Tradition says that in the village of Biberach, not far from Heilbronn, Germany, there once lived a man named "Magister Martinus" who died in 1498. (The current meaning of "Magister" (a university degree) could be translated as "Master of Arts".)
On his tombstone was an epitaph, written in an old German dialect. The dialect is almost impossible to translate, but I find it really interesting to muse about it (in plain English):
I live and don't know how long,
I'll die and don't know when,
I am going and don't know where,
I wonder that I am happy.
(The tombstone photo was taken in Heddal, Norway, summer 1988.)
|