Question

"...Seven years wert thou lent to lent to me, and I thee pay,/Exacted by the fate, on the just day."

Which of these is the correct interpretation of this excerpt from Ben Jonson's "On My first Son"?

His son died at the age of 7
He paid off a large debt over the course of seven years.
His son was made an apprentice at the age of seven.
He was forced into debt when he reached the age of seven.

Answer 1

Answer: His son died at 7 years old.

Explanation: In that time period, that was the time frame to pay off a loan.

Answer 2

The correct answer is: His son died at the age of 7.

"Seven years you were lent to me" (He states that his son was a "loan" that lasted 7 years, meaning that the boy lived up to 7.)

"...and I pay thee,/Exacted by thy fate, on the just day." (When his son passed away, he has repaid his "loan" back to fate.)