PLEASURE. BOOK II TEXTS CHIEFLY ALLUDED TO IN THIS BOOK. I SAID in mine heart, 'Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure.' chap. ii. ver. 1. Eccles. I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards, ver. 4. I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits, ver. 5. I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees, ver. 6. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun, ver. 11. I gat me men-singers, and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts, ver. 8. I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, (yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom) and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was TEXTS CHIEFLY ALLUDED TO IN THIS BOOK. 53 that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven, all the days of their life, ver. 3. Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me: and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. Eccles, chap. ii. ver. 15. Therefore I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me, chap. ii. ver. 17. Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour; so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour, chap. x. ver. 1. The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot. Prov. chap. x. ver. 7. E 2 PLEASURE. BOOK II. ARGUMENT. Solomon, again seeking happiness, inquires if wealth and greatness can produce it; begins with the magnificence of gardens and buildings; the luxury of music and feasting; and proceeds to the hopes and desires of love. In two episodes are shown the follies and troubles of that passion. Solomon, still disappointed, falls under the temptations of libertinism and idolatry; recovers his thought; reasons aright; and concludes that, as to the pursuit of pleasure and sensual delight, ALL IS VANITY AND VEXA. TION OF SPIRIT. TRY then, O man, the moments to deceive And make thy reason subject to thy sense. I commun'd thus: the power of wealth I tried, A thousand artists show their cunning pow'r *The murex is a shell fish, of the liquor whereof a purple co lour is made. Till from the Parian isle and Libya's coast The mountains grieve their hopes of marble lost; My full design, with vast expense achiev'd, To my new courts sad Thought did still repair, And round my gilded roofs hung hovering Care. In vain on silken beds I sought repose, And restless oft from purple couches rose; maze. Yet take thy bent, my soul; another sense Indulge; add music to magnificence: Essay if harmony may grief control, Or power of sound prevail upon the soul. Often our seers and poets have confess'd That music's force can tame the furious beast; Can make the wolf or foaming boar restrain His rage, the lion drop his crested main, Attentive to the song; the lynx forget His wrath to man, and lick the minstrel's feet. Are we, alas! less savage yet than these? Else music, sure, may human cares appease. I spake my purpose, and the cheerful choir Parted their shares of harmony: the lyre Soften'd the timbrel's noise; the trumpet's sound Provok'd the Dorian flute (both sweeter found |