Part 33 (1/2)

6. Folly is set in high places, The great ones must sit low down; 7. Slaves have I beheld on horseback, And princes trudging on foot.

_(c) In the Conditions of Everyday Life_

X. 8. He that diggeth a pit may fall into it; him who breaketh down walls a serpent may sting. 9. Whoso removeth stones may be hurt therewith; he who cleaveth wood may be endangered thereby.

10. If the axe be blunt it demands more strength:[293]

Only through intelligence doth exertion avail.

11. If the serpent bites before the spell, Then bootless is the charmer's art.

12. Speech from the wise man's mouth is grace, The lips of a fool swallow him up; 13. The first words of his mouth are folly.

And the end of his talk rank madness.

II.15. For in self-conceit babbles the fool,[294]

X.14_a_. The silly man multiplieth his words; 15. The fussiness of the fool jadeth him.

Who knows not yet the way citywards.[295]

_Exhortation to enjoy Life_

X. 14_b_. Man knoweth not what shall come to pa.s.s, and who can tell him IX. 3. during his life, what shall befall after his death? Afterwards they go down to the[296] [dead, and there none can tell him aught nor can he apprehend anything. Even could he take it in, it would avail him nothing, for in _Sheol_ there is no partic.i.p.ation in life]. 4. For whosoever may enrol himself in the company of all the living, can rest content, seeing that a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5. For the living know at least that they shall die, whereas the dead know not anything at all, neither have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. 6. As well their love as their hatred and jealousy has long since pa.s.sed away, neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun.

7. Go, eat thy bread with joy, And quaff thy wine with merry heart.

For G.o.d hath countenanced beforehand this thy doing. 8. Let thy garments be always white and let thy head lack not ointment. 9. See life with a woman whom thou lovest throughout all the days of thy empty existence which he hath given thee under the sun, during all thy vain days! For that is thy portion in life[297] and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do that with thy might. For there is no work, nor cogitation, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the _Sheol_[298] whither thou goest. XI. 7. But sweet is the light and pleasant it is for the eyes to gaze upon the sun. 8. For how many years soever a man may live, he should enjoy himself during them all, and bear in mind the days of darkness that they shall be many. Everything that is to come, is vain.

9. Rejoice, young man, in thy youth![299]

And let thy heart make thee glad!

And walk in the ways of thine heart, And according to the seeing of thine eyes!

_10a._ Drive sorrow from thy heart; And put away care from thy fles.h.!.+

XII._1a._ And bethink thee of thy fountain,[300]

In the days of thy youth!

XI. _10b._ For youth and dawn are fleeting.

XII._1b._ Dreary days are drawing near, And years approach devoid of joy.

2. Then darkened shall be sun and moon, And clouds come after rain alway.

3. The keepers of the house[301] shall quake, The st.u.r.dy ones[302] shall bend themselves; Darksome shall the windows[303] be, 4. And closed shall be the portals.[304]

The roar of the mill[305] shall be as the sparrows twitter, The daughters of song[306] shall bow low; 5. Likewise of heights shall they be afraid, For dread shall lie in wait.

3. The grinding maids[307] shall leave off work, 5. The almond-tree[308] shall shed its blooms; The gra.s.shopper[309] shall be burdened, And the caperberry[310] unavailing.

For man goeth to his everlasting home and the mourners are in readiness in the street.

6. Asunder snaps the silver chain; s.h.i.+vered is the golden lamp; The pitcher shattered at the brook; The scoopwheel falls into the well.