_List of editions of the Macaber Dance.--Printed Horae that contain
it.--Manuscript Horae.--Other Manuscripts in which it occurs.--Various
articles with letter-press, not being single prints, but connected
with it._
It remains only, so far as regards the Macaber Dance, to present the
reader with a list of the several printed editions of that celebrated
work, and which, with many corrections and additions, has been chiefly
extracted from M. Peignot's "Recherches historiques et litteraires sur les
Danses des Morts," Paris et Dijon, 1826, 8vo.
The article that should stand at the head of this list, if any reliance
could be had on a supposed date, is the German edition, intitled, "Der
Dotendantz mit figuren. Clage und Antwort Schon von allen staten der
welt," small folio. This is mentioned in Braun Notitia de libris in
Bibliotheca Monasterii ad SS. Udalricum et Afram Augustae, vol. ii. 62. The
learned librarian expresses his doubts as to the date, which he supposes
may be between 1480 and 1500. He rejects a marginal note by the
illuminator of the letters, indicating the date of 1459. Every page of
this volume is divided into two columns, and accompanied with German
verses, which may be either the original text, or a translation from the
French verses in some early edition of the Macaber Dance in that language.
It consists of twenty-two leaves, with wood-cuts of the Pope, Cardinal,
Bishop, Abbot, &c. &c. accompanied by figures of Death.
1. "La Danse Macabre imprimee par ung nomme Guy Marchand, &c. Paris,
1485," small folio. Mons. Champollion Figeac has given a very minute
description of this extremely rare, and perhaps unique, volume, the only
known copy of which is in the public library of Grenoble. This account is
to be found in Millin's Magazin Encyclopedique, 1811, vol. vi. p. 355, and
thence by M. Peignot, in his Recherches, &c.
2. "Ce present livre est appelle Miroer salutaire pour toutes gens, et de
tous estatz, et est de grant utilite et recreation pour pleuseurs
ensegnemens tant en Latin comme en Francoys lesquels il contient ainsi
compose pour ceulx qui desirent acquerir leur salut: et qui le voudront
avoir. La Danse Macabre nouvelle." At the end, "Cy finit la Danse Macabre
hystoriee augmentee de pleuseurs nouveaux parsonnages (six) et beaux dis.
et les trois mors et trois vif ensemble. Nouvellement ainsi composee et
imprimee par Guyot Marchant demorant a Paris au grant hostel du college de
Navarre en champ Gaillart lan de grace, 1486, le septieme jour de juing."
A small folio of fifteen leaves, or thirty pages, twenty-four of which
belong to the Danse Macabre, and six to the Trois morts et les trois vifs.
On the authority of the above expression, "composee," and also on that of
La Croix du Maine, Marchant has been made the author as well as the
printer of the work; but M. De la Monnoye is not of that opinion, nor
indeed is there any other metrical composition by this printer known to
exist.
3. "La Danse Macabre des femmes, &c. Paris, par Guyot Marchant, 1486, le
septieme jour de Juillet," small folio, of fifteen leaves only. This is
the first edition of the Macaber Dance of females; and though thirty-two
of them are described, the Queen and Duchess only are engraved. See No. 6
for the rest. This and the preceding edition are also particularly
described by Messrs. Champollion Figeac and Peignot.
4. "Chorea ab eximio Macabro versibus Alemanicis edita, et a Petro Desrey
emendata. Parisiis per magistrum Guidonem Mercatorem pro Godeffrido de
Marnef. 1490," folio. Papillon thought the cuts were in the manner of the
French artist Jollat, but without foundation, for they are much superior
to any work by that artist, and of considerable merit.
5. "La nouvelle Danse Macabre des hommes dicte miroer salutaire de toutes
gens et de touts etats, &c. Paris, Guyot Marchant. 1490." folio.
6. "La Danse Macabre des femmes, toute hystoriee et augmentee de nouveaulx
personnages, &c. Paris, Guyot Marchant, le 2 Mai, 1491," folio. This
edition, the second of the Dance of females, has all the cuts with other
additions. The list of the figures is in Peignot, but with some doubts on
the accuracy of his description.
7. An edition in the Low German dialect was printed at Lubeck, 1496,
according to Vonder Hagen in his Deutschen Poesie, p. 459, who likewise
mentions a Low German edition in prose, at the beginning of the 15th (he
must mean 16th) century. He adds, that he has copied one page with cuts
from _Kindeling's Remains_, but he does not say in what work.
8. "La grant Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes hystorice et augmentee
de beaulx dits en Latin, &c. &c. Le tout compose en ryme Francoise et
accompagne de figures. Lyon, le xviii jour de Fevrier, l'an 1499," folio.
This is supposed to be the first edition that contains both the men and
the women.
9. There is a very singular work, intitled "Icy est le compost et
kalendrier des _Bergeres_, &c. Imprime a Paris en lostel de beauregart en
la rue Cloppin a lenseigne du roy Prestre Jhan. ou quel lieu sont a
vendre, ou au lyon dargent en la rue Sainct Jaques." At the end, "Imprime
a Paris par Guy Marchant maistre es ars ou lieu susdit. Le xvii iour
daoust mil cccciiiixx.xix." This extremely rare volume is in the British
Museum, and is mentioned by Dr. Dibdin, in vol. ii. p. 530 of his edition
of Ames's typographical antiquities, and probably nowhere else. It is
embellished with the same fine cuts that relate to the females in the
edition of the Macaber Dance, Nos. 4 and 11. The work begins with the
words "Deux jeunes Bergeres seulettes," and appears to have been composed
for females only, differing very materially from the well-known
"Kalendrier des Bergers," though including matter common to both.
10. "Chorea ab eximio Macabro versibus Alemanicis edita et a Petro Desrey
Trecacio quodam oratore nuper emendata. Parisiis per Magistrum Guidonem
Mercatorem pro Godeffrido Marnef. 15 Octob. 1499," folio, with cuts.
11. "La Danse Macabre, &c. Ant. Verard, no date, but about 1500," small
folio. A vellum copy of this rare edition is described by M. Van Praet in
his catalogue of vellum books in the royal library at Paris. A copy is in
the Archb. Cant. library at Lambeth.
12. "La Danse Macabre, &c. Ant. Verard, no date, but about 1500," folio.
Some variations from No. 9 are pointed out by M. Van Praet. This
magnificent volume on vellum, and bound in velvet, came from the library
at Blois. It is a very large and thin folio, consisting of three or four
leaves only, printed on pasteboard, with four pages or compartments on
each leaf. The cuts are illuminated in the usual manner of Verard's books.
In the beginning it is marked "Marolles, No. 1601." It is probably
imperfect, the fool not being among the figures, and all the females are
wanting, though, perhaps, not originally in this edition. It is in the
royal library at Paris, where there is another copy of the work printed by
Verard, with coloured prints, but differing materially from the other in
the press-work. It is a common-sized folio, and was purchased at the sale
of the Count Macarthy's books.[87]
13. "La grant Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes, &c. Imprimee a
Troyes par Nicolas Le Rouge demourant en la grant rue a l'enseigne de
Venise aupres la belle croix." No date, folio. With very clever wood-cuts,
probably the same as in the edition of 1490; and if so, they differ much
from the manner of Jollat, and have not his well-known mark.
14. "La grant Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes, &c. Rouen, Guillaume
de la Mare." No date, 4to. with cuts, and in the Roman letter.
15. "La grande Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes, ou est demonstre
tous humains de tous estats estre du bransle de la Mort. Lyon, Olivier
Arnoulet." No date, 4to.
16. "La grant Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes, &c. Lyon, Nourry,
1501," 4to. cuts.
17. "La grant Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes, &c. Imprime a
Genesve, 1503," 4to. cuts.
18. "La grant Danse Macabre, &c. Paris, Nicole de la Barre, 1523," 4to.
with very indifferent cuts, and the omission of some of the characters in
preceding editions. This has been privately reprinted, 1820, by Mr.
Dobree, from a copy in the British Museum.
19. "La grant Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes. Troyes, Le Rouge,
1531," folio, cuts.
20. "La grand Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes. Paris, Denys Janot.
1533," 8vo. cuts.
21. "La grand Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes, tant en Latin qu'en
Francoys. Paris, par Estienne Groulleau libraire jure en la rue neuve
Nostre Dame a l'enseigne S. Jean Baptiste." No date, 16mo. cuts. The first
edition of this size, and differing in some respects from the preceding.
22. "La grand Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes, &c. Paris, Estienne
Groulleau, 1550," 16mo. cuts.
23. "La grande Danse des Morts, &c. Rouen, Morron." No date, 8vo. cuts.
24. "Les lxviii huictains ci-devant appelles la Danse Machabrey, par
lesquels les Chrestiens de tous estats tout stimules et invites de penser
a la mort. Paris, Jacques Varangue, 1589," 8vo. In Roman letter, without
cuts.
25. "La grande Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes, &c. Troyes, Oudot,"
1641, 4to. cuts. One of the bibliotheque bleue books.
26. "La grande Danse Macabre des hommes et des femmes, renouvellee de
vieux Gaulois en langage le plus poli de notre temps, &c. Troyes, Pierre
Garnier rue du Temple." No date, but the privilege is in 1728, 4to. cuts.
The _polished_ language is, of course, for the worse, and Macaber is
called "des Machabees," no doubt, the editor's improvement.
27. "La grande Danse _Macabre_ des hommes et des femmes, renouvellee, &c.
Troyes, chez la veuve Oudot, et Jean Oudot fils, rue du Temple, 1729,"
4to. cuts. Nearly the same as No. 25.
These inferior editions continued, till very lately, to be occasionally
reprinted for the use of the common people, and at the trifling expense of
a very few sous. They are, nevertheless, of some value to those who feel
interested in the subject, as containing tolerable copies of all the fine
cuts in the preceding edition, No. 11.
Dr. Dibdin saw in the public library at Munich a very old series of a
Macaber Dance, that had been inserted, by way of illustration, into a
German manuscript of the Dance of Death. Of these he has given two
subjects in his "Bibliographical Tour," vol. iii. p. 278.
But it was not only in the above volumes that the very popular subject of
the Macaber Dance was particularly exhibited. It found its way into many
of the beautiful service books, usually denominated Horae, or hours of the
Virgin. These principally belong to France, and their margins are
frequently decorated with the above Dance, with occasional variety of
design. In most of them Death is accompanied with a single figure only,
characters from both sexes being introduced. It would be impossible to
furnish a complete list of them; but it is presumed that the mention of
several, and of the printers who introduced them, will not be
unacceptable.
No. I. "Las Horas de nuestra Senora con muchos otros oficios y oraciones."
Printed in Paris by Nicolas Higman for Simon Vostre, 1495, 8vo. It has two
Dances of Death, the first of which is the usual Macaber Dance, with the
following figures: "Le Pape, l'Empereur, le Cardinal, l'Archevesque, le
Chevalier, l'Evesque, l'Escuyer, l'Abe, le Prevost, le Roy, le Patriarche,
le Connestable, l'Astrologien, le Bourgoys, le Chanoine, le Moyne,
l'Usurier, le Medesin, l'Amoureux, l'Advocat, le Menestrier, le Marchant,
le Chartreux, le Sergent, le Cure, le Laboureur, le Cordelier." Then the
women: "La Royne, la Duchesse, la Regente, la Chevaliere, l'Abbesse, la
Femme descine, la Prieure, la Damoissele, la Bourgoise, la Cordeliere, la
Femme daceul, la Nourice, la Theologienne, la nouvelle mariee, la Femme
grosse, la Veufve, la Marchande, la Ballive, la Chamberiere, la
Recommanderese, la vielle Damoise, l'Espousee, la Mignote, la Fille
pucelle, la Garde d'accouchee, la jeune fille, la Religieuse, la Vielle,
la Revenderesse, l'Amoureuse, la Sorciere, la Bigote, la Sote, la Bergere,
la Femme aux Potences, la Femme de Village; to which are added, l'Enfant,
le Clerc, l'Ermite."
The second Dance of Death is very different from the preceding, and
consists of groupes of figures. The subjects, which have never yet been
described, are the following:
1. Death sitting on a coffin in a church-yard. "Discite vos choream cuncti
qui cernitis istam."
2. Death with Adam and Eve in Paradise. He draws Adam towards him. "Quid
tum prosit honor glorie divitie."
3. Death helping Cain to slay Abel. "Esto meorum qui pulvis eris et
vermibus esca."
4. Death holding by the garment a cardinal, followed by several persons.
"In gelida putrens quando jacebis humo."
5. Death mounted on a bull strikes three persons with his dart. "Vado mori
dives auro vel copia rerum."
6. Death seizing a man sitting at a table with a purse in his hand, and
accompanied by two other persons. "Nullum respectum dat michi, vado mori."
7. An armed knight killing an unarmed man, Death assisting. "Fortium
virorum est magis mortem contemnere vitam odisse."
8. Death with a rod in his hand, standing upon a groupe of dead persons.
"Stultum est timere quod vitari non potest."
9. Death with a scythe, having mowed down several persons lying on the
ground. "Est commune mori mors nulli parcit honori."
10. A soldier introducing a woman to another man, who holds a scythe in
his hand. Death stands behind. "Mors fera mors nequam mors nulli parcit et
equam."
11. Death strikes with his dart a prostrate female, who is attended by two
others. "Hec tua vita brevis: que te delectat ubique."
12. A man falling from a tower into the water. Death strikes him at the
same time with his dart. "Est velut aura levis te mors expectat ubique."
13. A man strangling another, Death assisting. "Vita quid est hominis nisi
res vallata ruinis."
14. A man at the gallows, Death standing by. "Est caro nostra cinis modo
principium modo finis."
15. A man about to be beheaded, Death assisting. "Quid sublime genus quid
opes quid gloria prestant."
16. A king attended by several persons is struck by Death with his dart.
"Quid mihi nunc aderant hec mihi nunc abeunt."
17. Two soldiers armed with battle-axes. Death pierces one of them with
his dart. "Ortus cuncta suos: repetunt matremque requirunt."
18. Death strikes with his dart a woman lying in bed. "Et redit in nihilum
quod fuit ante nihil."
19. Death aims his dart at a sleeping child in a cradle, two other figures
attending. "A, a, a, vado mori, nil valet ipsa juventus."
20. A man on the ground in a fit, Death seizes him. Others attending.
"Mors scita sed dubia nec fugienda venit."
21. Death leads a man, followed by others. "Non sum securus hodie vel cras
moriturus."
22. Death interrupts a man and woman at their meal. "Intus sive foris est
plurima causa timoris."
23. Death demolishes a group of minstrels, from one of whom he has taken a
lute. "Viximus gaudentes, nunc morimur tristes et flentes."
24. Death leads a hermit, followed by other persons. "Forte dies hec est
ultima, vado mori."
This Dance is also found in the Horae printed by Godar, Vostre, and Gilles
Hardouyn, but with occasional variations, as to size and other matters, in
the different blocks which they respectively used. The same designs have
also been adopted, and in a very singular style of engraving, in a work
printed by Antony Verard, that will be noticed elsewhere.
Some of the cuts, for they are not all by the same artist, in this very
rare and beautiful volume, and not found in others printed by or for Simon
Vostre, may be very justly compared, in point of the delicacy of design
and engraving, though on wood, with the celebrated pax of Maso Finiguerra
at Florence, accurately copied in Mr. Ottley's history of engraving. They
are accompanied with this unappropriated mark [monogram].
No. II. "Ordinarium beate Marie Virginis ad usum Cisterciensem impressum
est caracteribus optimis una cum expensis honesti viri Symonis Vostre
commorantis Parisiis in vico novo Dive Marie in intersignio Sancti Joannis
Evangeliste, 1497," 12mo. This beautiful book is on vellum, with the same
Danse Macabre as in the preceding, but the other cuts are different.
No. III. "Hore presentes ad usum Sarum impresse fuerunt Parisiis per
Philippum Pigouchet Anno Salutis MCCCCXCVIII die vero xvi Maii pro Symone
Vostre librario commorante, &c." 8vo. as above.
Another beautiful volume on vellum, with the same Danse Macabre. He
printed a similar volume of the same date, for the use of Rome, also on
vellum.
A volume of prayers, in 8vo. mentioned by M. Peignot, p. 145, after M.
Raymond, but the title is not given. It is supposed to be anterior to
1500, and seems to contain the same personages in its Danse Macabre, as in
the preceding volumes printed by Simon Vostre.
No. IV. "Heures a l'usage de Soissons." Printed by Simon Vostre, on
vellum, 1502, 8vo. With the same Danse Macabre.
No. V. "Heures a l'usage de Rheims, nouvellement imprimees avec belles
histoires, pour Simon Vostre," 1502, 8vo. This is mentioned by M. Peignot,
on the authority of Papillon. It was reprinted 1513, 8vo. and has the same
cuts as above.
No. VI. "Heures a l'usage de Rome. Printed for Simon Vostre by Phil.
Pigouchet," 1502, large 8vo. on vellum. With the same Danse Macabre. This
truly magnificent volume, superior to all the preceding by the same
printer in beauty of type and marginal decoration, differs from them in
having stanzas at the bottom of each page of the Dance, but which apply
to the figure at the top only. They are here given.
POPE.
Vous qui vivez certainement
Quoy qu'il tarde ainsi danserez
Mais quand Dieu le scet seulement
Avisez comme vous ferez
Dam Pape vous commencerez
Comme le plus digne Seigneur
En ce point honorire serez
Au grant maistre est deu l'honneur.
KING.
Mais maintenant toute haultesse
Laisserez vous nestes pas seul
Peu aurez de votre richesse
Le plus riche n'a qung linseul
Venez noble Roy couronne
Renomme de force et prouesse
Jadis fustez environne
De grans pompes de grant noblesse.
ARCHBISHOP.
Que vous tirez la teste arriere
Archevesque tirez vous pres,
Avez vous peur qu'on ne vous fiere
Ne doubtez vous viendres apres
N'est pas tousjours la mort empres
Tout homme suyvant coste a coste
Rendre comment debtez et pres
Une foys fault coustera loste.
SQUIRE.
Il n'est rien que ne preigne cours
Dansez et pensez de suyr
Vous ne povez avoir secours
Il n'est qui mort puisse fuyr
Avencez vous gent escuyer
Qui scavez de danser les tours
Lance porties et escuz hyer
Aujourdhuy finerez voz jours.
ASTROLOGER.
Maistre pour vostre regarder
En hault ne pour vostre clergie
Ne pouvez la mort retarder
Ci ne vault rien astrologie
Toute la genealogie
D'Adam qui fust le premier homme
Mort prent se dit theologie
Tous fault mourir pour une pomme.
MERCHANT.
Vecy vostre dernier marche
Il convient que par cy passez
De tout soing serez despechie
Tel convoiste qui a assez
Marchant regardes par deca
Plusieurs pays avez cerchie
A pied a cheval de pieca
Vous n'en serez plus empeschie.
MONK.
Ha maistre par la passeres
N'est ja besoing de vous defendre
Plus homme nespouvanteres
Apres Moyne sans plus attendre
Ou pensez vous cy fault entendre
Tantost aurez la bouche close
Homme n'est fors que vent et cendre
Vie donc est moult peu de chose.
LOVER.
Trop lavez ayme cest foleur
Et a mourir peu regarde
Tantost vous changerez couleur
Beaulte n'est que ymage farde
Gentil amoureux gent et frique
Qui vous cuidez de grant valeur
Vous estez pris la mort vous pique
Ce monde lairez a douleur.
CURATE.
Passez cure sans long songier
Je sans questes habandonne
Le vif le mort soulier menger
Mais vous serez aux vers donne
Vous fustes jadis ordonne
Miroir dautruy et exemplaire
De voz faitz serez guerdonne
A toute peine est deu salaire.
CHILD.
Sur tout du jour de la naissance
Convient chascun a mort offrir
Fol est qui n'en a congnoissance
Qui plus vit plus a assouffrir
Petit enfant naguerez ne
Au monde aures peu de plaisance
A la danse sera mene
Comme autre car mort a puissance.
QUEEN.
Noble Royne de beau corsage
Gente et joyeuse a ladvenant
Jay de par le grant maistre charge
De vous enmener maintenant
Et comme bien chose advenant
Ceste danse commenseres
Faictes devoir au remenant
Vous qui vivez ainsi feres.
LADY.
C'est bien chasse quand on pourchasse
Chose a son ame meritoire
Car au derrain mort tout enchasse
Ceste vie est moult transitoire
Gentille femme de chevalier
Que tant aymes deduit et chasse
Les engins vous fault habiller
Et suyvre le train de ma trasse.
PRIORESS.
Se vous avez sans fiction
Tout vostre temps servi a Dieu
Du cueur en sa religion
La quelle vous avez vestue
Celuy qui tous biens retribue
Vous recompenserer loyalment
A son vouloir en temps et lieu
Bien fait requiert bon payment.
FRANCISCAN NUN.
Se vos prieres sont bien dignes
Elles vous vauldront devant Dieu
Rien ne vallent soupirs ne signes
Bone operacion tient lieu
Femme de grande devocion
Cloez voz heures et matines
Et cessez contemplacion
Car jamais nyres a matines.
CHAMBER-MAID.
Dictez jeune femme a la cruche
Renommee bonne chambriere
Respondez au moins quant on huche
Sans tenir si rude maniere
Vous nirez plus a la riviere
Baver au four na la fenestre
Cest cy vostre journee derniere
Ausy tost meurt servant que maistre.
WIDOW.
Cest belle chose de tenir
Lestat ou on est appellee
Et soy tousjours bien maintenir
Vertus est tout par tout louee.
Femme vesve venez avant
Et vous avancez de venir
Vous veez les aultres davant
Il convient une fois finir.
LYING-IN NURSE.
Venez ca garde dacouchees
Dresse aves maintz bainz perdus
Et ses cortines attachees
Ou estoient beaux boucques pendus
Biens y ont estez despendus
Tant de motz ditz que cest ung songe
Qui seront cher vendus
En la fin tout mal vient en ronge.
SHEPHERDESS.
Aux camps ni rez plus soir ne matin
Veiller brebis ne garder bestes
Rien ne sera de vous demain
Apres les veilles sont les festes
Pas ne vous oublieray derriere
Venez apres moy sa la main
Entendez plaisante bergiere
Ou marcande cy main a main.
OLD WOMAN.
Et vous madame la gourree
Vendu avez maintz surplis
Donc de largent est fourree
Et en sont voz coffres remplis
Apres tous souhaitz acomplis
Convient tout laisser et ballier
Selon la robe on fait le plis
A tel potaige tel cuiller.
WITCH.
Est condannee comme meurtriere
A mourir ne vivra plus gaire
Je la maine en son cimitiere
Cest belle chose de bien faire
Oyez oyez on vous fait scavoir
Que ceste vielle sorciere
A fait mourir et decepvoir
Plusieurs gens en mainte maniere.
In the cut of the adoration of the shepherds their names are introduced as
follows: Gobin le gay; le beau Roger; Aloris; Ysauber; Alison, and
Mahault. The same cut is in two or three other Horae mentioned in this
list.
No. VII. "Heures a l'usaige de Rouan. Simon Vostre, 1508, 8vo." With the
same Danse Macabre.
No. VIII. "Horae ad usum Romanum. Thielman Kerver," 1508, 8vo. Vellum. With
the same Danse Macabre.
No. IX. "Hore christofere virginis Marie secundum usum Romanum ad longum
absque aliquo recursu, &c." Parisiis. Simon Vostre, 1508, 8vo. M. Peignot
has given a very minute description of this volume with a list of the
different persons in the Danse Macabre.
No. X. "Heures a l'usage de ... Ant. Verard," 1509, 8vo. with the same
Danse Macabre.
No. XI. "Heures a l'usaige d'Angers. Simon Vostre," 1510, 8vo. With the
same Danse Macabre. Particularly described by M. Peignot.
No. XII. "Heures a l'usaige de Rome. Guil. Godar," 1510, large 8vo. vellum
illuminated. A magnificent book. It contains the Danse Macabre as in No.
I. But it is remarkable for a third Dance of Death on the margins at
bottom, consisting of small compartments with a single figure, but
unaccompanied in the usual manner by Death, who, in various shapes and
attitudes, is occasionally introduced. The characters are the following,
without the arrangement commonly observed, and here given in the order in
which they occur. 1. La Prieuse. 2. La Garde dacouche. 3. L'Abesse. 4. Le
Promoteur. 5. Le Conestable. 6. Le Moine, without a label. 7. La Vielle
Demoiselle. 8. La Baillive. 9. La Duchesse. 10. Le Sergent. 11. La
Nourrice. 12. La femme du Chevallier. 13. La Damoiselle. 14. Le Maistre
descole. 15. La Femme du village. 16. La Rescomanderese. 17. La
Revenderese. 18. Le Laboureur. 19. La Bourgoise. 20. L'Usurier. 21. Le
Pelerin. 22. Le Berger. 23. La Religieuse. 24. L'Home d'armes. 25. La
Sorciere. 26. Le Petit enfant. 27. Le Clerc. 28. Le Patriarche. 29. Le
Cardinal. 30. L'Empereur. 31. Le Roy. 32. La Marchande. 33. Le Cure. 34.
La Theologienne. 35. La Jeune fille. 36. Le Sot. 37. Le Hallebardier. 38.
La Pucelle vierge. 39. L'Hermite. 40. L'Escuier. 41. La Chamberiere. 42.
La Femme de lescuier. 43. La Cordeliere. 44. La Femme veuve. 45. Le
Chartreux. 46. La Royne. 47. La Regente. 48. La Bergere. 49. L'Advocat.
50. L'Espousee. 51. La Femme amoureuse. 52. La Nouvelle Mariee. 53. Le
Medecin. Wherever the figure of Death is introduced, he is accompanied
with the motto "Amort, amort."
No. XIII. "Hore ad usum Romanum. Thielman Kerver," 1511, 8vo. Vellum, with
the Danse Macabre.
No. XIV. "Heures a l'usage de Langres. Simon Vostre," 1512, 8vo. In the
possession of Mons. G. M. Raymond, who has described it in Millin's
"Magazin Encyclopedique," 1814, tom. iii. p. 13. Mentioned also by M.
Peignot.
No. XV. "Heures a l'usage de Paris. Simon Vostre," 1515, 8vo. With the
Danse Macabre, and the other mentioned in No. I.
No. XVI. "Heures de Nostre Dame a l'usage de Troyes." Th. Englard, pour G.
Goderet, vers 1520. Vellum. Described by M. Peignot.
No. XVII. "Hore ad usum Romanum. Thielman Kerver," 1526, 8vo. Vellum. A
beautiful volume. Prefixed to the Danse Macabre are two prints of the
Trois morts et trois vifs.
In all the above Horae the Macaber Dance is represented nearly alike in
design, the variations being chiefly in the attitudes of the figures,
which are cut on different blocks, except in a few instances where the
printers have borrowed the latter from each other. Thus Vostre uses
Verard's, and Pigouchet Godar's. The number of the subjects also varies,
Vostre and Kerver having more than Verard, Godar, and Pigouchet.
Exceptions to the above manner of representing the Macaber Dance, occur in
two Horae of singular rarity, and which are therefore worthy of particular
notice.
No. XVIII. "Officium beatae Mariae Virginis ad usum Romane ecclesie.
Impressum Lugduni expensis Bonini de Boninis Dalmatini," die xx martij,
1499, 12mo. On vellum. Here the designs are very different, and three of
the subjects are placed at the bottom of the page. They consist of the
following personages, there being no females among them. It was reprinted
by the same printer in 1521.
Papa Astrologus
Imperator Cives
Cardinales. Canonicus.
Archiepiscopus Scutifer
Eques Abbas
Episcopus. Pretor.
Rex Monachus
Patriarche Usurarius
Capitanus. Medicus.
Plebanus Mercator
Laborator Certosinus
Frater Minor. Nuncius.
Amans Puer
Advocatus Sacristanus
Joculator. Heremita.
No. XIX. "Hore beate Marie Virginis ad usum insignis ac preclare ecclesie
Sarum cum figuris passionis mysterium representantibus recenter additis.
Impresse Parisiis per Johannem Bignon pro honesto viro Richardo Fakes,
London, librario, et ibidem commorante cymeterie Sancti Pauli sub signo A.
B. C." 1521. A ledger-like 12mo. This Macaber Dance is unfortunately
imperfect in the only copy of the book that has occurred. The figures that
remain are those of the Pope, King, Cardinal, Patriarch, Judge,
Archbishop, Knight, Mayor, and Earl.
Under each subject are Lydgate's verses, with some slight variation; and
it is therefore very probable that we have here a copy, as to many of the
figures, of the Dance that was painted at St. Paul's in compartments like
the other Macaber Dance, and not as the group in Dugdale, which has been
copied from a wood-cut at the end of Lydgate's "Fall of Prynces." As all
the before-mentioned Horae were printed at Paris, with one exception only,
and many of them at a very early period, it is equally probable that they
may be copies of the Dance at the Innocents, unless a preference in that
respect should be given to the figures in the French editions of the Danse
Macabre.
Manuscript Horae, or books of prayers, which contain the Macaber Dance are
in the next place deserving of our attention. These are extremely rare,
and two only have occurred on the present occasion.
1. A manuscript prayer book of the fifteenth century is very briefly
described by M. Peignot,[88] which he states to be the only one that has
come to his knowledge.
2. An exquisitely beautiful volume, in large 8vo. bound in brass and
velvet. It is a Latin Horae, elegantly written in Roman type at the
beginning of the 16th century. It has a profusion of paintings, every page
being decorated with a variety of subjects. These consist of stories from
scripture, sports, games, trades, grotesques, &c. &c. the several
employments of the months, which have also the signs of the zodiac, are
worth describing, there being two sets for each month.
January. 1. A man sitting at table, a servant bringing
in a dish of viands. The white tablecloth
is beautifully diapered. 2. Boys
playing at the game called Hockey.
February. 1. A man warming himself by a fire, a
domestic bringing in faggots. 2. Men
and women at table, two women cooking
additional food in the same apartment.
March. 1. A man pruning trees. 2. A priest confirming
a group of people.
April. 1. A man hawking. 2. A procession of
pilgrims.
May. 1. A gentleman and lady on the same horse.
2. Two pairs of lovers: one of the men
plays on a flute, the other holds a
hawk on his fist.
June. 1. A woman shearing sheep. 2. A bridal
procession.
July. 1. A man with a scythe about to reap. He
drinks from his leathern bottle. 2. Boys
and girls at the sport called Threading
the needle.
August. 1. A man reaping with a sickle. 2. Blind
man's buff.
September. 1. A man sowing. 2. The games of hot
cockles and ...
October. 1. Making wine. 2. Several men repairing
casks, the master of the vineyard
directing.
November. 1. A man threshing acorns to feed his hogs.
2. Tennis.
December. 1. Singeing a hog. 2. Boys pelting each
other with snow balls.
The side margins have the following Danse Macabre, consisting as usual of
two figures only. Papa, Imperator, Cardinalis, Rex, Archiepiscopus,
Comestabilis, Patriarcha, Eques auratus, Episcopus, Scutarius, Abbas,
Prepositus, Astrologus, Mercator, Cordiger, Satelles, Usurarius,
Advocatus, Mimus, Infans, Heremita.
The margins at bottom contain a great variety of emblems of mortality.
Among these are the following:
1. A man presents a mirror to a lady, in which her face is reflected as a
death's head.
2. Death shoots an arrow at a man and woman.
3. A man endeavouring to escape from Death is caught by him.
4. Death transfixes a prostrate warrior with a spear.
5. Two very grotesque Deaths, the one with a scythe, the other with a
spade.
6. A group of five Deaths, four dancing a round, the other drumming.
7. Death on a bull, holding a dart in his hand.
8. Death in a cemetery running away with a coffin and pick-axe.
9. Death digging a grave for two shrouded bodies on the ground.
10. Death seizing a fool.
11. Death seizing the master of a family.
12. Death seizing Caillette, a celebrated fool mentioned by Rabelais, Des
Periers, &c. He is represented in the French translation of the Ship of
Fools.
13. Death seizing a beggar.
14. Death seizing a man playing at tennis.
15. Death striking the miller going to his mill.
16. Death seizing Ragot, a famous beggar in the reign of Louis XII. He is
mentioned by Rabelais.
This precious volume is in the present writer's possession.
Other manuscripts connected with the Macaber Dance are the following:
1. No. 1849, a Colbert MS. in the King of France's library, appears to
have been written towards the end of the fifteenth century, and is
splendidly illuminated on vellum with figures of men and women led by
Death, the designs not much differing from those in Verard's printed copy.
2. Another manuscript in the same library, formerly No. 543 in that of
Saint Victor, is at the end of a small volume of miscellanies written on
paper about the year 1520; the text resembles that of the immediately
preceding article, and occasionally varies from the printed editions. It
has no illuminations. These are the only manuscript Macaber Dances in the
royal library at Paris.
3. A manuscript of the Dance of Death, in German, is in the library of
Munich. See Dr. Dibdin's bibliographical Tour, vol. iii. 278; and Vonder
Hagen's history of German poetry. Berlin, 1812, 8vo. p. 459. The date of
1450 is given to this manuscript on the authority of Docen in his
Miscellanies, vol. ii. p. 148, and new Literary Advertizer for 1806, No.
22, p. 348. Vonder Hagen also states that Docen has printed it in his
Miscellanies, p. 349-52, and 412-16.
4. A manuscript in the Vatican, No. 314. See Vonder Hagen, ubi supra, who
refers to Adelung, vol. ii. p. 317-18, where the beginning and other
extracts are given.
5. In the Duke de la Valliere's catal. No. 2801, is "La Danse Macabre par
personnages, in 4to. Sur papier du xv siecle, contenant 12 feuillets."
In the course of this enquiry no manuscript, decorated with a regular
series of a Dance of Death, has been discovered.
The Abbe Rive left, in manuscript, a bibliography of all the editions of
the Macaber Dance, which is at present, with other manuscripts by the
Abbe, in the hands of M. Achard, a bookseller at Marseilles. See Peignot,
Diction. de Bibliologie, iii. 284.
The following articles, accompanied by letter-press, and distinguishable
from single prints, appear to relate to the Macaber Dance.
1. The Dance and song of Death is among books licensed to John
Awdeley.[89]
2. "The roll of the Daunce of Death, with pictures and verses upon the
same," was entered on the Stationers' books, 5th Jan. 1597, by Thomas
Purfort, sen. and jun. The price was 6_d._ This, as well as that licensed
to Awdeley, was in all probability the Dance at St. Paul's.
3. "Der Todten Tantz au Hertzog Georgens zu Sachsen schloss zu Dresden
befindlich." _i. e._ "Here is found the Dance of Death on the Saxon palace
of Duke George at Dresden." It consists of twenty-seven characters, as
follow: 1. Death leading the way; in his right hand he holds a drinking
glass or cup, and in his left a trumpet which he is blowing. 2. Pope. 3.
Cardinal. 4. Abbot. 5. Bishop. 6. Canon. 7. Priest. 8. Monk. 9. Death
beating a drum with bones. 10. Emperor. 11. King. 12. Duke. 13. Nobleman.
14. Knight. 15. Gentleman. 16. Judge. 17. Notary. 18. Soldier. 19.
Peasant. 20. Beggar. 21. Abbess. 22. Duchess. 23. Old woman. 24. Old man.
25. Child. 26. Old beggar. 27. Death with a scythe. This is a single print
in the Chronicle of Dresden, by Antony Wecken, Dresden, 1680, folio,
already mentioned in p. 44.
4. In the catalogue of the library of R. Smith, which was sold by auction
in 1682, is this article "Dance of Death, in the cloyster of Paul's, with
figures, very old." It was sold for six shillings to Mr. Mearne.
5. A sort of Macaber Dance, in a Swiss almanack, consisting of eight
subjects, and intitled "Ein Stuck aus dem Todten tantz," or, "a piece of a
Dance of Death:" engraved on wood by Zimmerman with great spirit, after
some very excellent designs. They are accompanied with dialogues between
Death and the respective characters. 1. The Postilion on horseback. Death
in a huge pair of jack-boots, seizes him by the arm with a view to unhorse
him. 2. The Tinker. Death, with a skillet on his head, plunders the
tinker's basket. 3. The Hussar on horseback, accompanied by Death, also
mounted, and, like his comrade, wearing an enormous hat with a feather. 4.
The Physician. Death habited as a modern beau, with chapeau-bras, brings
his urinal to the Doctor for inspection. 5. The fraudulent Innkeeper in
the act of adulterating a cask of liquor is seized and throttled by a very
grotesque Death in the habit of an alewife, with a vessel at her back. 6.
The Ploughman, holding his implements of husbandry, is seized by Death,
who sits on a plough and carries a scythe in his left hand. 7. The
Grave-digger, is pulled by Death into the grave which he has just
completed. 8. The lame Messenger, led by Death. The size of the print 11
by 6-1/2 inches.
6. Papillon states that Le Blond, an artist, then living at Orleans,
engraved the Macaber Dance on wood for the Dominotiers, or venders of
coloured prints for the common people, and that the sheets, when put
together, form a square of three feet, and have verses underneath each
figure.[90]