The Gambler

Gambler
Figuren, Figuren: Gambler

    Der doit
SPieler dü haist ubersehen eyne groß schantz(1)
Dye will du must mit myr an dyssen dantz
Falsch spil hastu gehait
Daz dich nu gar wenig bat
Woill an wol an wiltu schwigen
Ich wisen dich wo du salt lygen.
Da wirt dyr dyn lon gegeben
Nach dem als du gefort hast dyn leben.

    Death
Gambler, you have overlooked a great chance(1)
because you must come with me to this dance.
You have cheated,
this helps you very little now.
Well, well, will you be silent;
I'll show you where you shall lie.
There you will be given your salary,
according to how you have led your life.

 

    Der spieler
ACh got ich han nyemandes gestolen syn gůit
Noch hynderclafft als mancher düt
Spyelen ist doch gantz gemeyn
Den paffen vnd vns nyt alleyn.
Ist ys sunde des ich nyt enwist
Das vergeb myr herr ihesu crist
Wan werlich solt ich lenger leben
Ich wolt yß myden vnd ubergeben.

    The Gambler.
Alas God, I have not stolen anybody's belongings.
Neither [have I] slandered as many people do.
Playing is after all very common,
the priests [do it] and not just we.
Is it a sin? I didn't know.
Forgive me, Lord Jesus Christ.
For truly: Could I live longer,
I would avoid it and surrender [myself to God].

Zimmern, gambler
Zimmern, Zimmern, Gambler
Donaueschingen 123, gambler
Donaueschingen, Gambler

In Zimmern's dance of death the gambler has lost a hand even though the text doesn't offer any explanation.

Footnotes: (1)

schantz . . .: a lucky roll of the dice.

The word, like the word "chance" goes back to the Italian "cadenza", meaning "to fall".