Banished, the emperor flees,
Flees his own land;
The army has been worn down,
It flees his ignominy.
Only those are left to him
Whom he often underrated,
For severe are those who love us,
[But] adversity has recognized love.
He greets the old days
Of his youth,
He forgets [former vexation]1
In familiarity.
[...]
 
   He has come to the river,
[And] finds no bridge.
His heart becomes anxious,
He cannot turn back.
Along comes a boat with nets:
"Boatman[,] receive in payment
My golden crown
If you would take us across."
The boatman took
His golden crown,
But before [the emperor] reached the other shore
The enemy was already there.
[...] 
 
   "As truly as you value your life,
Go back to the shore,
The payment for the boat journey
I shall give [back] with my own hand."
The emperor threatens to beat him
With the golden staff,
But, carried back quickly,
Gave [the staff] to the boatman.
Now he saw how the enemies
Spotted him on the shore,
Upon the bosom of his friend he wept,
Wanting to perish.
[...]
 
   "I have nothing more to give
Except this coat of mine,
It gives me adversity in life,
Soon as well the agony of death:
If the alleviation of my distress
Was the glory of your days,
Tear the crimson into pieces,
Give it up to all!"
He grasped as much as he could,
Everyone tore off his piece of cloth,
And displayed it upon his heart
Like a star of good fortune.
[...]
 
   Everyone fastened the pieces
Firmly upon their garments,
And in view of their enemies they
Resoundingly celebrated a conferring of orders.
Then all of them arranged themselves
Faithfully about their emperor,
So that he was protected
By a wall of men.
The crimson star can flash,
Can even warm the heart,
But from the bronze of the arrows
It cannot protect one like armour.
[...]
 
   "Now flee!" commands the emperor,
"Flee, I die alone!"
They all call out to the emperor:
"That shall never be,
The crimson is torn,
It is all over for your kingdom,
Before God we must all withal
Stand with you.
We shall perish here,
Rejoicing in eternal courage;
From our blood shall arise
Those who avenge your blood."
[...]
 
   The enemies see them watching,
See the bright stars,
And their arrows quickly
Penetrate into their hearts;
After all the noblemen have fallen,
The emperor falls too,
His last utterance is
A blessing over all of them.
The bloody crimson pieces
Hold their colour boldly,
The enemies, magnanimous in their victory,
Did not deface the adornment.