quote · Legacy record
See the leaves around us falling Dry and withered to the ground; Thus to thoughtless mortals calling, In a sad and solemn sound: Sons of Adam, once in Eden, Blighted when like us he fell, Hear the lecture we are reading, ’Tis, alas! the truth we tell. Virgins, much, too much presuming On your boasted white and red, View us, late in beauty blooming, Number’d now among the dead. Sons of honour, fed on praises, Fluttering high in fancied worth, Lo! the fickle air, that raises, Brings us down to parent earth. Learned sophs, in systems jaded, Who for new ones daily call, Cease, at length, by us persuaded, Ev’ry leaf must have its fall. Youths, though yet no losses grieve you, Gay in health and manly grace, Let not cloudless skies deceive you, Summer gives to autumn place. Venerable sires, grown hoary, Hither turn th’ unwilling eye, Think, amidst your falling glory, Autumn tells a winter nigh. Yearly in our course returning, Messengers of shortest stay, Thus we preach, this truth concerning, “Heaven and Earth shall pass away.” On the Tree of Life eternal, Man, let all thy hope be staid, Which alone, for ever vernal, Bears a leaf that shall not fade.
See the leaves around us falling Dry and withered to the ground; Thus to thoughtless mortals calling, In a sad and solemn sound: Sons of Adam, once in Eden, Blighted when like us he fell, Hear the lecture we are reading, ’Tis, alas! the truth we tell. Virgins, much, too much presuming On your boasted white and red, View us, late in beauty blooming, Number’d now among the dead. Sons of honour, fed on praises, Fluttering high in fancied worth, Lo! the fickle air, that raises, Brings us down to parent earth. Learned sophs, in systems jaded, Who for new ones daily call, Cease, at length, by us persuaded, Ev’ry leaf must have its fall. Youths, though yet no losses grieve you, Gay in health and manly grace, Let not cloudless skies deceive you, Summer gives to autumn place. Venerable sires, grown hoary, Hither turn th’ unwilling eye, Think, amidst your falling glory, Autumn tells a winter nigh. Yearly in our course returning, Messengers of shortest stay, Thus we preach, this truth concerning, “Heaven and Earth shall pass away.” On the Tree of Life eternal, Man, let all thy hope be staid, Which alone, for ever vernal, Bears a leaf that shall not fade.
In print by 1888 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
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Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Bishop Horne (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1888 AD · industrial
In print by 1888: recorded in A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)
Page 352 · printed citation: Bishop Horne · subject: LEAF
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.