Originally published in Reynolds's Miscellany of Romance, General Literature, Science, and Art (John Dicks) vol.7 #161 (09 Aug 1851).
A dead man lay uncoffined, at an humble road-side inn,
Where travellers were alighting, and good cheer had often been;
But now the dead man checked the mirth, and a shudder ran through all,
For the corpse in his shroud was there laid out, in the very entrance-hall.
The proud lord of the manor came, and haughty was his mien:
"Good landlord," thus the great man said, when first the corpse was seen,
"What may the reason be forsooth, when here I come for glee,
That in your hall I meet a corpse—a loathsome sight to see?"
The landlord stammered, meek and mild: "This dead man had no friend,
But to a neighbouring lord he prayed that I with speed would send;
That on his features he might gaze, when cold in death he lay,
For he is brother to that lord—gainsay it though he may."
"Well, landlord, send the carrion forth—it shall not stop our mirth;
Uncoffined as he is, I say, commit him to the earth:"
Then askance he stole a look at the dead man as he lay,
For he himself was the brother twin to that cold and ghastly clay.
Then sullenly he spake again, yet no compunction felt,
For neither corpse could move, nor fiend that rich man's heart could melt:
"Relationship in death I acknowledge not to thee,
So send the body forth at once, that buried it may be!"
Thunder and lightning rent the air—such floods there fell of rain,
That fill up the grave that night the sextons wrought in vain;
So they covered with the plain cold stones the dead man as he lay.
Intending to complete their work at early dawn next day.
Past midnight—and the drunken lord reeled forth to seek his home,
Across the church-yard lay his path, the nearest he could come;
Deep down into the grave he fell, and with his dying breath
Most mournfully he prayed to find relationship in death!