Lübeck's dance of death, The cardinal

The cardinal

The cardinal in Tallinn

The cardinal
Ontfarme myner here salt schen ik kan deme gensins(1) entflen Se ik vore efte achter my ik vole den dot my al tyt by Wat mach de hoge saet(2) my baten den ik besat ik mot en laten Unde werden unwerdiger ter stunt wen en unreine stinckende hunt	Mercy, Lord, it must be so! There’s no escaping you, I know, For be it front or be it rear I feel Death is always near. What’s the use of this high grade? What was mine I now must trade, Forsaking it as I transfer To state below the lowly cur.
Death answers the cardinal
Du werest van state gelike en apostel godes up ertryke Umme den kersten loven to sterken myt worden unde anderen dogentsammen werken. Men du hest mit groter hovardichit(3) up dinen hogen perden reden Des mostu sorgen nu de mere nu tret ok vort her konnink here(4)	You were judged in status worth God’s apostles here on earth To support the Christian creed Through fair speech and virtuous deed. From the horse of arrogance You cast down a haughty glance, Reason more to fear my sting. Step forward here, now, noble King!

English version © Jack Freckleton-Sturla, 2021. The following is a more literal translation:

The cardinal
Have mercy on me, Lord, [when it] shall happen. I can in no way escape it.(1) [When] I look in front or behind me, I feel Death by me at all times. What will the high seat(2) avail me [the rank] that I had? I must leave it and become more unworthy at once than an unclean, stinking dog.
Death to the cardinal
You were in status equal to an apostle of God on earth, in order to strengthen the Christian belief with words and other good works. But you have, with great haughtiness, been riding your high horse. Therefore you most mourn so much more now! Now step forward you too, Mr King, Lord!(4)

Footnotes: (1) (2) (3) (4)

deme gensins . . .: Some of the older authorities (Seelmann/Stammler et al) preferred »di niegensins«, but the text on the painting is very clear here (at least it is after the restoration).

saet . . .: seat (i.e. position).

Some of the older authorities (Seelmann/Stammler et al) preferred »staet«, i.e. state or rank, but the text on the painting is very clear here (at least it is after the restoration).

mit groter hovardichit . . .: this is what the text says, however to make sense it should have been »hovardichede«, as suggested by Seelmann and Stammler, or maybe even in the plural: »mit groten houardicheten« to rhyme with »reden« as suggested by Mischa von Perger.

her konnink here . . .: the address "here" (Lord / master) has been doubled out of courtesy.

The same thing happens several times in Reynke de Vos, e.g.: »Merket, here her konnink, eddele vorste« (line 227).