The Dance of Death
Say Yes, Say No, Dance You Must
The dance of death depiction in the St. Anna chapel in Füssen.
Painter: Jacob Hiebeler, 1602,
Inspired by Jacob Hiebeler's The Dance of Death depiction in the St. Anna chapel in Füssen, Germany.
The Dance of Death consists of 20 individual paintings. The concept behind it is that no matter who you are or what your social status is, when the Death comes to you, you must dance.
Characters
The following is a translation from the original Early New High German (Frühneuhochdeutsch) verses into Present-Day English. The translation is meant to be accessible for a general audience. Therefore, the wording has been kept relatively simple and style equivalents of many words which bordered on slang have been avoided in the interest of clarity.
Translator: Elizabeth Mathis
The Pope
Death:
You are called holy on earth.
Aside from God, your rank is the highest.
But I can truly not avoid it;
I must dance the first dance with you.
The Pope:
Oh, Adam, Adam, father mine,
you have brought this retribution upon us
Now I must dance before all others.
Come everyone hereafter to death's gate.
The Emperor
Death:
Sir Emperor, join the dance [of the dead[,
and dance in nicely after the Pope.
Your kingdom and greatness also has an end,
therefore do not fight it, come quickly.
The Emperor:
My country and people I increased.
My enemy I also bravely fought.
Death alone is stronger than me.
He tears me, as well, into the dance [of the dead].
The Prince
Death:
You have leapt high with women,
oh proud prince; you were successful.
For that you must atone in the dance.
Come here and greet the dead.
The Prince:
Oh mortality, must I so quickly leave behind country,
people, wife and child?
God have mercy in his kingdom;
now I'Il become the same as my dance partner.
The Bishop
Death:
Sir Bishop, wise and well-learned,
your dignity has also been reversed.
Give up the regiment, it's time;
your life also now hurries to it's end.
The Bishop:
I was highly respected,
while I lived as a bishop.
Now I too come in Death's grasp
See, he leads me by the hand.
The Princess
Death:
I dance for you madam princess fine.
Just spring after me, the dance is mine.
Where are your pale courtiers now?
Everyone has disappeared as if swallowed.'
The Princess:
Oh woe is me, now and forever,
where are my ladies in waiting?
Princess today and tomorrow nothing.
Oh fear and horror, how it hurts!
The Doctor
Death:
Sir doctor look upon my delicate body,
if one and the same be made correctly.
You have caused many to die,
who now look as I do.
The Doctor:
I have with my administrations of water
helped both men and women.
Who administers me that water mine?
Death is driving me into the dance.
The Merchant
Death:
Leave off, oh merchant, from your business.
The time has come, now you must die.
You have had many sweet dealings;
now things are turning sour for you, you must away.
The Merchant:
My house I have cared for well;
my boxes and chests I've filled full.
Now, when my life's at it's best,
must I go into this ring of the dead.
The Innkeeper
Death:
Artistry you have learned well from Jesus;
From water you often made wine.
For a litre of beer, two pennies profit
Is too much, dance this way, you must leave.
The Innkeeper:
I often had strange guests,
But now Death comes and is the last
With whom I must settle the bill.
As payment, he gives me deadly penance.
The Moneylender
Death:
You usurer and Godless man,
I don’t look at your goods and money.
You have ruined many poor man.
A black death is now your partner.
The Moneylender:
I didn’t ask much about the teachings of Christ,
I thought usury was more important.
Now all the money stays behind
how does my scraping and sweating help me now?
The Farmer
Death:
Oh farmer, stop what you're doing with your worker,
you must also have a match with me
Your plow you may let fall,
prepare yourself for our dance.
The Farmer:
My life was full of toil
That you can see by my hands
I would rather work the fields
than look upon this thing.
The Abbot
Death:
Sir abbot, from me you are not freed.
You must also enter the battle of death with me.
Put away your staff and infula.
Come away; the dance must commence
The Abbot:
Prelate was I in this land,
and highly respected amongst my peers.
Now death comes and is my reward.
God be with my monastery - I'm going there [to death].
The Nobleman
Death:
Oh nobleman with the van Dyke beard,
you have saved your remorse too long.
You thought you would always have success;
dance away with me - that is your reward.
The Nobleman:
In the world I was well-known
I was also called a nobleman
Now death has struck me down
and I'm brought away by this dance.
The Noblewoman
Death:
Oh lady, what is this splendor supposed to be,
which you wear day and night?
Take off that gown so delicate and soft
and dance with me and thus become white.
The Noblewoman:
Death also comes to my door.
It seems to me so horribly strange.
I thought there was still time,
but quickly death has overtaken me.
The Pastor
Death:
Mister pastor, take notice of your teachings;
come in my dance this way as well.
You sing and say much about death;
you must also experience this affliction.
The Pastor:
I have preached a great deal,
that no one has a certain future
The master practices his craft to perfection,
therefore I too join the dance.
The Magistrate
Death:
You are the lord and administrator here;
come and try my peppery brew.
The bribery and scandals are over;
come away with me into hell.
The Magistrate:
In my work I have never used violence.
That which I did, I did as a servant.
I was never seduced by bribes,
but I must do what you desire.
The Witch
Death:
Hop up, you ugly camel.
In fire you must now sweat.
Your broom-riding is over.
From Heuberg I whisk you away.
The Witch:
God himself and his saints
I have openly disowned.
My faith I gave to the devil.
Oh no, oh no, what will my punishment be?
The Gambler
Death:
Come here gambler, now it is your aim
to play a strange game with me.
Even if you have three good hands
you won't win anything with them - the game is over.
The Gambler:
I have played away a lot of money and goods;
now I must leave this world.
My cheating won't help.
I fear I'll get the gambler's retribution.
The Maiden
Death:
See, oh maiden, your red lips
are turning white this very hour.
You have often danced with boys,
now you must dance with me.
The Maiden:
Oh dear, how horror grips me.
I have lost all hope and joy.
I was just longing to have a husband,
but before that time comes, it's my turn.
The Child
Death:
I do not spare the age of youth.
I take children like picking flowers.
Come away my dear child.
forget your mother; now you are mine.
The Child:
Look! Look! Mother dear,
a tall man is coming in here.
He's pulling me away and wants to have me.
Already I must dance, though I can barely walk.
The Painter
Death:
Jacob Hiebeler stop your painting;
throw down your brush, you must away.
You already painted my body so abominable;
dance this way - now you must become the same.
The Painter:
I have painted the dance of death,
I must join the game or it wouldn't be complete.
Now this is my hard-earned reward.
You all follow hereafter - I must be gone.
