Drei Lieder [English translation]

A great prince called for tournment

All bards and singers summoning

They were to play and sing their songs

The point of it - to indulge him

Silver and gold in store for winner

And so they all came rushing in

The air alive with sounds of songs

And great a feast for common folk

Many had already sung

When young man stepped forth and asked:

"May I too sing my song to you?"

The crowd cheered in the reply

"A king had waged a war one day,

my hometown he destroyed

And brother mine he struck to death

The only one I had."

Then he fell silent suddenly

The people looked at him surprised,

"And that'd be all?" The prince opined,

"That song of yours has just one rhyme?"

The singer raised again his voice

From where the silence was before

Everyone listened as if charmed

To second verse now even more

"I took the sword,

And made a vow,

For vengeance and for justice!

Many years later, I stand here

And my blade longs for you."

And at these words, he drew his sword

And bore through prince's wrteched heart

As he dropped dead down to floor

The bard's own heart was freed from pain

"One more song I have now to sing you!"

Shouted the singer to the folk

"Then you can drag me to the gallows,

if afterwards that's what you'll want."

"Now he is dead, my is the vengeance,

And song of mine ends here.

Listen to me - before you stands,

The victor of this tournament!"