A poem that contributes to the Epic of Gilgamesh offers this advice:<\/p>\n
\nLet your belly be full,
\n enjoy yourself always by day and by night!
\nMake merry each day,
\n dance and play day and night!
\nLet your clothes be clean,
\n let your head be washed, may you bathe in water!
\nGaze on the child who holds your hand,
\n let your wife enjoy your repeated embrace!\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\nAnd here is what Ecclesiastics tells us to do:<\/p>\n
\nGo thy way, eat thy bread with joy and drink thy wine with a merry heart….
\nLet thy garments be always white, and let thy head not lack ointment.
\nLive joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThese two have been paired before– it was an introduction to the Epic that laid it out for me as I have here. But two elements missing, which do not change the meaning but add some needed nuance.<\/p>\n
In the Epic, the wise woman, Shiduri, is admonishing Gilgamesh to do his duty as a king, not to live like a fool. Gilgamesh has been wandering around dirty and ragged– like a fool– looking for immortality. But he is told:<\/p>\n
\n when the gods created mankind,
\ndeath they dispensed to mankind,
\n life they kept for themselves.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\nIn the quote Ecclesiastics, the ellipsis is hiding “for God now accepteth thy works.”, and the passage continues:<\/p>\n
\nfor that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labor which thou takest under the sun.
\nWhatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge; nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis is about death and about duty. To live joyfully not as simpletons, but as kings.<\/p>\n
It brings to mind one more ancient poem:<\/p>\n
\nAs long as you live, shine,
\nLet nothing grieve you beyond measure.
\nFor your life is short,
\nAnd time will claim its tribute.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A poem that contributes to the Epic of Gilgamesh offers this advice: Let your belly be full, enjoy yourself always by day and by night! Make merry each day, dance and play day and night! Let your clothes be clean, let your head be washed, may you bathe in water! Gaze on … Continue reading Ancient Wisdom<\/span>