The Count

 
Basel's dance of death, The count  
 
Todt zum Graffen:
HErr Graff gebt mir das Bottenbrodt,
Es zeucht euch hin der bitter Todt:
Lasst euch nicht rewen Weib und Kind,
Ihr müsst tantzen mit diesem G'sind.		 Death to The Count
Mr. Count, give me the messenger's bread.(1)
The bitter Death pulls you away.
Don't mourn over wife and child.,
You must dance with these servants.
 
Der Graff:
IN dieser Welt war ich bekannt,
Darzu ein Edler Graff genannt:
Nun bin ich von dem Todt gefellt,
Und her an diesen Tantz gestellt.		 The Count.
In this world I was [well] known,
and also called a noble Count.
Now I'm felled by Death,
and placed here in this dance.
Basel: Count
Fragment of original

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

Footnotes: (1)

messenger's bread. . .: a Botenbrot is a reward given to the messenger for bringing good(!) news. Maybe it's an allusion to Death acting as God's messenger.

Up to Basel's dance of death

Basel's Dance of Death Dances of death Basel Count