual rotation, as may be Solomon had before pointed out 
 
 eafily perceived on the flighteft the difference, by faying that the 
 
 touch. This hieroglyphical Wheel former goeth upward, and the lat- 
 
 alludes to thofe, which ferved to ter downwards to the earth ; yet as 
 
 draw up water from wells and deep thefe words are fuppofed by fome to 
 
 cifterns, to be conveyed to diftant come from the mouth of a Sceptic, 
 
 parts, as occafion required, (a cuf- and therefore may feem to leave the 
 
 tom ftill ufed in many countries,) matter undecided, in order to ob- 
 
 and may be faid to be broken, or viate all objedions, he here aflerts, 
 
 rendered unferviceable, when the in the mod clear and pofitive terms, 
 
 arteries have loft their impulfive fa- fuch as will admit of no ambiguity, 
 
 that
 
 ( 1^3 ) 
 
 To let this world, which fleeteth like a fliade, 
 Ensao'c our cares, and no providon make 
 
 DO ' I 
 
 For that which ever lafts ? Ye thoughtlefs, hear 
 
 My words, and let the Preacher's voice incline 
 
 Your hearts to wifdom. — Who hath tafted more 
 
 Of what this world affords? who emptier found 
 
 Its pleafures, than the Royal Penitent ? 
 
 By fad experience taught, as he began 
 
 The ferious theme. How falfe, deceitful, vain 
 
 Our fondeft hopes, and all things here below j 
 
 So, of his precepts grave the laft refult 
 
 Is ftill the fame, That life is but a dream, . 
 
 Where Man purfues imaginary joys, 
 
 And wakes to real woes. (2) — Perhaps, milled 
 
 V.9. 
 
 that though the body of man is 
 compofed of the fame materials 
 with that of brutes, and equally 
 fubjeft to difTolution, yet that the 
 principles of their fouls are totally 
 diftind. If the Preacher did not 
 here intend to inform us, that the 
 human Soul exifls after its fepara- 
 tion from the body, why fhould he 
 thus vary the expreffion, and not 
 rather tell us, in one word, either 
 that both return to Duft, or that 
 both return to God, who certainly 
 made the one as well as the other ? 
 But the ftrikingexpreflion he makes 
 ufe of, evidently implies fome ex- 
 traordinary diftinclion, not only 
 the human foul's future exiflence, 
 
 but (which is ftill more alarming 
 to fome perfons) the ftrift account 
 it muft give of its aftions. For it 
 ought to be particularly noted, 
 that this returning to God compre- 
 hends the wicked as well as the 
 Righteous. The one returns to be 
 rewarded, and the other to be pu- 
 nched. 
 
 (2) " Vanity of Fafiides, faith 
 the Preacher, all is Vanity." Solo- 
 mon here concludes all that he had 
 been faying, with refpecl to the 
 falfe ways which men purfue to 
 obtain Happinefs,' repeating the 
 fame folemn exclamation he began 
 with. Nor could there be a more 
 proper introdudion to what ira- 
 R 2 mediately
 
 ( 124 ) 
 
 By paflion, prejudice, or felf-conceit, 
 
 Thefe vvholefome leflbns thou may 'ft difregard, 
 
 And hope to find fome eafier way to Blifs. 
 
 Where wilt thou meet a fafer Guide, more fkill'ct 
 
 To judge aright, or to direil thy fteps 
 
 With friendher hand ? Was not the Preacher fill'd 
 
 With wifdom from above, and taught himfelf 
 
 By Heav'n, Hke Heav'n difpos'd, with heart benign 
 
 The blefling to difpenfe ? Stranger to lloth 
 
 Or envy, has he not, with ceafelefs toil, 
 
 The precepts utter'd by each hoary Sage, 
 
 Like hidden treafure fought ; the more he knew, 
 
 Still more intent to learn ? Wilt thou not find 
 
 Sententious maxims, which in few comprize 
 
 Deep fenfe, colled:ed here, in order rank'd. 
 
 Fitted to ev'ry ftate : fuch certain rules 
 
 Of life, as to the paths of peace condud, 
 
 And will to future ages ufeful prove ? 
 
 * 
 
 mediately follows, which is to point 
 out, in the clearefl: manner, the 
 only fure and infallible way to it. 
 Like a fkilfiil Phyfician, he firft 
 fays open the fore, and probes it 
 deeply, and then prefcribes a radi- 
 cal cure. 
 
 * V. 9. '■'■ And moreover, hecaufe 
 the Treacher ivas wife, he ftill taught 
 the people knowledge \ yea, he gave 
 good heed, and fought out, and fet in 
 
 order many Proverbs." Some look 
 on this, and the two next verfes, as 
 a digreHion, inferted by thofewho 
 fettled the facred Canon long after 
 Solomon'^s deceafe. The reafons 
 they bring to perfuade us, that thefe 
 cannot be the Preacher's own words, 
 are, his being mentioned in the 
 third perfon, and becaufe the en- 
 comium here given of him, would 
 be indecent from his own mouth. 
 
 But
 
 ( lis ) 
 
 So frail is Man, that he muft be allur'd v. lo. 
 
 To his own Happinefs j therefore, with pains 
 Unwearied, has the Preacher fought to join 
 Int'reft with duty, profit with delight. 
 And render lovely Virtue's native charms : 
 Yet tho', in decent ornamental drefs 
 Array'd, her beauties more engage the heart j 
 What precept has he giv'n, but fuch, as built 
 On Truth's firm bafis, ne'er can lead aftray y 
 Such as the facred Oracles contain, 
 
 And fober Reafon dictates ? * — The fame force v. u. 
 Have words, concife but nervous, to roufe up 
 And ftimulate the drowfy foul, as goads 
 To drive the fluggifh ox: like nails, well driv'n 
 By arm robuft, which faft retain the beam j 
 
 But to the firft it may be anfwered, the book of Proverbs, and fome 
 that it is more agreeable to the other pieces of the fame ferious 
 Hebrew, as well as to the oriental tendency, now loft. 
 Ilyle in general, to fpeak in the * V. lo. '■'■ The Preacher fought 
 third than the firft perfon ; and to find out acceptable words, a)id that 
 as to the latter, nothing could which was written was upright, even 
 come with a better grace, nor more words of Truth" The plain mean- 
 to the purpofe > for certainly no ing of which is, that he endea- 
 man was ever fo well qualified as voured to mix the utile and the 
 Solomon, to give inftruflions with ^«/cf together ; that is, to put what- 
 regard to the condudl of life, nor ever he delivered, either from his 
 took more pains to prevent his peo- own or other's obfervations, in the 
 pie from falling into the fame ex- moft pleafing drefs, yet not in falfe 
 ceflTes he had done himfelf. It is or deceitful colourings, but always 
 probable, that he not only hints with the ftricbeft regard to Truth, 
 here at the Ecclefiaftes, but alfo at 
 
 They
 
 ( I2<5 ) 
 
 They both collect, and fi-: our wand'ring thoughts 
 To one great point, and deep impreflions make. 
 
 Thofe who thus labour Wifdom to promote, 
 And lead the Flock entrufted to their charge, 
 In Virtue's paths, are fure by Heav'n infpir'd, 
 And from the Sov'reign Paftor all their gifts 
 Derive : for what can Man alone perform ? * 
 
 Oh ! hearken then, my Son, or whofoe'er ^'- «2» 
 
 Thou art, whofe welfare as my own I feek ; 
 To thefe inftrudions bend thine ear, content 
 With ufeful Knowledge, which will make thee wife 
 Indeed : Would'ft thou be happy, learn from hence 
 Thy duty; 'tis a fcience foon obtain'd. 
 For all that Heav'n thought fit for man to know, 
 Whate'er beft fuited to his frail eftate, 
 And moft conducive to his Happinefs, ' 
 
 * V, II. Tho' the grammatical thegms of wife men (for which the 
 
 conftruflionof thisverfeisnot aht- Antients were celebrated) make 
 
 tie embarralTing, yet, as the fenfe is quicker and deeper impreffions, 
 
 clear enough, we fhall juft take than more prolix and elaborate dif- 
 
 noticc, that, as Solomon had given, courfes •, and concludes with this 
 
 in the preceding verfes, a juft en- important remark, that, whatever 
 
 comium of himfelf, fo here he benefit may from thence refult to 
 
 commends thofe who were em- the world, no man is to arrogate 
 
 ployed in the fame noble work, the glory to himfelf, but afcribe it 
 
 that is, of conveying ufeful in- all to the goodnefsof God, the one 
 
 ftrudlions to other's. He fliews by greal Shepherd, who fuperintends 
 
 the two fignificant comparifons of and direds the inferior Paftor, 
 Goads and Nails, that fliort apo- 
 
 In 
 

 
 ( 12.7 ) 
 In narrow compafs lies. Here may'ft thou reft 
 Secure, and here more real Wifdom gain 
 Than num'rous bulky Volumes can afford, 
 Which darken cleareft truths with ftyle verbofe, 
 Diftrad the wav'ring mind with endlefs doubts, 
 And curious fpeculations, no lels vain 
 Than tirefome and perplex'd, confume the flefh, 
 And banifli health and peace ; and, after all 
 The painful reftlefs fearch, what fruit remains, 
 But wafte of time, and mighty labour loft 
 To thofe that write or read ? * — Here let us end 
 
 V.M. 
 
 * V. 12. " And farther, my Son, 
 by thefe be admonijhed : of making 
 many Books there is no end, and much 
 Jludy is a isoearinefs of the flejh. The 
 former part of this verfe is render- 
 ed by the Vulgate, En^piire, my 
 Son, after no more than thefe, i. e. 
 the words of the Wife, juft before 
 mentioned. In both Verfions the 
 fenfe is much the fame, importing 
 that what is comprized in fuch 
 fhort inftriiflions, may be eafily 
 learnt, and contains all that is ne- 
 cefTary to be known. What Solo- 
 mon here obferves, with refpeft to 
 many Books, is confirmed by ex- 
 perience ; for certainly the greater 
 part of that prodigious number of 
 volumes wherewith ourLibraries are 
 crouded, conduce very little to the 
 advancement of ufeful knowledge, 
 flill lefs to the praftice of virtue, 
 and confequently, nothing at all to 
 
 the attaining, of folid Happinefs. 
 Were men to think more, and read 
 lefs, they would grow wifer and 
 better. Much Reading has the 
 fame effed; on the mind, as a too 
 large quantity of ill-digefted food, 
 on the body, with this additional 
 inconvenience, that it generally 
 weakens and confumcs the latter, 
 without improving, and too often 
 impairing the vigour of the former, 
 which is thereby led into number- 
 lefs errors and delufions. In a word, 
 the great Science of life is to learn 
 how to be virtuous •, and in this, 
 the moft illiterate Ruflic, with an 
 honeft heart, may make a much 
 larger proficiency than the pro- 
 foundeft Philofopher. All human 
 ftudies which, in any fhape, con- 
 duce to this noble end, are fo far 
 truly- valuable ; whilft thofe of a 
 contrary tendency, (among which 
 
 even
 
 i 
 
 ( 1^8 ) 
 
 The great enquiry. — Since not Wealth nor PowV, 
 
 Not Pleafure's tempting charms, nor even thofe 
 
 Of Science, ftill more luring, better fkiU'd 
 
 To flatter human pride ; in fine, fince nought 
 
 Below the Sun, can folid Biifs afford, 
 
 Where fhall we find that Sov'reign Good, for which 
 
 The foul is ever panting ? Hear the fum 
 
 Of our inftrudions. Whatfoe'er the Wife 
 
 In ev'ry age have taught, is all compriz'd 
 
 In one fhort precept : Let an awful fenfe 
 
 Of God's almighty pow'r and boundlefs love 
 
 Influence thy life, and keep his righteous laws j 
 
 Thou need'ft to feek no farther ; this the foul 
 
 And fubftance of Religion ; all befide, 
 
 An empty fhadow. For this end alone 
 
 Was Man created ; his whole Happinefs 
 
 On this depends : 'Tis this alone reftores 
 
 To its primaeval luftre Nature falFn 
 
 From innocence ; hence Man is render'd all 
 
 That Heav'n defign'd, the noblefl work of God : 
 
 But left to his own condudl rafh and bHnd, 
 
 And deaf to Reafon's didlates, tho' heav'n-born, 
 
 even ufelefs ftudies may be ranked, natural depravity, and confequent- 
 confidering the ineftimable value of ly miflead us in our fearch after 
 time,) only ferve to increafe our Happinefs. 
 
 His
 
 ( 129 ) 
 
 His god-like origin degraded, low- 
 He falls ; beneath the vileft brute he finks : 
 The Man is truly wretched, loft, and worfe 
 Than nothing. * Is not this fhort life the time 
 Of thy probation ? Shall the raging ftorms 
 Of fharp Afflidlion, or the flatt'ring gales 
 Of foft Temptation, thee from Duty's road 
 Divert? Will not the Trial foon be o'er? 
 Think, e'er too late, that thine eternal doom 
 Will be determin'd, when th' impartial Judge, 
 Whofe ever-wakeful eye none can deceive, 
 Whofe juftice none efcape, to ftridl account 
 Shall bring the fons of men, and juftify 
 His ways, tho' human Reafon now exclaim. 
 Then fuff'ring Virtue, here obfcure, defpis'd, 
 And known to none but Heav'n, fhall brighter fhine 
 Than the meridian Sun, with glory crown'd 
 Unfading. Thofe, who gave to vice the reins, 
 
 * V. 13. '■^ Let us hear ths con- fence, and obedience to his com- 
 clufion of the "vohole matter : Fear God, mandments, is the only thing that 
 cjid keep his Commandments ; for this renders man the image of his Maker, 
 isthetvholedutyofMan." The learn- preferves the original dignity of his 
 ed need not be reminded here, that nature, and diftinguifhes him from 
 the word duty, inferted in our Tranf- inferior creatures, Thisknowlpcge, 
 lation, is not in the Original, which when reduced to practice, will make 
 ihouldhs rendered the whole of Man, us wife to Salvation •, and without 
 or, more ftridlly and more emphati- this, the whole circle of arts and 
 cally, the whole Man ; implying, fciences is mere folly and mad- 
 that a due fenfe of God's omnipre- nefs. 
 
 S Tho'
 
 ( 130 ) 
 
 Tho' here their crimes from mortal eye conceal'd, 
 Shall at the Bar tremendous ftand agaft, 
 Dragg'd from their dark retreats, to public fcorn 
 Expos'd, and meet with everlafting fhame. * 
 
 * V. 14. Solomon here concludes 
 his admirable difcourfe, the fum 
 and fiibftance of which, in few 
 •words, amounts to this, that man 
 is a rational, and confequently an 
 accountable creature j that as his 
 only true happinefs confifls in a 
 fteady courle of Piety and Virtue, 
 without which, it will be impoffible 
 to pafs his days here, with that in- 
 ward peace and tranquillity which 
 render the mind fuperior to the 
 various accidents and viciflitudes of 
 human life, fo he has no reafon to 
 murmur at the feemingly inequal 
 difpenfations of divine Providence, 
 
 during this tranfitory ftate, but ra- 
 ther to wait with patience the final 
 refult of things, which are all dif~ 
 pofed by infinite Wifdom for the 
 beft; when every one fliall be re- 
 compenced, according to his works. 
 He that is firmly perfuaded of the 
 truth of this great fundamental 
 principle of Religion, will always 
 have fufficient motives to fet the 
 ftrifteft guard on himfelf, with ref- 
 peft to his duty both to God and 
 man; and always have enough ta 
 fupport his fpirits in the moft ca- 
 lamitous circumftances. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 To the K I N a 
 
 THUS far the Royal Preacher, who, milled 
 By paflion's impulfe, in the devious paths 
 Of Vice and Folly ftray'd j at length reclaim'd, 
 Hath here trac'd out the fource of human woes. 
 And points with friendly hand the road to Blifs. 
 Princes from hence may learn, what fatal fnares 
 The moft exalted rank attend, when Pow'r 
 Is unreftrain'd by Virtue. No lefs hard 
 Will Sov'reigns find the talk to govern well, 
 Than Subjects to obey; too apt are Both 
 Their duty to forget: Both ftand in need 
 Of wholefome councils. — With fuperior gifts 
 Endow'dj how glorious fhone the Hebrew King, 
 
 S 2 How
 
 t 
 
 ( 132- ) 
 
 How lov'd, rever'd, when he began his reign, 
 Let facred records tell. In thofe bleft days, 
 Religion, root of folid Virtue, fhed 
 Its influence far and wide: then HoHnefs 
 Appeared in all its beauty. Pray'rs devout, 
 With fragrant clouds of incenfe, rofe to Heav'n ; 
 Each foletnn rite with rev'rence due perform'd : 
 Anthems alternate round the hallow'd walls 
 Echo'd melodious ; People, Prieft, and King, 
 With pious zeal and mutual ardor join'd 
 To praife the univerfal Lord. Hence flow'd 
 Unutter'd bleflings : Vice in dark retreats. 
 Lay pale and trembling: powVful Sinners flood 
 In awe of Juftice, forc'd or to reform. 
 Or to conceal their crimes. To fuch a Throne 
 Who but the Wife and Virtuous dar'd approach ? 
 
 Now fee the fad reverfe 1 To paffions vile, 
 The hoary Sage, by Female Arts enfnar'd. 
 His Reafon fhamefuUy reflgn'd, and fell 
 To brutal Luft a flave. How changed the fcene ! 
 His heart perverted, far from Court was driv'n 
 Religion, which at length no place could find, 
 Ev'n in the Temple» Altars now were rais'd 
 To Idols vain, and fenfelefs Gods ador'd 
 With impious rites. Strait Vice, uncurb'd by Law, 
 
 - Its 

 
 ( 133 ) 
 
 Its head ereded, like the peftilence, 
 Its baleful influence fhed ; no rank efcap'd 
 The deadly taint. Such, of a Court corrupt 
 The dire effedls ! Vengeance divine purfu'd 
 Th' ungrateful Sire in his ill-nurtur'd Son, 
 Who liv'd to fee his realm in pieces torn, 
 And endlefs woes entail'd both on his Race 
 And wretched People. — Hence let ev'ry Prince 
 Be warn'd, how much the welfare of his State 
 Depends on rev'rence to Religion due , 
 That Piety, to public fcorn expos'd. 
 Or as a thing of trivial moment deem'd. 
 Subverts all order, gives to Vice the reins, 
 Prompts the licentious to contemn divine 
 And human laws, and fure at length brings down 
 Suchcurfes on thebeft-eftablifh'd realms, 
 As Children yet unborn will rue th' effcvSts. 
 
 That rock, on which Judea's King was loft, 
 And grey experience fliould have taught to fhun. 
 The fource of all his own and Country's woes. 
 Thou in the prime of life haft Tcap'd, fafe fteer'd 
 Through Paflion's ftormy fea, by watchful care 
 Of Guardian- xAngels, to the port fecure. 
 Where folid Blifs, if aught below the Sun 
 Can folid Blifs afford, hath furely fix'd 
 
 Its
 
 ( 134 ) 
 
 Its calm abode, and Eden's garden -fmiks» -m^i^ 1. 1 
 
 Th' uxorioias Son of Da-vid fought in vain, 
 
 A mono- a thoufand of th' enchanting Sex, 
 
 What thou haft found in One. They all, of form 
 
 Beauteous, indeed, but foul deprav'^ and falfe, 
 
 Betray'd, and to the verge of ruin led 
 
 The doating Monarch : by their blandifhments, 
 
 He faW his glory ftain'd, abhoi'r'd at home, 
 
 Defpis'd abroad, the wrath of God provok'd : 
 
 The poifon'd cup they offer'd, to the tafte 
 
 Tho' fweet, prov'd bitter as the pangs of death. 
 
 But Royal Charlotte, in whofe afpdft ftiild, 
 Calm and ferene as Heaven's unclouded face, 
 Appears that inward peace of mind, which flows 
 From confcious Virtue, form'd at once t' inftru6t 
 And charm, will render the Connubial State 
 A fource of lafting joy, domeftic fweets. 
 And public bleffings : 'midft the bloom of youth. 
 Mature in Wifdom, hoary Age may learn 
 Sublimeft leflbns from her lips : the rage 
 Of Party ceafes, Calumny itfelf 
 Struck dumb at her approach : in ev'ry word, 
 Each look and gefture, dignity and grace 
 Proclaim her worthy of a Throne. — Exult, 
 Ye Britons, in your Monarch's happy choice, 
 
 By
 
 ( 135 ) 
 
 By Heav'n approvM. Oh ! may the genial Bed 
 With many a fmiling Offspring be adorn'd, 
 And future Georges, like the prefent, reign 
 
 But would'ft thou on the firmeft balls fix 
 The Throne, Religion thy peculiar care 
 Demands : for tho' pretenders vile too oft 
 Difgrace the venerable name, yet fure, 
 Virtue itfelf, without Religion's aid, 
 Is but an empty fliadow. Would to Heav'n, 
 That thofe beneath thy fway, had learn'd from Thee, 
 To pradife what fhe teaches ! — But, alas ! 
 Not ev'n th' example of a Pious King, 
 In youth undazzled with the pomp of Courts, 
 And ftranger to the luring charms of Vice, 
 To our own happinefs can move. We fee 
 The god-like pattern, much admire and praife, 
 And yet the hideous contrafte ftill purfue. 
 
 Oh ! Britain, Queen of Ifles, how vain thy boaft 
 Of mighty acquifitions, martial feats 
 And triumphs! What avail thy wealth immenfe 
 And wide-extended commerce, if thou feel'ft 
 Th' inveterate ills of Peace, more dreadful far 
 Than all the rage of War ? To what dire caufe 
 Shall we impute our crimes, but the contempt 
 Of all that's facred ? This the bitter fource 
 
 Of
 
 ( 136 ) 
 
 Of our corrupted morals. — Vice, 'tis true, 
 
 Hath its own fting, and Confcience, oft alarm'd, 
 
 Ladies the guilty mind with whips of fteel 
 
 And rods of fcorpions ; yet, when callous grown, 
 
 It lins without remorfe, nor lefs defies 
 
 Its own reproaches than the threats of Heav'n : 
 
 The ferious theme of momentary joys 
 
 Purchas'd with everlafting grief, the day 
 
 Of future Reck'ning, and tremendous Bar, 
 
 At which the fons of men, ev'n Kings, fhall ftand. 
 
 And hear their final doom, appear no more 
 
 Than idle tales : That fcheme of boundlefs Love, 
 
 A World redeem'd by the incarnate God, 
 
 Which ev'n th' Angelic Choir with trembling view. 
 
 Struck with amazement, and in raptures loft. 
 
 The fubjed made of ribaldry obfcene, '.^ od j. 
 
 And vile burlefque. Preachers, with fruitlefs toil, 
 
 Explain eternal Truths, and thofe invite 
 
 To happinefs, who glory in their fliame. . - o'^ 
 
 Roufe, Heav'n's Vicegerent, and with wholfome Laws, 
 Well-executed, let the impious feel 
 Thou holdeft not the fword in vain. The wretch 
 Who at Religion mocks, whom no regard 
 To reafon, decency, or public good. 
 No checks of confcience, nor th' infernal galph 
 
 Hideous
 
 C 137 ) 
 
 Hideous with flames unquenchable, and worm 
 That gnavv^s and never dies, could e'er deter ; 
 Yet human Juftice, with her brandiih'd fword, 
 Will ftrike with inftant terror. Thus a Dog, 
 Fit emblem of the lawlefs and profane, 
 Rufhes within a Temple's hallow'd walls, 
 And ev'n th' Altar with his filth pollutes, 
 Regardlefs of th' indignant gazer's eye. 
 Nor heeds the facred place ; but fcar'd at length, 
 By lafh of fmarting whip, the fhamelefs Brute 
 Flies howling to his kennel. — Hard, indeed. 
 The talk, a wicked people to reform ; 
 More than heroic fortitude, and toil 
 InceiTant it requires, and, after all, 
 May unfuccefsful prove : yet ftill th' attempt 
 Is god-like ; not fuch glory, mightieft realms 
 In war fubdu'd, not ev'n the conquer'd globe. 
 Can yield. Nor will the arduous v/ork deter 
 A foul like thine, well-taught in Wifdoni's fchool. 
 That Kings by Heav'n were deilin'd to fupport 
 The weight of public cares ; to reft and cafe 
 Few hours can fpare, to vain amufements, none. 
 As Thou vvert born to reign, fo 'twas decreed, 
 That 1 hou fbould'ft feel the burden of a Crown, 
 
 T Which,
 
 { 138 ) 
 
 Which, tho' much envy'd, is at bcft a load 
 
 That frets and gauls : To fuffer, as becomes 
 
 A King, and with unfhaken patience bear 
 
 Its weight, is truly Royal. — Thou haft learn'd, 
 
 Ev'n in life's early dawn, what hoary Age 
 
 Oft finds the hardeft tafk. To know thyfelf ; 
 
 That Kings, tho"' here to Gods compar'd, are ftill 
 
 But Men, to the fame frailties prone with thofe 
 
 They govern j hence, to look with melting hearts 
 
 On the diftrefs'd and wretched, and to feel 
 
 Their woes ; nay, ev'n to figh for fuch, whofe crimes 
 
 Enormous force th' avenging fword to ftrike 
 
 Reludant ; ev'n for harden'd Profligates, 
 
 Who, loft to Virtue, will not be reclaim'd. 
 
 Go on, great Prince, the courfe begun purfue : 
 Long may'ft thou reign, fuperior to th' alTaults 
 Of foul Detradion, and the foothing wiles 
 Of Flatt'ry, which thy gen'rous foul difdains. 
 Let Fadion rage : Be thine the care to raife 
 Dejecfled Merit, ufeful Arts promote, 
 T' enforce the Laws, true Liberty maintain, 
 And Conftitution guard inviolate. 
 By folemn oath entrufted to thy charge • 
 Of Vice to ftem the torrent, and avert 
 
 Th^
 
 ( 139 ) 
 
 Th' impending ftorm, which our impieties, 
 Uncheck'd, will furely from the hand of Hcav'n 
 Bring down. Thus fhall thy name, exalted high 
 In Britifli Annals, be rever'd, and thofe 
 Unborn, the Father of his Country blefs : 
 Thus ihall thy Race, of their much-honour'd Sire 
 lllufliious patterns, fill the Britifh Throne, 
 And o'er a great and virtuous people reign, 
 'Till Nature fail, and Time fhall be no more. 
 
 What human grandeur is, how vain a thing, 
 Let him, who fat on David's Throne, admir'd 
 By Eaflern Sages, and for glory fam'd. 
 Who long had try'd, and knew its worth, declare. 
 How fleeting earthly joys, and that this world, 
 Wherein thou haft fo large and fair a part, 
 Is but a pafTage to thy native home, 
 A road, which oft rnore rough and thorny proves 
 To beft and wifeft Princes, than to thofe 
 In humblefl ftation's^ needs not here be told. 
 
 Nor will My Lord the King, the' circled round 
 With num'rous guards, approach'd v/ith bended knee. 
 And duteous' avvc, turn pale, or ftart, to hear, 
 That Kings-Lhemfelves mufl: die. — Ev'n-faCred George, 
 Btlov^d ol God and man, for whom afcend 
 
 T 2 The
 
 1 140 1 
 
 The ardent pray-Vs of millions, ofl'er'd up 
 
 .In daily facrifice, mufl: yield to Fate, 
 
 And feel -rr- But what haft thou to fear from Death ? 
 
 Let impious Pi inces tremble at the found ; 
 
 For fuch have caufe to fear : To fuch, indeed, 
 
 Death is the King of Terrors. — When thy race 
 
 Of life is o'er ('twill be a glorious race. 
 
 So my prophetic foul forebodes, tho' long, 
 
 Rugged, and toilfome) like the fetting Sun, 
 
 Thou with redoubled fplendor fhalt defcend, 
 
 Face, the grim Tyrant, and his fting defy, 
 
 With confcious virtue arra'd. Then o'er thy couch 
 
 The mefiengers of Heav'n fhall fpread their wings, 
 
 And tune their harps to fuch melodious airs 
 
 As none but dying Saints can hear ; fuch airs 
 
 As ev'ry fad and gloomy thought difpel, 
 
 And with exftatic raptures fill the foul 
 
 Departing from its frail abode, to feize 
 
 Th' immortal prize in view. For Thee a feat 
 
 In that bleft manfion is prepar'd, where Kings 
 
 Their glory fhall transfer, if here below 
 
 Of folid glory aught they have acquir'd; 1 
 
 There Thou a far more radiant Diadem 
 
 Shalt 
 
 'it
 
 ( 141 ) 
 
 Shalt wear, and with diflinguiili'd glory fliinc 
 Among th' Illuftrious Dead of ev'ry age. 
 
 Oh ! when th' Arch-angel's trump fhall found, and roufe 
 Thefe moulder'd fabrics from the fleep of Death, 
 May I, the laft and leaft among thy train, 
 In chorus full, the world's Redeemer fhout, 
 Whilft, with Hofannas loud, the folemn pomp 
 Afcends to Regions of eternal Day.
 
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 On. 
 
 n 
 
 m
 
 L 006 062 573 8 
 
 M 
 
 D 000 758 832