This is a Leich of the Holy Grave

A witless man supplies
All of you with this counsel wise,
That with a willing mind ye may give heed.
Ye who are wise, attend!
'Twill bring you profit in the end.
What I advise
Is far more wise
Than I, if well ye apprehend.

My foolish mouth would fain »
Speak of God's marvels and make plain
To all of you how great they are indeed;
They are most manifold.
Whoso to serve Him now is cold
Is wholly lost,
For to his cost
God's wrath on him must soon descend.

Now from a witless man receive
A wise man's words and learn them:
Abiding bliss may all achieve
Who to God's service turn them.
So should ye do; to all and some
This my advice is given.
Full many a man for this hath come
Into God's holy heaven.

So, too, may we!
Prompt will I be
In such great bliss to share.
If I can render service meet,
I shall find favour there.
If I can see
My heart set free,
And foolish lusts forbear,
Forth to those joys my soul will fleet,
That are so wondrous fair.

Strange tidings reach us from afar;
Ye all have heard them, what they are.
Now, for your souls' salvation
Pray God Almighty every one
(Since on King Frederick hath been done
His will and dispensation)

That we may find the profit due
For all his service hard,
And many another pilgrim's, too,
Who now hath won reward.
Their souls stand now in God's own view:
He is their constant guard.
We all may buy us even such a dwelling!
And blest is he who for his part
A place betimes doth buy,
Since God doth give so sweet a mart.
Yea, there we find on high
Great joy, with nought to grieve the heart,
To all eternity.
Strive now to win this bliss all else excelling!

Now many folk are sad, we know,
And their dear friends bewail.
Thereof in sooth I am not slow
To tell a different tale.
My counsel I will freely show:
Our hearts must never fail.
That brings them joy which brings us woe:
Let silence then prevail!

To weep them shows a childish mind:
More cause for weeping might we find
In that we are not where they are: that is a sorrow truly.
This fleeting life is like the wind;
With eyes that see we still are blind,
In that we do not now bring God our constant service duly.

They now are held in honour great;
Now, done with suffering, free from hate,
The soul attains
To bliss and gains
The shining crown of heaven.
He hath achieved how blest a fate
Whom God sets on that seat of state!
There he remains,
And for his pains
A glad reward is given.

A foolish game the devil played:
Our Lord God slept and gave no aid,
For His command we disobeyed.
'Tis through his grace He waketh.
No heed at all to us He gave;
Now will He guard us well and save.
He hath full many a warrior brave.
A coward whom fear o'ertaketh!

Let all good knights now take
The Cross for honour's sake
With manful, brave endeavour!
God's good favour
Now and ever
Upon them doth attend
And constant aid doth lend.

Perchance some craven man, whose breast
Ne'er knew true knighthood, may protest:—
"Here let us bide with no cares to annoy us,
Find sport to employ us,
With ladies be joyous!"

Then she, whose love he craves, will speak:—
"Comrade, his worth is far to seek,
How should I be a friend of his?
His suit I will dismiss!"
"Dear comrade, I would counsel this.
Fie, that he e'er was born! He's lost
Here and hereafter to his cost."

Ye valiant knights, now bear ye well!
Blest is his lot who falls where fell
Our Saviour, when
For Christian men
Salvation He provided!
A dread and grievous pit is hell;
Heaven doth for grace all else excel.
Now follow me;
So may it be
That there ye shall be guided.

For worldly goods full many strive.
An ill return the world doth give;
None knows how long he hath to live.
This sorrow is not small!
Where I am bound, ye, too, I'd send.
Now take the Cross and thither wend,
('Twill bring you profit in the end)
And fear not death at all!

Rugge, the witless knight, supplies
All of you with this counsel wise.
Should any man these words misprize
Or deem them false in aught.
Then, when in deep distress he lies,
He'll rue that no man may devise
Escape from his iniquities.
Too late he'll take a thought!