Lütt Matten enjoys dancing, and in the absence of a dance partner, he dances alone.
Reineke Fuchs sees this and offers herself as a partner. In his boundless gullibility and naivete, Lütt Matten extends his hand. The fox then kills and eats him. The crow , which had made common cause with the fox by playing to dance with the fiddle, also gets its share of the prey.
text
Low German original
High German translation
Matten Has'.
Lütt Matten de Has'
De mak sik en fun,
He weer bi't Studeern
Dat Danzen to teach,
And danz quite alleen
Op de next Been.
Keem Reinke de Voss
Un dach: the en fare!
Un seggt: Lüttje Matten,
So nimble op de Padden?
And you've been here all
Oppe eighth?
Kumm, let us go wild!
Ik can as de Dam!
De Krei de spȩlt Fitel,
Because geit dat canditel,
Because geit dat times nice
Op de eighth Been!
Lütt Matten gev Pot.
De Voss beet em dot
Un sett sik in Schatten,
Verspis' de Lütt Matten:
De Krei de Kreeg een
Vun de eighth Been.
Martin rabbit.
Little Martin the Has'
He's having fun,
He was studying
to learn to
dance , And dances all alone
on his back legs.
Reinhart the fox came
and thought: what a bite!
And says: Little Martin
So quick on your paws?
And are you dancing here alone
on your back legs?
Come on, let's get together!
I dance as a lady!
The crow plays Fidel,
Then it's fun,
Then it's nice
on your back legs.
Little Martin shook hands:
the fox bit him dead
And sat in the shade,
little Martin ate;
The crow got one of
the back legs.
