The Mayor

Mayor

With the mayor we now meet the citizens of Lübeck, and we begin to see the city's skylight in the background. To the right of the mayor's head are the twin towers of the cathedral.

The author, Nathanael Schlott, abandons the dialogue in that Death ignores his victim, the mayor, and instead addresses the citizens of the city: »You citizens, do not anger«. The same thing happens when Death speaks to the poor, who may now share the curate's purse, and to the young maids, who admire the young man: »Ye maids, that lov'd this sprightly youth«.

Ludewig Suhl	Translation
der Tod Ihr Bürger zürnet nicht, wenn durch des Höchsten Schluß Der Bürgermeister selbst mit an die Reihe muß, Der zum gemeinen Heil das Recht so oft gesprochen, Sieht über sich den Stab durch meine Faust gebrochen.	Death You citizens, do not anger, when, by the decree of the Highest, the mayor himself must along in this row, He who so often pronounced the law for the common good, sees the staff broken above him by my fist.

der Bürgermeister Es war fürs Vaterland mein Leben abgenützt, Und Stadt u. Bürgerschaft mit Rath u. That beschützt. Ich fürchte nicht den Tod, denn wenn ich hier erkalte So weiß ich daß ich dort das Bürgerrecht erhalte	The Mayor My life was spent for my country, and protected the city and the citizens with advice and deed. I do not fear Death, for if I grow cold here, I know that I will receive citizenship there.

Suhl has some variants in the text that follow Jacob von Melle and Nathanael Schlott but are contradicted by later sources. Death's first line: »Sieht über sich den Stab durch meine Faust gebrochen« should according to later sources (like Mantels) be: »Wird doch durch meine Faust zuletz der Stab gebrochen«, which is confirmed by the photos of the painting.

Suhl, Schlott and von Melle render the mayor's second line as: »Und Stadt u. Bürgerschaft mit Rath u. That beschützt«, but the later sources (and the painting itself) say: »Den Ruhstand dieser Stadt und Bürger=Recht beschützt«.

Thomas Nugent
XXII. Death to the Burgomaster. Ye citizens, forbear to weep, Because ye cannot longer keep Your chief; behold, fair heaven's decree, From which no mortal man can flee, Has call'd him from this judgement seat, Where he appear'd so good and great, To praise his name for evermore, The Lord supreme whom all adore.	XXIII The Burgomaster's answer. My heart has been devoted to My country, ever just and true; Promoted all the public good, To serve my friends did all I could; Receive me, heav'n, adieu to care, trust I'll be a freeman there.