Death, arrayed in the habits of folly, drags away violently this young Princess, just as she is coming out of her palace to enjoy the pleasure of walking. With terror painted in her countenance, she is making the air resound with mournful cries; the maid of honour, who accompanies her, agitated with the most violent despair, is imploring the aid of Heaven, while the buffoon is making vain efforts to defend her against Death, who holds aloft his glass, to shew that the fatal hour is come. [Illustration: _Mulieres opulentæ surgite, & audite vocem meam: post dies enim & annum, vos conturbabimini confidentes. Isaiæ xxxii. 9, 10._] PLANCHE XX.—LA REINE. La Mort revêtue des habits de la folie, entraine avec violence cette jeune Princesse, au moment qu’elle sort de son palais pour jouïr du plaisir de la promenade; la terreur peinte sur le visage elle faite rétentir les airs de ses cris douloureux; la dame d’honneur qui l’accompagne, agitée du plus violent désespoir, implore le secours du Ciel, tandis que le bouffon de la Reine fait de vains efforts pour la défendre contre la Mort, qui tient son sable élevé pour faire voir que l’heure fatale est arrivée. PLATE XXI.—THE DUTCHESS. Death, in the shape of two hideous skeletons, comes to surprise her as she is lying softly on an elegant bed. One of the skeletons awakes her with the sound of a violin, while the other is pulling off her bed-clothes, making frightful grimaces. [Illustration: _De lectulo, super quem ascendisti, non descendes, sed morte morieris. 4 Reg. i. 4._] PLANCHE XXI.—LA DUCHESSE. Sous la figure de deux sequelettes hideux, la Mort vient la surprendre, mollement couchée sur un lit élégant. L’un des squelettes la réveille au son d’un violon, tandis que l’autre lui arrache sa couverture en faisant d’effroyables grimaces. PLATE XXII.—THE COUNTESS. She is wholly taken up with the care of her dress, and is receiving with eagerness, from the hands of one of her maids, a very rich robe with a gold chain. Death comes to derange her toilet, and has already, without being perceived, slipped round her neck a collar made of small bones. [Illustration: _Ducunt in bonis dies suos, et in puncto ad inferna descendunt. Job xxi. 13._] PLANCHE XXII.—LA COMTESSE. Elle n’est occupée que du soin de sa parure, & reçoit avec empressement, des mains d’une de ses femmes, un habillement très-riche avec une chaîne d’or. La Mort vient troubler sa toilette, & lui a déjà passé autour du cou, sans qu’elle s’en soit encore aperçue, un collier fait de petits os de mort. PLATE XXIII.—THE NEW-MARRIED PAIR. In the first transports of an happy union, this tender couple appears so wholly taken up with each other, and so inebriated with their mutual happiness, that they neither see nor hear. Death, who is marching before them, beating furiously on a little drum, is soon to give a cruel interruption to their enjoyments. [Illustration: _Sola mors me et te separaverit. Ruth i. 17._]