As he said vanity, so vain say I

Oh! Vanity, o vain all under sky;

Where is the man can say,

Lo, I have found a brittle earth a consolation sound?

 

What isn’t in honor to be set high?

No, the like beast and sons of men shall die,

And while they live, how often do they turn their fate:

He’s now a captive that was king of late.

What isn’t in wealth great treasures to obtain?

 

No, that’s but labor, anxious care and pain;

He heaps up riches, and he heaps up sorrow,

It’s his today but who is his heir tomorrow?

What then? Content in pleasures can you find?

Vainer than all, that is but to grasp the wind.

 

The sensual senses for a time they please,

Meanwhile the conscience rage, who shall appease?

What isn’t on beauty? No that’s but a snare,

They’re foul enough today, that once were fair.

What isn’t in flow’ring youth, or manly age?

 

The first is prone to vice, the last to rage.

Where is it then, in wisdom, learning art?

Sure if on earth, it must be on those parts;

Yet these the wisest of man of men did find

But vanity, vexation of mind.

 

And he that knows the most doth still bemoan

He knows not all that here is to be known.

What is it then? To do as stoics tell,

Nor laugh, nor weep let things go ill or well?

Such stoics are but stocks, such teaching vain,

 

While man is man he shall not have ease or pain.

If not in honor, beauty, age, or pain.

Nor yet in learning, wisdom, youth, nor pleasure,

Where shall I climb, sound, seek, search or find.

 

There is a path where no vulture’s has seen

Where lion fierce, nor lion’s whelps have been

Which leads on unto that living crystal fount,

Who drinks thereof, the world doth naught account.

The depth and the sea have said tis not in me,

With pearls and gold it shall not be valued

 

For sapphire, onyx, topaz who would change

It’s hid from eyes of men, they count it strange.

Death and destruction the fames hath heard,

But where and what it is, from heaven’s declared;

 

It brings to honor which time can’t wear away.

It yielded pleasure far beyond conceit,

And truly beautifies without deceit

Nor strength, nor wisdom, nor fresh youth shall fade.

 

Nor death shall see, but are immortal made.

This pearl of price, this tree of life, this spring

Who is possessed of shall reign a king.

Nor change of neither state nor care shall ever see,

But wear his crown unto eternity.

 

This satiates the soul, this stays the mind,

And all the rest but vanity we find.