Basel's dance of death, Lawyer

Basel: The Lawyer

The Lawyer

Todt zum Juristen: ES hilfft da kein Fund noch Hofieren, Kein Auffzug, oder Appellieren: Der Todt zwinget alle Geschlecht, Darzu Geistlich vnd Weltlich Recht.	Death to The Lawyer No trick or flattery helps, no postponement or appeal. Death controls all lineages, and also ecclesiastical and worldly law.

Der Jurist: VOn GOtt all Recht gegeben sindt, Wie man die in den Büchern findt: Kein Jurist sol dieselbig biegen, Die Lug hassen, die Warheit lieben.	The Lawyer. From God is all law given, as one finds in the books. No lawyer may manipulate it, [but must] hate the lie, love the truth.

The funny part is that if one looks at the corresponding scene in Kleinbasel, Heidelberg or other versions of the high German dance of death, one sees that Death's speech »No trick or flattery helps […]« originally was the lawyer's defence.

Kleinbasel
Der pereif(1) ist also geben Das ir nit lenger sollent leben Her iurist das thut des dodes kraft Nun bewiset vuer meister scaft	Death to The Lawyer The verdict(1) is given thus that you shall not live any longer, Mr. Lawyer, such does the power of Death. Now prove your mastery.

Es hilfft kein fund noch hofferen kein vffzug oder appellieren der todt zwingt alle gesclecht Dar zo geistlich vnd weltlich recht	The Lawyer. No trick or flattery helps, no postponement or appeal. Death controls all lineages, and also ecclesiastical and worldly law.

The text in Kleinbasel is reminiscent of the text in Heidelberg's block book.

English translation from Beck, 1852
Death to the Lawyer.	The Lawyer's reply.
No dodge helps now, no courtly phrase, Protest, appeal, nor law's delays, Death lays arrest on every class Clerk and civilian, none can pass.	From God all law and truth proceed, As in the books each one may read; To warp these should no lawyer try, But love the truth and hate the lie.
Translation from Hess, 1841
Death to the Lawyer. No fund helps here nor to court, Neither delay nor appeal, Death forces all gender, Both church and civil law defender.	Answer of the Lawyer. From god all laws are given us, As one will easy find in books. No lawyer them shall bend, Hate the lies and truth defend.

I have no idea what "pereif" means, but in the other variants of the lawyer's dialogue it says "Urteil". Theophil Burckhardt-Biedermann suggests that it's an alternative spelling of the word "Brief", i.e. a document.

Basel: The Lawyer

Various Artists