The Duke

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Basel's dance of death, The duke  
 
Todt zum Hertzog:
HAbt ihr mit Frawen hoch gesprungen,
Stoltzer Hertzog ists euch wol g'lungen:
Das müßt ihr an den Reyen büssen,
Wol her g'lust Euch die Todt'n zu grüssen.		 Death to The Duke
Have you jumped(1) high with women,
proud Duke, it has succeeded well for you.
For this you must atone in the dance.
Well then, be pleased now to greet the dead.
 
Der Hertzog:
O Mordt muß ich so flux darvon,
Land, Leut, Weib, Kind dahinden lon:
So erbarm sich Gott in seim Reich,
Jetzund werd ich meim Täntzer gleich.		 The Duke.
Oh murder, must I so soon from here?
Leave land, people, wife, child behind?
Then may God have mercy in His kingdom,
now I'll become like my dance partner.
Basel: Duke
Fragment of original

Death's speech is taken almost verbatim from the duke in Heidelberg's dance of death.

At the museum in Basel there's still a fragment of this painting (picture to the right).

(1) jumped . . .: The German word "springen" can mean jump, dance and run hastily. On this site I normally translate it as "dance", but that won't do in this context.

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Basel's Dance of Death Dances of death Basel Duke