O vos uiuentes huius mundi sapientes,
Cordibus apponite duo verba christi, venite
Nec non et ite, per primum ianua vite
Justis erit nota, set 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
Alle die noch in leben sint,
Setzt in wer herz zway wort,
Die von cristo sind gehort.
Das ain gett her, daz ander gett hin,
Durch das erst die frummen hånd gwyn
Mit dez himels port, die in geöffnt ist.
Das ander die bösen weyst
Ab zu der hellischen porten.
Also wirt in den worten
Gegeben ein söllich vnderschaid:
Das ain halb ist gantz fröd beraytt,
Anderhalb die peyn ach genczlych,
Über al on ende ewiklych.
Dar umb ich wch getrewlich rått,
Ir tut wch ab vppiger tått.
Wann die czeytt ist kurcz an disem leben.
Dar nach wird achh vnd wee gegeben
Durch den czwyfachen tod,
Der vber nymam erbårmd hått.
Mit seiner hellischen pfeyffen schreyen
Bringt er ewch all an ainen rayen,
Dar an die weysen alz die narren
Gezwngen in den sprüngen farn;
Als des gemäldes figuren
Sind sy ain ebenbild zu truren.
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 fare in the dance.
Like these painted figures,
they are a perfect image to mourn over.
in opposita parte de contemptu mundi.
O uos mortales, peruersi mundi sodales,
Finem pensate que futura considerate,
Qualibus ad primum tempus que requiritur, ymum
Pro loco duplatur, ubi finis 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 desistete, si properare
Ad finem cupitis optatum, nam bene scitis,
Quod celum dignis locus est, set fit malis ignis.
Theutunicum.
Die der falschen welt wölt wolgefallen,
Bedenkt, wye daz ende sey,
Vnd merkett, waz künftig ist da py:
Zu dem ersten gehört wye vnd wenn,
Das letscht ist zwyfaltig benennt,
Wå die statt czu pleyben ist.
Der tod wch allen das end beweyst.
Aber wye oder wenn des todes czeytt
Kummen sol, des enwyst ir nit.
Es wirt erkant wch allen hertt,
Was yederman dar nach ist beschertt
Vmb das vnkündig ist die statt,
Wa yderman seyn pleyben hått.
Das alls wirt an den werken hangen,
Die in diser welt sind begangen.
Dar vmb solt ir von sünden lån,
Wölt ir zu dem end gan,
Des ir alle seytt begirlich;
Vnd ist dar zu wyssentlych,
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.
Sanctus dicebar, nullum viuendo verebar
Friuole nunc ducor ad mortem, vane reluctor.
Ad idem.
Die weyl ich lebt an forcht bekant,
Nu wird ich gefürt freuenlych
Zu dem tod, ich weer mich vppiklych.
While I lived I didn't know fear.
Now I'll be outrageously lead
to Death. I defend myself vainly.
Culmen imperii vincendo magnificaui,
Morte sum victus, non cesar, non homo dictus.
Ad idem.
Mit streytt vnd fechten wol gemeren,
Nu håt der tod vberwnden mich,
Das ich pin weder kayser noch menschen gleych.
increase it well with struggle and fight.
Now, Death has defeated me,
so that I am neither like emperor nor human being.
Deliciis vsa viuens vt cesaris vxor,
Morte confusa nullis modo gaudiis vtor.
Ad idem.
Do ich lebt alz ains kaysers weyb.
Nu håt mich der tod zu 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.
Ut ego rex vrbem, sic rexi non minus orbem.
Nunc miser in penis mortis constringor habenis.
Ad idem.
Die welt geregyrt als rom das reych;
Nun pin ich mit todes panden
Verstrikt in seynen handen.
reigned over the world, like Rome the kingdom.
Now I'm with Death's bonds
ensnared in his hands.
Ecclesie gratus fui per papam piliatus;
Mortis proteruam nunc stringor adire cateruam.
Ad idem.
Der hayligen kyrchen kardinal;
Nun pyn ich dor zu gezwngen 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.
Duplici signatus cruce sum patriarcha vocatus,
Et mortis dire cogor consortes adire.
Ad idem.
Als ain patriarch pey meynen tagen;
Nun wyl der tod mich zwingen,
Mit seynen gesellen zu springen.
as a patriarch in my days.
Now Death will force me
to dance with his fellows.
Doctrina fultis hoc signum pretuli stultis,
Metropolitanus nunc cum vanis ego vanus.
Ad idem.
Das crücz vor der pfaffhayt,
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.
Nobiles eduxi, quorum dux ipse reluxi,
Sed nunc vt adeam cogor cum morte coream.
Ad idem.
Als ain herczog geregyrt mit dem schwert;
Nun pin ich in fechen claydern glancz
Gezwngen 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.
Presul egregius venerabar hic quasi dijus;
Hew nunc distorti presumunt me dare morti.
Ad idem.
Die weyl ich lebt in bischofs orden;
Nu zyechen mich die vngeschaffen
Zu dem tancz als ainen affen.
while I lived in a bishop's office.
Now the misshapen are drawing me
to Death as a monkey.
Nobilis imperii comes in mundo reputatus
Morte nunc perii corisantibus associatus.
Ad idem.
Ain edler gråf dem reych bekant;
Nun pin ich von dem tod gefellet
Vnd hie an seynen tancz gestellet.
a noble count - renowned in the empire.
Now I'm felled by Death
and placed here in his dance.
Ut pater arctaui monachos et optime paui,
Nunc egomet stringor et mortis regula cingor.
Ad idem.
Streng gezogen vnd wol genertt.
Nun wird ich selber hie gezwngen,
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)
Strenuus in armis deduxi gaudia carnis,
Contra iura mea ducor in ista corea.
Ad idem.
Der welt gedynt in hochem mut;
Nun pin [ich] wyder rytters orden
An disen tancz gezwngen worden.
served the world well with noble mind.
Now I have - against knights' order -
become coerced to this dance.
Non iuuat appello de mortis ultimo bello;
Succumbunt iura legesque sub ista figura.
Ad idem.
Von des todes letzsten streytt.
Er vberwindet mit seynem geschlecht
Das weltlych vnd das gaystlych recht.
against Death's last dispute.
He defeats - with his kin -
the worldly and the ecclesiastical law.
In choro cantaui melodias quas adamaui;
Discrepat iste sonus et mortis fistule tonus.
Ad idem.
Gesungen manig lyeblych melody;
Des todes pfeiff stett dem nit glych,
Sy hot gar sere erschreket mich.
sung many lovely melodies.
Death's fife is not like it;
it has terrified me so much.
Curavi multos iuuenes mediocres adultos.
Quis modo me curat? Mihi mors contraria iurat.
Ad idem.
Gesund gemacht mann vnd fråen.
Wer wyl mich nun machen gesund?
Ich pin zu tode wnt.
made man and women sound.
Who will now make me sound?
I am wounded to death.
Armis consortes in uita terrui fortes;
Nunc mortis terror me terret, ultimus error.
Ad idem.
Der wol mit harnasch was bedekt;
Nun erschrekt mich hie der tod
Vnd pringt mich in die jungst not.
who were well covered by armour.
Now Death is frightening me here
and brings me in extreme distress.
Plaudere deberem, si ludicra vite viderem,
Fistula me fallit mortis, que dissona psallit.
Ad idem.
Sech ich vor mir der fröden spyl.
Des todes pfeyff mich betrügt;
Disß tancz gesank hie fälschlychen luigt.
[when] I see before me this happy play.
Death's fife deceives me;
this dance song, it lies falsely.
Viuere speraui thesauros elaboraui,
Munera mors spernit, ab amicis me que secernit.
Ad idem.
Das kysten vnd kasten wåren vol.
Nu håt dem tod meyn gåb verschmåcht
Vnd mich vmb leyb vnd gut bråcht.
that chest and [money]box were full.
Now Death has disdained my gift
and have separated me from body and goods.
In claustro grata seruiui cristo velata.
Quit valet orare, me mors iubet hic corisare.
Ad idem.
Got gedynet alz ain geweyltes nünlein
Was hilfft mich nun meyn beeten
Ich musß des todes rayen treten.
served God as a veiled nun.
What does my praying avail me now?
I must step into the dead's dance.
Pavper mendicus viuenti turpis amicus,
Morti carus erit, illum cum diuite querit.
Ad idem.
Zu ainem frwnd ist nymant eben;
Aber der tod wyl seyn frwnd seyn,
Er nimpt in mit dem reychen hin.
Nobody is a friend,
but Death will be his friend.
He takes him away [along] with the rich.
Fercula condita quamuis in mundo paraui,
Raptus a uita mortem minime superaui.
Ad idem.
Vnd gemacht daz süsß geschläk,
Vnd kund des köstlins doch nit finden,
Dar mit ich den tod mocht vberwinden.
and made sweet goodies -
and yet can't find any delicacies
with which I might defeat Death.
Hic in sudore vixi magnoque labore;
Non minus a morte fugio contraria sorte.
Ad idem.
Der schwaysß mir durch die hwt flosß.
Noch wolt ich gern dem tod empflychen,
So hån ich des glücks nit hie.
the sweat was flowing through my skin.
Still, I would like to flee Death;
in this I have no luck here.
O cara mater, me vir a te trahit ater,
Debeo saltare, qui nunquam sciui meare.
Ad idem.
Ain schwarczer man zeucht mich do hin.
Wye wyltu mich also verlån?
Musß ich tanczen vnd kan nit gån!
A black man drags me away.
How can you leave me thus?
Now I must dance and can't yet walk.
O filij que te volui liberare,
Morte preuenta saliendo sumque retenta.
Ad idem.
So ist enpfallen mir der trost.
Der tod hat das für komen
Vnd mich mit dir genomen.
Thus I have lost my consolation,
Death has forestalled it
and taken me along with you.
