was reproduced by Wynken de Worde,[1] The craft to live and dye well, — made parfyte in our moder tongue; the 21st day of January 1505.'"
There is a copy of this reproduction of de Worde's in the John Rylands Library at Manchester, the only one as far as is known. Through the kind courtesy of the librarian there, who has sent me the transcription of a short passage, 1 have been able to compare them, and find that de Worde's reproduction is an improvement, both in spelling and English, upon the translation of 1505.
VArt de hien Vivre et bitn Mourire seems to have more in common with Gerson's Opuiculum Tripartitum, for both contain discourses on the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Sacraments, etc. Mr Bullen states that it also comprises <<a complete translation into French of the letterpress of the block-book, accompanied by copies of all the wood engravings, "i
The block-books of the Ars Moriendi are very numerous and interesting, and need really a volume to themselves. They seem to have been most popular in England, Germany and France, though we find copies in almost every European language. They generally contain eleven illustrations depicting the five great temptations which beset the soul at death. These temptations are embodied in the forms of hideous demons, which are repelled by angels and saints, and by Our Lady, who is the great interceder and last resource of the Dying Creature.
Our frontispiece is taken from the famous block-book in the British Museum, which was published at Cologne c 1450. The artist probably belonged to the Lower Rhenish School. It represents the Good Angel coming to strengthen and console the dying man when tempted by the devil of Avarice. His Guardian Angel stands in front of him with his hand raised in exhortation, bearing a scroll with the words Non sis auarus. At the head of the bed stands Our Lady, beside her Blessed Son outstretched upon the cross.
- ↑ See his Introduction to the " Art Moriendi" pub, by the Holbein Society, 1851, p. 21.
