Cornelis Anthonisz.: The story of Carelessness, part 3 - The Ball (1541)
(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam The Netherlands)
The third part of the story of Carelessness by the Dutch artist Cornelis Anthonisz. (1505-1553): after the meal, Carelessness dances with Wealth
The text (Translation by Michael Hoyle, Amsterdam, 1985):
The words of Carelessness:
‘Tsa, pijper, speelt op! Die maeltijt is ghedaen,
Wy moeten nv een wijl danschen ende reyen;
Want goet loon suldy van my ontfaen.
Weelde en ick, Sorgheloose, onder ons beyen
Sullen een voetken houwen, om druck te verspreyen,
Op dat Ghemack, mijn pagie, mach vruecht aenschouwen.
Dus speelt op een speelken hier vanden keyen,
Al sou ick een pennick in mijn boerse niet houwen!
Want ramp in die boerse volcht tgheluck van vrouwen.
Dus laet ons danschen, houeren, ghenuecht hanteren,
Al sout gheluck in ongheluck hem noch verkeren!’
Translation:
Come piper, play up, the banquet is cleared,
It is time for a dance and a roundelay:
You shall be paid, and well never fear.
Luxury and I, Careless, we two between us
Shall now dance a measure to dissipate care,
So that Ease, my page, may savor our joy.
So come, play up, play Folly's Delight,
E'en if you make my purse feather light;
For unlucky in money is lucky in love.
Let us dance, let us feast, and tedium spurn,
Even if fortune to misfortune turn.
The words of the poet:
Ghy Jonghe bloemen, tsi knecht ofte maecht,
Spieghelt vant leuen vanden Sorgheloose hier
Ende denckt op woort, dat den schrift ghewaeckt:
‘Tvolck sat om eeten ende sijn opghestaen fier,
Om te danschen, te spelen.’ Volcht haer in gheen manier,
Maer weest dancbaer van sijn gaue grootelick!
Ghy moet wel eerlick maecken goet schier
Ende comen bij malcanderen, men iotelick,
Ja danschen by maten, niet al verquisten bloetelick.
Dus onthout mijn leere ende reghel fijne!
Tis beter ghespieghelt dan een spieghel te zijne.
Translation
Ye young flowers, be ye lad be ye maid,
Reflect on the life of Careless, here.
Think of the Scriptures, the story they tell
Of folk who sat feasting then rose for their pleasure
To cavort and to play; shun their example.
Instead give thanks for your heavenly gifts,
And take your delights in seemly style.
Visit each other, sweet and kindly.
Yea, dance with measure, avoid profligate ways.
Remember my teaching, take this rule from me:
'Tis better to reflect than a mirror be.
The individual engravings:
Part1: The Hunt
Part2: The Meal
Part3: The Ball
Part4: The Gamble
Part5: Carelessness is driven from the tavern by poverty
Part6: Carelessness lives in proverty
Complete Version: The story of Carelessness