THE DANCE OF DEATH. 11 PLATE VII.THE EMPRESS. And all the inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants ... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. 11 PLATE VII.THE EMPRESS. And all the inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the Earth. Daniel, iv. 35. In the midst of a pompous march, in the court of a great palace. Death, who seems here to do the office of gentleman-usher, leads this Princess to the brink of a grave, and shews her the bounds within which all her grandeur is to be confined. PLANCHE VILL'IMPERATRICE. Au milieu d'une marche pompeuse, dans la cour dsun vaste palais, la Mort qui paroit faire ici Poffice d'ecuyer, araene cette Princesse jusqu'au bord d'une fosse sepulcrale, pour lui faire voir le terme auquel ses grandeurs viendront aboutir. -
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42 THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE VIII.THE QUEEN. Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear iny voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. Daniel, xxxii. 9. Death, a... Show more
42 THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE VIII.THE QUEEN. Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear iny voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. Daniel, xxxii. 9. Death, arrayed in the habits of folly, drags away violently this young Princess, just as she is coming out of her palace to enjoy the pleasure of walking. With terror painted in her countenance, she is making the air resound with mournful cries ; the maid of honour, who accompanies her, agitated with the most violent despair, is imploring the aid of Heaven, while the buffoon is making vain efforts to defend her against Death, who holds aloft his glass, to shew that the fatal hour is come. PLANCHE VIII.LA REINE. La Mort revetue des habits de la folie, en-traine avec violence cette jeune Princesse, aur moment qu'elle sort de son palais pour jouir du plaisir de la promenade ; la terreur peinte sur le visage elle fait retentir les airs de ses cris douloureux ; la dame d'honneur qui Paccompagne, agitee du plus violent desespoir, implore le secours du Ciel, tandis que le bouffon de la Reine fait de vains efforts pour la defendre contre la Mort, qui tient son sable eleve pour faire voir que Pheure fatale est arrivee.
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE IX.THE CARDINAL. Which justify tlie wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him. Isaiait, v. 23... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE IX.THE CARDINAL. Which justify tlie wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him. Isaiait, v. 23. A messenger has just presented to him, on his knees, the bull that constitutes him a cardinal. Death seizes this moment to make his appearance, and seems to want to turn his hat upon his head. The messenger is holding in his right hand a tin box, hung by a strap, in which he had, no doubt, carried the bull, which the new-made cardinal holds in his right hand with the seals appended to it, PLANCHE IX.LE CARDINAL. Un messager vient de lui remettre, en faisant line genuflexion, la bulle qui le fait cardinal. La Mort saisit ce moment pour paroitre, et semble vouloir lui faire tourner son chapeau sur la tete. Le messager tient de la main droite une boite de fer-blanc, pendue a une courroie, et dans laquelle il avoitsans doute apporte la bulle, que le cardinal nouYellement cree tient a la main droite avec les sceaux y affixes.
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44 THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE X.THE ELECTOR. The King shall mourn, and the Prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled. Ezekiel, vii. 27.... Show more
44 THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE X.THE ELECTOR. The King shall mourn, and the Prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled. Ezekiel, vii. 27. This prince,, as he is coming out of his palace with his courtiers, is accosted by a poor woman,, who implores his help for herself and the infant she holds by the hand ; but he, insensible to the distresses of the widow and orphan^ refuses to listen, and is turning aside with a disdainful air to his courtiers. Death at this instant appears ; and his severe aspect announces,, that he is just about to make him repent his hard-heartedness. PLANCHE X.L'ELECTEUR. Ce prince sortant de sonpalais avec ses cour-tisans, est abord par une pauvre femme qui implore son secours^pour elle&pour Penfant qu'elle tient par la main ; mais insensible aux besoins de la veuve & de Porphelin, il refuse de Pecouter, & se tourne d'un air dedaigneux du cote de ses cour-tisans. La Mort paroit dans cet instant, & son air severe annonce qu'elle va le faire repentir de la durete.
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. 45 PLATE XLTHE BISHOP. I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shalL be scattered abroad. Matt. xxvi.... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. 45 PLATE XLTHE BISHOP. I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shalL be scattered abroad. Matt. xxvi. 31. With an air of tranquillity and resignation, this worthy Pastor follows Death, who is leading him away laughing and dancing, whilst some shepherds, forgetting their flocks, are wandering here and there through the country, in despair for the loss of their chief. The sun, now ready to set, is just about to leave in darkness the ill-fated flocks, who, having no longer a conductor, will soon become the prey of wolves and other ravenous animals. PLANCH E XLL'EVEQUE. D'un air de tranquillite & de resignation ce bon Pasteur suit la Mort, qui l'emmene en riant et en dansant, tandis que quelques bergers, ou-bliant leur troupeau, errent 9a & la dans la cam-pagne, desesperes de la perte de leur chef. Le soleil pret a se coucher, va laisser dans les t6ne-bres ce malheureux troupeau, qui n'ayant plus de conducteur, sera bientot la proie du loup & des autres betes feroces.
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XII.THE COUNT. Kebuke the company of spearmen; scatter thou the people that delight in war. Psalm lxviii. 30. Death ... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XII.THE COUNT. Kebuke the company of spearmen; scatter thou the people that delight in war. Psalm lxviii. 30. Death here adds to his usual employment that of avenger of oppressed vassals. He is throwing with violence at the head of this Lord, his coat of armSj the dear object of his pride, under the weight of which he is ready to make him fall. He appears trampling under foot a flail,, to mark his inhumanity to labourers, a class of society so necessary and respectable. On the ground also are to be seen the remains of the helmet which formed the crest of his arms, with the other ornaments that decorated them. PLANCHE XII.LE COMTE. La Mort ajoute ici a Pexercice de son emploi accoutume celui de vengeur devassaux opprimes; elle jette avec violence a la tete de ce Seigneur ses armoiries, Pobjet cheri de son orgueil, sous le poids desquelles elle va le faire perir. On le voit fouler a ses pieds un fleau, pour designer son in-humanite envers les laboureurs, cette classe de la societe si necessaire & si respectable; on peut encore remarquer a terre, les debris du casque dont ses armoiries etoient surmontees avec d'au-tres ornemens qui les decoroient
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THE DANCE OF DEATH, PLATE XIII.THE ABBE. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden by the cords of his sins. Troy. iv. 22... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH, PLATE XIII.THE ABBE. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden by the cords of his sins. Troy. iv. 22. Death, not contented with stripping this fat Prelate of his crosier, which he is carrying in triumph on his shoulder, and his mitre,, with which he is dressing himself, is dragging him away without pity. He raises his breviary with one hand, and with the other is making some vain efforts to push him off. PLANCHE XIII.L'ABBE. La Mort, non contente d'avoir arrache a ce gros Prelatsa crosse, qu'elleporte en triomphe sur son epaule, & sa mitre, dont elle s'est affublee, le tire encore impitoyablement apres elle; il eleve d'une main son breviaire, & fait de Pautre de yains efforts pour la repousser. '
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XIV.THE ABBESS. Wherefore I praised the dead, which are already dead, more than the living, which are yet alive. Eccles. iv. 2. Death... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XIV.THE ABBESS. Wherefore I praised the dead, which are already dead, more than the living, which are yet alive. Eccles. iv. 2. Death ludicrously hooded with several flowing plumes,, and robed in a kind of gown, carries out of her convent an Abbess, whom he is dragging with all his might by her scapulary. The reverend Mother with regret is leaving life and the honours she enjoys; and expresses, by the alteration of her features and by her cries, the fright that Death has produced in her soul. Behind her, under the gate of the convent, appears a young Nun, strangely agitated with terror and grief. PLANCHE XIV.I/ABBESSE. La Mort ridiculement coiffee de diverses plumes flottantes, & vetue d'une espece de mante, emmene hors de son couvent une Abbesse qu'elle, tire de toutes ses forces par son scapulaire. I^a revc-rendissime Mere quitte a regret la vie & les hon-neurs dont elle jouit, & exprime par Palte*ration de ses traits & par ses cris, Peffroi que la Mort a jete dans son ame. On voit derriere elle, sous la porte de Tabbaye, une jeune Nonne, vivement agitee par lacrainte &par la douleur.
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. 49 PLATE XV.THE FRIAR PROVISOR. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. Psalm cvi. 10. ... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. 49 PLATE XV.THE FRIAR PROVISOR. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. Psalm cvi. 10. As he is just stepping into his convent,, with his Christmas-box and wallet, Death stops him at the door; and deaf to his cries, as well as regardless of the fright he throws him into, drags him with all his might by the cloak, and renders all the good Friar's attempts to disengage himself ineffectual. PLANCHE XV.LE
