Identifier: englishdanceofde01comb (find matches)
Title: The English dance of death, from the designs of Thomas Rowlandson;
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Combe, William, 1742-1823 Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827
Subjects: Dance of death
Publisher: London, Methuen and co.
Contributing Library: Duke University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Duke University Libraries

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, as she just had prayd—A widowd Bride, a married Maid. She now her gawds to sables turns,And in all due Apparel mourns.But though, by some good folks tis said,That marriages in Heaven are made,She thinks, to make the Proverb even,That they are sometimes loosd in Heaven. 246 ENGLISH DANCE OF DEATH THE SKAITERS Water and Earth, and Air and Fire,All, in their different ways conspire,Our Lifes frail nature to support;Or, as it happens, cut it short.Not a day passes but tis foundThat some are burnd, or some are drownd.Does not the foul and foetid breathOf some disease, cause daily death ?And who, on Earths vast space can tellThe Spot where Danger does not dwell ?The very Elements, that tendTo give us Life, produce our end.Death is not only here and there,His fearful power is every where.He sails, upon his baleful wing,Amid the zephyrs of the spring ;He can his deadly frolics playBeneath the Summers burning ray;While Autumns fruit, at his command,Shall drop ripe from the gatherers hand ;
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GO V — D 6 m ENGLISH DANCE OF DEATH 247 He calls obedient to his power,Each pastime of the wintry hour;Whether we seek the painted dome,Or are invited forth to roam,When the earth is fast bound in frost,And evry stream in ice is lost.Should then the fatal Shape inclineTo glide along the Serpentine,How many skaiting folks would heThrow into mortal jeopardy:Away, in vain, the Skaiters skim,Tis all in vain that they can swim.If he but waves his mystic dart,Th obedient Ice begins to part;And, while the opening chink receivesThe hapless groupe, he grins, and leavesSome of the smartest blades in townTo squall, to flounder, and to drown. 248 ENGLISH DANCE OF DEATH THE DUEL Honour s a very common word,By all and evry where preferrd.But whats its meaning,—wheres the Key,That will unlock the Mystery ?It seems to change in evry street,And with each person that we meet.—Ask the old Maid of fifty-three,She whispers, tis Virginity.—Ask the gay Virgin, in her teens,What this self-same expres

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