Hans Holbein's celebrated Dance of death : illustrated by a series of photo-lithographic facsimiles from the copy of the first edition now in the British Museum : accompanied by explanatory descriptions and a consise history of the origin and subsequ

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HIS subject is not one os the least ingeniouslyconceived, though perhaps tess attractive and striking in artistic execution than many others. The action os the sheleton is,hΟWeUer, quite a masterpiece of grim humoristic design. A priest has been called out in the night to administer the last sacrament, and Death is roused tothe brishest state of gleelat alacrity. The handinesswith which he carries the church lantern in one hand, and with the other rings the bell, announCing the approach of the sacrament, While he destly tucks his hou glass under his a , is matChless in SardoniC

humour. The Priest, and the attendant acolyte with the holy water, exhibit the undisturbed equanimity of practised ossiciais, in strong contrast with the bowed head and gries-strichen sace of the young Woman, perhaps the wise or daughter os the dying man, Who has been to latch the Priest.

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Sinon de ea mendicite, Tu sterras a l'umbre de Mori Potir couster de necessitL

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THE MENDICANT FRIAR.

Veni aster a successsul round among theptous Supporters of monastic prinCiples, as

in the Version of the Vulgate, vinctos in mendicitate, is more appropriate than the Englisti translation, i

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There is a way which seemeth right unto aman, but the ends thereos are the ways os

Singing to the accompaniment of a kind of lute; hile at the very moment Death, with his bony fingers, extinguishes the lights on the altar ; thus symboliging the extinction of the human lik, which he is also cometo effeci. Μay not Shahespeare have had this device in his mind when penning the passage in Whichothello, determining to kill Desdemona, exClaimS, Ρut oui the light-and then-put oui the light.

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Melior est mors quisn

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ticus XXX. Ι7.

been Caresully considerecl. There is noviolent seiging of the prey, as in the Case of the robust mendi ni friar, and others. Onthe Contrary, Death Comes as her friend ; he takes hergently by the arm to afford that support whicli herioltering steps require, and sor Whicli her oKn trem-blingly-held walhing-stich scarcely sum es : and hewears a funerat wreath to Cover the ghasiliness of hisbare skuli. Incleed he appears to occupy himselfentirely with the comfortabie transit of his aged victim, leaving to an assistant sheleton the task of the music, Who is executing an evidently vivacious air on the dulcimer. We are shown, too, that it is no longer Of any use even to measure the duration os such a decayed lise, for the very hour-glass in the comer is represented as Wom oui and brohen.

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Description os Device 26 .

l HIS is one os the most ingenious compositions of the whole series. Death steps in belween

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nasciturus ciles, dc numerum diei iam

Moriam nouera,