“及时行乐”(Carpe Diem)是文艺复兴时期诗歌中非常普遍的一个主题,它的产生有着深刻的历史背景,对当时的英国社会有着深远的影响和积极的现实意义。它既是对中世纪宗教禁锢人类思想的反抗,也是对人生无常的慨叹。然而诗人以“及时行乐”为主题,却有着不同的目的。同样是认识到时间的摧毁力量,有的诗人以此为理由,劝诫爱人与自己把握时光,及时行乐;有的诗人,如斯宾塞、莎士比亚,却以及时行乐为武器,向时间发起了挑战。 Carpe Diem is a very popular theme in the Renaissance poems. It has a profound historical background and has far-reaching influence and positive practical significance on the British society at that time. It is not only a resistance against the religious thought of the Middle Ages and the impermanence of life. However, the poet, with his theme of “Happy Time”, has its own purpose. The same is to recognize the power of the destruction of time, some poets as a reason to exhort lovers and themselves to grasp the time, in a timely manner to enjoy the music; some poets, such as Spencer, Shakespeare, but in a timely manner as a weapon for fun, challenged the time .