What is the meaning of this stanza?
Money maketh festival,
Wine she buys, and beds can strow;
Round the necks of captains tall,
Money wins them chains to throw,
Marches soldiers to and fro,
Gaineth ladies with sweet eyes:
These alone can ne'er bestow
Youth, and health, and Paradise.
To understand the meaning of this stanza, we can first analyze its individual lines and then interpret them in the context of the stanza as a whole.
1. "Money maketh festival"
This line suggests that having money can enable one to enjoy and celebrate in a festive manner.
2. "Wine she buys, and beds can strow"
Here, "she" refers to money personified as a female. It implies that money can be used to buy wine and provide comfortable beds, indicating the ability to indulge in luxury and pleasure.
3. "Round the necks of captains tall, money wins them chains to throw"
This line suggests that money can be used to purchase expensive, decorative chains that captains wear. It symbolizes the power and influence that money holds over individuals in positions of authority.
4. "Marches soldiers to and fro"
Money can be used to mobilize soldiers, indicating its ability to influence military actions and movements.
5. "Gaineth ladies with sweet eyes"
This line suggests that money can attract the attention and favor of women with attractive or alluring eyes.
6. "These alone can ne'er bestow youth, and health, and Paradise"
The stanza concludes by stating that while money can bring about various material and superficial pleasures, it cannot provide essential and lasting qualities such as youth, good health, and true happiness (symbolized by paradise).
In summary, this stanza presents a critique of the limited power and fulfillment that money can provide. It emphasizes that although money can enable one to experience temporary pleasures and acquire material possessions, it falls short in granting the more profound and meaningful aspects of life, such as youth, health, and genuine happiness.