The following is the opening scene of the last of 10 episodes of The Tudors. King Henry VIII voice is heard: "When we compare the present life of men on Earth with their time of which we have no knowledge; it seems to me like the swift flight of a single sparrow through a banqueting hall on a winters day. After a few moments of comfort, he vanishes from sight into the wintry world from which he came. Even so, man appears on Earth for a little while but of what went before this life or what will follow, we know nothing.
The following is a quote from a Latin work by Bede called "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum" (Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Book II. Chapter 13) finished in 731 AD. Something Henry would probable have read.
Here is the full quote translated from the Latin: "When we compare the present life of man on earth to that time of which we have no knowledge, it seems to me like the swift flight of a single sparrow through the banqueting hall where you are sitting at dinner on a winter's day with your thanes and counsellors. In the midst there is a comforting fire to warm the hall; outside, the storms of winter rain or snow are raging. This sparrow flies swiftly in through one door of the hall, and out through another. While he is inside, he is safe from the winter storms: but after a few moments of comfort, he vanishes from sight into the wintry world from which he came. Even so, man appears on earth for a little while: but of what went before this life or of what follows, we know nothing."
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