Lines 370–489

Salomon quoth.
But why were not earth's treasures
all divided
to people alike?
One hath too little,
greedy of goods:
him God shall put
through his deserts
at last to rest.

Saturnus quoth.
But wherefore are the comrades
ever together,
weeping and laughter? Full oft
they of the ambitious
the happiness destroy.
How doth that happen?

Salomon quoth.
Wild is he and mindless
who for ever will
mourn in spirit;
he is most rebellious to God.

Saturnus quoth.
Why then may not we
all with exultation
go forward
into God's kingdom?

Salomon quoth.
The grasp of fire
and chill of frost,
the snow and sun
cannot dwell together,
and spend their life;
but each of them
shall bow and yield,
that hath the lesser force.

Saturnus quoth.
But why then liveth
the worse man longer?
The worse man knoweth not
in this world's realm,
among his kindred
greater honour.

Salomon quoth.
No one may put off
for any time
the dear journey,
but he must endure it.

Saturnus quoth.
But how then is it,
for good or evil,
when are through one
woman born
two twin brothers,
their glory is not alike?
The one is miserable on earth,
the other fortunate,
very well reputed
with public dignities:
the other liveth
but a little while;
he shrinketh on this wide creation,
and then again departeth with sorrow.
I ask thee, Lord Salomon,
of which is the condition better?

Salomon quoth.
A mother considereth not
when she beareth a son,
how throughout the world
his pilgrimage shall be shaped.
Oft she to mischief
nourisheth her child,
to her own sorrow,
after she must bear
his griefs,
his fatal hour;
she therefore over her child
shall oft and frequently
grievously weep,
when young he goeth about,
hath a wild disposition,
a weary heart,
a sorrowful spirit,
he slippeth oft enough,
weary, joyless,
deprived of honour;
sometimes sad of mood
the hall he guardeth,
liveth far from men;
shutteth himself enough
from his ungentle
own lord.
Therefore hath no mother power
when she beareth a son,
over her child's happiness;
but in succession shall go
one after the other:
that is the ancient fate!

Saturnus quoth.
But why will not man in youth
zealously work for himself
dear worship,
and accomplish virtuous deeds;
walk in wisdom,
struggle after prudence?

Salomon quoth.
Lo! a wealthy noble
may easily choose himself,
in his mind,
a mild lord,
a prince of noble birth.
The poor cannot do so.

Saturnus quoth.
But why struggleth this water
around the world,
the deep creation suffereth,
and may not by day
rest or by night,
the tide forceth it with power;
it cristeneth and cleanseth
a multitude of men,
with glory it beautifieth them.
I know not at all
why the stream cannot
rest at night.
* * *
his life's embrace; ever
it is obedient to its teachers;
often also it the devil's
power subdues,
where of counsellors are
a multitude assembled;
then to a wise man
the mouthful glideth away,
where he the light appearance
boweth after,
blesseth and leaveneth,
and himself eateth:
so is that one mouthful
for every man
much better,
if it hath been blessed,
to receive,
if he can think it,
than would be seven days'
feasting for him.
Light hath shape and form
of the holy spirit,
the nature of Christ,
that it proclaims.
Often if the imprudent
for any while
hold it without bonds,
it goeth through the roof,
it breaketh and burneth
the timbers of the house;
steep and high it lours,
aloft it rises,
it climbeth in its nature;
fire when it can
striveth towards its origin
in the dwellings of the Father,
back to the home
from whence at first it came.
It is in all things
a sight for men,
who can penetrate
the Lord's concealment;
for there is no kind
of thing that lives,
nor bird nor fish,
nor stone of the earth,
nor water's wave,
nor twig of wood,
nor mount nor moor,
nor even this earth,
but what it cometh forth
from kind of fire.

Saturnus quoth.
Oft I prudent men
of old have heard
say and swear
about some matter,
whether of the two
were undoubtedly the stronger,
fate or warning,
when oft they struggle
with their compulsion,
which succumbeth not?
I well know that heretofore
at once told me
the counsellors of the Philistines,
when we sat in discussion,
opened books
and laid them on our bosoms,
mingled our conversation,
and received information,
that there was none
of men on earth
that could detect
the difference of the two.

Salomon quoth.
Fate is hardly turned,
it wandereth very nigh,
it waketh grief,
it loadeth sorrow,
it shooteth the spirit,
it beareth the javelin.
And yet may the wise-minded
every fate
moderate for himself,
if he be prudent of mood,
and from his friends
seek for aid,
but nevertheless the divine
spirit employ.

Saturnus quoth.
But why tormenteth us
fate the powerful,
origin of all crimes,
mother of feuds,
root of sorrows,
head of weeping,
of every original sin
father and mother,
daughter of death,
but why dwelleth she with us?