Her bobist merkt off meyner pawken don |
Mr. Pope, notice the tone of my kettledrums; you shall soon dance to them. You may not get any dispensation; Death will strike up the dance for you. |
Ich was eyn heiliger bobist genant |
I was called a holy pope. While I lived I didn't know fear. Now I'll be outrageously lead to Death. I defend myself vainly. |
The figure of Death with drums strapped around his waist, while fetching the pope, has inspired the dance of death in Basel. An amusing difference is that Death in Kleinbasel (picture to the left) says »Her der bopst Merct vff der pfiffen ton« (= "Mr. Pope, notice the tone of the fife"), even though he's beating a drum.