The empress

The empress

The empress breaks the overall rule that the participants alternate between clergy and laity. But the empress should rather be seen as a duplicate of her husband. She represents all married women, sorrowing over her husband, like the maid represents all unmarried women.

Ludewig Suhl	Translation
der Tod Reicht ohngewegert her der Hände zartes Paar, Und wandert fort mit mir zu jener grossen Schaar, Doch spart die Thränenfluth des bittern Scheidens wegen Man wird euch dem Gemahl bald an die Seite legen.	Death Extend unwaveringly your delicate pair of hands, and walk away with me to that great crowd, But spare the flood of tears because of the bitter parting; your husband will soon be laid at your side.

die Kayserin Ist Zeit und Stunde da, so schick ich mich darein, Und will auch sterbend dir, mein Kayser aehnlich seyn Kanst du dem Reiche dich nicht stets als Sonne zeigen So muß mich auch der Tod zum Untergange neigen	The empress If the time and hour are right, I will prepare myself for it, and even when I die I will be like you, my emperor. If you cannot always show yourself to the kingdom as the sun, then Death must also incline me to the downfall.

The empress' speech addresses her husband. Suhl, Jacob von Melle and Nathanael Schlott write: »Kanst du dem Reiche dich nicht stets als Sonne zeigen« (can you not always show yourself to the kingdom as the sun?). The more recent sources (like Mantels) have another version, and this is the one that was written on the painting: »Du kontest dich der Welt nicht stets alß Sonne zeigen« (You couldn't always show yourself to the world as the sun).

In the next line Suhl makes the empress say, that she too must be bended by Death towards destruction (like Death just did unto her husband): »So muß mich auch der Tod zum Untergange neigen«, but everybody else agrees that it is the moon that should take a bow: »So muß sich auch der Mond zum Untergange neigen« (her husband is like the Sun, so she must be like the Moon).

Thomas Nugent
VI. Death to the Empress. Cease, cease, those pearly tears, me fair; I'll ease your heart, and soothe your care. See yonder multitude appear, Behold with them thy lord, thy dear: You soon must join him hand-in-hand, And life resign at my command.	VII. The Empress's answer. Welcome, thou messenger of peace, Since that's the news, my joys increase. Vain world, what is thy greatest splendor, Now I have lost my life's defender? Then mount, my soul, consider this; You'll meet your love in realms of bliss.