Carpe Diem in English Literature up to 1590
The carpe diem ("seize the day") motif, rooted in classical poetry, emerged in English literature before 1590 as a compelling theme that blended hedonism, mortality, and seduction. While most famously associated with 17th-century Cavalier poets like Herrick and Marvell, its foundations were laid in earlier works that combined medieval memento mori traditions with Renaissance vitality.
1. Classical Origins
Horace’s Odes (1.11): The phrase "carpe diem" originates here, urging enjoyment of life’s fleeting pleasures.
Catullus and Ovid: Roman love poets framed time’s passage as an argument for erotic fulfillment.
2. Medieval Precedents
The Wanderer (Old English elegy): Contrasts earthly transience with divine permanence.
*Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath’s Prologue echoes carpe diem in defending marital pleasure.
3. Early Tudor Manifestations (Pre-1590)
Wyatt’s Translations: His version of Petrarch’s Rime 140 ("The long love that in my thought doth harbor") adapts Italian love poetry to a more urgent, physical sensibility.
Elizabethan Songbooks: Short lyrics in collections like Tottel’s Miscellany (1557) popularized amorous carpe diem appeals.
4. Key Themes in Development
Nature’s Cycles: Blossoms, seasons, and sunset imagery underscored life’s brevity.
The Tempus Fugit Trope: "Time flies" warnings in moralistic and erotic contexts.
Gender Dynamics: Typically male speakers urging reluctant women to yield to passion.
5. Legacy for Post-1590 Literature
These early treatments paved the way for:
Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Sonnet 73’s autumnal metaphor ("Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang") merges carpe diem with elegy.
Metaphysical Poetry: Donne’s "The Flea" (1633) would later radicalize the conceit.
By 1590, carpe diem had evolved from classical allusion to a versatile English motif, balancing moral caution with sensual invitation.