Chapter V

Much sorrow settles upon Jonah. He becomes very angry. He prays to God and says: “Was not this my saying, when Thy message reached me in my own country? I knew Thy great goodness, Thy long-suffering, and Thy mercy. I knew these men might make their peace with Thee, therefore I fled unto Tarshish. Take my life from me, O Lord! It is better for me to die than live.” God upbraids Jonah, saying: “Is this right to be so wroth?” Jonah, jangling, uprises, and makes himself a bower, of hay and ever-fern, to shield him from the sun. He slept heavily all night. God prepared a woodbine. Jonah awakes, and is exceedingly glad of the bower. The prophet, under its gracious leaves, is protected from the sun’s rays. Jonah wishes he had such a lodge in his own country. God prepared a worm, that made the woodbine wither. Jonah awakes and finds his woodbine destroyed. The leaves were all faded. The sun beat upon the head of Jonah. He is exceedingly angry, and prays God that he may die. God rebukes the prophet. “Dost thou well,” He says, “to be angry for the gourd?” Jonah replies, “I would I were dead.” God asks if it is to be wondered at that He should help His handy work. Is not Jonah angry that his woodbine is destroyed, which cost him no labour? God is not to be blamed for taking pity upon people that He made. Should He destroy Nineveh the sorrow of such a sweet place would sink to His heart. In the city there are little bairns who have done no wrong. And there are others who cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand. There are also dumb beasts in the city incapable of sinning. Judgment must be tempered with mercy. He that is too hasty to rend his clothes must afterwards sit with worse ones to sew them together. Poverty and pain must be endured. Patience is a noble point, though it displeases oft.

End of Project Gutenberg's Early English Alliterative Poems, by Various