REVIEWS — THE DANCE OP DEATH. 215 



The general idea of the pomp and pageantry of Death, as pictured 

 to us in those passages of the elder poets, fully accords with the con- 

 ceptions embodied in the artistic production of contemporary painters 

 and sculptors ; hut the obvious derivation, not only of this general 

 idea, but of some of the most characteristic details of the favourite 

 medieval depiction of Death's doings, can scarcely be disputed in rela- 

 tion to a curious passage vphlch occurs in Chaucer's Canterbury 

 Pilgrimage. 



The passage to which we refer is to be found in " The Knight's Tale,'* 

 and serves to show that " the Dance of Death " was familiar to the 

 English readers of the 14th century. 



The poet there describes, in accordance with the anacronisms common 

 alike to the poets and the painters of medieval times, the lists erected 

 by Theseus, wherein the rivals were to contend in tourney for the hand 

 of the fair Emely ; and whosoever was fortunate enough to 



" Slay his contrary, or out of listes drive, 

 Him shall I yeven Emelie to wyve." 



The narrator then goes on to tell : 



" Of Theseus, that goeth so busily 



To maken up the listes really, 



That such a noble theatre as it was, 



I dare well sayn in this world there n'as. 



The circuite a mile was about, 



Walled of stone, and ditched all without. 



Eound was the shape, manure of a compass, 



Full of degrees the height of sixty pace, 



That when a man was set on o degree, 



He letted not his fellow for to see." 



Above the gates, and in the turrets of the wall, are further con- 

 structed "oratories" or chapels, dedicated to Yenus, Diana, and Mars, 

 each decorated with appropriate carving and "portraiture," or paint- 

 ings. The oratory of Venus is adorned with 



" Pieasance and hope, desire, foolhardiness, 

 Beauty and youth, bauderie and riches. 



****** 

 Feasts, instruments, and carols, and dances. 

 Lust and array, and all the circumstances of love," 



The oratory of Diana is in like manner 



" Depeinted by the walles up and down, 

 Of huqting and of shamefaced chastitie." 



