Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 7 1889.djvu/208

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Quand de ton corps la force decliner T'apparoisoit & tes sentz definer, N'estoit ce pas chose a toy bien certaine Que ie venoye et estois fort prochaine Ouy pour tout vray pourtant estime & croy Que ie n'auray en riens pitié de toy Ains te feray mourir presentement Malgré ton veul & ton consentement."

La fable nous peult demonstrer
 * Qu' ayons a viure en telle sorte

Que nous estimons rencontrer
 * Tousiours la mort en nostre porte."

We have two metrical versions in English of "Death's Messengers": (1) in Arwaker's Select Fables, xiv. bk. iv. (1708), based on Abstemius; and (2) in Mr. Piozzi's Autobiography (1785), probably suggested by La Fontaine's fable already referred to. I.

or,

A Wretch, that on the World's uneasy Stage Had acted long, ev'n to decrepit Age, At the last Scene, thought he too soon had done; And when Death call'd him, begg'd he might stay on. He said, His greatest Bus'ness was to do And hop'd the Fates wou'd not surprise him so; But spare him, that he might provision make For that long Journey which he was to take.
 * Death ask'd him why he had that Work deferr'd,

Since he had warn'd him oft' to be prepared. He answer'd, He had never seen his Eace, And hop'd he would allow him Days of Grace. But Death reply'd; You often saw me near, My Face in sev'ral Objects did appear; I have not only your Coevals slain, 'Till but a few, a very few remain; But Young men, Children, New-born infants too, And all to caution and admonish you: