“Ben Karshook’s Wisdom.”

Mr. Sharp says, in his Life of Browning , “In the late spring (April 27th, 1854), also, he wrote the short dactylic lyric, “Ben Karshook’s Wisdom.” This little poem was given to a friend for appearance in one of the then popular keepsakes —literally given, for Browning never contributed to magazines. As “Ben Karshook’s Wisdom,” though it has been reprinted in several quarters, will not be found in any volume of Browning’s works, and was omitted from Men and Women by accident, and from further collections by forgetfulne , it may be fitly quoted here. Karshook , it may be added, is the Hebraic word for a thistle. “‘Would a man ’scape the rod?’— Rabbi Ben Karshook saith, ‘See that he turns to God, The day before his death.’ ‘Ay, could a man inquire, When it shall come!’ I say, The Rabbi’s eye shoots fire— ‘Then let him turn to-day!’ Quoth a young Sadducee,— ‘Reader of many rolls, Is it so certain we Have, as they tell us, souls?’— ‘Son, there is no reply!’ The Rabbi bit his beard; ‘Certain, a soul have I ,— We may have none,’ he sneered. Thus Karshook, the Hiram’s-Hammer, The Right-hand Temple column, Taught babes in grace their grammar, And struck the simple, solemn.” ( Rome , April 27th, 1854 .) The reference in the last verse is to 1 Kings vii. 13-22. Hiram was a Phœnician king, and a skilful builder of temples. The Temple columns referred to were called Jachin and Boaz, and were made of bra and set up at the entrance; Boaz ( strength ) on the left hand, and Jachin ( stability ) on the right. The Freemasons have adopted the names of these pillars in their ceremonial and symbolism.