An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowedAn exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed

Whiles the sun is not dark, nor the light, nor the Moon, nor the Stars, nor the Clouds, return after the rain.

Whiles the sonne is not darke, nor the light, nor the Moone, nor the Starres, nor the Cloudes, returne after the rayne.

¹Light signifieth felicity, darkness, affliction, and misery, as where it is said, A light is risen up in darkness, to them that be true of heart. This he meaneth: Before the infelicity and misfortune of age come, when neither the sun shall be pleasant to thee, nor the light delighteth thee. There the clouds return after the rain, that is to say there is a continual intercourse of tribulation and sadness. In other ages, as in youth and middle age &c. there is a kind of interchangeable mirth, and after a tempest cometh clear weather, & after sadness mirth. But in old men, after clouds come rain. One mischance upon another, one foul weather upon an other. And thus the Poets called age, sad, or heavy.

¹LYght signifieth felicitie, darkenes, affliction, and miserye, as where it is sayd, A light is risen vp in darknes, to them that be true of harte. This he meaneth: Before the infelicitie and misfortune of age come, when neyther the sunne shall be pleasaunt to thée, nor the light delighteth thée. There the cloudes returne after the rayne, that is to saye there is a continual entercourse of tribulation and sadnes. In other ages, as in youth and myddle age &c. there is a kinde of enterchaungeable myrth, and after a tempest cometh cleare weather, & after sadnes myrth. But in olde men, after cloudes come rayne. One mischaunce vpon another, one foule weather vpō an other. And thus the Poetes called age, sad, or heauye.