Note 308 — Chapter III · MORE MORALISING, INTERRUPTED BY PROVERBIAL MAXIMS.
Reading edition
The mechanical juxtaposition of the two halves of ver. 1 is obvious. The proverb gains considerably, if read with Bickell’s very plausible supplements,
‘Better is a good name than precious ointment,
[but wisdom is still better than fame;
better is not-being than being]
and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.’
The ‘wisdom’ meant will be that of resignation and renunciation.