--- title: "4 Decay Quotes By Edmund Spenser" description: "4 Decay quotes by Edmund Spenser. Plus more from Edmund Spenser and more Decay sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_one-day-i-wrote-her-name-upon-the-strand_237968.png" --- > [One day I wrote her name upon the strand, But came the waves and washèd it away: Again I wrote it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/one-day-i-wrote-her-name-upon-the-strand-but-came-the-waves-and-wash/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_one-day-i-wrote-her-name-upon-the-strand_237968.png) > [All that in this world is great or gay, Doth, as a vapor, vanish and decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/all-that-in-this-world-is-great-or-gay-doth-as-a-vapor-vanish-and/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_all-that-in-this-world-is-great-or-gay-d_1160254.png) > [So passeth, in the passing of a day, Of mortal life, the leaf, the bud, the flower; No more doth flourish after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/so-passeth-in-the-passing-of-a-day-of-mortal-life-the-leaf-the-bud/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/edmund-spenser-2090_age_so-passeth-in-the-passing-of-a-day-of-mo_2113693.png) > [For deeds to die, however nobly done, And thoughts of men to as themselves decay, But wise words taught in numbers for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/for-deeds-to-die-however-nobly-done-and-thoughts-of-men-to-as/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_for-deeds-to-die-however-nobly-done-and_2792558.jpg) ## Other authors on Decay ## More by Edmund Spenser > [“All this world's glory seemeth vain to me, And all their shows but shadows, saving she.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/all-this-world-s-glory-seemeth-vain-to-me-and-all-their-shows-but/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [The merry cuckow, messenger of Spring, His trumpet shrill hath thrice already sounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/the-merry-cuckow-messenger-of-spring-his-trumpet-shrill-hath-thrice/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [All flesh doth frailty breed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/all-flesh-doth-frailty-breed/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“The whiles some one did chaunt this louely lay; Ah see, who so faire thing doest faine to see, In springing flowre the image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/the-whiles-some-one-did-chaunt-this-louely-lay-ah-see-who-so-faire/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Fretting grief the enemy of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/fretting-grief-the-enemy-of-life/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Make haste therefore, sweet love, whilst it is prime, For none can call again the passed time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/make-haste-therefore-sweet-love-whilst-it-is-prime-for-none-can-call/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [In one consort there sat cruel revenge and rancorous despite, disloyal treason and heart-burning hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/in-one-consort-there-sat-cruel-revenge-and-rancorous-despite-disloyal/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Good is no good, but if it be spend, God giveth good for none other end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/good-is-no-good-but-if-it-be-spend-god-giveth-good-for-none-other-end/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“There is nothing lost, but may be found, if sought. (No hay nada perdido, que no pueda encontrarse, si se lo busca)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/there-is-nothing-lost-but-may-be-found-if-sought-no-hay-nada-perdido/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“It is the mynd, that maketh good or ill, That maketh wretch or happie, rich or poore: For some, that hath abundance at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/it-is-the-mynd-that-maketh-good-or-ill-that-maketh-wretch-or-happie/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Sweet breathing Zephyrus did softly play, A gentle spirit, that lightly did delay Hot Titan's beams, which then did glister fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/sweet-breathing-zephyrus-did-softly-play-a-gentle-spirit-that-lightly/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [I was promised on a time To have reason for my rhyme; From that time unto this season, I received nor rhyme nor reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/i-was-promised-on-a-time-to-have-reason-for-my-rhyme-from-that-time/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“For love is a celestial harmony Of likely hearts compos'd of stars' concent, Which join together in sweet sympathy, To work each other's joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/for-love-is-a-celestial-harmony-of-likely-hearts-compos-d-of-stars/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Sleep after toil, port after stormy seas, Ease after war, death after life does greatly please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/sleep-after-toil-port-after-stormy-seas-ease-after-war-death-after/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/edmund-spenser/#itemlist", "name": "4 Decay Quotes By Edmund Spenser", "numberOfItems": 4, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One day I wrote her name upon the strand, But came the waves and washèd it away: Again I wrote it with a second hand, But came the tide and made my pains his prey. Vain man (said she) that dost in vain assay A mortal thing so to immortalise; For I myself shall like to this decay, And eke my name be wipèd out likewise. Not so (quod I); let baser things devise To die in dust, but you shall live by fame; My verse your virtues rare shall eternise, And in the heavens write your glorious name: Where, when as Death shall all the world subdue, Our love shall live, and later life renew.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund Spenser" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/one-day-i-wrote-her-name-upon-the-strand-but-came-the-waves-and-wash/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_one-day-i-wrote-her-name-upon-the-strand_237968.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_one-day-i-wrote-her-name-upon-the-strand_237968.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_one-day-i-wrote-her-name-upon-the-strand_237968.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One day I wrote her name upon the strand, But came the waves and washèd it away: Again I wrote it with a…” — Edmund Spenser", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All that in this world is great or gay, Doth, as a vapor, vanish and decay.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund Spenser" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/all-that-in-this-world-is-great-or-gay-doth-as-a-vapor-vanish-and/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_all-that-in-this-world-is-great-or-gay-d_1160254.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_all-that-in-this-world-is-great-or-gay-d_1160254.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_all-that-in-this-world-is-great-or-gay-d_1160254.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All that in this world is great or gay, Doth, as a vapor, vanish and decay.” — Edmund Spenser", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So passeth, in the passing of a day, Of mortal life, the leaf, the bud, the flower; No more doth flourish after first decay, That erst was sought to deck both bed and bower Of many a lady and many a paramour. Gather therefore the rose whilst yet in prime, For soon comes age that will her pride deflower. Gather the rose of love whilst yet in time, Whilst loving thou mayst loved be with equal crime.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund Spenser" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/so-passeth-in-the-passing-of-a-day-of-mortal-life-the-leaf-the-bud/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/edmund-spenser-2090_age_so-passeth-in-the-passing-of-a-day-of-mo_2113693.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/edmund-spenser-2090_age_so-passeth-in-the-passing-of-a-day-of-mo_2113693.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/edmund-spenser-2090_age_so-passeth-in-the-passing-of-a-day-of-mo_2113693.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So passeth, in the passing of a day, Of mortal life, the leaf, the bud, the flower; No more doth flourish…” — Edmund Spenser", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For deeds to die, however nobly done, And thoughts of men to as themselves decay, But wise words taught in numbers for to run, Recorded by the Muses, live for ay.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund Spenser" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/for-deeds-to-die-however-nobly-done-and-thoughts-of-men-to-as/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_for-deeds-to-die-however-nobly-done-and_2792558.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_for-deeds-to-die-however-nobly-done-and_2792558.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_for-deeds-to-die-however-nobly-done-and_2792558.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For deeds to die, however nobly done, And thoughts of men to as themselves decay, But wise words taught in…” — Edmund Spenser", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/edmund-spenser/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/edmund-spenser/", "name": "Decay Quotes by Edmund Spenser", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/edmund-spenser/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/edmund-spenser-2090_decay_one-day-i-wrote-her-name-upon-the-strand_237968.png" }, "description": "4 Decay quotes by Edmund Spenser. 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