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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spot where Beauty s laid; ENGLISH DANCE OF DEATH 25 Or the clear verdure of the sodProtects the Peasants last abode ;Still Fate pursues—still mortals fly,The chase continues till they die.—Howeer they live, whereer they fall,Death—Mighty Hunter—earths them all! 26 ENGLISH DANCE OF DEATH THE STATESMAN It is not wealth, it is not powerCan give to Life a lingring hour :When Death commands, whose potent swayAll creatures that have life obey,Monarchs must lay their sceptres down,And yield the splendour of a crown;For ever quit the suppliant crowd,And change the purple for a shroud :To-day, the victor laurels bloom,To-morrow—wither on the tomb;Ambition, from its towring height,Sinks to the shades of endless night:The Miser counts his treasure oer,Then goes to rest—to wake no more.When ebbing Life begins to failThe rosy cheek of youth grows pale;Dimmd is the lustre of the eye,And set the teeth of ivory.What, though we reach the heights of Fame,Or boast of Honours proudest name :
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ENGLISH DANCE OF DEATH 2^ What, though the minstrel pleasures waitWith tuneful accents at our gate;Though to Parnassian height we soar,Or dive profound in Learnings lore,Fate hovers oer Lifes varied throng,And dust to dust concludes the song.Tis then, that Vice appalld, dismayd,At Deaths impenetrable shade,Would give its all, if that could save,From the deep horrors of the grave.Tis then, that Virtue rides sublimeAbove the misty scenes of Time :Tis then, the sainted spirit fliesTo happier climes, and purer skies. * Statesman, awake thee from the dreamOf boundless wealth, of power supreme :For know, proud man ! that I am comeTo call thee to thy destind home :To bid thee quit thy gorgeous state,And yield thee to the will of Fate. Thus whisperd Death, as he was seenTo peep behind the gilded screen,With all the well-bred etiquetteClaimd by a great mans Cabinet. 28 ENGLISH DANCE OF DEATH The Statesman shudderd with affrightWhen he beheld th unwelcome sprite:But, soon recovering, thus addre

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