A row of autumn leaves growing fainter from left to right on a brown background.

Original artwork, not a still

Thomas Haynes Bayly

Surely ‘t is better, when summer is over To die when all fair things are fading away.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker reasons that once summer has ended, dying while everything lovely is fading is preferable. The thought is wistful: an ending that matches the season's decline seems gentler than lingering on after beauty has gone.

Context reviewed

Share this quote