[Notes:
1: Niklaus Manuel (_ca._ 1484-1530), locally famous both as a
painter and a writer, was a leader of the early Swiss Reformers.
The play consisted of a procession representing the Pope, riding
in pontifical splendor and attended by pompous retainers; while
Christ rode an ass, wearing a crown of thorns and followed by a
throng of the lame and the blind. The speakers are two Swiss
peasants.
2: _Sig_ = _sei_.
3: _Neiwas nüws_ = _etwas Neues_.
4: _Treit an_ = _anträgt_.
5: _Trut_ = _traut(er)_.
6: _Sich_ = _sehe_.
7: _Des ... git_ = _gibt Zeugnis davon_.
8: _Nachgand_ = _nachgehen_.
9: _Feldsiechen_ = _aussätzigen_.
10: _Verschmach_ = _verschmähe_.
11: _Etter_ = _vetter_ (Rüedi being familiar for Rudolf).
12: _Bekennen_ = _kenne_.
13: _Vast wol_ = _sehr gut_.
14: _Wott_ = _wollte_.
15: _Verden plůost willen_; an untranslatable oath.
16: _Kilchherr_ = _Kirchherr_.
17: _Glatzet_, ‘bald.’
18: _Trumeter_ = _Trompeter_.
19: _Git_ = _Geiz_.
20: _Wis und berden_ = _Weise und Gebärden_, ‘character and
conduct.’
21: _Kriegszüg_ = _Kriegsheer_.
22: _Gwardi_ = _Garde_, _Leibwache_.
23: _Pasunen_ = _Posaunen_.
24: _Kartonen_ = _Cartaunen_, ‘heavy guns.’
25: _Schlangen_, ‘(long) cannon.’
26: _Reiser_ = _Reisiger_, _Krieger_.
27: _Bossen_ = _Burschen_, _Buben_.
28: _Spicherschlüssel_, ‘granary keys’; the keys of St. Peter.]
2
_From the ‘Prodigal Son’ by Burkard Waldis._[29]
VORLORN SZOHN
Ick seh vp erden hir keyn trost,
Dar mit ick werden mocht erlöst.
Wor ick my kere edder[30] wende,
Dar ys kummer an allen endenn.
Vele dagelöner myn vader hefft, 5
Der keyn ynn solcken kummer lefft[31]:
Sze hebbent all tho male[32] guedt
Vnd hebben brodes ouerfloedt.
Auers[33] ick mach hir keyn trost erweruenn,[34]
Ick moeth[35] von grotem hunger steruenn. 10
Ick will my schicken ynn de sakenn
Vnd will my all thohand vpmakenn,
Inn düsser moyge[36] nicht lengher staenn.
Will hen tho mynen vader gaenn
Vnd spreken, vader, ick sy de mann, 15
De dar hefft alsso öuel[37] gedaenn,
Gesundiget ynn hemmel vnd vor dy,
Dat laeth[38] du nicht entgelden my.
Dat ick geheten was dyn Szohn,
Des will ick my nu gantz entslaen[39]; 20
Ick bin des namens yo nicht werdt,
Dat ick dyn szohn geheyten werde;
Sunder nym my ynn dyne gemeyn,[40]
Make my als dyner dachlöner eynn.
Darumm blyue[41] ick nicht lenger hir. 25
VADER
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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