Question

Which excerpt in the poem expresses the view that death is an enviable state that frees the departed from the miseries of the body and old age?
On My First Son
by Ben Jonson

Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy ;
My sin was too much hope of thee, lov'd boy.
Seven years thou wert lent to me, and I thee pay,
Exacted by thy fate, on the just day.
Oh, could I lose all father now ! For why
Will man lament the state he should envy?
To have so soon 'scaped world's and flesh's rage,
And if no other misery, yet age !
Rest in soft peace, and, asked, say, Here doth lie
Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry.
For whose sake henceforth all his vows be such
As what he loves may never like too much.

Answer 1

Answer:

Will man lament the state he should envy?

To have so soon 'scaped world's and flesh's rage,

And if no other misery, yet age !

Answer 2

Answer:

Oh, could I lose all father now ! For why

Will man lament the state he should envy?

To have so soon 'scaped world's and flesh's rage,

And if no other misery, yet age !

Explanation

In this section of the poem, Jonson tells us how enviable it is to be able to escape the miseries of old age, even through death. In these lines, Jonson tells us that perhaps he should not mourn the death of his son, as in fact this has created an enviable situation. He should instead envy the fact that his son "escaped" the miseries of humans, and particularly that of old age (And if no other misery, yet age).