The Rich Man's Soul (A)

Death to the rich man's mansion went,
Was purpos'd the rich man's self to hent.
The tongue may talk, but the soul shall answer at
Judgement day.

"O death, o death, prithee, let me live,
"And thee I will all my goldheaps give."

"It is not thy ruddy gold I crave;
"Thyself thou art due to fill thy grave.

"Bring hither the coin, the great and small,
"So sinfully gained, so loved withal."

Tho' many were willing his coin to share.
Was no one his guilty soul would hear.

The rich man he cross'd his children all,
And little he thought on Adam's fall.

That day in revel and feast he kept,
The night in his sinful mansion slept:

But burst his heart, and his soul slipped out,
And left his body a cast off clout.

So many bad spirits crowded round,
The soul no longer a refuge found.

It sat itself down on the rich man's breast;
"God help me! where find I refuge best?"

But thither an angel wing'd his flight,
And rescued the soul from Satan's might.

Loud shouted the devil a fearful wail;
"That soul shoot dead and on cross tree nail."

mortals, repent, while yet ye may,
Nor think on the world your trust to lay;

Ere sun and moon shall have ceas'd to rise.
And fallen the stars from out the skies.