Embedded Files
Az 1250 és 1350 között épült lübecki Szűz Mária-templom Oldesloe-kápolnájának haláltáncfreskóját Berndt Notkénak szokás tulajdonítani, holott nincs rá bizonyíték, hogy valóban ő festette volna.
A freskó 1942. március 28-áról 29-ére, virágvasárnapra virradó éjjel, a várost ért bombatámadás következtében elpusztult.
Az eredetileg 1463-ban, egy pestisjárvány idején készült, de azután többször újrafogalmazott és számtalanszor restaurált falfestménysorozat 1701-ben készült utolsó változatáról Wilhelm Castelli lübecki fotóművész készített fekete-fehér fényképeket a második világháború előtt - a templomban most ezek a fotók láthatók.
Szintén 1701-ben Jacob von Melle lejegyezte az ófelnémet nyelvű verset, amely a freskó alatt volt olvasható (a gyanú szerint azonban néhány helyen összekeverte a versszakok sorrendjét). 1852-ben a lübecki festő, Carl Julius Milde, miután restaurálta a freskót, nyolc részletben vízfestékkel festett reprodukciót is készített a Haláltáncról, közvetve innen van elképzelésünk a falfestmény eredeti színeiről is. Alább Milde reprodukciói láthatók a kísérő szöveg ófelnémet és angol nyelvű részleteivel.
A kápolna alaprajza
A kápolna fényképe 1890-ből
A kápolna fényképe 1940 körül
A Prédikátor
A kápolna bejárata, a haláltánc-freskó 1701-es változatának bevezető szövegével
A bevezető szöveg, a fuvolán játszó halál és a pápa a kápolna bejáratában
Och redelike creatuer sy arm ofte ryke
Seet hyr dat spegel junck unde olden
Unde dencket hyr aen ok elkerlike
Dat sik hyr nemant kan ontholden
Wanneer de doet kumpt als gy hyr seen
Hebbe wi den vele gudes ghedaen
So moghe wi wesen myt gode een
Wy moten van allen loen untfaen.
Unde lieven kynder ik wil ju raden
Dat gi juwe scapeken verleiden nicht
Men gude exempel en op laden
Eer ju de doet sus snelle bi licht
The Preacher to everybody*
Oh, rational creature*, be [you] poor or rich.
See here the mirror*, young and old,
and consider also, each of you,
that nobody can stay away,
when Death comes, as you see here.
Have we then made much good,
then we can become one with God.
We shall receive reward for everything.
And dear children, I will advise you,
that you do not lead your lambs astray,
but show a good example,
before Death so quickly stands by you!
The Preacher to everybody: ez a szövegrész a tallini haláltáncból való, de nagyon valószínű, hogy - a műfaj hagyományainak megfelelően - a lübecki is hasonlóval, a prédikátor szavaival kezdődött eredetileg (1463-ban). Az 1701-es változat nyitánya egy egyszerű felirat volt.
rational creature: értelmezhető az eredendő bűnre való utalásként: Ádám és Éva a tudás fájáról evett, ezzel érdemelte ki a halhatatlanság és az Édenkert elvesztését.
mirror: a haláltáncot szokás volt tükörként, a valóság pontos képeként emlegetni.
1. A pápa és a császár
A fuvolázó halál, a pápa és a császár elhelyezkedése a kápolna falán
A fuvolázó Halál, a pápa és a császár
To dussem dantse rope ik al gemene
Pawes keiser unde alle creaturen
Arm ryke groet unde kleine
Tredet vort went iu en helpet nen truren
Men dencket wol in aller tyd
Dat gy gude werke myt iu bringen
Unde juwer sunden werden quyd
Went gy moten na myner pypen springen
Her pawes, du byst hogest nu
Dantse wy voer ik unde du
Al hevestu in godes stede staen
Een erdesch vader ere unde werdicheit untfaen
Van alder werlt du most my
Volghen unde werden als ik sy
Dyn losent unde bindent dat was vast
Der hoecheit werstu nu een gast
Och Here got wat is min bate
al was ik hoch geresen in state
Unde ik altohant moet werden
gelik als du een slim der erden
Mi mach hocheit noch rickheit baten
wente al dink mot ik nalaten
Nemet hir excempel de na mi sit
pawes alse ik was mine tit
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
her keiser, wi mote dansen
O dot du letlike figure
vor andert my alle myne natture
Ik was mechtich unde rike
hogest van machte sunder gelike
Koninge vorsten unde heren
mosten my nigen unde eren
Nu kumstu, vreselike forme
van mi to maken spise der worme
Du werst gekoren wil dat vroden
to beschermen unde to behoden
De hilgen kerken de kerstenheit
myt deme swerde der rechticheit
Men hovardie heft di vor blent
du heft di sulven nicht gekent
Mine kumste was nicht in dinem sinne
du ker nu her, frow keiserinne!
Death to everybody
I call everybody to this dance
pope, emperor and all creatures,
poor, rich, great and small.
Step forward, because grieving doesn't help you!
But consider well, at all times,
that you bring good works* with you,
and become free of your sins,
because you must dance to my pipe.
Death to the pope
Mr pope, you are the highest now,
let us lead the dance, I and you!
Though you have stood in God's stead,
an earthly father, honour and dignity received
from the whole world, you must
follow me and become, as I am.
Your loosing and binding*, that was firm
The highness you will lose now*.
The Pope
Oh Lord, what does it avail me
though I had risen high in station,
and I must at once become
like you, a pile of earth*.
Neither highness nor riches avail me,
when I must leave everything.
Take here example, those who after me are
pope, as I was in my time!
Death answers the pope*
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Mr emperor, we must dance!
The emperor
Oh Death, your terrible figure
changes for me all my nature.
I was mighty and rich,
The highest in power without peer.
Kings, princes and lords
had to bow for me and honour me.
Now you come, you horrible form,
to make me food for worms.
Death answers the emperor
You were chosen, will you realize that,
to protect and preserve
the holy churches of Christianity
with the sword of justice.
But haughtiness has blinded you,
you have not recognised yourself.
My arrival was not on your mind!
Turn here now, Mrs. Empress!
good works: Death gives us a message from his sponsor - the Catholic Church.
loosing and binding: Compare with Jesus' words to Peter the Apostle: "And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven" (Matthew 16,19).
"To bind" means to make unlawful, and "to loose" means to make lawful. The pope is a successor of Peter the Apostle, so what it means, in effect, is that whatsoever rules the pope maketh up shall receive the Divine rubberstamp of instant approval.
The highness you will lose now: Literally: "you were now [only] a guest [of] the highness"
pile of earth: utalás a bibliai teremtéstörténetre, amelyben az Úr a föld porából alkotja meg az embert.
Death answers the pope: a strófa első hét sora hiányzik
2. A császárné és a bíboros
A császárné, a bíboros és a király elhelyezkedése a kápolna falán
A császárné és a bíboros
Ick wet my ment de doet
was ick ny vor vert so grot
Ik mende he si nicht al bi sinne
bin ik doch junck unde ok ein keiserinne
Ik mende ik hedde vele macht
up em hebbe ik ny gedacht
Ofte dat jement dede tegen mi
och lat mi noch leven des bidde ik di
Keiserinne hoch vor meten
my duncket du hest myner vor gheten.
Tred hyr an it is nu de tyt
du mendest ik solde di schelden quit
Nen al werstu noch so vele
du most myt to dessem spele
Unde gi anderen alto male
holt an volge my her kerdenale
Ontfarme myner here salt schen
ik kan deme gensins entflen
Se ik vore efte achter my
ik vole den dot my al tyt by
Wat mach de hoge saet my baten
den ik besat ik mot en laten
Unde werden unwerdiger ter stunt
wen en unreine stinckende hunt
Du werest van state gelike
en apostel godes up ertryke
Umme den kersten loven to sterken
myt worden unde anderen dogentsammen werken.
Men du hest mit groter hovardichit
up dinen hogen perden reden
Des mostu sorgen nu de mere
Nu tret ok vort her konningck here
The empress
I know, Death means me!
I was never terrified so greatly!
I thought he was not in his right mind,
after all, I am young and also an empress.
I thought I had lots of power,
I had not thought of him
or that anybody could do something against me.
Oh, let me live on, this I implore you!
Death answers the empress
Empress, highly presumptuous,
methinks you have forgotten me.
Fall in! It is now time.
You thought I should let you off?
No way! And were you ever so much,
You must participate in this play,
And you others, everybody --
Hold on! Follow me, Mr Cardinal!
The cardinal
Have mercy on me, Lord, [when it] shall happen.
I can in no way escape it.
[When] I look in front or behind me,
I feel Death by me at all times.
What will the high rank avail me
[the rank] that I had? I must leave it
and become more unworthy at once
than an unclean, stinking dog.
Death answers the cardinal
You were in status equal to
an apostle of God on earth,
in order to strengthen the Christian belief
with words and other good works.
But you have, with great haughtiness,
been riding your high horse.
Therefore you most mourn so much more now!
Now step here in front you too, Mr King!
3. A király, a püspök, az apát és a lovag
A püspök, az apát és a lovag elhelyezkedése a kápolna falán
A király, a püspök, az apát és a lovag
O dot dyne sprake heft my vorvert
Dussen dans en hebbe ik nicht gelert
Hertogen rydder unde knechte
Dragen vor my durbar gerichte
Unde juwelik hodde sick de worde
To sprekende de ick node horde
Nu komstu unvorsenlik
Unde berovest my al myn ryk
Al dynne danken heftu geleyt
Na werliker herlicheyt
Wat batet du most in den slik
Werden geschapen myn gelik
Recht gewent unde vorkeren
Heftu under dy laten reigeren
Den armen niegene bedwank
Her bischop nu holt an de hant
The king
Oh Death, your speech has terrified me,
this dance I have never learned.
Dukes, knights and servants
bring expensive courses to me
and everybody took care, words
to speak, that I didn't want to hear.
Now you come unexpected,
and bereaves me of my entire kingdom!
Death answers the king
All your thoughts you had turned
to worldly splendour.
What's the use? You must into the earth
and be shaped like me.
Justice turned and twisted
have you let reign under you,
showing the poor no pity!
Mr Bishop, hold on to my hand now.
A püspök, az apát és a lovag ófelnémet szövege elveszett. A püspök és az apát alakja között eredetileg egy herceg is szerepelt (egy halálfigurával), de a kápolna utcára nyíló kapujának 1799-es megnagyobbítása során ezek eltűntek.
4. A karthauzi és a polgármester (vagy a nemes)
A karthauzi és a polgármester elhelyezkedése a kápolna falán
A karthauzi és a polgármester
Nu tret vort, di helpet nen klagen,
Du most din Part sulven dragen,
It sal di wesen swar,
Di mach nicht volghen nar,
Wen dine Werke gut ofte quat,
Din Lon is na diner Dat,
Nemant mach di des vorbringen,
Men, kum an, ik wil di singhen.
Dot, ik bidde di umme Respijt;
Late mi vorhalen, mine Tijt,
Ik hebbe ovel overbracht,
Sterven hadde ik klene geacht.
Mine Gedancken weren, to vullenbringen,
To Lust in idelen Dingen,
Minen Undersaten was ik swar,
Nu mot ik reisen, unde wet nicht, war.
Haddestu gedelt van dinem Gode
Den Armen, so were di wol to Mode,
De klegeliken klagen er Gebreken,
Nuwerle mochtestu se horen spreken.
Dines Pachtes werstu gewert,
Na mi haddestu ninen Begert,
Dat ik ens ummekame to Hants,
Kannonik, tret her an den Dans.
The Carthausian
Death answers the Carthusian*
Now step forward, no lament will help you,
you must bear your fate yourself.
It will be difficult for you.
Nothing can follow you
except your works [be they] good or bad.
Your reward is after your deed*.
No one can take this from you.
Man, come here*, I will sing for you.
The nobleman
Death, I beg you for respite*.
Let me tell: My time
I have used badly.
I paid [too] little heed to dying.
My thoughts were to satisfy -
to lust for idle things.
I was hard on my peasants.
Now I must travel and know not where.
Death answers the nobleman
Had you shared your goods
with the poor then you would be at ease now.
The complainers complained their need,
never would you hear them speak.
You were paid your farm rent*.
You did not desire me,
that I once suddenly came here.
Canon*, come here to the dance.
Death answers the Carthausian: Jacob von Melle 1701-es lejegyzése ezzel a versszakkal kezdődik. A karthauzi versszaka elveszett.
Reward after deed: popular theme in the Bible. Compare with 1st Corinthians, chapter 3,8: "[…] and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour".
Man, come here: Normally Death uses a more specific title (king, pope etc.) instead of simply saying "man". It should be noted that Jacob von Melle very rarely indicates the absence of single letters or words. Most of the time Jacob von Melle either writes a whole line or nothing. So we might guess that some of the letters were obliterated and that the text originally was "Nobleman, come here …".
At any rate it's too bad that it had to happen here where the verses are in a wrong order (as we will see on the next page).
Respite: The word gets a special sound when one remembers that the painting is from 1463 when the burghers of Lübeck where anticipating the plague epidemic that arrived in the town in the summer of 1464.
The word "respit" also gives associations to Jehan le Fèvre's book Le Respit de la mort from 1376. This was the first book ever to mention the phrase "danse macabre".
You were paid your farm rent: Namely by the (hardworking) peasant.
Canon: There's a big confusion concerning the order of the verses. The painting (which is a copy from 1701) shows the next 3 persons as mayor, canon and nobleman - and this is the order, in which Jacob von Melle wrote them down.
However, the text that Jakob von Melle left us makes no sense. For instance Wilhelm Mantels pointed out that the nobleman is the one who has lived most against the overall moral — having exploited his hardworking subjects in order to obtain money for idle pleasures, and yet Death answers: "Great wages shall you receive. For your work that you have done, God will reward you thousandfold".
Mantels instead suggested that the order should rather be nobleman, canon and mayor. This solution is universally accepted and is being applied on these pages. For lots of details about this puzzle, see the pages about von Melle who wrote down the verses and Mantels who made sense of it.
To sum up: The painting, the High German text and von Melle's text has mayor, canon and nobleman. The text on these pages follows the original sequence, which is nobleman, canon and mayor.
This means that the character showed at the top of this page is the mayor of Lübeck.
5. A kanonok, a nemes (vagy a polgármester) és az orvos
A kanonok, a nemes és az orvos elhelyezkedése a kápolna falán
A kanonok, a nemes és az orvos
Mi dunckt, it is mi noch to vroch,
Van minen Prunden hadde ik genoch
To bruken went her min Leven;
Late mi des Dansses nach begheven.
Nu scholde ik vullen min Schrin,
Dine velen Worde don mi grote Pin.
Late mi doch Gade denen bat,
Den ik in miner Jöget vergat.
Grot Lon schaltu entfan,
Vor din Arbeit, dat du hefst ghedan,
Wil di God dusentvult belonen,
Unde in deme ewighen Levende kronen.
Mer dine Bedrechlicheit mede
Mochte di bringen in groten Unvrede.
Wultu umme dine Sunde ruwich syn
Volghe na, Meister Medecin.
Ik hadde wol Vordrach, mochte it wesen.
Vele Minsken hebbe ik ghenesen,
De van groter Suke leden Not.
Mer jeghen di klene noch grot
En helpet nine Kunst noch Medecin.
Nu bevole ik mi sulven de Pin.
Van deme Dode bin ik beseen,
Wat Ordel dat mi schal bescheen.
Recht Ordel schaltu entfan,
Na den Wercken, de du hefst ghedan.
Du hefst ghedan, dat God wol wet,
Mengen in grot Eventur gheset,
Den Armen swarlik beschat,
Des he vaken billik hadde to bat.
Al nemestu grote Summen darvan,
Wokerer,(3) volghe van Stunden an.
The canon (1)
Methinks it's still too soon for me.
I had enough of my office income
to make good use of in my life, until now.
Let me renounce this dance.
Now I should fill my chest (shrine).
Your many words give me great pain.
Let me then serve God better,
because I forgot it in my youth.
Death answers the canon
(8 lines are missing)
The mayor
(8 lines are missing)
Death answers the mayor
Great wages shall you receive.
For your work that you have done,
God will reward you thousandfold,
and in the eternal life crown [you].
But your fraudulence may also
bring you in great strife*.
Will you regret your sins!
Follow after, Master Medicine.
The physician
I would like postponement, if it might be;
I have cured many people
who were suffering from great diseases.
But against you [helps neither] small nor great;
neither [medical] art nor medicine helps.
Now I surrender myself to the pain.
I have been looked at by Death,
what[ever] fate that shall happen to me.
Death answers the physician
You shall receive a just sentence
according to the works that you have done.
You have, God knows this well,
brought many into great danger.
Taken large fees from the poor,
that often rightly belonged to him.
Always you took great sums for it.
Usurer*, follow from this moment.
Canon: a priest attached to a cathedral.
But your fraudulence may also
bring you in great strife: At that time Lübeck had 4 mayors who were chosen among the leading burgher families. As leaders of the council the mayors had legislative power, but at the same time the mayors functioned as judges and thus also had judicial power. That's why the mayor gets such a nice treatment in St. Mary's - the burghers' church in Lübeck.
The mayor is warned against his own fraudulence - this is because the mayor in Lübeck's dance of death takes over the role played by lawyers and solicitors in other dances of death.
Usurer/Wokerer: Jacob von Melle gives us two versions of the text, and in the less known version this dancer is not an usurer but a citizen.
6. Az uzsorás és a káplán
Az uzsorás, a káplán és a kereskedő elhelyezkedése a kápolna falán
Az uzsorás és a káplán
O du aller unvormodeste Dot,
Up di en dacht ik klene noch grot.
Ik hebbe al min Gut vorsaden,
Mine Böne sint vul Kornes geladen.
Mot ik nu sterven, dat is mi swar,
Unde latent hir, unde wet nicht, war.
Ik en wet nicht, war ik henne mot,
Vorbarme miner Her dor dinen Dot.
Vorkerde Dor, olt van Iaren,
Anders hefstu nicht uterkaren,
Den dat Gut up desser Erden,
Ik wet nicht, wat van di sal werden.
Up mi so haddestu klene Acht,
Noch to stervende nicht gedacht.
Nu mustu int ander Lant,
Herr Kappelan, lange her de Hant
Ach leider, wo quelet mi de Dot!
Ik hebbe Last van Sorgen grot.
Slaplik hebbe ik gequiten,
Ik vruchte, God schalt nummer witen,
De Werelt, de Viant, unde dat Vlesch,
Hebbet bedraghen minen Gest.
Wat schal mi nu dat Gut,
Wente ik it hir al laten mot?
Haddestu van Jöget up Gade bet
Recht vor di geset,
Unde vlitliken gelert,
Dar du mennich Wort hefst vorkert,
Dat Volk bracht to Gude,
Dat were got, nu schedestu unnode.
It mot sin sunder leiden,
Kopman, wilt di ok bereiden.
The usurer
Oh, you most unexpected Death,
I have thought [neither] little nor much of you.
I have all my goods [to] satisfy [me];
my warehouse is full of corn.
Must I die now, that is hard for me,
and leave everything, and know not where.
I don't know where I must go.
Have mercy on me, Lord, by your death!
Death answers the usurer
Mad fool, old of years.
You have not chosen anything
[else] than the goods of this world.
I know not, what shall become of you.
You payed [too] little heed to me.
and neither did you think of dying.
Now you must into the other land.
Mr Curate, give me the hand!
The curate
Oh woe! How Death torments me.
I have a great load of sins.
Sleepingly I gave absolution,
I fear God shall punish me now.
The world, the devil and the flesh
have deceived my spirit*.
What shall I do now with these goods,
When I must leave it all?
Death answers the curate
Had you, from your youth, on God better
set yourself right
and diligently learned -
where you [instead] have twisted many [of God's] words -
and brought the people to God,
that would be good! Now you part [from life] unwillingly.
It must happen without hesitation.
Merchant, will you too prepare yourself.
The world, the devil and the flesh have deceived my spirit: the same deceiving triplet appear in The Small Catechism of Martin Luther in his description of the Lord's prayer: "[…] but we pray in this request that God will protect us and save us, so that the Devil, the world and our bodily desires will neither deceive us nor seduce us into heresy, despair or other serious shame or vice […]".
Take a look at the fresco from Ronneby Church. The man in the net is caught, not only by Death (MORS), but also by the Devil (DIABOLUS), the flesh in the form of a nude woman (CARO) and a woman with worldly goods (MUNDUS).
7. A kereskedő, a sekrestyés és az iparos és a remete
A sekrestyés és az iparos elhelyezkedése a kápolna falán
A kereskedő, a sekrestyés, az iparos és a remete
It is mi verne, bereit to sin,
Na Gude hebbe ik gehat Pin,
To Lande unde tor See,
Dor Wind, Regen unde Snee,
Na Reise wart mi so swar,
Mine Rekenscop is nicht klar.
Hadde ik mine Rekenscop ghedan,
So mochte ik vrolik mede ghan.
Hefstu anders nicht bedreven,
In Kopenscop, alse di was gheven,
It sal di wesen Rechtferdicheit,
Wen alle Dink to richten steit.
Hefstu di so vorwart,
Unde din Dink gans wol geklart,
Westu anders, dat is nicht gut,
Koster, kum, it wesen mot.
Ach, Dot, mot it sin gedan,
Nu ik erst to denen began!
In miner Kosterie mende ik klar,
Noch hogher to komen vorwar,
En grot Officium was min Sin,
Alse mi dunckt, so krige ik nin.
Ik mach des nicht gebruken,
De Dot wil mi vorsluken.
Al werstu hogher gheresen,
In groter Var mustestu wesen,
It is diner Sele meiste Profit,
Dat gi nicht hogher resen sit.
Volghe na in mine Partie,
Wente hoch sin maket Hovardie,
Dat is al jeghen God.
Amtman, tret an, it is nen Spot.
Ach leider, wat schal mi bescheen?
Ovel hebbe ik mi vorgeseen,
Unde hebbe mi ser ovel bedacht,
Min Hantwerk so truwe nicht na getracht.
Dat Gut prisede ik sere;
Nu bidde ik di, leve Here,
Du mi de Sunde wilt vorgheven,
Unde late mi in din ewige Leven.
Gi Amtes Lude alghemeine,
Achten vele Dinges kleine,
Dat gi einen anderen bedreghen,
Unde vaken darinne leghen.
Up sterven hebbe gi nicht gepast,
Juwe Sele ser belast,
Dat wil juwer Sele wesen swar,
Klusenaer, volghe naer.
To sterven dat is mi nicht leit,
Were ik van binnen bereit,
Were mine Conciencien wol purgert,
De Viant heft mi tentert
Mit menniger Temptacie swar.
Vorbarme di Her openbar,
Ik di bekenne mine Sund,
Wes mi gnedich tor lesten Stund.
Do machst wol danssen blidelik,
Di hort dat hemmelske Rik.
Dat Arbeit, dat du hefst ghedan,
Sal diner Selen lustende stan.
Deden se alle so, it scholde en vromen,
Er scholde nicht vele ovel komen,
Men it wirde mengen sur,
Kom to min Reigen, Veltgebur.
The merchant
It's far from me to be prepared*.
I have had great pains [to obtain] goods.
By land and by water
trough wind, rain and snow.
No travel has been so hard for me
my reckoning* is not ready.
Had I done my reckoning
then I would gladly go with you.
Death answers the merchant
Have you done nothing else,
in business, than what you were given,
[then] you shall receive justice,
when all things come before the court.
Have you then kept safe [against evil]
and your business totally in order.
Were you different, that isn't good.
Parish clerk, come, it must happen.
The parish clerk
Alas Death, must it be done
now that I had just started to serve?
In my position as a clerk I thought clearly
that I could rise even higher.
A great post was my goal.
As methinks, I don't get any,
I couldn't use it.
Death will swallow me.
Death answers the parish clerk
Had you risen higher [in rank]
you would have been in greater danger.
It is best for your soul,
that you have not risen higher.
Follow me in my company,
Because to be high [in rank] makes haughtiness.
That is all against God.
Craftsman, step in, this is no joke!
The craftsman
Oh woe, what shall happen to me?
I have foreseen badly
and have taken very bad care of myself.
I did not do my handicraft honestly
I was very fond of goods.
Now I ask you, Dear Lord,
that you will forgive me my sins,
and let me into your eternal life.
Death answers the craftsman
You craftsmen - all of you -
pay [too] little heed to many things
[so] that you cheat each other
and furthermore often lie.
You did not waste any [thoughts] on dying
and you strained your souls.
It will be difficult for your souls.
Hermit, follow after.
The hermit
To die, that is not difficult for me,
if I were prepared inwardly,
[and] were my conscience well cleansed.
The Devil has tempted me
with many great temptations.
Show mercy, Lord, openly
I admit to you my sins.
Be gracious to me in the last moment.
Death answers the hermit
You may very well dance gladly,
To you belongs the heavenly kingdom.
The work that you have done
shall gladden your soul.
If everybody did so, it would be to much benefit;
there wouldn't be much evil.
But it has become sour for many [people].
Come into my rank, peasant.
It's far from me to be prepared: As a reply to Death's call (on the previous page): »Merchant, will you too prepare yourself«
reckoning: The dead were expected to present a factual report of their life, works, duty, actions, & accomplishments. Compare with Romans 14:12: "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" and 1st Peter 4:5: "Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead".
The merchant is troubled that he hasn't finished his accounts — and a very similar concern was voiced by merchant in Berlin.
A remete és a paraszt elhelyezkedése a kápolna falán
8. A paraszt, az ifjú, a szűz és a csecsemő
Az ifjú, a szűz és a csecsemő elhelyezkedése a kápolna falán
A paraszt, az ifjú, a szűz és a csecsemő
Des Dansses neme ik wol Respit,
Noch hebbe ik mine Tyt
Mit Arbeide hen ghebracht,
Unde ghedacht Dach unde Nacht,
Wo ik min Lant mochte begaden,
Dat it mit Vrucht wirde geladen,
To betalen mine Pacht.
Den Dot hebbe ik nicht geacht.
Grot Arbeit hefstu ghedan,
God wil di nicht vorsman,
Mit dinem Arbeide unde Not,
It is recht, ik segge di blot,
God wilt di betalen,
In sinen oversten Salen.
Vruchte nicht en Twink,
Tret her Jungelink.
Der Werlde Lust mi nu smaket,
Do hefst de Tyt ovel raket,
Du kumpst slikende her geghan,
Unde wult mi in din Nette beslan.
De Werlde mi lavet Heil,
Bedrucht se mi, so is se feil.
Wike wech, late mi ruseleren,
Int Older wil ik mi bekeren.
In der Nacht der Deve Gank
Slikende is min Ummewank,
En junk Man sik bi Tiden ker
To Gade, sin Luste dregen her.
Hir is nene blivende Stat,
Haddestu west der Werlde hat,
Were di beter, unde er minne,
Junkvrow, mit di ik danssen beghinne.
Des Reiges were ik onich gherne
Ik junghe schone Derne,
Ik merke der Werlde Lust,
Van diner Kumpst nicht gewust.
Nu kumpstu snel, unde mi vorverst,
Ik wuste nicht, hir werst.
Were ik ene Kloster Vrowe worden,
So trede ich vro in dinen Orden.
O Dot, wo schal ik dat vorstan?
Ik schal danssen unde kan nicht ghan
The peasant
I would like to put off this dance.
So far I have used all my time
on work,
and thought, day and night,
on how to cultivate my field,
so that it could be full of fruit
to pay my farm rent*.
I did not pay heed to death.
Death answers the peasant
Great work have you done.
God will not disdain you
with your work and toil.
It is right, I'm just saying it,
God will reward you
in His highest hall.
Do not fear for a twinkling.
Step over here, youth.
The youth
I can taste the temptations of the world now.
You have chosen the time badly.
You come here, sneaking,
and want to catch me in your net.
The world has promised me luck,
and if it disappoints me, then it's deceitful.
Go away, let me have fun,
I my older days, I'll convert.
Death answers the youth
In the night the thieves walk*.
I sneak around.
A young man [should ]in [good] time turn himself
to God; his own lusts deceive him.
Here is no continuing city*.
Had you been hated* by the world,
it would be better for you than its love.(3)
Maiden, I'm beginning to dance with you.
The maiden
I would rather be without this (chain)dance
I young beautiful girl.
I feel the temptations of the world.
I did not know of your arrival.
Now you're coming quickly and terrify me.
I didn't know, you were here.
Had I become a nun
then I would gladly step into your order.
The baby*
Oh Death, how shall I understand this?
I must dance and I cannot walk.
To pay my farm rent: Namely to the nobleman.
In the night the thieves walk: With this quote from the Bible, Death reveals that he comes not as a destroyer, but as a messenger from God. Compare with 1st Thessalonians 5:2, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." and Job 24:14, "The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief".
More details about Death as a sneaking thief and the day of the Lord on this page.
Here is no continuing city: Hebrews 13:14, "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come".
Had you been hated: This translation may not by correct. We're assuming that Jakob von Melle has made a misreading so that "wen" (shortened: wē) became "unde" (shortened: vñ).
Thus it might be an allusion to James 4:4, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God".
The Baby: az 1701-es lejegyzésben ez a szereplő és két sor szövege már nem szerepel, csak a szájhagyomány őrizte meg.
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