Death to The Empress

Ich tancze euch vor frawe keysereyn Springt mir noch der rat yst meyn Die sperbrechir sint von euch gewichen Der tod hot euch alleyne dirslichen	I dance before you,(1) Mrs. Empress. Spring after me, that's my advice. The warriors(2) have left you Death has come sneaking(3) to you alone.

Wollust hatte meyn stolczer leib Do ich lebete als eyns keysers weib Nw hot mich der tod czu schanden brocht Daz mir keyn frund yst mer irdocht.	My proud body had sensual pleasures, while I lived as an emperor's wife. Now has Death destroyed me, so that no friend(4) can be found for me anymore.

(1) dance before . . .: German "Tanzen vor" means to execute the steps of the dance, so the partner or the audience can learn the dance.

(2) warriors . . .: the literal meaning of "sperbrechir" is spear-breakers.

(3) You may want to see the page about the Judgment Day and Death as a sneaking thief.

(4) keyn frund. . .: In the other versions of Oberdeutscher vierzeiliger Totentanz like CPG 314 the empress says "kein frewd" / "dehain fröd" - no happiness.