Lyrics of “Whenas Man’s Life”
Whenas man’s Life, the Life of human lust,
in socket of his earthly lanthorn burns,
That all this glory unto ashes must,
And generation to corruption turns;
Then found desires that only fear their end
Do vainly wish for life, but to amend
Then living men ask how he left his breath,
That while he lived never thought of death.
But when this life is from the body fled,
To see itself in that eternal glass
Where time doth end thoughts accuse the dead,
Where all to come is one with all that was;
Then found desires that only fear their end
Do vainly wish for life, but to amend
Then living men ask how he left his breath,
That while he lived never thought of death.
The original lines of “Whenas Man’s Life” by Fulke Greville, Lord Brooker”
Whenas man’s Life, the Life of human lust,
in socket of his earthly lanthorn burns,
That all this glory unto ashes must,
And generation to corruption turns;
Then found desires that only fear their end
Do vainly wish for life, but to amend
But when this life is from the body fled,
To see itself in that eternal glass
Where time doth end thoughts accuse the dead,
Where all to come is one with all that was;
Then living men ask how he left his breath,
That while he lived never thought of death.