Der erst prediger.
O vos uiuentes huius mundi sapientes,
Cordibus apponite duo verba christi, venite
Nec non et ite, per primum ianua vite
Justis erit nota, sed per aliud quoque porta
Inferi monstratur: sic res diuersificatur.
Gaudia vel pene sine fine sunt ibi plene.
Hinc voce sana vos hortor spernere vana.
Tempus namque breue uiuendi, postea ve ue
Mors geminata parit, sua nulli uis quoque parcit.
Fistula tartarea vos iungit in una chorea,
Qua licet inuiti saliunt ut stulti periti.
Hec ut pictura docet exemplique figura.
Theutunice
The first preacher
O diser welt we˙sha˙tt kint,
Alle die noch in leben sint,
Setzt in ẅer hercz zwa˙ wort,
Die von cristo sind gehort.
Das ain gett her, daz ander gett hin,
Durch das erst die frummen hånd gw˙n
Mit dez himels port, die in geöffent ist.
Das ander die bösen we˙st
Ab zů der hellischen porten.
Also wirt in den worten
Gegeben ain söllich vnderscha˙d:
Das ain halb ist gantz fröd bera˙tt,
Anderhalb die pe˙n ach genczl˙ch,
Über al on ende ewikl˙ch.
Dar vmb ich ẅch getreẅl˙ch rått,
Ir tůt ẅch ab üppiger tått.
Wann die cze˙tt ist kurcz an disem leben.
Dar nach wirt achh vnd wee gegeben
Durch den czw˙fachen tod,
Der über n˙mant erbårmd hått.
Mit se˙ner hellischen pfe˙ffen schre˙en
Bringt er ewch all an ainen ra˙en,
Dar an die we˙sen alz die narren
Gezw[u]ngen in den sprüngen farn;
Als des gemäldes figuren
Sind s˙ ain ebenbi[l]d zů truren.
Oh, Children of the wisdom of this world,(1)
all who are still alive.
Put two words in your heart
that were heard from Christ.
The one is "come here", the other "go away"(2)
Through the first, the pious [people] have advantage
with Heaven's gate, which is opened to them.
The other leads the evil [people]
away to the gates of Hell.
Thus, in these words
is given such a difference:
For one half, complete pleasure has been prepared,
the other half, alas, pure pain
over all, without end, forever.
Therefore I advice you earnestly
that you avoid idle deeds
for time is short in this life.
Then there'll be "alas and alack"
through the double Death(3)
who has mercy on nobody.
With the screeches of his hellish fife
he brings you all into a dance.
where the wise [men] as [well as] the fools
are forced to join the dancing.
Like these painted figures,
they are a perfect image to mourn over.
Item alius doctor depictus predicando
in opposita parte de contemptu mundi.
O uos mortales, peruersi mundi sodales,
Finem pensate que futura considerate,
Qualibus ad primum tempus que requiritur, ˙mum
Pro loco duplatur, ubi fines perpetuatur.
Mors horrenda nimis est cunctorum quoque finis.
Qualiter aut quando venerit, manet in dubitando.
Sic etiam dura noscuntur inde futura
Propter ignotum remanendi locum quoque totum.
Pendet a factis in isto mundo peractis.
Ergo peccare desistite, si properare
Ad finem cupitis optatum, nam bene scitis,
Quod celum dignis locus est, sed fit malis ignis.
Theutunicum.
O ir tötl˙chen menschen all,
Die der falschen welt wölt wolgefallen,
Bedenkt, w˙e daz ende se˙,
Vnd merkett, waz künftig ist da p˙:
Zů dem ersten gehört w˙e vnd wenn,
Das letscht ist zw˙faltig benennt,
Wå die statt czů ple˙ben ist.
Der tod ẅch allen das end bewe˙st.
Aber w˙e oder wenn des todes cze˙tt
Kummen sol, des enw˙st ir nit.
Es wirt erkant ẅch allen: hertt,
Was ˙ederman dar nach ist beschertt
Vmb das vnkündig ist die statt,
Wå ˙[e]derman se˙n ple˙ben hått.
Das alles wirt an den werken hangen,
Die in diser welt sind begangen.
Dar vmb solt ir von sünden lån,
Wölt ir zů dem end gån,
Des ir alle se˙tt begirl˙ch;
Vnd ist dar zů wol w˙ssentl˙ch,
Das der himel wirt den frummen,
In das fuir die bösen kummen.
who wish for pleasures in this false world.
Consider how the end will be
and notice what is imminent thereby.
Firstly there's how and when
the last is mentioned twice:
Where the continuing place is.(4)
Death will show you all the end
but how and when the time of Death
shall come, you don't know.
It will be realized by you all, hard,
what each man then has been allotted:
concerning that the place is unknown
where each man has his continuation;(5)
that everything hangs on to the works,
that are done in this world.
Therefore you shall refrain from sinning,
if you want to go towards the end.
This you should all desire,
and it is also certain
that the pious [people] go into Heaven;
The evil come into the fire.
Papa.
Sanctus dicebar, nullum viuendo verebar
Friuole nunc ducor ad mortem, vane reluctor.
Ad idem.
Pope
Ich was ain ha˙liger babst genant,
Die we˙l ich lebt an forcht bekant,
Nu wird ich gefürt freuenl˙ch
Zů dem tod, ich weer mich üppikl˙ch.
While I lived I didn't know fear.
Now I'll be outrageously lead
to Death. I defend myself vainly.
Cesar.
Culmen imperii vincendo magnificaui,
Morte sum victus, non cesar, non homo dictus.
Ad idem.
Emperor
Ich kund daz re˙che in hocher eren
Mit stre˙tt vnd fechten wol gemeren,
Nu håt der tod überw[u]nden mich,
Das ich pin weder ka˙ser noch menschen gle˙ch.
increase it well with struggle and fight.
Now, Death has defeated me,
so that I am neither like emperor nor human being.
Cesarissa.
Deliciis vsa viuens vt cesaris vxor,
Morte confusa nullis modo gaudiis vtor.
Ad idem.
Empress
Wollust hett me˙n stolczer le˙b,
Do ich lebt alz ains ka˙sers we˙b.
Nu håt mich der tod zů schanden bråcht,
Daz mir dehain fröd ist mer erdacht.
while I lived as an emperor's wife.
Now has Death destroyed me,
so that no happiness can be found for me anymore.
Rex.
Ut ego rex vrbem, sic rexi non minus orbem.
Nunc miser in penis mortis constringor habenis.
Ad idem.
King
Ich hån als ain konig geweltikl˙ch
Die welt gereg˙rt als rom das re˙ch;
Nun pin ich mit todes panden
Verstrikt in se˙nen handen.
reigned over the world, like Rome the kingdom.
Now I'm with Death's bonds
ensnared in his hands.
Cardinalis.
Ecclesie gratus fui per papam piliatus;
Mortis proteruam nunc stringor adire cateruam.
Ad idem.
Cardinal
Ich was mit babstl˙cher wal
Der ha˙ligen k˙rchen kardinal;
Nun pin ich dor zů gezw[u]ngen gar,
Das ich tancz an des todes schar.
cardinal for the holy church.
Now I am completely coerced to it
that I'm dancing in the troop of dead.
Patriarcha.
Duplici signatus cruce sum patriarcha vocatus,
Et mortis dire cogor consortes adire.
Ad idem.
Patriarch
Ich hån das zw˙fach crücz getragen
Als ain patriarch pe˙ me˙nen tagen;
Nun w˙l der tod mich zwingen,
Mit se˙nen gesellen zů springen.
as a patriarch in my days.
Now Death will force me
to dance with his fellows.
Archiepiscopus.
Doctrina fultis hoc signum pretuli multis,
Metropolitanus nunc cum vanis ego vanus.
Ad idem.
Archbishop
Ich trůg in hocher wirdika˙tt
Das crücz vor der pfaffha˙tt,
Als ain erczbischof daz tragen sol;
Nun gen ich an der toten zal.
the cross before the clergy
as an archbishop shall carry it.
Now I go to this number of dead.
Dux.
Nobiles eduxi, quorum dux ipse reluxi,
Sed nunc vt adeam cogor cum morte coream.
Ad idem.
Duke
Ich hån die edlen herren fert
Als ain herczog gereg˙rt mit dem schwert;
Nun pin ich in fechen cla˙dern glancz
Gezw[u]ngen an des todes tancz.
governed as a duke with the sword.
Now I am - in the splendour of gaudy clothes -
forced to the dance of death.
Episcopus.
Presul egregius venerabar hic quasi dijus;
Hew nunc distorti presummunt me dare morti.
Ad idem.
Bishop
Ich pin wirdikl˙ch geeret worden,
Die we˙l ich lebt in bischofs orden;
Nu z˙echen mich die vngeschaffen
Zů dem tancz als ainen affen.
while I lived in a bishop's office.
Now the misshapen are drawing me
to the dance as a monkey.
Comes.
Nobilis imperii comes in mundo reputatus
Morte nunc perii corisantibus associatus.
Ad idem.
Count
Ich was in der welt genant
Ain edler gråf dem re˙ch bekant;
Nun pin ich von dem tod gefellet
Vnd hie an se˙nen tancz gestellett.
a noble count - renowned in the empire.
Now I'm felled by Death
and placed here in his dance.
Abbas.
Ut pater ar[c]taui monachos et optime paui,
Nunc ego met stringor et mortis regula cingor.
Ad idem.
Abbot
Ich hån vil monn˙ch als ain apt gelert,
Streng gezogen vnd wol genertt.
Nun wird ich selber hie gezw[u]ngen,
Mit des todes regel gedrungen.
strictly brought up and well nourished.(6)
Now I myself am here subdued
and under compulsion of Death's rule.(7)
Miles.
Strenuus in armis deduxi gaudia carnis,
Contra iura mea ducor in ista chorea.
Ad idem.
Knight
Ich hån als ain strenger r˙tter gůt
Der welt ged˙nt in hochem můt;
Nun pin [ich] w˙der r˙tters orden
An disen tancz gezw[u]ngen worden.
served the world well with noble mind.
Now I have - against knights' order -
become coerced to this dance.
Jurista.
Non iuuat appello de mortis ultimo bello;
Succumbunt iura legesque sub ista figura.
Ad idem.
Juror
Es hilff dehain appell˙ren nit
Von des todes letzsten stre˙tt.
Er überwindet mit se˙nem geschlecht
Das weltl˙ch vnd das ga˙stl˙ch recht.
against Death's last dispute.
He defeats - with his kin -
the worldly and the ecclesiastical law.
Canonicus.
In choro cantaui melodias quas adamaui;
Discrepat iste sonus et mortis fistule tonus.
Ad idem.
Canon
Ich hon alz ain korherre fre˙.
Gesungen manig l˙ebl˙ch melod˙;
Des todes pfe˙ff stett dem nit gl˙ch,
S˙ hot gar sere erschreket mich.
sung many lovely melodies.
Death's fife is not like it;
it has terrified me so much.
Medicus.
Curavi multos iuuenes mediocres adultos.
Quis modo me curat? Mihi mors contraria iurat.
Ad idem.
Physician
Ich hån mit me˙nem harnschawen
Gesund gemacht mann vnd fråen.
Wer w˙l mich nun machen gesund?
Ich pin zů dem tode w[u]nt.
made man and women sound.
Who will now make me sound?
I am wounded to death.
Nobilis.
Armis consortes in uita terrui fortes;
Nunc mortis terror me terret, ultimus error.
Ad idem.
Nobleman
Ich hon manchen man erschrekt,
Der wol mit harnasch was bedekt;
Nun erschrekt mich hie der tod
Vnd pringt mich in die jungsten not.
who were well covered by armour.
Now Death is frightening me here
and brings me in extreme distress.
Nobilissa.
Plaudere deberem, si ludicra vite viderem,
Fistula me fallit mortis, quae dissana psallit.
Ad idem.
Noblewoman
Ich solt tre˙ben juchtzens vil,
Sech ich vor mir der fröden sp˙l.
Des todes pfe˙ff mich betrügt;
Disß tanczgesank hie fälschl˙chen luigt.
[when] I see before me this happy play.
Death's fife deceives me;
this dance song, it lies falsely.
Mercator sew civis.
Viuere speraui thesauros elaboraui,
Munera mors spernit, ab amicis meque secernit.
Ad idem.
Merchant or Citizen
Ich hett mich zů leben versorget wol,
Das k˙sten vnd kasten wårn vol.
Nu håt dem tod me˙n gåb verschmåcht
Vnd mich vmb le˙b vnd gůt bråcht.
that chest and [money]box were full.
Now Death has disdained my gift
and have separated me from body and goods.
Monialis.
In claustro grata seruiui cristo velata.
Quit valet orare, me mors iubet hic corisare.
Ad idem.
Nun
Ich han in dem closter me˙n
Got ged˙net alz ain gewe˙ltes nünlein
Was hilfft mich nun me˙n beeten
Ich můsß des todes ra˙en treten.
served God as a veiled nun.
What does my praying avail me now?
I must step into the dead's dance.
Mendicus.
Pavper mendicus viuenti turpis amicus,
Morti carus erit, illum cum diuite querit.
Ad idem.
Beggar
Ain armer ge˙ler hie in leben
Zů ainem frẅnd ist n˙mant eben;
Aber der tod w˙l se˙n frẅnd se˙n,
Er nimpt in mit dem re˙chen hin.
Nobody is a friend,
but Death will be his friend.
He takes him away along with the rich.
Cocus.
Fercula condita quamuis in mundo paraui,
Raptus a uita mortem minime superaui.
Ad idem.
Cook
Ich han erlärt vil pfeffer sek
Vnd gemacht daz süsß geschläk,
Vnd kund dez köstlins doch nit finden,
Dar mit ich den tod möcht überwinden.
and made sweet goodies -
and yet can't find any delicacies
with which I might defeat Death.
Rusticus.
Hic in sudore vixi magnoque labore;
Non minus a morte fugio contraria sorte.
Ad idem.
Peasant
Ich han gehebt vil arba˙tt grosß;
Der schwa˙sß mir durch die hwt flosß.
Noch wolt ich gern dem tod empfl˙chen,
So hån ich des glüks nit hie.
the sweat was flowing through my skin.
Still, I would like to flee Death;
in this I have no luck here.
Puer in cunabulo.
O cara mater, me vir a te trahit acer,
Debeo saltare, qui nunquam sciui meare.
Ad idem.
Child in cradle
O we l˙be můter me˙n,
Ain schwarczer man zeucht mich do hin.
W˙e w˙ltu mich also verlån?
Můsß ich tanczen vnd kan nit gån!
A black man drags me away.
How can you leave me thus?
I must dance and can't [yet] walk.
Mater.
O filij care que te volui liberare,
Morte preuenta saliendo sumque retenta.
Ad idem.
Mother
O kint, ich wolt dich haben erlöst;
So ist enpfallen mir der trost.
Der tod håt das fürkomen
Vnd [hat] mich mit dir genomen.
Thus I have lost my consolation,
Death has forestalled it
and taken me along with you.
