Friday, March 13, 2020

Beware the 13th & the 15th

Brightness Falls
The Full Worm Moon has come and gone.
Coronavirus is apparently here to stay.
Today is Friday the 13th.
And in 48 hours -- "Beware the Ides of March"
Uneasy times. Proceed with caution . . .
A Litany in Time of Plague
alternately entitled:
In Time of Pestilence, 1593

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! [emphasis added]

Strength stoops unto the grave,
Worms feed on Hector brave;
Swords may not fight with fate,
Earth still holds open 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!


Thomas Nashe (1567–1601)
from his play Summer's Last Will and Testament

Nighthawks ~ in time of Plague!
based on the 1942 original by Edward Hopper (1882 - 1967)
Thanks Charlotte & Larry!

2 comments:

  1. I don't know who did the revision of Nighthawks, but I take no credit. It's been floating around the interwebs. It's of the moment though, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Brightness Falls from the Air"
    by James Tiptree
    https://www.amazon.com/Brightness-Falls-Air-James-Tiptree-ebook/dp/B00J90BWYU/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=brightness+falls+from+the+air&qid=1584399473&sr=8-1

    "Brightness Falls"
    by Jay McInerney
    https://www.amazon.com/Brightness-Falls-Vintage-Contemporaries-McInerney-ebook/dp/B004FEG39O/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=brightness+falls&qid=1584399391&sr=8-1

    ReplyDelete