46 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

PLATE XIL—THE COUNT.

Rebuke the company of spearmen; scatter thou the people that de*light in war. Psalm lxviii. 30.

Death here adds to his usual employmentthat of avenger of oppressed vassals. He is throw-ing with violence at the head of this Lord, his coatof arms, the dear object of his pride, under theweight of which he is ready to make him fall.He appears trampling under foot a flail, to markhis inhumanity to labourers, a class of society sonecessary and respectable. On the ground alsoare to be seen the remains of the helmet whichformed the crest of his arms, with the other orna-ments that decorated them.

PLANCHE XIL—LE COMTE.La Mort ajoute ici a l'exercice de son emploiaccoutume celui de vengeur de vassaux opprimes;elle jette avec violence a la t£te de ce Seigneurses armoiries, I'objet cheri de son orgueil, sous lepoids desquelles elle va le faire perir. On le voitfouler a ses pieds un fleau, pour designer son in-humanite envers les laboureurs, cette classe dela societe si necessaire & si respectable; on peutencore remarquer a terre, les debris du casquedont ses armoiries etoient surmontees avec d'au-tres ornemens qui les decoroient.