Look now, how odd it seems! He well in peace had ridden, Suffering no mishap, spared from the thing all mischief-- Utterly downcast is, whereas his danger's over! Fear makes him sick at heart, deep in his being centred. Questions now any one what be this tale's life-lesson? Him shall I gladly give what in it lies, methinks; Speak out as best I can what as a maxim's plainest:-- Friendly is never he sparing of bread and counsel. The man who rode his way safely and lost in slumber, He unto whom occurred just this strange bit of fortune, Like is he (it meseems) unto the lustful mortal, Evil in earthly course, given to sottish living, Wandering on, shut-eyed, lost in the way of pleasure, Taking no slightest notice of the abyss so open: Never with heed made blessed, not with his conscience warned: How at his side is Death, prompt to cut off the living! But with our Lord God's grace, suddenly on him bestowed, Opening wide his eye--then, not till then, he's awakened. Terror absorbs his soul, holy the fear that takes it; Now is the sinner roused, sees for the first his doings. Wondering see him stand, uttering loud his outcry:-- "Awful has been my blindness, dreadful my soul's delusion. How could I be so tricked? how could my sleep so grip me? I who, in touch with death, careless my ease was taking!" Happy in truth the man fallen in no such peril, Since with a careful eye watches he every footstep, Blessed in that God himself insight to him has granted What was his danger to feel; how he has made escapement. Translation through the German by E. Irenæus Stevenson. "A RICH MAN LOSES HIS CHILD, A POOR MAN LOSES HIS COW"