Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2

I said in my owne Heart, Goe on, and prove
What Mirth can do: tast the delights of Love.
In Pleasures change thy carelesse Houres imploy:
This also was a false and emptie Joy.
Avaunt, said I, O Laughter thou art mad!
Vaine Mirth, what canst thou to contentment adde?
Then sought the cares of Study to decline
With liberall feasts, and flowing Bowles of Wine.
With all my wisedome exercis'd, to try
If she at length with folly could comply:
And to discover that Beatitude,
Which Mortals all their lives so much pursu'd.
Great workes I finish'd; sumptuous Houses built:
My Cedar roofes with Gold of Ophir guilt.
Choice Vineyards planted: Paradises made;
Stor'd with all sorts of fruits, with Trees of shade:
And water'd with coole Rivolets, tha dril'd
Along the Borders: these my Fish-pooles fil'd.
For service, and Delight, I purchased
Both Men and Maides: more in my House were bred.
My Flocks and Heards abundantly increa'st:
So great, as never King before possest.
Silver and Gold, the Treasure of the Seas,
Of Kings, and Provinces, foment mine ease:
Sweet Voices, Musicke of all sorts, invite
My curious Eares; and feast with their delight.
In greater fluencie no Mortall raign'd:
In height of all, my wisedome I retain'd.
I had the Beauties which my Eyes admir'd;
Gave to my Heart what ever it desir'd:
In my owne workes rejoyc'd. The recompence
Of all my Labours was deriv'd from thence.
Then I survey'd all that my hands had done:
My troublesome delights. Beneath the Sun
What solid good can mans indeavour finde?
All is but vanitie, and griefe of Minde.
At length I wisedome pond'red in my thought;
And madnesse weigh'd: for folly is distraught.
What man can my untraced Steps pursue?
Or doe that Act which to the King is new?
Then found, how wisedome folly did excell;
As much as brightest Heaven the Shades of Hell.
The wisemans Eyes are towred in his head:
The foole in Darknesse walkes, by Error led:
Yet equall Miseries on either waite;
And both we see obnoxious to one fate.
Thus in my heart I said; The foole, and I
Suffer alike, and must together Dye:
Why then vexe I my braines to grow more wise?
Even this was not the least of Vanities.
Both must be swallowed by Oblivion;
What is, will not to after times be knowne:
The wise and foolish to the Earth descend;
And in the grave their various travels end.
For this I hated Life, which only feeds
Increasing Sorrowes: fruitlesse are our Deeds,
And wearisome; Man no content can find:
For all is vanitie, and griefe of Mind.
I hated all the Glory I had wonne;
My State, my Structures; all my hands had done:
Fore-seeing how that certaine houre would come,
When I must leave them; Nor yet know to whom.
Who can divine if prudent or a foole?
Yet he must over all my Labours Rule;
Of all my wisedomes purchaces possest:
This vanitie was equall with the rest.
I therefore sought to make my Heart despaire;
To slight the fraile successe of all my Care.
What by Integritie, and honest toyle,
A wise man gathers; must become his spoile
Who only pleas'd his Sence: this is a great
Vexation, and an undiscern'd deceit.
What hath a Man for all his Industry,
And griefe of Soule, sustain'd beneath the sky?
All is but sorrow from the Houre of Birth;
Till he with age returne unto the Earth:
His Travell, paine; night yields him no repose:
This vanitie from our first Parents flowes.
To eate, to drinke, t'enjoy what we possesse
With freedome, is the greatest Happinesse
That Mortals can attaine unto: A good
Deriv'd from God, by Men not understood.
Who feasted more then I? who spent his store
More liberally? or cheer'd his Genius more?
God wisedome gives, gives Knowledge and Delight,
To those whose hearts are perfect in his sight:
To Sinners trouble; who their time employ
To gather what the Righteous shall enjoy;
By their owne A varice in plenty pin'd:
This is a vanitie, and griefe of Mind.