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 |  |
From living well, and sitting still,
And of strong beer a daily fill,
With other habits that combine,
The props of Life to undermine,
By slow degrees, John was, at length
Diminish'd, both in health and strength;
And, as he one night thought of dying,
The thirty years he'd pass'd in lying,
Came cross his mind, with the intent
To quit his service, and repent.
But after a full glass of Gin,
He ask'd how it could be a sin,
To do what ev'ry Servant did,
And what his Lord and Lady bid?
So while he whiff'd th'inspiring smoke,
John, to himself, thus thought and spoke.
And of strong beer a daily fill,
With other habits that combine,
The props of Life to undermine,
By slow degrees, John was, at length
Diminish'd, both in health and strength;
And, as he one night thought of dying,
The thirty years he'd pass'd in lying,
Came cross his mind, with the intent
To quit his service, and repent.
But after a full glass of Gin,
He ask'd how it could be a sin,
To do what ev'ry Servant did,
And what his Lord and Lady bid?
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John, to himself, thus thought and spoke.
| The English Dance of Death | |