Bleibach, The maid

The maid

Death to the maid
Zuer Jungfrau. Du wilst jetz gewiss gehen zue dem tantz, das du so butzt, hast auff ein krantz,(1) mit dir will gehen, nimb mich nur an, gar woll mit dir ich tantzen kan.	To the Maid. You surely want to go to the dance now, since you're so dressed up, and wear a wreath.(1) I want to go with you, just hold on to me; I can dance very well with you.
The maid
Antwort. Du hast für wahr eine wüste Gestalt; Mit Dir zu gehen, mir nicht gefallt. Und auf dem Kopf zu haben den Kranz, Schückt sich nicht mit Dir zu gehen zum Tanz.	Answer. You really have a terrible appearance; I don't like going with you and having the wreath on my head, It's not proper to go to the dance with you.

Footnotes: (1)

krantz / wreath . . .: All the talk about the maid's wreath may be a reference to the practice in the Middle Ages of burying virgins with a chaplet / garland as a symbol of their purity (later on this was only done for young girls).

Shakespeare introduced the word into English: "Yet here she is allow'd her virgin crants, her maiden strewments...".

The nun in Des Dodes Dantz, Dodendantz and Copenhagen's dance of death had hoped for such a virgin krantz: »Dem ik myne sele hebbe vortruwet gantz, Unde also mochte erlangen der junckfrouwen krantz« ("[God] whom I have totally entrusted my soul and so I might obtain the virgin crants").