Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 9.djvu/175

Rh THE DANCE OF THE DEAD.

warder he gazes at dead o' the night On the graveyards under him lying, The moon into clearness throws all by her light, The night with the daylight is vying. There's a stir in the graves, and forth from their tombs The form of a man, then a woman next looms In garments long trailing and snowy.

They stretch themselves out, and with eager delight Join the bones for the revel and dancing.— Young and old, rich and poor, the lady and knight, Their trains are a hinderance to dancing. And since here by shame they no longer are bound, They shuffle them off, and lo, strewn lie around Their garments on each little hillock.

Here rises a shank, and a leg wobbles there With lewd diabolical gesture; And clatter and rattle of bones you might hear, As of one beating sticks to a measure. This seems to the warder a laughable game: Then the tempter, low whispering, up to him came: "In one of their shrouds go and wrap thee."

'Twas done soon as said; then he gained in wild flight Concealment behind the church portal, The moon all the while throws her bright beams of light On the dance where they revel and sport all. First one, then another, dispersed all are they, And donning their shrouds steal the spectres away, And under the graves all is quiet.