Death's doings; consisting of numerous original compositions, in prose and verse, the friendly contributions of various writers; principally intended as illustrations of twenty four plates, designed and etched by R. Dagley / [Richard Dagley].

  • Dagley, Richard, -1841
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Death's doings; consisting of numerous original compositions, in prose and verse, the friendly contributions of various writers; principally intended as illustrations of twenty four plates, designed and etched by R. Dagley / [Richard Dagley]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    22/450
    Methought that I was wandering in a room, Whose air was naught but music and perfume; A thousand lights were flaming o’er my head ; And all around me flitted feet, whose tread Roused not the listening echoes, for each bound Was but the mute response to softest sound. Sweet eyes, whose looks were language, and bland tongues. Whose accents died into Eolian songs. Were there the things of worship; and man’s sigh The incense of his heart’s idolatry. High swelled each breast within that proud saloon ; For midnight there was Fashion’s sparkling noon : The vain beheld a sun in every gem;— That room was all the universe to them. But they were not the happy:—who can hide Th’ intranquil heart ?—'their looks their lips belied Stiff in the gorgeous masquerade of state, The miserably rich, the joyless great. The beautiful, whose beauty was a care More deep than wrinkles, sighed, yet would not share E’en the dull calm which mere exhaustion throws O’er silken couches—soft without repose. Foremost, and most conspicuous of the dance, I now beheld three glowing forms advance.