Employment (II)
The Weary Soul's Stirring
The soul, though weary, rouses itself to engage in social wit and courtesies, setting aside its own need for rest.
Whoever is weary, let him sit. My soul would stir and engage in courtesies and wit, giving up the fur to cold temperaments that need it.12
The Mortal Coal
Man is a fleeting spark of mortal fire that must be fanned, lest his own ashes smother his soul.
Man is not a star, but a live coal of mortal fire: whoever doesn't blow on it and doesn't master a faint desire lets his own ashes choke his soul.3
The Humble Earth
When the elements vied for supremacy, the earth alone remained still and lowly, accepting its place of oppression.
When the elements competed for precedence with him whose will decreed that the highest should be best, the earth stayed still, and is oppressed by the others.
Life as Labor
Life is constant work and war, yet the sun faithfully shines while stars wait for their moment to appear.
Life is work, not good cheer—always at war. The sun keeps shining there or here, while the stars watch for a chance to appear.
The Fruitful Tree
The speaker longs to be like an orange tree, always bearing fruit for the one who tends it.
Oh, if only I were an orange tree—that busy plant! Then I'd always be laden, and never lack some fruit for the one who tended me.4
The Frozen Goods
We delay our service until it is too late, and so we remain frozen until the grave makes us colder still.
But we're still either too young or too old: the customer is gone before we even unpack our goods. So we freeze in place until the grave makes us colder still.5
Read the original English
HE that is weary, let him sit. My soul would stirre And trade in courtesies and wit, Quitting the furre To cold complexions needing it.
Man is no starre, but a quick coal Of mortall fire: Who blows it not, nor doth controll A faint desire, Lets his own ashes choke his soul.
When th' elements did for place contest With him, whose will Ordain'd the highest to be best; The earth sat still, And by the others is opprest.
Life is a businesse, not good cheer; Ever in warres. The sunne still shineth there or here, Whereas the starres Watch an advantage to appeare.
Oh that I were an Orenge-tree, That busie plant! Then should I ever laden be, And never want Some fruit for him that dressed me.
But we are still too young or old: The man is gone, Before we do our wares unfold: So we freez on, Untill the grave increase our cold.
Notes
- 1 ↩Early modern 'complexions' means humoral temperaments/constitutions, not skin color; rendered as 'temperaments'.
- 2 ↩Fur as warm garment and emblem of ease/rest; kept concrete as 'fur'.
- 3 ↩Early modern 'quick' means living/alight; rendered as 'live coal' (glowing, not dead embers).
- 4 ↩Early modern 'want' means 'lack,' not desire; 'dressed' is horticultural: tended, cultivated, or pruned—not clothed.
- 5 ↩"The man" continues the market metaphor of "wares": the prospective buyer/customer who leaves before the speaker displays what he has to offer; not a generic reference to humankind.
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