The Bright Rose: Early German Verse 800-1250

Early German Verse 800–1250

Philip Wilson, Philip Wilson, Philip Wilson

• Publisher: Arc Publications
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781908376732
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Poetry
• Index: Literature

Never published in verse form before, these translations of some of the earliest known German poetry give us a rich glimpse of a life that, while alien in so many ways, was not so different after all. The Minnesang poets, for example, engage in a highly professional ritual, but compose in cognitive metaphors that still ring true: love is a trap; love is a game; love is war. A beautiful, lyrical journey through the passions and fears of pre-Medieval German life, told by some of its finest poetic voices.

ANONYM (1)

 

Dû bist mîn, ich bin dîn.

des solt dû gewis sin.

dû bist beslozzen

in mînem herzen,

verlorn ist das sluzzelîn:

du muost immêr darinne sîn.

ANONYMOUS (1)

Love as imprisonment

You’re mine, I’m yours.

Of this you can be sure.

You’re imprisoned

in my heart

and, look, we’ve lost the key.

Nobody’s going to set you free.

ANONYM (2)

 

Mich dunket nicht sô guotes    noch sô lobesam

sô diu liehte rôse    und diu minne mîns man.

diu kleinen vogellîn

diu singent in dem walde,    dêst menegem herzen liep.

mir enkome mîn holder geselle,    ine hân der sumerwunne niet.

ANONYMOUS (2)

A lady longs for her lover

I think nothing so good    nor so grand

as the bright rose    and the love of my man.

The very small birds

that sing in the wood are    to other hearts balm.

If my lover doesn’t come,    then summer’s wonder is in vain.

ANONYM (3)

 

‘Mir hât ein ritter,’ sprach ein wîp,

‘gedienet nâch dem willen mîn.

ê sich verwandelt diu zît,

sô muoz ime doch gelônet sîn.

mich dunket winter unde snê

schoene bluomen unde klê,

swenn ich in umbevangen hân.

und waerz al der werlte leit,

sô muoz sîn wille an mir ergân.’

ANONYMOUS (3)

Love is not to be resisted, even if it defies convention

A woman spoke: ‘I have been served

by a knight who fulfilled each wish

and now he shall have his reward,

before any more time shall pass.

To me, the snows and the winter

are like clover and flowers

as long as I have him in my arms.

And, even if the world disapproves,

his wish for me must be my aim.’

DER VON KÜRENBERG

Ich zôch mir einen valken mêre danne ein jâr.

dô ich in gezamete als ich in wolte hân

und ich im sîn gevidere mit golde wol bewant,

er huop sich ûf vil hôhe und fluog in anderiu lant.

Sît sach ich den valken schône fliegen:

er fuorte an sînem vuoze sîdîne riemen,

und was im sîn gevidere alrôt guldîn.

got sende sî zesamene, die geliep wellen gerne sîn!

Der tunkel sterne der birget sich,

als tuo dû, vrouwe schoene, sô du sehest mich,

sô lâ du dîniu ougen gên an einen andern man.

son weiz doch lützel iem...

Table of contents

• Translator’s Note
• Contents
• Introduction
• Old High German Verse
• Das Hildebrandslied
• The Song Of Hildebrand
• Muspilli
• Muspilli
• Das Ludwigslied
• The Song Of Ludwig
• Das Wessobrunner Gebet
• The Wessobrunn Prayer
• Sprüche Und Segen
• Spells And Blessings
• Vier Verse
• Four Verses
• Middle High German Verse
• Anonym 1
• Anonymous 1
• Anonym 2
• Anonymous 2
• Anonym 3
• Anonymous 3
• Der Von Kürenberg
• Der Von Kürenberg
• Dietmar Von Aist
• Dietmar Von Aist
• Hartmann Von Aue
• Hartmann Von Aue
• Heinrich Von Morungen
• Heinrich Von Morungen
• Walther Von Der Vogelweide
• Walther Von Der Vogelweide
• Wolfram Von Eschenbach
• Wolfram Von Eschenbach
• Der Tannhäuser
• Tannhäuser
• Steinmar
• Steinmar
• Notes
• About The Translator