| Margarete Münsterberg, ed., trans. A Harvest of German Verse. 1916. | | | | Harvest Song | | Catholic Church Song (1638) |
| | | THERE is a reaper, Death his name; | |
| His might from God the highest came. | |
| To-day his knife he’ll whet, | |
| ’Twill cut far better yet; | |
| Soon he will come and mow, | 5 |
| And we must bear the woe— | |
| Beware, fair flower! | |
| |
| The flowers fresh and green to-day, | |
| To-morrow will be mowed away: | |
| Narcissus so white, | 10 |
| The meadows’ delight, | |
| The hyacinthias pale | |
| And morning-glories frail. | |
| Beware, fair flower! | |
| |
| Full many thousand blossoms blithe | 15 |
| Must fall beneath his deadly scythe: | |
| Roses and lilies pure, | |
| Your end is all too sure! | |
| Imperial lilies rare | |
| He will not spare. | 20 |
| Beware, fair flower! | |
| |
| The bluet wee, of heaven’s hue, | |
| The tulips white and yellow too, | |
| The dainty silver bell, | |
| The golden phlox as well— | 25 |
| All sink upon the earth. | |
| Oh, what a sorry dearth! | |
| Beware, fair flower! | |
| |
| Sweet lavender of lovely scent, | |
| And rosemary, dear ornament, | 30 |
| Sword-lilies proud, unfurled, | |
| And basil, quaintly curled, | |
| And fragile violet blue, | |
| He soon will seize you too! | |
| Beware, fair flower! | 35 |
| |
| Death, I defy thee: hasten near | |
| With one great sweep—I have no fear! | |
| Though hurt, I’ll stay undaunted, | |
| For I shall be transplanted | |
| Into the garden by heaven’s gate, | 40 |
| The heavenly garden we all await. | |
| Rejoice, fair flower! | | | | |
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