The Councilman

Todt zum Rathsherrn: SInd ihr ein Herr g'wesen der Statt, Den man im Rath gebrauchet hatt: Habt ihrs wol g'rathen, ists Euch gut, Wird Euch auch abziehen den Hut.	Death to The Councilman Have you been a master of the city, who has been used in the council, [and] have you ruled well, [then] it is good for you. I also take the hat off you.

Der Rathsherr: ICh hab mich g'flissen Tag und Nacht, Daß der Ghmein Nutz werd betracht: Sucht Reich und Armer Nutz und Ehr, Was mich gut dunckt, macht ich das mehr.	The Councilman. I've made an effort, day and night, that the common good was considered. I sought benefit and honour for rich and poor; what I thought good, I increased.

Klein-Basel, Lawyer.
Line drawing after Büchel

At the museum in Basel there's still a fragment of the councilman with Death tugging at his hat.

In Klein-basel on this place there's not a councilman, but a lawyer (Fürsprecher). If one compares the picture of the lawyer (to the left) with Merian's copperplate of the councilman above, one can see that Death has the same posture and is in the act of tearing the hat off the lawyer / councilman.

So the councilman and his speech are new additions, which were probably added when the mural was renovated by Hans Kluber. Kluber must have taken a peek at Bern's dance of death, because Kluber's text is reminiscent of the citizen in Bern:

The Councilman in Basel: Sucht Reich und Armer Nutz und Ehr, Was mich gut dunckt, macht ich das mehr.

The Citizen in Bern: Jch suocht stätts der Statt nutz und Eer, was mich guotts duecht, da macht Jchs meer.