"Er schreit:—O Mutter, O Mutter, helf' mir!
Wenn kännst nit helfen, to nemm mich zu dir!—
Stēht auf, alle Tōte, stēht auf geschwind!
Stēht auf, alle Tōte, ratewet mein Kind!
"Alle Tōte liegen ruhig in sejer Ruh';
Zu Gott's Kisse-kowed flieh' ich bald zu.
Vun Gott's Kisse-kowed well ich nit ābtreten,
Bis Er wet derhören mein Schreien, mein Beten."
* * * * *
"Ribōne-schel-ōlem, wu senen Deine Rachmones?
Der Vāter bist Du vun Jessōmim un' Almones,
Wie kännst Du sehen, wie die Marschas
Giesst aus auf mein Jossem ihr giftigen Kas?
woe to me! What does the stepmother do to my beloved child?
"My whole life that I have passed was nothing but a dark night; my child had been my light, my lustre,—and now he suffers both sorrow and pain.
"With the blood of my heart I have reared him, I have washed him with the tears of my eyes;—now they tap his blood, they break his bones; he weeps, he cries,—but no one helps him.
"People stand all round about; why are you silent? Are you dumb? Even if your heart is of iron and stone, it ought to melt from the child's hot tears.
"Now look! The stepmother strikes him upon his head, she scratches his face,—blood trickles down; she beats him, throws him down on the ground; she bites him, tears him, breaks his limbs.
"He cries:—O mother, O mother, help me! If you cannot help me take me to you!—Arise, all you dead, arise quickly! Arise, all you dead, and save my child!
"All the dead lie quietly in their rest; to God's own throne I shall soon fly. From God's own throne I shall not depart, ere He will hear my cries, my entreaty."