The sight fills the watcher with mirth 'stead of fear,

And the sly one, the Tempter, speaks low in his ear:

"Now go and a winding-sheet plunder!"

The hint he soon followed, the deed it was done,

Then behind the church-door he sought shelter;

The moon in her splendour unceasingly shone,

And still dance the dead helter-skelter.

At last, one by one, they all cease from the play,

And, wrapt in the winding-sheets, hasten away,

Beneath the turf silently sinking.