SOLOMON ON THE VANITY OF THE WORLD. A POEM, IN THREE BOOKS. Ὁ Βίος γὰρ ὄνομ ̓ ἔχει, πόνος δ' ἔργῳ πέλει. EURIP. Siquis Deus mihi largiatur, ut ex hac ætate repuerascam, et in cunis vagiam, valde recusem. Cic. de Senect. The bewailing of man's miseries has been elegantly and copiously set forth by many in the writings' as well of philosophers as divines; and is both a pleasant and a profitable contemplation. BACON. Book I.-KNOWLEDGE. Texts chiefly alluded to in Book I. "THE words of the Preacher the son of David, king of Jerusalem."- ECCLES. chap. i. ver. 1. "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”—Ver. 2. "I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."- Ver. 16. "He spake of trees, from the cedar-tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.". 1 KINGS, chap. iv. ver. 33. "I know, that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” - ECCLES. chap. iii. ver. 14. "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." — Ver. 11. "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.' Ch. i. ver. 18. "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end: and much study is a weariness of the flesh."- Ch. xii. Ver. 12. The Argument. SOLOMON, Seeking happiness from knowledge, convenes the learned men of his kingdom; requires them to explain to him the various operations and effects of Nature; discourses of vegetables, animals, and man; proposes some questions concerning the origin and situation of the habitable Earth; proceeds to examine the system of the visible Heaven; doubts if there may not be a plurality of worlds; inquires into the nature of spirits and angels; and wishes to be more fully informed as to the attributes of the Supreme Being. He is imperfectly answered by the rabbins and doctors; blames his own curiosity; and concludes, that, as to human science, All is vanity. YE sons of men, with just regard attend, It was, opponent to our search, ordain'd Born, as I was, great David's favourite son, I said; and sent my edict through the land: Around my throne the letter'd rabbins stand; Historic leaves revolve, long volumes spread, The old discoursing as the younger read: Attent I heard, propos'd my doubts, and said: "The vegetable world, each plant and tree, Its seed, its name, its nature, its degree, I am allow'd, as Fame reports, to know, From the fair cedar on the craggy brow Of Lebanon, nodding supremely tall, To creeping moss and hyssop on the wall. Yet, just and conscious to myself, I find A thousand doubts oppose the searching mind. "I know not why the beech delights the glade With boughs extended, and a rounder shade; Whilst towering firs in conic forms arise, And with a pointed spear divide the skies: Nor why again the changing oak should shed We name the Sensitive, should move and feel? |