Poems for Spring: 'Vanitas Vanitatum' from The Devil's Law Case by John Webster (1623)

Poetry

Vanitas Vanitatum

*from The Devil’s Law Case* by John Webster (1623)**

All the Flowers of the Spring Meet to perfume our burying: These have but their growing prime, And man does flourish but his time. Survey our progresse from our birth— We are set, we grow, we turne to earth. Courts adieu, and all delights, All bewitching appetites! Sweetest Breath and clearest eye Like perfumes goe out and dye; And consequently this is done As shadowes wait upon the Sunne. Vaine the ambition of Kings Who seeke by trophies and dead things To leave a living name behind, And weave but nets to catch the wind.


Next page > “The Spring,” by Thomas Carew... Spring Poems collection > table of contents

Guides since 1997