Introduction: “Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe
“Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe first appeared in Summer’s Last Will and Testament in 1592, a theatrical work reflecting on the themes of life, death, and the transient nature of earthly pleasures. This poem, part of the “Litany in Time of Plague,” became notably popular for its somber meditation on mortality, capturing the mood of a society ravaged by illness and despair during the time of the plague. The main ideas revolve around the inevitability of death, the futility of wealth and pleasure, and the universality of human suffering, which resonated deeply with audiences facing the relentless cycles of plague in Elizabethan England. Nashe’s vivid imagery and haunting repetition in the lines “Brightness falls from the air, Queens have died young and fair” underscore the poem’s melancholic tone and have contributed to its lasting impact as a poignant reminder of life’s fleeting nature and the need for spiritual reflection.
Text: “Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe
Adieu, farewell, earth’s bliss;
This world uncertain is;
Fond are life’s lustful joys;
Death proves them all but toys;
None from his darts can fly;
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us!
Rich men, trust not in wealth,
Gold cannot buy you health;
Physic himself must fade.
All things to end are made,
The plague full swift goes by;
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us!
Beauty is but a flower
Which wrinkles will devour;
Brightness falls from the air;
Queens have died young and fair;
Dust hath closed Helen’s eye.
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us!
Strength stoops unto the grave,
Worms feed on Hector’s brave;
Swords may not fight with fate,
Earth still holds ope her gate.
“Come, come!” the bells do cry.
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Wit with his wantonness
Tasteth death’s bitterness;
Hell’s executioner
Hath no ears for to hear
What vain art can reply.
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Haste, therefore, each degree,
To welcome destiny;
Heaven is our heritage,
Earth but a player’s stage;
Mount we unto the sky.
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Annotations: “Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe
| Line | Annotation |
| Adieu, farewell, earth’s bliss; | “Adieu” (goodbye) signals a farewell to worldly pleasures. Nashe introduces the poem with a melancholic tone, saying goodbye to the joys and beauties of life. |
| This world uncertain is; | Emphasizes life’s unpredictability and instability, echoing existential uncertainty. |
| Fond are life’s lustful joys; | Describes worldly pleasures as “fond,” meaning foolish or fleeting, suggesting they lack true value. |
| Death proves them all but toys; | Death diminishes the significance of earthly joys, reducing them to mere “toys” or trivialities in the face of mortality. |
| None from his darts can fly; | Personifies death as a hunter with “darts” (arrows), from which no one can escape, symbolizing death’s inevitability. |
| I am sick, I must die. | A stark acknowledgment of the speaker’s own mortality and illness, underscoring the urgency of the poem’s tone. |
| Lord, have mercy on us! | A plea for divine mercy, suggesting both fear of death and a hope for salvation. |
| Rich men, trust not in wealth, | Advises against relying on wealth for security, implying that material riches cannot prevent death or suffering. |
| Gold cannot buy you health; | Reinforces the idea that money has no power to grant health, emphasizing human vulnerability. |
| Physic himself must fade. | Even “physic” (medicine) is powerless against death, highlighting limitations in human knowledge and science. |
| All things to end are made, | Emphasizes the inevitability of death, as everything created must come to an end. |
| The plague full swift goes by; | Refers to the bubonic plague’s rapid and deadly spread, which claimed countless lives, setting a morbid historical context. |
| I am sick, I must die. | Repeats the admission of personal vulnerability, reinforcing the theme of mortality. |
| Lord, have mercy on us! | Another prayer for divine mercy, underscoring the speaker’s sense of helplessness. |
| Beauty is but a flower | Compares beauty to a flower, which is beautiful yet short-lived, suggesting that beauty fades with time. |
| Which wrinkles will devour; | Aging is inevitable, with wrinkles symbolizing the decay of beauty over time. |
| Brightness falls from the air; | Likely references both physical beauty fading and the loss of light as life diminishes, a metaphor for fading vitality. |
| Queens have died young and fair; | A reminder that even royalty, regardless of beauty and youth, cannot escape death. |
| Dust hath closed Helen’s eye. | Alludes to Helen of Troy, the epitome of beauty, who has been reduced to dust, symbolizing the eventual death of all, regardless of beauty or fame. |
| I am sick, I must die. | Refrain that continually reinforces the speaker’s acknowledgment of mortality. |
| Lord, have mercy on us! | Another refrain, underscoring the need for divine forgiveness as death approaches. |
| Strength stoops unto the grave, | Declares that physical strength is no match for death, as even the strong are ultimately brought low. |
| Worms feed on Hector’s brave; | Refers to Hector, a Trojan hero, whose bravery did not save him from death; death reduces everyone to the same fate. |
| Swords may not fight with fate, | Implies that courage and valor are powerless against destiny and death. |
| Earth still holds ope her gate. | Imagines the earth as an open grave, welcoming all as they die, portraying death as an inevitable destination. |
| “Come, come!” the bells do cry. | Likely refers to death knells or funeral bells, which call to the living, reminding them of their mortality. |
| I am sick, I must die. | Repeated acknowledgment of the speaker’s imminent death, underscoring the poem’s grim theme. |
| Lord, have mercy on us. | A repeated plea for divine compassion and salvation, common in religious or funerary contexts. |
| Wit with his wantonness | Suggests that intellectual or playful wit is also subject to death, highlighting the limitations of intellect against mortality. |
| Tasteth death’s bitterness; | Describes death as bitter, emphasizing its harsh and unpleasant nature. |
| Hell’s executioner | Refers to Death as an “executioner” from Hell, casting death in a grim, almost supernatural role. |
| Hath no ears for to hear | Death is portrayed as deaf to pleas or reasoning, underscoring its inescapable nature. |
| What vain art can reply. | Human artifice and talent are “vain” and powerless to avoid or respond to death. |
| I am sick, I must die. | A refrain indicating resignation to death’s approach. |
| Lord, have mercy on us! | The plea for mercy continues, reinforcing the speaker’s fear and hope for salvation. |
| Haste, therefore, each degree, | Urges all people, regardless of social status (“each degree”), to prepare for death. |
| To welcome destiny; | Suggests an acceptance of death as an inevitable part of life’s journey. |
| Heaven is our heritage, | Conveys hope for an afterlife in heaven, contrasting earthly existence with eternal life. |
| Earth but a player’s stage; | Likens life on earth to a temporary performance on a stage, a common metaphor in literature symbolizing life’s impermanence. |
| Mount we unto the sky. | Expresses a desire to ascend to heaven, embracing the concept of spiritual salvation after death. |
| I am sick, I must die. | The final refrain emphasizes the acceptance of mortality as a personal reality. |
| Lord, have mercy on us. | The closing prayer reiterates the speaker’s plea for mercy, ending the poem on a somber, reflective note. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe
| Poetic Device | Example | Explanation |
| Alliteration | “Strength stoops” | Repetition of the initial “s” sound emphasizes the inevitability of physical strength succumbing to death. |
| Anaphora | “I am sick, I must die.” | The repeated phrase emphasizes the speaker’s resignation to mortality, creating a somber tone throughout. |
| Apostrophe | “Lord, have mercy on us!” | Directly addressing God adds a personal, urgent plea for mercy, highlighting the speaker’s fear and seeking divine compassion. |
| Assonance | “Farewell, earth’s bliss” | The repetition of the “e” sound in “farewell” and “earth’s” creates a melancholic tone, reinforcing the sorrowful farewell to worldly joys. |
| Caesura | “Gold cannot buy you health;” | The pause (indicated by a comma or period) adds weight to the statement, allowing the reader to reflect on the limitations of wealth against death. |
| Consonance | “dust hath closed Helen’s eye” | The repeated “t” and “s” sounds create a rhythmic effect, adding to the solemn tone as Helen, a symbol of beauty, is reduced to dust. |
| Epiphora | Repeated ending phrase: “have mercy on us!” | The repeated plea at the end of stanzas underscores the desperation and hope for mercy in the face of inevitable death. |
| Euphemism | “Earth but a player’s stage” | Refers to life as a “stage,” suggesting life’s temporary, performative nature without directly confronting its end. |
| Hyperbole | “None from his darts can fly” | Exaggerates death’s power by suggesting that no one, not even the strong, can escape it, emphasizing its universality. |
| Imagery | “Beauty is but a flower / Which wrinkles will devour” | The comparison of beauty to a fading flower evokes a visual image, reinforcing the transience of youth and beauty. |
| Irony | “Rich men, trust not in wealth” | Wealth is often sought as security, but here, ironically, it holds no power against death, highlighting life’s paradoxes. |
| Metaphor | “Earth still holds ope her gate” | Compares the earth to an open gate, implying that the grave is always ready to welcome the dead, symbolizing death’s inescapability. |
| Mood | Somber and reflective | Created through repeated phrases about death and the inevitable end, the mood reflects the somber acceptance of mortality. |
| Paradox | “Physic himself must fade” | Medicine, intended to sustain life, is itself powerless against death, showcasing the inherent paradox in the pursuit of health. |
| Personification | “Death proves them all but toys” | Death is given agency, as if it has the power to judge earthly joys, reinforcing its role as an inevitable force. |
| Refrain | “I am sick, I must die” | The repeated refrain echoes the resignation to death, creating a rhythmic reminder of mortality throughout the poem. |
| Simile | Not explicitly present in this poem | Although the poem heavily uses metaphors, similes are not explicitly used; Nashe instead prefers direct metaphorical language. |
| Symbolism | “Worms feed on Hector’s brave” | Worms symbolize decay and death, and Hector represents bravery; together, they symbolize death’s ability to consume even the great. |
| Tone | Dark and contemplative | The tone reflects a deep awareness of life’s fragility, conveyed through references to death, decay, and worldly vanity. |
| Understatement | “Wit with his wantonness / Tasteth death’s bitterness” | Refers to the intellectual folly of man as “wantonness,” downplaying the severity of human pride in the face of mortality. |
Themes: “Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe
- The Transience of Earthly Pleasures: Nashe reflects on the fleeting nature of worldly joys, suggesting that earthly pleasures are ultimately “toys” that are meaningless in the face of death. In lines such as “Fond are life’s lustful joys; / Death proves them all but toys,” he implies that all pursuits of pleasure, no matter how enticing, lack true substance when life ends. This theme is reinforced through the repeated farewells to different aspects of earthly bliss, emphasizing that, no matter how cherished, these pleasures are transient and powerless to provide lasting fulfillment or peace.
- The Powerlessness of Wealth and Social Status: The poem also addresses the futility of wealth and power in providing security against death. Nashe writes, “Rich men, trust not in wealth, / Gold cannot buy you health,” underscoring that wealth, often sought for comfort and protection, is ultimately ineffective against the inevitable reality of death. The line “Physic himself must fade” extends this to medicine and human ingenuity, suggesting that neither riches nor advancements can prevent life’s end. This reflection aligns with the period’s plague-ridden backdrop, where the wealthy and poor alike fell victim to disease.
- The Inevitable Decay of Beauty and Strength: Nashe uses the imagery of withering beauty and physical decline to illustrate that youth, beauty, and strength are fleeting and destined for decay. “Beauty is but a flower / Which wrinkles will devour” reminds readers that even the fairest appearance is temporary, much like a flower that inevitably wilts. Similarly, “Strength stoops unto the grave, / Worms feed on Hector’s brave” reflects that even the strongest individuals are eventually reduced to dust. By referencing the mythical beauty of Helen and the bravery of Hector, Nashe underlines that death does not discriminate, and all forms of human perfection will ultimately fade.
- The Inevitability of Death and the Need for Spiritual Reflection: Death is a central, inescapable force throughout the poem, depicted as an ever-present reminder of mortality that calls all people to prepare for the end. The refrain “I am sick, I must die. / Lord, have mercy on us!” serves as both a personal admission and a plea for salvation, urging reflection on the soul’s fate after death. In the line “Earth but a player’s stage; / Mount we unto the sky,” Nashe suggests that life on earth is merely a temporary performance, with heaven as the ultimate destination for the soul. This religious perspective invites readers to consider their spiritual standing and mortality, encouraging a contemplative attitude toward life and the afterlife.
Literary Theories and “Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe
| Literary Theory | Application to the Poem | References from the Poem |
| Memento Mori | The memento mori tradition reminds readers of their mortality and the futility of earthly pleasures. | “Adieu, farewell, earth’s bliss; / This world uncertain is;” and “I am sick, I must die. / Lord, have mercy on us!” |
| Religious/Christian Allegory | The poem reflects Christian themes of repentance, divine judgment, and the soul’s preparation for the afterlife. | “Heaven is our heritage, / Earth but a player’s stage; / Mount we unto the sky.” and “Lord, have mercy on us!” |
| New Historicism | Explores how the poem reflects Elizabethan society’s experiences with the plague, mortality, and social inequalities. | “Rich men, trust not in wealth, / Gold cannot buy you health;” and “The plague full swift goes by; / I am sick, I must die.” |
Critical Questions about “Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe
- How does Nashe use imagery to convey the theme of mortality?
- Nashe employs vivid imagery throughout the poem to emphasize mortality’s inescapable nature. For instance, he likens beauty to a transient “flower,” stating, “Beauty is but a flower / Which wrinkles will devour,” a metaphor that evokes the inevitable decay of youth and physical allure. By comparing strength to Hector, a legendary figure who also succumbed to death, Nashe conveys that even the bravest and most powerful are reduced to “worms” in the grave. This graphic imagery serves to illustrate mortality’s universal reach, reinforcing that all humans, regardless of their attributes, are subject to the same fate.
- What is the significance of the refrain “I am sick, I must die” in the poem?
- The refrain “I am sick, I must die” is a powerful reminder of the speaker’s resignation to his impending death, and it emphasizes the poem’s somber acceptance of mortality. Repeated at the end of each stanza, it functions as both a personal acknowledgment of illness and a universal truth. This refrain encapsulates the poem’s central message—that death is inevitable and spares no one, regardless of wealth, beauty, or strength. By pairing this refrain with the prayerful “Lord, have mercy on us,” Nashe evokes both fear and hope, as if seeking solace from divine mercy in the face of an unalterable reality.
- How does Nashe portray the futility of worldly wealth and status?
- Nashe presents wealth and status as ultimately futile in securing comfort or health against death’s reach. In the lines “Rich men, trust not in wealth, / Gold cannot buy you health,” he points out that wealth, often considered a source of security, has no power over mortality. Even “physic” (medicine) is depicted as powerless with the line, “Physic himself must fade.” This critique of materialism reflects the speaker’s understanding that all worldly acquisitions are temporary and ineffective in the face of death, highlighting a view of life that favors spiritual over material preparation.
- How does the poem reflect the influence of the Elizabethan context, particularly the plague?
- Written during a time of frequent plague outbreaks in Elizabethan England, Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss reflects the period’s pervasive fear of death and disease. The line “The plague full swift goes by; / I am sick, I must die” directly addresses the rapid and indiscriminate spread of illness, which struck both rich and poor without warning. This historical context of vulnerability amplifies the poem’s themes, as the repeated references to death and the frailty of human endeavors capture the collective anxiety of a society constantly threatened by sudden mortality. Through these lines, Nashe captures the somber mood of his time, encouraging readers to confront their mortality and prepare spiritually for the afterlife.
Literary Works Similar to “Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe
- “Death Be Not Proud” by John Donne
Like Nashe’s poem, Donne’s work personifies death, challenging its power and asserting that death is not to be feared due to the promise of eternal life. - “A Litany in Time of Plague” by Thomas Nashe
This companion piece within Summer’s Last Will and Testament shares a similar theme, addressing the inevitability of death and the need for divine mercy in times of plague. - “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” by Robert Herrick
Herrick’s poem reflects on life’s brevity, urging readers to seize the moment—an idea akin to Nashe’s view on the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures. - “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
While focused on the fall of empires, Shelley’s poem reflects on mortality and the impermanence of human achievements, much like Nashe’s view on worldly wealth and power. - “When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be” by John Keats
Keats explores his own fears of dying young and unfulfilled, resonating with Nashe’s meditation on mortality and the ephemeral nature of life and beauty.
Representative Quotations of “Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “Adieu, farewell, earth’s bliss;” | Opening line where the speaker bids goodbye to earthly pleasures. | Memento Mori: Reflects the theme of leaving behind the transient joys of the material world. |
| “This world uncertain is;” | A statement on the unpredictability and instability of life. | Existentialism: Conveys existential doubt about the reliability of worldly life. |
| “Fond are life’s lustful joys;” | A critique of life’s pleasures, which are considered foolish in the face of death. | Moral Critique: Critiques human indulgence, presenting pleasures as insignificant when faced with mortality. |
| “Death proves them all but toys;” | Death diminishes earthly pleasures to trivialities. | Memento Mori: Reinforces the futility of worldly pursuits in the face of death’s certainty. |
| “I am sick, I must die.” | Repeated refrain, acknowledging the speaker’s own mortality and illness. | Existential Reflection: Acknowledges human vulnerability and inevitability of death, fostering self-reflection. |
| “Lord, have mercy on us!” | A plea for divine forgiveness and compassion. | Religious Perspective: Reflects the Christian desire for salvation in light of life’s transience. |
| “Gold cannot buy you health;” | Expresses the limitation of wealth in securing health or evading death. | Critique of Materialism: Highlights the powerlessness of wealth against death’s inevitability. |
| “Beauty is but a flower / Which wrinkles will devour;” | Describes beauty as a temporary, fading attribute. | Temporal Aesthetics: Emphasizes the fleeting nature of physical beauty, linking it to the cycle of decay. |
| “Worms feed on Hector’s brave;” | Even the brave, like Hector, cannot escape death and decay. | Universal Mortality: Uses classical reference to suggest that all, regardless of strength, meet the same fate. |
| “Earth but a player’s stage;” | Life on earth is compared to a temporary performance on a stage. | Metaphysical Reflection: Suggests life’s impermanence and the notion of existence as a transient performance. |
Suggested Readings: “Adieu, Farewell Earth’s Bliss” by Thomas Nashe
- FEHRENBACH, ROBERT J. “RECENT STUDIES IN NASHE (1968-1979).” English Literary Renaissance, vol. 11, no. 3, 1981, pp. 344–50. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43447303. Accessed 29 Oct. 2024.
- Mellers, Wilfrid. “Ho, Ho, Ho.”The Musical Times, vol. 136, no. 1828, 1995, pp. 310–11. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1004110. Accessed 29 Oct. 2024.
- HIGHBEN, ZEBULON M. “FLEEING WAR, COMPOSING PEACE: THE EVOLUTION OF JEAN BERGER.” The Choral Journal, vol. 56, no. 1, 2015, pp. 8–27. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24580575. Accessed 29 Oct. 2024.
- Baumlin, James S., and Timothy D. Walker. “An Elegy upon Tudor and Stuart Poets, 1485-1688: A Study in Courtly Authorship and Violence.” CEA Critic, vol. 65, no. 2, 2003, pp. 36–57. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44377776. Accessed 29 Oct. 2024.