Death
The Old Fear of Death
The speaker recalls how death was once seen as a hideous, decaying end, leaving only dust and empty shells.
Death, you were once a strange, hideous thing— nothing but bones, the sad result of sadder groans. Your mouth was open, but you couldn't sing.1 For we thought of you as you'd be some six or ten years later, after the loss of life and sense, flesh turned to dust, and bones to sticks.✦ We looked at this side of you, and our aim fell short. We found the shells of fledged souls left behind, dry dust that sheds no tears but can wring them from us.✦234
Death Made Beautiful by Christ
Christ's death transforms death into a graceful, desired state, promising resurrection and allowing peaceful trust in the grave.
But since our Savior's death put some blood into your face, you've grown fair and full of grace, much in demand, much sought after, as a good.✦ For now we see you bright and glad, as at Judgment Day—when souls will wear their new attire, and all your bones will be clothed with beauty.5 So we can die as we sleep, and trust half of what we have to an honest, faithful grave, making our pillows either of down or of dust.
Read the original English
Death, thou wast once an uncouth hideous thing, Nothing but bones, The sad effect of sadder grones: Thy mouth was open, but thou couldst not sing.
For we consider'd thee as at some six Or ten yeares hence, After the losse of life and sense, Flesh being turn'd to dust, and bones to sticks.
We lookt on this side of thee, shooting short; Where we did finde The shells of fledge souls left behinde, Dry dust, which sheds no tears, but may extort.
But since our Saviours death did put some bloud Into thy face, Thou art grown fair and full of grace, Much in request, much sought for, as a good.
For we do now behold thee gay and glad, As at dooms-day; When souls shall wear their new aray, And all thy bones with beautie shall be clad.
Therefore we can go die as sleep, and trust Half that we have Unto an honest faithfull grave; Making our pillows either down, or dust.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gen.3.19 — By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, for from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
- ↩Gen.3.19 — By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, for from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
- ↩Luke.1.28 — And coming to her, he said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.'
Notes
- 1 ↩Early modern 'uncouth' here means strange/unfamiliar/repulsive, not merely rude or uncultured; rendered as 'strange' to keep the sense.
- 2 ↩Archery image: looking only at Death’s near, bodily side, their understanding falls short of the mark (later redeemed by Christ’s death in the next stanza).
- 3 ↩Fledged = fully feathered and ready to fly; the empty body is the shell left when the soul has flown.
- 4 ↩Not criminal extortion: the dry dust itself weeps nothing, yet can force tears out of the living.
- 5 ↩Source gay means bright, cheerful, festive (17th-c. sense), not the modern sexual meaning; rendered bright to keep the festive sense without anachronism.
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