Copenhagen's Dance of Death, Part 7, The Pope

Copenhagen's Dance of Death, Part 7

and yet I was a thrall in my sin, unfortunately.
Had I always done well
and remembered that I was a thrall
then I wouldn't have behaved so badly.
It's too late to complain now.
To preach God's words - or speak about it
never occurred to me.
But I sent out legates(1), large and small,
if they could get money anywhere
for their false indulgences, lies and untruths
that the Devil taught me and I invented.
One knew only that it loosed and bound.(2)
Gold and money they brought to me,
which I devoured disgracefully.
Oh, might I live a little moment
I would improve from my hearts desire
and win a great part of Heaven.
I still intend to inherit something there.
Shouldn't I have something for my papacy
that I have had a long time in Rome?
I held masses for resurrection
and many good prayers beside.
Now I sense the hard Death,
he brings me both sorrow and distress.

I must already walk away with him.
It doesn't help me to resist.

Death answers.

This castle I shall give you now
and other people who should now follow me.

Death to the Emperor.

If you want to see the original page, click on the little picture to the left. If you want to read the page in the original medieval Danish, click the red-and-white flag at the top right corner of this page.

(1) Legates: Official emissaries from the pope.

(2) Loosed and bound...: Compare with Jesus' words to Peter the Apostle: "And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven." [Matt. 16,19].

"To bind" means to make unlawful, and "to loose" means to make lawful. The pope is a successor of Peter the Apostle, so what it means, in effect, is that whatsoever rules the pope maketh up shall receive the Divine rubberstamp of instant approval.