Then woe is me! ah! how was I befooled! I thought that gold (which answereth all things) could Have stood my friend at any time to bail me! But grief grows great, and now my trust doth fail me. Oh! that my conscience were but clear within, Which now is rackèd with my former sin; With horror I behold my secret stealing, My bribes, oppression, and my graceless dealing; My office-sins, which I had clean forgotten, Will gnaw my soul when all my bones are rotten: I must confess it, very grief doth force me, Dead or alive, both God and man doth curse me. _Let all Excisemen_ hereby warning take, To shun their practice for their conscience sake. THE MESSENGER OF MORTALITY; OR LIFE AND DEATH CONTRASTED IN A DIALOGUE BETWIXT DEATH AND A LADY. [ONE of Charles Lamb’s most beautiful and plaintive poems was suggested by this old dialogue. The tune is given in Chappell’s _Popular Music_, p. 167. In Carey’s _Musical Century_, 1738, it is called the ‘Old tune of _Death and the Lady_.’ The four concluding lines of the present copy of _Death and the Lady_ are found inscribed on tomb-stones in village church-yards in every part of England. They are not contained, however, in the broadside with which our reprint has been carefully collated.] DEATH. FAIR lady, lay your costly robes aside, No longer may you glory in your pride; Take leave of all your carnal vain delight, I’m come to summon you away this night! LADY. What bold attempt is this? pray let me know From whence you come, and whither I must go? Must I, who am a lady, stoop or bow To such a pale-faced visage? Who art thou? DEATH. Do you not know me? well! I tell thee, then, It’s I that conquer all the sons of men! No pitch of honour from my dart is free; My name is Death! have you not heard of me? LADY. Yes! I have heard of thee time after time, But being in the glory of my prime, I did not think you would have called so soon. Why must my morning sun go down at noon? DEATH. Talk not of noon! you may as well be mute; This is no time at all for to dispute: Your riches, garments, gold, and jewels brave, Houses and lands must all new owners have; Though thy vain heart to riches was inclined, Yet thou must die and leave them all behind. LADY.