The Knight

Knight

Ludewig Suhl	Translation
der Tod Wirf ab den schweren Rock, womit dein Leib bedeckt Und den polirten Stahl, der in der Scheiden steckt Kein Eisen schützet dich für meinen scharfen Pfeilen Du must mit mir zum Tanz in leichter Rüstung eilen	Death Throw off the heavy coat that covers your body, and the polished steel that is in the scabbard. No iron protects you from my sharp arrows. You must hurry to the dance with me in light armor.

der Ritter Ihr Helden schauet mich in diesen Waffen an, So focht ich als ein Löw so stand ich als ein Mann Bis das mein Gegenpart gestrecket lag zur Erden Nun will der letzte Feind an mir zum Ritter werden.(2)	The Knight You heroes look at me in these weapons. Thus I fought like a lion, thus I stood like a man, until my counterpart lay stretched out on the ground. Now the last enemy(1) wants to wreak his anger on me.(2)

In 1701, the same year that the new painting was finished, the author, Nathanael Schlott, published the text in a booklet, »Lübeckischer Todten-tanz Oder Sterbens=Spiegel«. In this very first edition there was a minor variant. Instead of »meinen scharfen Pfeilen«, Death said: »meinen starken Pfeilen«.

Thomas Nugent
XVIII. Death to the Knight. Come, gallant sir, your armour leave, Your sword and buckler; they might save Your head in battle, but are not Proof 'gainst my darts, more sure than shot. Besides, the dance you take with me Requires a dress more light and free. Then you'll perform my dance more clever, Without incumbrance whatsoever.	XIX. The Knight's answer. Like hero rather than plain knight, I went to war in armour bright. No lion fought with greater courage, A truth my foes must still acknowledge. I laid my adversary low, Now ruthless Death will serve me so.

Footnotes: (1) (2)

The last enemy is Death - 1^st Corinthian 15:26, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death […] ".

an mir zum Ritter werden . . .: The original (ironic) meaning is to put oneself in an advantageous position or in a favorable light ("become a knight") at the expense of others, taking advantage of a situation.

However, the usual meaning is to wreak anger on somebody. Shakespeare's Henry V, Act 5, scene 1: »Doth Fortune play the huswife with me now?« becomes in German: »Will denn das Glück an mir zum Ritter werden?«.