The English Dance of Death from the designs of Thomas Rowlandson, with metrical illustrations, by the author of "Doctor Syntax" [i.e. William Combe] |
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 | The English Dance of Death |  |
Among the rest a Shape appear'd:
In either hand a torch he rear'd,
And seem'd, as he was stalking on,
Proud of the mischief he had done.
The Sexton said, Death was his name:
He knew him well, and that he came
From church-yard nigh; nay, that the Bell
Had of itself rung out a Knell.
For though, as was his foul intent,
They did no Christian's end lament,
Yet it was seen Death had been there,
As Joe's six pigs and founder'd mare
Lay dead in stable and in sty,
The work of the Incendiary.
In either hand a torch he rear'd,
And seem'd, as he was stalking on,
Proud of the mischief he had done.
The Sexton said, Death was his name:
He knew him well, and that he came
From church-yard nigh; nay, that the Bell
Had of itself rung out a Knell.
For though, as was his foul intent,
They did no Christian's end lament,
Yet it was seen Death had been there,
As Joe's six pigs and founder'd mare
Lay dead in stable and in sty,
The work of the Incendiary.
| The English Dance of Death | |