as you are now so once was i; as i am now so you shall be – ?
i came across this saying on a tattoo that i really like. i’ve been trying to do some research on the quote, origin, & opinions & views on it. the full quote is;
Remember me as you pass by
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, you soon will be.
Prepare for death, and think of me.
if anyone is familiar, & can or wants to try to elaborate with me i’d love to hear what you know about it & your opinion as well.
this is something i’m seriously interested in, so don’t waste you’re time if you wanna say something rude. thank you! :]
One possible origin —
An 1850 edition of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register cites the Canterbury tomb of Edward the Black Prince (1330-1376) as the source of the verse. Edward’s epitaph was originally written in Norman French, but was at some point translated into English:
Whoso thou be that passeth by;
Where these corps entombed lie:
Understand what I shall say,
As at this time speak I may.
Such as thou art, sometime was I,
Such as I am, such shalt thou be.
Edward’s epitaph, though it contains some of the sentiments found in the later poem, does not exhort the visitor to, “prepare for death and follow me.”
The blog listed below
As you are now so once was i