The Dance

Girls, fit out your sledges for the ice and snow!
Winter, sure, is bitter chill.
He hath taken from us many a sweet and lovely flower.
Bare and hoary branches now the green limes show.
All the wood is hushed and still.
That hath come upon us from the frost's ungracious power.
Do you see how he hath marched o'er dale and down?
He it is hath made them pale.
Now, too, every nightingale
Far away hath flown.

Much I need my friends to give me counsel wise;
What the matter is, I'll tell.
I would have them show us where the girls may go to play.
Megenwart has got a room of goodly size;
There, then, if it likes you well,
We shall hold a merry dance upon our holiday.
If we go, his daughter will be glad indeed.
Tell each other near and far!
Round the table Engelmar
In the dance will lead.

Go to Kunigunde: she'll be nothing loth;
Dance was ever to her mind.
We shall be upbraided sorely, if she be not told.
Gisel, go to Jiute's quick, and tell them both!
Ella must not stay behind.
I have made a solemn covenant with them of old.
Don't forget, my girl, to summon Hedwig now!
Bid her hasten with them there.
Say, their caps they must not wear
Low down o'er the brow!

I will give this counsel to all womankind
Who may there be pleased to show
Favour unto gallant men, and of their good fame reck:
Let them wear them high in front and low behind,
That their necks be covered so.
What good is a casque without a collar round the neck?
Women's heads from harm have ever been secure;
Broken heads they need not fear,
And the hurts they get elsewhere
Have not proved past cure.

... [Eppe, he pulled Geppe out of Gumpe's arm,
Aided by his flail-pole stout.
With his plough-staff Master Adelber soon set things straight
'Twas an egg that Ruprecht found caused all the harm,
('Twas the devil's gift, I doubt)
For he threatened he would throw it at him, sure as fate.
Eppe, he was both a bald and angry man;
"Do your worst!" he fiercely said.
Ruprecht threw it at his head
Then, and down it ran.

Friedelieb with Gotelind was fain to go.
Engelmar had planned the same.
I will tell you, if you like, the end of the affair.
Eberhart, the farmer, made it up, and so
To an end the quarrel came.
But for him their hands had been fast in each other's hair.
Like two silly geese they march, as like can be,
Face to face the whole day long.
He who led off with his song,
Friderich was he!]