Curiosa: Danse Macabre

As a medievalist-by-training, I'm familiar with the Dance of Death as a trope: Death conveying people of every social station, from the highest (Pope) to the lowest (beggar) to the same end. But it was a little startling to open the next clamshell case in my IN tray and read:

Death's Illustrated "Doings" -- English, English, ENGLISH!

on the bookseller's printed description laid in with the pink paper-covered hardback. It seems the English (wow, really? I'd never have guessed!) painter and engraver Richard Dagley designed and published a thoroughly modern version of the Dance in the early nineteenth century and convinced a number of writers (supposedly even Tennyson is involved, but anonymously, for reasons that should become obvious) to supply text for his twenty-four illustrations. Forget Popes and emperors, priests and beggars -- here we've got cricketers --

Softly, my friend! (methinks I hear Death cry)
Whoever bowls, you say! sure you forget
That in Life's feverish fitful game
I am the Bowler, and friend Time "keeps wicket"!

( Beware: you could be next! )