OLD GERM AN L OVE SONGS OF THE F N ICH ON M A RA K C N OLS . LO NDO N F i 5“ H E R U N W A D E L P H I T E RR A C E MQMVH: 3} UHL N A D . P RE FA C E ENGLISH works on the subject of the German Minne song are so scanty in number and inad equate in character that an addition to th em can hardly be considered u superfluo s. That which I offer in the present little I volume, slight and incom plete as it is, has yet, believe, a wider scope than anything of the sort hitherto published c E in this country . My obje t has been to present nglish readers with a selection from Minnesong sufficiently varied and extensive to illustrate roughly the n ature and range of the art and indicate th e main lines of its A s I development . regards the translations need only say that I have endeavoured to preserve the form of the E originals, so far as this seemed possible in nglish , and at the same time to give as faithful a rendering of the matter as could profitably be attempted under the uncom conditions . This will perhaps account for some r bl fo ta e metres, imperfections of rhyme, and other infi rmities es eciall in structural which , p y the earlier poems, may affect the reader a little disagreeably, and it will also, I hope, excuse to some extent a certain monotony d of rhyme which I have been unable to overcome . I o iv PREFA CE not doubt that with a greater freedom of treatment than I have permitted myself a skilful translator migh t pro duce much more attractive verses ; the method I have h followed , owever, can certainly be defended , though its results in the present instance may not speak highly in its favour. It is no less my duty than my desire to acknowledge here the assistance I have received from my former Dr Breul w I teacher, . Karl , to hose kind counsel could f W appeal in all matters of di ficulty , and to hose suggest c I ive and stimulating criti ism owe very much. But indeed I am indebted to him for infinitely more than r h : criticism and commenta y , owever helpful it was he who first inspired me with a love for the Master of Minne “ ” den 6 V song , man von der ogelweide nande ; it was his sympathy that afterwards encouraged me to continue the tentatives at translation I had begun ; and it was his cordial and energetic support that finally endowed my purposes with such small measure of accomplishment as they have received . For these kind offices I wish to expres s my warmest gratitude. I v also a ha e to render hearty th nks to my friend , Mr. was Vernon H . Rendall , who good enough to read thro ugh the manuscript of my work and to offer a o v number of most welc me and aluable suggestions. F RANK C . NICH OLSON November 1906 C O N T E N T S PREFACE INTRODUCTION B IBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ANONYMOUS m n h is 1 . Su mer a d Pleasures r of r 2 . Rewa d Se vice A Merr Hear 3. y t Summ r 5. e DER VON KORENBERG Th Messa e 2 . e g Ni h h ou h s 3. g t T g t Th e F con 4 . al S ecr t ove 6. e L Th e Sn ar of th e Fow er 7 . e l MEINLOH VON SEVELINGEN s an v I . C on t t Lo e BURGGRAF VON RIETENBURG I sh all come forth as Gold SPERVOGEL I. I es am en . T t t Th d eh o 2 . e He g g CONTENTS n u s 3. H ost a d G e t f H 4. Pain s o ell r Him I 5. P aise ye DIETMAR VON ArsT r. A Memory ad and F con 2. L y al P mornin 3. arting at g FRIEDRICH VON HAUSEN H h ou h s x . ome T g t 2 c Amoris . S ala v W ar 3. Ci il 4. Vision ai hfu 5. Faith Unf t l . HEINRICH VON VELDEKE I r s . T i tan n 2 . W inter Disco ten t Lov L nes 3. e i Ar d n s 4. i a Ca itie 5. April W in 6. ter RUDOLF VON FENIS Th e Desire of th e Moth for th e Star ALBRECHT VON JOHANNSDORF h r m x . T e Pilg i age Unc r a n 2. e t i ty ’ 3. God s Gifts HEINRICH VON RUGGE This is a Laid : of th e Holy Grave BERNGER VON HORHEIM Splendide men dax HARTW IG VON RAUTE Desideria CONTENTS vn PAGE B LIGGER VON STEINAcn ’ Time s C oin DER VON KOLMAS Toward Even in g HEINRICH VON MORUNGEN Th e I . Legacy 2 ’ . Love s Spell » ab our os s L L t e Th e T riple Allian ce - ’ r Lov a e s Tyrann y g Nay an d Yea wTh e Daybreak o Th e Vision REINMAR VON HAGENAU Th D wn f D I . e a o ay » Praesagit Gaudia n E e on eo o d of s r a l gy L p l Au t ia m Nam-ram ex pellas Furca a Prata viren t h s Spfi ng Th e Stolen Heart Sprin g Pastim e P RV ‘ S E OGEL II . - 1 . Ill Luck 2 . Th e Lot of All o h ed in onour 3. Cl t H HARTMANN VON AUE r. P rocul es e P rofan i L t , Divided our 2 . Lab 3. Dejection 4. High an d Low T urn 5 . h e Jo ey DER MARKGRAF VON HOHEN BURG Daysong CONTENTS PAGE HILDBOLD VON SCHW ANGAU N ow I kn ow Love W ALTHER VON DER VOGELW EIDE ’ I . Crusader s Song ord of All 2 . L Via ticum Ah i on s an n 4 . , C t ti l 5. Th e Fief ' N O Stronger th an a Flower F ora in er F ores 8. l t l L audabun t A ii 9 . l ‘ Crumb s Of C on sol ation Th e Even in g of Life W in ter and Discon tent ’ Love s C oin age Elegy on Reinm ar 15. Dayson g ’ 16 . Farewe Proud W or d I m o n om e ll, l , g i g H E 17. legy W OLFRAM VON ESCHENBAOH Da s n I . y o g 2 Nil am lius ro . p O Th e Sui or 3. t — NEIDHART VON REUENTIIAL N P ib ro ulsand a us r. un c ede l e p Tell 2 rin th e Swee S rin . Sp g, t p g 3. Th e Dan ce o A o d 4 . Th e Message fr m b r a S lvi ur ri H em s 5. o t ac s i ' 6. Facilis Descen sus Mae enas tavis ed e Re ibus . c 7 , a it g DER TRU CHSESS VON SANT GALLEN Th e W orld is all a Fleeting Sh ow CONTENTS ix PAGE GRAF VON LEININGEN Five W ords CHRISTIAN VON HAMLE Her Feet h ave touch ed th e Meadows ULRICH VON LICIITENSTE IN I . As a Dream doth Flatter 2. Love and Laugh ter 3. Th e Praise Of Love BURKHARD VON HOHENFELS Poor and Con ten t BURGGRAF VON LUENz In a Palace Tower GOTTFRIED VON NEIFEN I Th . e Obstacle 2. Summer ULRICH VON W INTERSTETTEN Lost Labour REINMAR VON ZW ETER I . Maria ’ ’ 2 Nell e Scuol e d Am or ch e n on s appren de ? 3. Th e W ardrobe D 4. ame H onour 5. Gallinae Fil ius albae 6. Th e Making of Dice 7 . Personal . h 8. S ipwreck 9 . I am th e Master of my Fate I o. Riddl e DER MARNER I . Riddle 2 . Th e Min strel x CONTENTS PAGE DER HARDEGGER Illu I . c unde n egant redire quemquam Th e n ar z. S e REINMAR VON B RENNENEURG B eau a h 1. ty nd C arm 2 o f . S uls O Poets Dead an d Gon e TANNHAUS‘ER Th e Gra efu I . t l Lover N 2 . Virtus post ummos - 3. Th e H ouse B uilders W ALTHER VON METz RUBIN I . Dame Fortune oe um n n A i um m 2 . C l o n m utan t W ACHSMUTH VON MijHLI-IAUSEN W ish es DER VON W ILDONJE W h ere is Fan cy b red ? DER VON SUNECK Il disiato Risu KONIG KONRAD DER JUNGE A Child in Years B OPPE ’ I . God s Grace Th Em 2. e pty Purse DER W ILDE ALEXANDER h s I . T e Ro e D 2 . ays of Childh ood STEINMAR Vino pellite Curas CONTENTS PAGE FRAUENLOB Dux I . Femina Facti oo n 2 . G d C ou sel HEINRICH VON BRESLAU Th e Plaintiff HERZOG JOHANN VON BRABANT At Early Morning KONI G W ENZEL VON BOHMEN I did not break th e Rose HADLAUB I . Th e Prox y 2.