The Brother / Hermit

Hermit

Der doit. DU bruder salt nů myt myr gain Vnd salt doch goit ym hertzen hain. Du hast ane sunde gefurt dyn leben Zů gottes dienst dich gantz ergeben Vnd hast gesuchet nyt mere Dan dyn heyle(1) vnd goittes ere Du hast ubergeben willen vnd eygen mudt Vmb gottes willen das ist dyr guit.	Death You brother shall now go with me and shall yet have God in your heart. You have lead your life without sins [and] yielded yourself totally to God's service and have sought nothing more than your salvation(1) and God's honour. You have abandoned your own will and mind [in favour of] God's will. That is good for you.

Der bruder ICh dancken goit von dißer stunden Dz ich in gehorsamkeyt byn funden. Nü laiß mych genyeßen allmechtiger goit Das ich gehalden han dyn gebodt. Ich hoff auch myner vetter zu genyeßen Wan ich han gedan daz sye mych hyeßen Han ich aber woillt wydder streben. Das woll myr goit vnd sye vergeben.	The Brother. I thank God in this moment that I have been found obedient. Now let me relish, almighty Gud, that I have kept your commendment. I also hope to enjoy [the good will of] my fathers, because I have done as they commanded me, but had I been disobedient then God and they would forgive me.

La Danse Macabre ends with the hermit

Basel: Waldbruder

It's a little uncertain what kind of "brother" we are presented with here. It could be a monk, but we have just had two of those: the bad monk and the good monk. It's also quite clear that this "brother" is not tonsured.

The French Danse Macabre ended with the hermit (picture to the left), and the "brother" could be a "Waldbruder" just like the hermit in Basel: »Todt zum Waldbruder: BRuder komm du auß deiner Clauß« (picture to the right).

However, there are other possibilities. The author might be thinking of "the Brethren of the Common Life", a religious community, who unlike monks and nuns didn't take monastic vows. Rather much like the beguines.

Footnotes: (1)

heyle . . .: Normally "Heil" means health, but in this context it's clearly a reference to "Seelenheil", i.e. salvation of the soul.