THE DANCE OF DEATH. 53 PLATE XIX.THE SWISS SOLDIER. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and di-videth the ... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. 53 PLATE XIX.THE SWISS SOLDIER. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and di-videth the spoils. Luke, xi. 22. On a field of battle, covered with dead carcasses,, Deaths armed with a buckler and a huge dart, attacks this warrior, in the bosom of victory, escaped alone from the carnage of the day, and is giving him some terrible blows. It is in vain that this brave Soldier, whose courage seems invincible, is obstinately attempting to dispute the victory with an irresistible adversary. In the back ground appears another Death, running, and beating onadrurrr, who is followed by several soldiers. PLANCHE XIX.LE SOLDAT SUISSE. Sur un champ de bataillejonche decadavres, la Mort armee d'un bouclier & d'un grand jave-lot, attaque dans le sein de la victoire ce guerrier echappe seul au carnage, & lui porte des coups terribles. C'est en vain que ce brave Soldat dont la valeur sembloit indomptable, s'acharne a dis-puter la victoire a un adversaire auquel rien ne sauroit rsister. Dans le lointain on apperoit une autre Mort qui bat du tambour en courant, & qui est suivie de quelques soldats.
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54 THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XX.THE ADVOCATE. A prudent man foreseetli the evil, and hidcth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. Prov. xxii. 3. Th... Show more
54 THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XX.THE ADVOCATE. A prudent man foreseetli the evil, and hidcth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. Prov. xxii. 3. The example of the Judge seems to authorize the Advocate to get himself well paid for his prevarication, and that even in the presence of his poor client, whose wretched condition would raise compassion in any breast less obdurate than that of the lawyer. But Death will avenge the oppressed; he is pouring into the hands of the Advocate money in abundance, of which he will have little use, for he is, at the same instant, shewing him, with an air of insult, his sand run out. PLANCHE XX.L'AVOCAT. L'exemple du Jugesemble autoriser PAvo-cat a se faire payer cherement ses prevarications, & cela meme en presence de son pauvre client qui se tient dans un certain eloignement, & dontTetat miserable feroit pitiq a une ame moins dure que celle de Phomme de loi. Mais la Mort vengera Popprime; elle verse abondarnment dans les mains de PAvocat de Pargent dont il ne profitera guere car elle lui montre en merae temsd'un air raoqueur, son sable ecoule.
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XXI.THE NEW-MARRIED PAIR. Where thou diest, will I die. Ruth, i. 17. In the first transports of an happy union, this tender couple appear so wholly taken up with eac... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XXI.THE NEW-MARRIED PAIR. Where thou diest, will I die. Ruth, i. 17. In the first transports of an happy union, this tender couple appear so wholly taken up with each othe,*, and so inebriated with their mutual happiness,, that they neither see nor hear. Death, who is marching before them, beating furiously on a little drum,, is soon to give a cruel interruption to their enjoyments. PLANCHE XXI.LES NOUVEAUX MARIES. Dans les premiers transports d'une douce union, ces deux tendres epoux paroissent telle-ment occupes Pun de l'autre, ils sont si enivres de leur bonheur mutuel, qu'ils ne voient ni n'enten-dent la Mort qui marche devant eux, enfrappant vigoureusement sur un petit tambour, & qui va leur donner bientot un cruel trouble-fete. ! I
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56 THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XXII.-THE COUNTESS. What! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? ... Show more
56 THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XXII.-THE COUNTESS. What! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? Job, ii. 10. She is wholly taken up with the care of her dress, and is receiving with eagerness, from the hands of one of her maids, a very rich robe with a gold chain. Death comes to derange her toilet, and has already, without being perceived, slipped round her neck a collar made of small bones. PLANCHE XXII.LA COiWTESSE, Elle n'est occupee quedu soin desa parure, & re^oit avec empressement, des mains d'une de ses femmes, un habillement tres-riche avec une chaine d'or. La Mort vient troubler sa toilette, & lui adeja passe autour du cou, sans qu'elles'en soit encore aper^ue, un collier fait de petits os de mort
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XXII I.THE MERCHANT. 57 Tiie getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seeketh death. Pr... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XXII I.THE MERCHANT. 57 Tiie getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seeketh death. Prov. xxi. (5. Escaped from the dangers of the sea, and safely arrived in port, this rich Merchant believes himself now in perfect safety; but he is mistaken. Employed in counting his money, examining his goods, and treating about their disposals a bad customer, Death himself, comes up, and it is his person only that he wants to bargain for. PLANCHE XXIILLE MARCHAND. Echappe aux perils de la mer, arrive* heu-reusement au port, ce riche Marchand se croit en pleine securite ; il se trompe. Occupe a compter son argent, a, examiner ses marchandises & a traiter de leur vente, un mauvais chaland, la Mort ellememe, arrive, & ce n'est que de sa personne qu'elle veut faire emplette.
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58 THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XXIV.THE HAWKER. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. xi... Show more
58 THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XXIV.THE HAWKER. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. xi. 28. Bending under the weight of his load, he is advancing, with a quick pace, to the neighbouring town, comforting himself with thinking on the gain he is to make there; but Death, in the form of two skeletons, is come to put a sudden end to his labours and his hopes. One of the skeletons is dragging him forcibly by the arm, while the other behind him is playing on a marine trumpet. It is in vain that the poor Hawker points with his finger to the place where his business calls him; this disagreeable company appear desirous of making him take another road. PLANCHE XXIV.LE COLPORTEUR. Gouiibe sous le poids de sa charge, il avance a grands pas1 vers le lieu voisin, & trouve du sou-lagement en revant au gain qu'il pourroit y faire; mais la Mort, sous la figure de deux squelettes, est venue subitement mettre fin a ses peines & a ses esperances. 1/ un des squelettes le tire avec force par le bras, tandis que Pautre joue derriere lui de la trompette marine. C'est en vain que le pauvre Colporteur montre des doigts Pendroit ou ses affaires Pappellent, cette facheuse compagnie paroit vouloir lui faire prendre une autre route.
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. 59 PLATE XXV.THE MISER. Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required: of thee : then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided ? Luke, xi. 2. The charact... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. 59 PLATE XXV.THE MISER. Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required: of thee : then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided ? Luke, xi. 2. The character of the Miser is very forcibly expressed in this sketch. Shut up in a vault, which receives the light only through a wicket, secured with a double grate of thick iron bars, he is.entirely taken up with his beloved treasure, a considerable part whereof Death is snatching up before his eyes. This loss excites in him all the symptoms of the most violent desperation, and it plainly appears that his gold is an hundred times dearer to his heart than his life. PLANGHE XXV.L'AVARE. Le caractere de TAvare est rendu dans ce dessein avec beaucoup d'energie. Renferme dans un caveau qui ne re^oit du jour que par une lu-carne garnie d'une double grille d'epais barrcaux de fer, il n'est occupe que de son cher tresor, dont la Mort lui enleve a ses yeux une portion tres-con-siderable. Cette perte excite en lui tous les symp-tomes du plus violent desespoir, & l'on voit bien que son or lui tient cent fois plus a coeur que la vie.
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XXVI.-THE WAGGONER. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, lie was found of them. 2 Chkon. xv. 4. We see Death here ven... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XXVI.-THE WAGGONER. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, lie was found of them. 2 Chkon. xv. 4. We see Death here venting his capricious fury on a cart of wine that a poor Waggoner is conducting. Without doubt, the man himself will soon come, in his turn, to be the sport of his caprice; and the same cause that has now produced, will ere long effectually finish his despair. PLANCHE XXVI.LE VOITURIER. On voit ici la Mort exercer ses bizarres fu-reurs sur un char de vin que conduit un pauvre Voiturier. Sans doute que lui-meme va devenir a son tour le jouet de ses caprices, & que la meme cause qui vient d'occasionner son desespoir ne tar-dera pas a le terminer.
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. 61 PLATE XXV1LTHE GAMESTERS. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt. ... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. 61 PLATE XXV1LTHE GAMESTERS. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt. xvi. 20. The Devil and Death are disputing which of them shall carry off the losing Gamester. It is a contest, if we may say so., frightful as well as ludicrous, so much the more so, that the second Gamester, interesting himself in the fate of the first, is addressing fervent prayers to the Devil on his behalf; but the third is doing still better, taking the advantage of this moment of trouble and terror, to gather in the money that is lying on the table. PLANCHE XXVILLES JOUEURS. Le Diable & la Mort se disputent qui des deux emportera le Joueur qui a perdu. C'est un combat, s'il est permis de le dire, aussi effroyable que comique, d'autant plus que le second Joueur, s'interessant au sort du premier, addresse de fer-ventes prieres au Diable en sa faveur ; mais le troisieme fait encore mieux, & profite de ce moment de trouble & d'effroi, pour ramasser Tar-gent qui se trouve sur la table.
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