Everyone’s Liking
Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712
Image Title: Everyone’s Liking
Scripture Reference:
- Hebrews 1 (further images / scripture text)
Description: The World is surrounded by a large number of people of various ranks, who all reach for it eagerly. In the background, additional people arrive. The Dutch artist and poet Jan Luiken (1649-1712) whose initials are at the lower right, was responsible for drawing and etching this emblem and for the poem that accompanies it (below). The attendant scripture text is Hebrews 1:10-12.
Poem:
This is the Egg, at which everyone’s hand gropes,
While he allows the origin to escape him:
So judgment was surprised by hastiness,
For which remorse, must pay with sorrow.
The Egg is large, and entices the eyes,
Of misunderstanding, and un-thoughtful living,
Though it’s only one, and when it’s finished, it’s done,
Yet the origin is, a never-ending giving.
When Man writes his final stroke,
Of Year and Day, and all things are worn out,
Then his Portion, which he so eagerly grabbed,
That big Egg of the world is eaten up.
Food that could not feed him eternally,
If only his desire had passed it up,
So that he had won God instead of this world,
Then he would have to utter no woe of regret.
Instead of sweets for such a short time,
And the remainder of empty Egg-shells,
He would preferably be allowed to fetch,
The prize of blessed eternity for his Soul.
An empty shell from fleshly delight,
That is the fruit of worldly comfort,
As one frequently hears and sees from those,
Who bemoan their grasping of the world’s Egg.
Whoever considers then (so that he may be wiser,)
A better choice, than many who went before him,
Say to the Egg, of the beautiful world Fie,
So that he might become one of the Heavenly beings.
(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)
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