The Empress
|
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 nw 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.
|
Footnotes:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
dance before . . .: German "Tanzen vor" means to execute the steps of the dance,
so the partner or the audience can learn the dance.
warriors . . .: the literal meaning of "sperbrechir" is spear-breakers
— i.e. fighters in a lance tournament
Dansk
Dances of death
Heidelberg
Empress