The Augustin friar

Augustin friar
The Augustin friar

Death to the Augustin friar

Her augustiner ghestlyke gude man
volget my ok na vnde schedet dar van
dy beghiftinge ys jw nicht ghegheuen
dat gy hyr konen ewichliken leuen
dar vmme seet wu ik jw vor kan reigen
dy ghestliken steruen also de leygen

Mr Augustin friar - ecclesiastical, good man
Follow me, you too, and separate from it [the world]
The privilege was not given to you,
that you could live here forever.
Therefore see how I can dance before(1) you.
The clergy die like the laity.(2)

The Augustin friar

Och leue dot wu komestu so drade
beide doch so langhe beth dat ik dy lade
sunder du bist eyn seltzen wunderlike kumpan
ik wil edder ik wil nicht ik muth mede dy gan
dar syn alle menschen tho uterkoren
help jhesu dat ik nicht werde vorloren

Oh dear Death why are you coming so quickly?
Wait so long - until I invite you.
But you are a rare, strange guy.
[Whether] I will or I will not - I must go with you
All humans are chosen for this.
Help, Jesus!, that I don't become lost.

Footnotes: (1) (2)

dance before. . .: vordantzen (High German: vortantzen) means to execute the steps of the dance, so the partner or the audience can learn the dance.
Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth) 2,16: »For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.«.