Nec pictura decus pompam luxumque relegat,
In queexplanatory note 1 choris nostris ducere festa monet.explanatory note 2
¶ Doctor loquitur
Discite vos choream cuncti qui cernitis istam
Quantum prosit honor gaudia divitie;
line5Tales estis enim matina morte futuri
Qualis in effigie mortua turba vocat.
¶ Le docteur
O, creature raisonnable,
Qui desires vie eternelle,
Tu as cy doctrine notable
line10Pour bien finer vie mortelle.
La danse macabre s’appelle
Que chascun a danser apprant.
A homme et femme est mort naturelle;
Mort n’espargnetextual note 1 petit ne grant.explanatory note 3
¶ Le docteur
line15En ce mirouer chascun puet lire
Qu’il le convient ainsi danser.
Cilz est qui bien s’i mire;explanatory note 4
La mort le vif fait avancier.
fol. 1vTu vois les plus grans eureux commancier,
line20Car il n’est nul que mort ne fiere.
C’est piteuse chose y penser:
Tout est forgié d’une matiere.explanatory note 5
¶ Le mort au pape
Vous qui vives certainement
Quoy qu’il tarde ainsi danserez.
line25Mais quant? Dieu le scet seulement.
Advisies comment vous ferez.
Damp pape, vous commancerez.
Comme le plus digne seigneur,
En ce point honnoré serez:
line30Aux grans maistres est deu l’onneur.
¶ Le pape
Hee, fault il que la danse maine
Le premier, qui suis dieu en terre?
J’ay eu dignité souveraine
En l’esglise comme Saint Pierre,
line35Et, comme aultre, mort me vient querre.
Encor point morir ne cuidasse,
Mais la mort a tous maine guerre.
Peu vault honnour qui si tost passe.
¶ Le mort
Et vous, le nompareil du monde,
line40Prince et seigneur, grant emperierre,
fol. 2rLaissier fault la pomme d’or ronde,
Armes, ceptre, timbre,textual note 2 baniere.
Je ne vous laire pas d’arriere.
Vous ne povez plus seignorir;
line45J’enmaine tout — c’est ma maniere.
Les filz Adam fault tous morir.
¶ L’empereur
Je ne scay devant qui j’appelle
De la mort, qu’ainsi me demaine.
Armer me fault de pic, de pelle,
line50Et d’un linseul; ce m’est grant paine.
Sus tous ay eu honneur mondaine,
Et morir me fault pour tout gaige.
Et qu’est ce de mortel demaine?
Les grans ne l’ont pas davantaige.
¶ Le mort
line55Vos faites l’esbay, cetextual note 3 semble,
Cardinal — sus legierement,
Suyvons les autres tous ensemble.
Riens n’y vault esbayssement.
Vous avez vescu haultement
line60Et eu honneurs a grans devis:
Prenez en gré l’esbatement.
Es grans honneurs se pert l’advis.
fol. 2v¶ Le cardinal
J’ay bien cause de m’esbahir
Quant je me voy de si pres prins.
line65La mort m’est venue envair:
Plus ne vestiray vair ne gris;
Chappeau rouge et chappe de pris
Me fault laissier a grant destresse.
Je ne l’avoye pas aprins:
line70Toute joye fine en tristesse.explanatory note 6
¶ Le mort
Venez, noble roy couronné,
Renommé de force et proesse.
Jadis fustes avironné
De grans pompes, de grant noblesse,
line75Mais maintenant toute haultesse
Laisserez. Vous n’estes pas seul.
Peu aurez de vostre richesse:
Le plus riche n’a q’un linseul.explanatory note 7
¶ Le roy
Je n’ay point aprins a danser
line80A danse et notte si sauvage.explanatory note 8(see note)
Helas, on puet veoir et penser:
Que vault orgueil, force, lignage?
Mort destruit touttextual note 4 — c’est son usage —
Aussi toust le grant que le mendre.
line85Qui moins se prise, plus est saige;
A la fin fault devenir cendre.explanatory note 9
fol. 3r¶ Le mort
Patriarche, pour basse chiere
Vous ne povez estre quitté.
Vostre double crois qu’avez chiere
line90Un aultre aura — c’est equité.
Ne penses plus a dignité:
Ja ne serez pape de Romme.
Pour rendre compte estes cité.
Fole esperance deçoit l’omme.explanatory note 10
¶ Le patriarche
line95Bien parchoy que mondains honneurs
M’ont deceu, pour dire le voir.
Mes joyes tournent en douleurs,
Et que vault tant d’onneur avoir?
Trop hault monter n’est pas savoir.
line100Haulx estas gastent gens sans nombre,
Mais peu le veulent parcevoir:
A hault monter letextual note 5 fais encombre.
¶ Le mort
C’est de mon droit que je vous mainne
A la danse, gent connestable.
line105Les plus fors, comme Charlemaine,
Mort prent — c’est chose veritable.
Riens ne vault chiere espoventable,
Ne forte armeure en cest assault.
D’un cop j’abat le plus estable:
line110Rien n’est d’armée quant mort assault.
fol. 3v¶ Le connestable
J’avoye encor entencion
D’assaillir chasteaux, forteresses,
Et mener a subjection
En acquerent honneur, richesses.
line115Mais je voy que toutes proesses
Mort met au bas — c’est grant despit.
Tout luy est un, doulceurs, rudesses;
Contre la mort n’a nul respit.explanatory note 11
¶ Le mort
Que vous tires la teste arriere,
line120Archevesque? Tires vous pres.
Avez vous peur c’om ne vous fiere?
Ne doubtes: vous venres apres.
N’est pas tousjours la mort empres?
Tout homme elle suit coste a coste.
line125Rendre convient debtes et prests;
Une fois fault compter a l’oste.
¶ L’archevesque
Las, je ne scay ou regarder,
Tant suis par mort a grant destroit.
Ou fuiray je pour moy garder?
line130Certes qui bien la cognoistroit
Hors de raison jamais n’istroit.
Plus ne gerray en chambre painte;
Morir me convient, c’est le droit.
Quant faire fault, c’est grant contrainte.textual note 6
fol. 4r¶ Le mort
line135Vous qui entre les grans barons
Avez eu renom, chevalier,
Obliez trompettes, clarons,
Et me suyvez sans sommeiller.
Les dames souliez resveillier
line140En faisant danser longue piece.
A aultre danse fault veillier.
Ce que l’un fait, l’autre despiece.explanatory note 12
¶ Le chevalier
Or ay je esté auctorisié
En pluseurs fais, et bien famé
line145Des grans, et des petis prisié,
Avec ce des dames amé,
Ne onques ne fu diffamé
A la court de seigneur notable.
Mais a ce cop suistextual note 7 tout pasmé.
line150Dessoubz le ciel n’a riens estable.explanatory note 13
¶ Le mort
Tantost n’aurez vaillent ce pic
Des biens du monde et de nature,
Evesque — de vous il est pic,explanatory note 14
Nonobstant vostre prelature.
line155Vostre fait gist en aventure.explanatory note 15
De voz subgez fault rendre compte;
A chascun dieu fera droicture.
N’est pas aseur qui trop hault monte.
¶ L’evesque
Le cueur ne me puet resjoir
fol. 4vDes nouvelles que mort m’aporte.
line161Dieu vouldra de tout compte oir:
C’est ce que plus me desconforte.
Le monde aussi peu me conforte,
Qui tout a la fin desherite;
line165Il retient tout: nul riens n’emporte.
Tout se passe, fors le merite.
¶ Le mort
Avancez vous, gent escuier,
Qui savez de danser les tours.
Lance porties et escu hier,
line170Et huy vous finerez voz jours.
Il n’est rien qui ne preigne cours.
Dansez et pensez de suir;
Vous ne povez avoir secours.
Il n’est qui puisse mort fuir.explanatory note 16
¶ L’escuier
line175Puis que mort me tient en ses las,
Au moins que je puisse un mot dire:
Adieu, deduis, adieu, soulas,
Adieu, dames, plus ne puis rire.textual note 8
Pensez de l’ame qui desire
line180Reppos; ne vous chaille plus tant
Du corps, qui tous les jours empire.
Tout fault pourrir on ne scet quant.
¶ Le mort
Abbé, venez tost, vous fuyez.
fol. 5rN’ayez ja la chieretextual note 9 esbaye.
line185Il convient quetextual note 10 la mort suyez,
Combien que moult l’avez haye.
Commandez a dieu l’abbaye,
Qui gros et gras vous a norry.
Tost pourrierez a peu d’aye:
line190Le plus gras est premier pourry.explanatory note 17
¶ L’abbé
De cecy n’eusse point envie,
Mais il convient le pas passer.
Las, or n’ay je pas en ma vie
Gardé mon ordre sans casser?
line195Gardes vous de trop embrasser,
Vous qui vives au demorant,
Se vous voulez bien trespasser.
On s’advise tart en mourant.textual note 11
¶ Le morttextual note 12
Bailli, qui savez qu’est justice
line200Et hault et bas, en mainte guise,
Pour gouverner toute police,
Venez tantost a ceste assise —
Je vous adjourne de main mise —
Pour rendre compte de voz fais
line205A grant juge, qui tout un prise.
Un chascun portera son fais.
¶ Le bailly
He, dieu, vecy dure journee.
De ce cop pas ne me gardoye;
Or est la chance bien tournée.
fol. 5vEntre juges honneur avoye,
line211Et mort fait ravaler ma joye,
Qui m’a adjourné sans rappel.
Je n’y voy plus ne tour ne voye;
Contre la mort n’a point d’appel.explanatory note 18
¶ Le mort
line215Maistre, pour vostre regarder
En hault, ne pour vostre clergie,
Ne povez la mort retarder.
Cy ne vault riens astrologie.
Toute la genealogie
line220D’Adam, qui fut le premier homme,
Mort prent — ce dit theologie:
Tous fault morir pour une pomme.
¶ L’astrologien
Pour science, ne pour degres,
Ne puis avoir provision,
line225Car maintenent tous mes regrez
Sont morir a confusion
Pour finable conclusion.
Je ne scay riens que plus descrive;
Je pers cy toute advision.
line230Qui vouldra bien morir bien vive.explanatory note 19
¶ Le mort
Bourgoys, hastes vous sans tarder.
Vous n’avez avoir ne richesse,
fol. 6rQui vous puissent de mort garder.
Se des biens dont eustes largesse
line235Avez bien usé, c’est sagesse.
D’autruy vient, tout a autruy passe.
Fol est qui d’amasser se blesse:
On ne scet pour qui on amasse.explanatory note 20
¶ Le bourgoys
Grant mal me fait si toust laissier
line240Rentes, maisons, cens, monteure,
Mais povres et riches abaissier
Tu fais, mort, telle est ta nature.
Sage n’est pas la creature
D’amer trop les biens qui demourent
line245Au monde et sont siens par droicture.
Ceulx qui plus ont plus envis meurent.
¶ Le mort
Sire chanoine prebendez,explanatory note 21
Plus n’aurez distribucion
Ne gros; ne vous y attendez.
line250Prenez cy consolacion
Pour toute retribucion:
Morir vous convient sans demeure.
Ja n’y aurez dilacion.
La mort vient qu’on ne garde l’eure.explanatory note 22
fol. 6v¶ Le chanoine
line255Cecy gueres ne me conforte.
Prebendez fuz en mainte esglise,
Or est la mort plus que moy forte,
Qui tout enmaine — c’est sa guise.
Blanc surplis et aumuce grise
line260Me fault laissier et a mort rendre.
Que vault gloire si tost bas mise?
A bien morir doit chascun tendre.explanatory note 23
¶ Le mort
Marchant, regardez par deça.
Plusiers pays avez cerchié
line265A pié a cheval de pieça.
Vous n’en serez plus empeschié:
Vecy vostre desrain marchié.
Il convient que par cy passez;
De tout soing serez despeschié.
line270Tel convoite qui a assez.explanatory note 24
¶ Le marchant
J’ay esté amont et aval
Pour marchander ou je porroye
Par longtemps a pié, a cheval,
Mais maintenent pers toute joye.
line275De tout mon povoir acqueroye,
Or ay je asses; mort me contraint.
Bon fait aler moyenne voye:
Qui trop embrasse peu estraint.explanatory note 25
fol. 7r¶ Le mort
Alez, marchant, sans plus rester,
line280Ne faictes ja cy resistence.
Vous n’y povez riens conquester.
Vous aussi, homme d’abstinence,
Chartreux, prenez en pacience.
De plus vivre n’ayez memoire;
line285Faictez vous valoir a la danse.
Sur tout homme mort a victoire.
¶ Le chartreux
Je suis au monde pieça mort,
Par quoy de vivre ay moins envie,
Ja soit que tout homme craint mort.
line290Puis que la char est assouvie.
Plaise a dieu que l’ame ravie
Soit es cieulx apres mon trespas.
C’est tout neant de ceste vie;
Tel est huy qui demain n’est pas.
¶ Le mort
line295Sergent qui portez celle mace,
Il semble que vous rebellez.
Pour neant faictes la grimace;
Se on vous griefve si, appellez.explanatory note 26
Vous estes de mort appellez;
line300Qui luy rebelle, il se dechoit.
Les plus fors sont tost ravallez.
Il n’est fort qu’aussy fort ne soit.
fol. 7v¶ Le sergent
Moy, qui suy royal officier,
Comment m’ose la mort frapper?
line305Je faisoye mon office hyer,
Et elle me vient huy happer?
Je ne scay quelle part eschapper;
Je suis prins deça et dela.
Malgre moy me laisse attraper.
line310Envis meurt qui aprins ne l’a.explanatory note 27
¶ Le mort
Ha, maistre, par la passez;
N’ayez ja soing de vous deffendre.
Plus homme n’espoventerez.
Apres, moyne, sans plus attendre.
line315Ou pensez vous? Cy fault entendre:
Tantost aurez la bouche close.
Homme n’est fors que vent et cendre;textual note 13
Vie d’omme est peutextual note 14 de chose.explanatory note 28
¶ Le moyne
J’amasse mieulx encores estre
line320En cloistre et faire mon service:
C’est un lieu devost et bel estre.
Or ay je, comme fol et nice,
Ou temps passé commis maint vice,
De quoy n’ay pas fait penitance
line325Suffisant. Dieu me soit propice:
Chascun n’est pas joyeux qui dance.
¶ Le mort
Usurier de sens desreuglé,explanatory note 29
Venez toust et me regardez.
fol. 8rD’usure estes tant aveuglié
line330Que d’argent gaignier tout ardez.
Mais vous en serez bien lardez,
Car setextual note 15dieu, qui est merveilleux,
N’a pitié de vous, tout perdez.
A tout perdre est cop perilleux.explanatory note 30
¶ L’usurier
line335Me convient il si toust mourir?
Ce m’est grant paine et grant grevance,
Et ne me pourroient secourir
Mon or, mon argent, ma chevance.
Je voys mourir; la mort m’avance.
line340Mais il m’en desplaist somme toute.
Qu’est ce de male acoustumance?
Tel a beaux eulx qui n’y voit goute.explanatory note 31
¶ L’omme qui emprunte
Usure est tant mauvais pechié,
Comme chascun dit et recompte,
line345Et cest homme, qui approuchié
Se voit de la mort, n’en tient compte.
Mesmes l’argent qu’en ma maintextual note 16 compte
Encor a usure me preste.
Il devra de retour au compte:
line350N’est pas quitte qui doit de reste.explanatory note 32
¶ Le mort
Medecin, a tout vostre orine
fol. 8vVeez vous ycy qu’amender?
Jadis seustes de medicine
Assez pour povoir commander,
line355Or vous vient la mort demander.
Comme aultre vous convient mourir.
Vous n’y povez contremander;
Bon mire est qui se scet guerir.explanatory note 33
¶ Le medecin
Longtemps a qu’en l’art de phisique
line360J’ay mis toute mon estudie.
J’avoye science et pratique
Pour guerir mainte maladie.
Je ne scay que je contredie:
Plus n’y vault herbe, ne racine,
line365N’autre remede. Quoy qu’on dye,
Contre la mort n’a medicine.
¶ Le mort
Gentil amoureux joune et frique,
Qui vous cuidiez de grant valour,
Vous estes prins; la mort vous picque.
line370Le monde lairez a doulour.
Trop l’avez amé — c’est folour —
Et a morir peu regardé.
Ja tost vous changerez coulour:
Beauté n’est qu’ymage fardé.explanatory note 34
¶ L’amoureux
line375Helas, or n’y a yl secours
fol. 9rContre mort? Adieu, amourettes.
Moult toust va jounesse a decours.
Adieu, chappeaux, bouquez, flourettes,
Adieu, amans et pucellettes.
line380Souviegneztextual note 17 vous de moy souvent,
Et vous mirez se saiges estes.
Petite pluye abat grant vent.explanatory note 35
¶ Le mort
Advocat, sans long procesexplanatory note 36 faire,
Venez vostre cause plaidier.
line385Bien avez sceu les gens attraire
De pieça, non pas d’uy ne d’ier.
Conseil si ne vous puet aidier.
Au grant juge vous fault venir.
Savoir le devez sans cuidier:
line390Bon fait justice prevenir.explanatory note 37
¶ L’advocat
C’est bien drois que raison se face,
Ne je n’y scay mettre deffense.
Contre mort n’a respit ne grace;
Nul n’appelle de sa sentence.
line395J’ay eu de l’autruy, quant je y pense,
De quoy je doubte estre reprins.
A craindre est le jour de vengence:
Dieu rendra tout a juste pris.explanatory note 38
fol. 9v¶ Le mort
Menestrel qui danses et nottes
line400Savez et avez beau maintien
Pour faire esjoir sos et sottes,
Qu’en dites vous? Alons nous bien?
Monstrertextual note 18 vous fault, puis que vous tien,
Aux autres cy un tour de dance.
line405Le contredire n’y vault rien:
Maistre doit monstrer sa science.explanatory note 39
¶ Le menestrel
De danser ainsi n’eusse cure;
Certes tres envis je m’en melle,
Car de mort n’est paine plus dure.
line410J’ay mis soubz le banc ma vielle.explanatory note 40(see note)
Plus ne corneray sauterelleexplanatory note 41
N’autre danse; mort m’en retient.
Il me fault obeir a elle:
Tel danse a qui au cueur n’en tient.
¶ Le mort
line415Passez, curé, sans plus songier;
Je sens qu’estes habandonné.
Le vif le mort soliez mangier,
Mais vous serez aux vers donné.
Vous feustes jadix ordonné
line420Mirouer d’autruy et exemplaire.
De voz faiz serez guerdonné:
A toute paine est deu salaire.
¶ Le curetextual note 19
fol. 10rVueille ou nom, il fault que me rende;
Il n’est homme que mort n’assaille.
line425Hee, de mes paroissiens offrande
N’auray jamais, ne funeraille.
Devant le juge fault que je aille
Rendre compte, las, doulereux.
Or ay je grant paour que ne faille:
line430Qui dieu quitte bien est eureux.explanatory note 42
¶ Le mort
Laboureur qui en soing et paine
Avez vescu tout vostre temps,
Mourir fault — c’est chose certaine.
Reculer n’y vault, ne contens.
line435De mort devez estre contens,
Car de grant soucy vous delivre.
Approchiez vous, je vous attens:
Fol est qui cuide tousjours vivre.explanatory note 43
¶ Le laboureur
La mort ay souhaitié souvent,
line440Mais volentiers je latextual note 20 fuysse.
J’amasse mieux, fist pluye ou vent
Estre es vignes ou je fouysse;
Encor plus grant plaisir y preisse,
Car je pers de peur tout propos.
line445Or n’est qui de ce pas ysse.
Au monde n’a point de reppos.explanatory note 44
fol. 10v¶ Le mort
Faictes voye, vous avez tort,
Laboureur. Apres, cordelier.
Souvent avez preschié de mort,
line450Si vous devez moins merveiller;
Ja ne s’en fault esmay bailler.
Il n’est si fort que mort n’arreste;
Si fait bon a morir veiller.
A toute heure la mort est preste.explanatory note 45
¶ Le cordelier
line455Qu’est ce que de vivre en ce monde?
Nul homme a seurte n’y demeure.textual note 21
Toute vanite y habunde,
Puis vient la mort, qu’a tous court seure.
Mendicité point ne m’asseure;
line460Des meffais fault payer l’amende.
En petite heure dieu labeure;explanatory note 46
Sage est le pecheur qui s’amende.
¶ Le mort
Petit enfant naguerez né,
Au monde auras peu de plaisance.
line465A la danse seras mené
Comme autres, car mort a puissance
Sur tous du jour de la naissance.
Convient chascun a mort offrir;
Fol est qui n’en a congnoissance.
line470Qui plus vit plus a a souffrir.textual note 22
¶ L’enfant
A, A, A, je ne scay parler.
fol. 11rEnfant suy, j’ay latextual note 23 langue mue.
Hyer nasquis, huy m’en fault aler;
Je ne fay qu’entrée et yssue.
line475Rien n’ay mesfait, mais de peur sue.
Prendre en gré me fault — c’est le mieux.
L’ordonnance Dieu ne se mue;
Aussi toust meurt joune que vieulx.explanatory note 47
¶ Le mort
Cuidiez vous de mort eschapper,
line480Clerc, esperdu pour reculer?
Il ne s’en fault ja desfripper.
Tel cuide souvent hault aler
Qu’ontextual note 24 voit a cop tost ravaler.
Prenez en gré, alons ensemble,
line485Car riens n’y vault le rebeller:
Dieu punist tout quant bon luy semble.explanatory note 48
¶ Le clerc
Fault il q’un joune clerc servant,
Qui en service prent plaisir
Pour cuidier venir en avant
line490Meure si tost? C’est desplaisir.
Je suis quitte de plus choisir
Autre estat; y fault qu’ainsy danse.
La mort m’a prins a son loisir;
Moult remaint de ce que fol pense.explanatory note 49
fol. 11v¶ Le mort
line495Clerc, point ne fault faire reffus
De danser; faictes vous valoir.
Vous n’estes pas seul — levez sus —
Pourtant moins vous en doit chaloir.
Venez apres, c’est mon voloir,
line500Homme norry en hermitaige;
Ja ne vous en convient douloir.
Vie n’est pas seur heritaige.explanatory note 50
¶ L’ermite
Pour vie dure ou solitaire
Mort ne donne de vivre espace.
line505Chascun le voit, si s’en fault taire.
Or requier dieu q’un don me face:
C’est que tous mes pechiez efface.
Bien suis content de tous ses biens,
Desquelx j’ay usé de sa grace.
line510Qui n’a souffisance, il n’a riens.
fol. 12r¶ Le mort luy repond
C’est bien dit, ainsi doit on dire;textual note 25
Il n’est qui soit de mort delivré.
Qui mal vit, il aura du pire:
Si pense chascun de bien vivre.
line515Dieu pesera tout a la livre;
Bon y fait penser seoir et main.
Meilleur science n’a en livre:explanatory note 51
Il n’est qui ait point de demain.
¶ Le roy mort qui vers mignent
Vous qui en ceste pourtraitture
line520Veez danser estas divers,explanatory note 52
Pensez qu’est humaine nature:
Ce n’est fors que viande a vers.explanatory note 53
Je le monstre, qui gis envers,
Si ay je esté roy couronnez.
line525Telx soiez vous, bons et pervers.
Tous estas sont aux vers donnez.textual note 26
¶ Machabre docteur
Rien n’est d’omme, qui bien y pense,
C’est tout chose transitoire.
Chascun le voit par ceste danse.
line530Pour ce vous, qui veez l’ystoire,
Retenez la bien en memoire,
Car homme et femme elle amonneste
D’avoir de paradis la gloire.
Eureux est qui es cieulx fait feste.
fol. 12v¶ Le docteur encor
line535Mais aucuns sont a qui n’en chault,
Comme s’il ne feust paradis
N’enfer. Helas, ilz auront chault.explanatory note 54
Les livres que firent jadix
Les sains le monstrent en beaux dis.
line540Acquittiez vous qui cy passez,
Et faictes du bien — plus n’en dis.
Bien fait vault moult aux trespassez.explanatory note 55
¶ Angelus et doctor locuntur
Mortales dominus cunctos in luce creavit
Ut capiant meritis gaudia summa poli.
line545Felix ille quidem qui mentem jugiter illuc
Dirigit atque vigil noxia queque cavet,
Nec tamen infelix sceleris quem penitet acti
Quique suum facinus plangereexplanatory note 56 sepe solet.
Sed vivunt homines tamquam mors nulla sequatur,
line550Et velut infernus fabula vana foret,
Cum doceat sensus viventes morte resolui
Atque herebiexplanatory note 57penas pagina sacraexplanatory note 58probet(see note)
Quas qui non metuit infelix prorsus et amenstextual note 27
Vivit et extinctus sentiet ille rogum.
line555Sic igitur cuncti sapientes vivere certent
Ut nichil inferni sit metuenda palus.
The painting does not reject glory, pomp, and indulgence
It begs us to lead into these festivities with our dances.
¶ The Teacher speaks
You, all you who behold that dance,
Learn how great is the profit of honor, joy, riches;
line5For this is how you shall be in the morning with Death,
Like the ones in dead effigy whom the mob summons.
¶ The Doctor
O, creature endowed with reason,
You who long for eternal life,
You have before you an important precept
line10For properly ending your mortal life.
It is called the Danse macabre,
Which everyone learns to dance.
Death is natural to men and women;
Death spares neither the lowly nor the lofty.
¶ The Doctor
line15In this mirror everyone can read
That he must dance like this.
Happy is the man who can see himself in it well;
Death makes the living come forward.
You see the loftiest take the first step,
line20For there is no one whom Death does not strike.
It is a pitiable thing to consider here:
Everyone is fashioned from the same material.
¶ Death to the Pope
You who are alive assuredly
Sooner or later will dance like this.
line25But when? Only God knows.
Consider what you will do.
Lord Pope, you will begin.
As the most venerable suzerain,
You will be honored in this regard:
line30Honor is owed to great lords.
¶ The Pope
Ah, must I, who am God on earth,
Lead the dance first?
I had sovereign power
In the church like Saint Peter,
line35And, like any other, Death comes to seek me out.
I was not at all expecting to die,
But Death wages war on everyone.
Such fleeting honor is worth little.
¶ Death
And you, peerless on earth,
line40Prince and lord, great emperor,
You must give up the golden orb,
The arms, the scepter, the crest, and the banner.
You I will not leave behind.
You cannot rule any longer;
line45I carry off everything — that’s my style.
All Adam’s sons must die.
¶ The Emperor
I do not know before whom to appeal
Against Death, who leads me away like this.
I must arm myself with a pickaxe, a shovel,
line50And a shroud; this is extremely hard for me.
I possessed glory on earth above all others,
And dying is all I have to show for it.
And what about mortal dominion?
The lofty do not have it anymore.
¶ Death
line55You act astonished, it seems,
Cardinal — up, quickly now,
Let us follow the others together.
Astonishment is of no use.
You have lived grandly
line60And had all the privileges you wanted:
Enjoy the entertainment.
Good sense gets lost amid great privileges.
¶ The Cardinal
I have good reason to be astonished
When I see myself so cornered.
line65Death has come to attack me:
Nevermore will I wear gray squirrel trim;
I must, with great distress, give up
The red hat and costly chasuble.
I had not learned it sooner:
line70All joy ends in sadness.
¶ Death
Come, noble crowned king,
Renowned for might and prowess.
Once upon a time you were surrounded
With great pomp and with great circumstance,
line75But now you leave behind
All grandeur. You are not alone.
You will have little of your riches:
The richest man has but a shroud.
¶ The King
I never did learn to dance
line80To such savage steps and melodies.
Alas, one can look and think:
What good is pride, might, lineage?
Death destroys all — that is its custom —
The lofty along with the lesser.
line85He who esteems himself least is the wiser;
In the end one must turn to ash.
¶ Death
Patriarch, your downcast look
Will not acquit you.
Your double cross, which you have prized,
line90Another will have — fair and square.
Think no more about your prerogatives:
You will never be the pope in Rome.
You are summoned to give account.
Foolish hope deceives men.
¶ The Patriarch
line95I clearly do see that worldly privileges
Have deceived me, to be honest.
My joys turn to sorrows,
And what good is having so much privilege?
Climbing too high is not wise.
line100Lofty estates destroy countless people,
But few are willing to realize that:
The burden weighs heavy on him who climbs high.
¶ Death
It is in my purview to lead you
To the dance, noble constable.
line105Death captures the mightiest
Like Charlemagne — that is the truth.
A fierce countenance is of no use,
Nor is strong armor against this attack.
With one blow I strike down the steadiest:
line110Military might is nothing when Death attacks.
¶ The Constable
I still had every intention
Of storming and conquering
Castles and fortresses,
While gaining fame and spoils.
line115But I see that Death lays all
Exploits low — that is a great shame.
Gentleness, violence, it is all the same to it;
No one gains reprieve from Death.
¶ Death
Why do you draw your head back,
line120Archbishop? Draw closer.
Are you afraid you will be struck?
Fear not: you will be next.
Isn’t Death always closing in?
It sticks by every man’s side.
line125You must render debts and dues;
At a certain point one must settle with the host.
¶ The Archbishop
Alas, I do not know where to look,
Death has me in such dire straits.
Where will I flee to protect myself?
line130Surely nobody who recognized Death
Would ever stray from the right path.
Never more will I lie in a painted chamber;
I must die, it is the law.
When one must do it, it is under great duress.
¶ Death
line135You, knight, who among the lofty barons,
Had much renown,
Forget the trumpets and the clarions
And follow me without drifting off.
You used to rouse the ladies
line140By dancing for a good long while.
Now you must stay up late for a new dance.
What one makes, another breaks.
¶ The Knight
Now I used to be honored
For numerous feats, and well reputed
line145Among the lofty, and prized by the lowly,
And also loved by ladies,
Nor was I ever defamed
At the court of a respected lord.
But by this blow I am knocked out cold.
line150Nothing is stable beneath the heavens.
¶ Death
Soon your worldly and natural wealth
Will not amount to this pickaxe,
Bishop — you don’t have a single card to play,
Your prelature notwithstanding.
line155Your fate hangs in the balance.
You should take stock of your subjects;
God will dispense justice to all.
He who climbs too high is not secure.
¶ The Bishop
My heart cannot rejoice
line160In the news brought to me by Death.
God will wish to go over all the accounts:
This is what pains me most.
I can get little comfort too from the world,
Which ultimately dispossesses everyone.
line165It keeps all; no one makes off with anything.
Everything fades, save merit.
¶ Death
Come forward, noble squire,
You who know all the dance steps.
You bore a lance and shield yesterday,
line170And today you will end your days.
There is nothing that does not take its course.
Dance and try to keep up;
No one can help you.
There is no one who can flee Death.
¶ The Squire
line175Since Death holds me tight in its snares,
At the very least let me say a word:
Farewell, pleasure, farewell, solace,
Farewell, ladies, I can laugh no more.
Think of the soul that longs for
line180Eternal sleep; stop worrying so much
About the body that deteriorates with each passing day.
All must rot eventually.
¶ Death
Abbot, come back at once, you are running away.
Do not look so astonished now.
line185It befits you to follow Death,
Much as you have always hated it.
Commend to God the abbey,
Which has turned you out big and fat.
You will rot quickly with little help:
line190The fattest is the first to rot.
¶ The Abbot
I had no desire for this whatsoever,
But I must take the final step.
Alas, did I not in my life
Keep my vows without breaking them?
line195Keep yourself from grasping too much,
You who live in the time that remains,
If you wish to die well.
It is too late to learn on the deathbed.
¶ Death
Bailiff, you who know what justice is
line200Everywhere, in all its forms,
When it comes to governing all administrations,
Come straightaway before this court —
I serve you with a summons —
To account for your works
line205Before the great judge, who assesses everyone alike.
Each and everyone will bear his burden.
¶ The Bailiff
Oh, God, this is a tough day.
I was not on my guard against this blow;
Now my fortunes have truly changed.
line210I used to be honored among judges,
And Death, who has summoned me
Without right of appeal, casts down my joys.
I see no more moves nor routes to take;
Against Death there are no appeals.
¶ Death
line215Master, for all your gazing up
On high and all your clerkly knowledge,
You cannot delay Death.
Astrology is worth nothing here.
The whole lineage
line220Of Adam, who was the first man,
Gets taken by Death — so says theology:
All must die for an apple.
¶ The Astrologer
Despite knowledge, despite degrees,
I cannot prepare myself for this,
line225For now I regret nothing more
Than ending up
Dying in distress.
I know nothing that might elucidate it more;
Here I lose all my sight.
line230May he who wishes to die well live well.
¶ Death
Burgess, hurry up without delay.
You have neither wealth nor riches
That might protect you from Death.
If you have made proper use of the goods
line235That you had in abundance, that is wise.
What comes from one all passes to another.
The fool ruins himself through hoarding:
One does not know for whom one hoards.
¶ The Burgess
It pains me greatly to give up rents,
line240Houses, revenues, and belongings so soon,
But you, Death, cast down
The poor and the rich, such is your nature.
No creature is wise to love too much
The goods that remain
line245In the material world and belong to it by right.
Those who have more are more loath to die.
¶ Death
Sir Prebendary,
No more will you have allocation
Nor revenue; do not count on it.
line250Take consolation in this
As sole compensation:
You must die without delay.
You will get no deferral here.
Death comes when one least expects it.
¶ The Canon
line255This hardly comforts me.
I had a prebend in many a church,
But now Death, who carries off everything,
Overpowers me — that is its way.
My white surplice and grey amice
line260I must leave and give up to Death.
What use is glory so soon brought low?
Everyone should look to dying well.
¶ Death
Merchant, look over here.
Once upon a time you roamed through
line265Many lands on foot and in the saddle.
You will no longer be thus preoccupied:
Here is your final marketplace.
You must pass through here;
You will be discharged of all cares.
line270He who has plenty only covets more.
¶ The Merchant
For a long time I traveled high and low
To trade where I could
On foot and in the saddle,
But now I lose all joy.
line275I did my utmost to acquire wealth,
But now I have enough; Death seizes me.
It is good to take the middle way;
He who grasps too much grips little.
¶ Death
Come, merchant, without further delay,
line280Do not put up any more of a fight.
You can achieve nothing by it.
You too, man of abstinence,
Carthusian, have forbearance.
Forget about living anymore;
line285Put your best foot forward at the dance.
Death is victorious over all men.
¶ The Carthusian
I have been dead to the world a long time,
Wherefore I have less will to live,
Even though every man fears Death.
line290Since the flesh has come to term,
God willing, let my soul be ravished
To the heavens at my passing.
This life is but pure naught;
We are here today and gone tomorrow.
¶ Death
line295Sergeant, carrying that mace,
You seem recalcitrant.
It is no use at all to make that face;
If you are being injured so, lodge an appeal.
You have been called by Death;
line300He who rebels against it deceives himself.
The strongest are soon felled.
No man is so strong as to be stronger than Death.
¶ The Sergeant
Me, a royal officer,
How dare Death strike me?
line305I was carrying out my duties just the other day,
And today it comes to snatch me?
I do not know which way to flee;
I am cornered on all sides.
Despite myself I let myself get caught.
line310He is loath to die who has not learned to die well.
¶ Death
Ah, master, head on through;
Do not think to defend yourself.
You will not frighten anyone anymore.
You are next, monk, no more dawdling,
line315What are you thinking about? Focus on this:
Soon your mouth will be shut.
Man is nothing but wind and ash;
A human life does not amount to much.
¶ The Monk
I would have preferred still being
line320In the cloister and saying my offices:
It is a devout place and a beautiful dwelling.
But, being foolish and senseless, I have
Committed many a vice in the past,
For which I have not done sufficient
line325Penance. May God look favorably upon me:
Not everyone who dances is happy.
¶ Death
Usurer, you with your disordered mind,
Come quick and look at me.
You are so blinded by usury
line330That you burn to rake in wealth.
But it will gouge you,
For if God, who is magnificent,
Does not pity you, you lose everything.
It is a dangerous game in which all can be lost in just one bet.
¶ The Usurer
line335Must I die so soon?
This causes me great pain and great misery,
And not my gold, my silver, nor my wealth
Can possibly help me.
I will die; Death leads the way.
line340But this angers me through and through.
What kind of unfair tax is this?
Sometimes the fairest eyes cannot see a thing.
¶ The Borrower
Usury is such an evil sin,
As everyone says and recounts,
line345Yet this man, who sees his death
Approach, does not take it into account.
He just continues to loan me at interest
The money he counts out into my hand.
He will owe the rest on his account:
line350He who owes still has not settled the debt.
¶ Death
Physician, in all your urine
Do you see here what to cure?
You once knew enough
About medicine to be able to prescribe treatment,
line355But now Death comes to ask for you.
You must die like any other.
You cannot countermand it:
The good doctor knows how to cure himself.
¶ The Physician
For a long time I devoted myself entirely
line360To studying the art of medicine;
I knew both the theory and the practice
Of curing many an illness.
I do not know with what to counter:
Plants and roots and other remedies
line365Are no longer any good. Whatever they say,
There is no cure for Death.
¶ Death
Noble lover, young and elegant,
You who believe yourself to be of great worth,
You have been taken; you feel Death’s sting.
line370You will leave the world in pain.
You have loved it too much — how foolish —
And thought little of dying.
Soon now your color will begin to change:
Beauty is but a painted image.
¶ The Lover
line375Alas, is there no recourse now
Against Death? Farewell, dalliances.
How quickly youth ebbs away.
Farewell, garlands, bouquets, and blossoms,
Farewell, lovers and young maidens.
line380May you remember me often
And mend your ways, if you are wise.
A little rain can still the strongest squall.
¶ Death
Man of law, without long deliberation,
Come plead your case.
line385You have well known how to sway folk
For a long time now, not just since today or yesterday.
Legal counsel cannot help you.
You must come before the great judge.
You should know it for certain:
line390It is meet to uphold justice.
¶ The Man of Law
It is only right that justice be done,
Nor do I know how to defend myself against it.
There is no respite nor pardon from Death;
No one appeals its sentence.
line395I, who took from others, when I think about it,
Now dread being seized in turn.
The day of vengeance is to be feared:
God will pay everything back in full.
¶ Death
Minstrel, who knows dances and
line400Melodies and puts on a good show
To give delight to fools and ninnies,
What do you say? Shall we go?
Since you are in my clutches, you must show
The others here some fancy footwork.
line405It is no use arguing:
The master should show off his expertise.
¶ The Minstrel
I have no desire to dance like this;
I am certainly loath to take part,
For there is no pain worse than Death.
line410I have hung up my hat and packed up my viol,
I will trill no more sauterelles
Nor other dances; Death keeps me from it.
I must obey:
A man can dance though his heart is not in it.
¶ Death
line415Come forward, parish priest, without dillydallying;
I sense that you have been handed over.
You used to feed off the living and the dead,
But now you will be served up to the worms.
You were once ordained to be
line420A mirror and example unto others.
You will be requited for your works:
All toil is owed its wages.
¶ The Parish Priest
Like it or not, I must turn myself in;
There is no man whom Death does not assail.
line425Ah, never again will I collect
My parishioners’ offerings or funeral fees.
I must go before the judge
To give account of myself, wretched and suffering.
Now I fear greatly coming up short:
line430Happy is he whom God fully acquits.
¶ Death
Laborer, you who have lived out
All your days in care and toil,
You must die — that is for certain.
It is no use drawing back or arguing.
line435You should be glad to die,
For Death delivers you from great misery.
Come closer, I am waiting for you:
He is a fool who thinks to live forever.
¶ The Laborer
I often wished for Death,
line440Yet now I would flee it willingly.
I would have preferred to be
Hoeing in the vineyards, come rain or wind;
I would enjoy that work more than ever before,
For fear has got me all turned around.
line445But now no one can escape this step.
The world holds no eternal rest.
¶ Death
Get a move on, you are in the wrong,
Laborer. You next, Franciscan,
You have often preached about Death,
line450So you should marvel less at it;
There is no need to act so dismayed.
No one is so mighty as to not get detained by Death;
Thus it is good to be wary of dying.
Death is poised to strike at any time.
¶ The Franciscan
line455What is it to live in this world?
No man resides there in safety.
All kinds of vanity abounds there,
Then comes Death, who attacks everyone.
Being a mendicant protects me not one bit;
line460One must pay amends for one’s misdeeds.
God works swiftly;
Wise is the sinner who mends his ways.
¶ Death
Little child newly born,
You will have little joy in the world.
line465You shall be led to the dance
Like the others, for Death has power
Over all from the day of their birth.
Each must make offering unto Death;
He is a fool who does not realize this.
line470The more one lives the more one suffers.
¶ The Child
A, A, A, I do not know how to speak.
Being a child, I am mute.
Born yesterday, today I must depart;
I do nothing but enter and exit.
line475I did no misdeed, but I am wet with fear.
I should take this in stride — that would be best.
God’s decree does not change:
The young die along with the old.
¶ Death
Do you think you can escape Death,
line480Clerk, desperate to back away?
You must not struggle so.
Many a man who thinks to climb high
Is seen to be abruptly cast back down.
Take it in stride, let us go together,
line485For it is no use resisting:
God punishes everyone when He sees fit.
¶ The Clerk
Must a young employed clerk,
Who takes pleasure in service,
Thereby hoping to advance himself,
line490Die so soon? That is harsh.
I am released from ever striving
For any other rank: thus must I dance.
Death has taken me at its convenience;
Much of what a fool thinks remains unrealized.
¶ Death
line495Clerk, you absolutely must not refuse
To dance; put your best foot forward.
You are not alone — get up —
Therefore you should be less upset about it.
You are next, that is my will,
line500Man who was raised in a hermitage;
Grief does not befit you.
Life is not granted in perpetuity.
¶ The Hermit
Despite a hard and solitary existence,
Death denies me the opportunity to live.
line505Everyone sees it, thus one must stop complaining.
Now I pray God that He make me a gift:
That is, that He pardon all my sins.
I am fully satisfied with all His goods,
Which I made use of by His grace.
line510He who is unsatisfied with what he has, has nothing.
¶ Death responds to him
That is well said, one should talk thus;
No one may be delivered from Death.
He who lives badly will end up with worse,
So everyone should think to live well.
line515God will weigh everything out exactly;
It is good to think on this night and day.
There is no better wisdom in the book:
We have no tomorrow, none of us.
¶ The dead King eaten by worms
You who in this image
line520See the different estates dance
Consider what is human nature:
It is nothing more than food for worms.
I am the proof, lying before you,
Though I was a crowned king.
line525Good or wicked, you will end up the same.
Every estate will be given to the worms.
¶ Doctor Machabre
When you really think about it, man is nothing,
A mere passing thing.
Anyone can see it in this dance.
line530Therefore you who see the depiction,
Hold it well in your memory,
For it encourages both men and women
To attain the glory of paradise.
He is fortunate who celebrates in the heavens.
¶ The Doctor again
line535But there are some who pay no heed,
As if there were neither heaven
Nor hell. Alas, they will have a very warm welcome.
The books that the saints wrote long ago
Prove it beautifully.
line540Pay off your debts, you who pass through here,
And do good works — I say no more.
Good deeds are worth a great deal to the dead.
¶ Angel and Teacher speak:
The Lord created all mortals in light
So they could seize the greatest joys of heaven through their merits.
line545Happy is that man, at least, who continually directs his mind thither
And wakefully avoids every crime;
Nor is he unhappy, if his evil deed makes him penitent
And if it is his custom to lament for his crime often.
But men live as if no death can pursue them,
line550And as if Hell were a mere fairy tale,
Though the Sacred Page teaches that living sensations are set free by Death
And it shows the punishments of Erebus.
The man who has no fear of them lives utterly unhappily and mad,
And when he is dead, he will feel the pyre.
line555So therefore, let every wise man strive to live
Such that the Lake of Hades may not be feared at all.