Bleibach, The citizen

The citizen
Death to the citizen

Death to the citizen

    Zuem Burger.

Willst du mir jetz nit halten still,
nimb dich beym hals und schlagen will,
aus ungedult offt gerueffen zue.
Komb tott nimb mich, hab doch kein rueh.

    To the Citizen.

If you won't keep quiet for me now,
then I'll take you by the throat and hit you.
Out of impatience I am often summoned:
"Come Death, take me, after all I have no peace".

The citizen

    Antwort.

Wo kommst Du her, Du bitt'res Kraut,
Um mir zu schlagen voll die Haut?
Laß mich nur gehn und thu' mich dolen,
Ein andermal kannst Du mich holen.

    Answer.

Where do you come from, you bitter weed,
to hit me fully on the skin?(1)
Just let me go and spare me.
You can fetch me another time.

This is probably the first time you see Death armed with a club.

Footnotes: (1)

hit me fully on the skin. . .: this expression also makes sense in Danish, where to scold people is called "at skælde nogen huden fuld" ("to scold sby. the skin full") and where a thorough beating is called "en røvfudl" (an "arse-full") no matter what part of the body was struck.