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 FRERE QUETEUR. Pret a rentrerdans son couvent avec sa tire-lire & sa besace, la Mort l'arrete a la porte, & toute aussi sourde a ses cris, qu'insensible a l'ef-froi qu'elle lui cause, elle le tire de toutes ses forces par son capuchon, & rend impuissans les efforts du bon Frere pour se derober de ses mains.
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THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XVI.THE CANONESS. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evil men. . Pitov.... Show more
THE DANCE OF DEATH. PLATE XVI.THE CANONESS. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evil men. . Pitov. iv. 14. There appears in this voung and beautiful recluse, a striking mixture oi' gallantry and devotion. On her knees before a little altar, with her rosary in her hand, she is amorously listening to the songs which a young man, seated on a bed, addresses to her, accompanying them with his lute. Death comes to put out the tapers burning on the altar, and to change into sadness the pleasures of this conversation. PLANCHE XVI.LA CHANOINESSE. L'on voit dans cette jeune & belle recluse un melange frappant de galanterie & de devotion. Agenouillee devant un petit autel, son rosaire a la main, tile eeoute amoureusement les chansons qu'un jeune homme, assis sur son lit, lui addresse en les accompagnant de son luth. La Mort vient iteindre les cierge* illumes sur 1'autel, & changer en amertume les douceurs de ce tete-a-tete.
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