The Young Woman

The Young Woman

Todt zur Jungfrawen: ACh Jungfraw euwer roter Mund Wird bleich jetzund zu dieser Stund: Ihr sprungen gern mit jungen Knaben, Mit mir mußt jhr ein Vortantz haben.	Death to the Maiden Alas Maiden, your red mouth becomes pale now in this moment. You like to dance with young boys, you must have an opening dance(1) with me.

Die Jungfraw: O Wee, wie grewlich hast mich gfangen, Mir ist all Muth vnd Frewd vergangen: Zu tantzen glust mich nimmermeh, Ich fahr dahin, ade, ade.	The Maiden. Oh woe, how terribly you have caught me. All spirits and pleasure have left me. I never want to dance anymore. I'm going away, farewell, farewell.

English translation from Beck, 1852
Death to the Maiden.	The Maiden's reply.
Maiden! your lips so fresh and red Must with paleness overspread; You 've danced with boys in joy and glee; Now comes the time to dance with me.	Alas! thy dread hand holds me fast, My mirth and joy are all now past; No more in dance I'll take delight, To all I say: a long good night.
Translation from Hess, 1841
Death to the Maid.	Answer of the Maid.
Ah maid your fine and rosy mouth At this hour I take the colour out, With young lads you lik'd to spring, With me to dance this is the thing.	O woe! how terrible has thou me taken, Of all spirit and joy, am I forsaken, To dance I don't desire that's true, I fare away, adieu, adieu.

Variants

Various Artists

Scharffenberg (1576)

Merian (1621)

Merian (1649)

Chovin (1744)

Büchel (1768)

Büchel (1773)

Feyerabend (1806)

Hess (1841)

Beck (1852)

Stuckert (1858)

Footnotes: (1)

Opening dance. . .: A "Vortantz" is a dance at the beginning by the first (leading) couple, who open the dance.

Logically this honour belongs, not to the young woman, but to the first dancer in the procession. That's why Death has already promised this dance to the pope: »Komm heiliger Vatter werther Mann, Ein Vortantz müßt ihr mit mir han:«