*8

The Dance of Death.

present subject, and hitherto unnoticed, occurs at the endof the Latin verses ascribed to Macaber, in Goldasti'sedition of the Speculum omnium statuum a RodericoZamorensi. Three persons appear to a hermit, whosename is not mentioned, in his sleep. The first is describedas a man in a regal habit; the second as a civilian, and thethird as a beautiful female decorated with gold and jewels.Whilst these persons are vainly boasting of their respectiveconditions, they are encountered by three horrible spectresin the shape of dead human bodies covered with worms, whovery'severely reprove them for their arrogance. This isevidently another version of the "Trois mors et trois vifs"in the text, but whether it be older or otherwise cannoteasily be ascertained. It is composed in alternate rhymes,in the manner, and probably by the author of Philibertor Fulbert's vision of the dispute between the soul and thebody, a work ascribed to S. Bernard, and sometimes toWalter de Mapes. There are translations of it both inFrench and English.

For the mention of S. Macarius as the hermit in thispainting by Orgagna, we are indebted to Vasari in his lifeof that artist; and he had, no doubt, possessed himself ofsome traditionary information on the subject of it. Hefurther informs us, that the person on horseback who isstopping his nostrils, is intended for Andrea Uguzzionedella Fagivola. Above is a black and hideous figure ofDeath mowing down with his scythe all ranks and conditionsof men. Vasari adds that Orgagna had crowded his picturewith a great many inscriptions, most of which were oblite-rated by time. From one of them which he has preservedin his work, as addressed to some aged cripples, it shouldappear that, as in the Macaber Dance, Death apostrophisesthe several characters. 11 Baldinucci, in his account ofOrgagna, mentions this painting and the story of the ThreeKings and Saint Macarius. 12 Morona likewise, in his Pisaillustrata, adopts the name of Macarius when describingthe same subject. The figures in the picture are all portraits,and their names may be seen, but with some variation asto description, both in Vasari and Morona. 13

11 Vasari, Vite de Pittori, torn. i. p. 183, edit. 1568, 4to. 12 Baldi'nucci, Disegno, ii. 65. 13 Morona, Pisa Illustrata, i. 359.

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