German poetry from the beginnings to 1750

Foreword: George C. SchoolfieldIntroduction: Ingrid Walsoe-Engel ANONYMOUSErster Merseburger Zauberspruch/First Merseburg Spell(Carroll Hightower)Zweiter Merseburger Zauberspruch/Second Merseburg Spell(Carroll Hightower)Muspilli* (ninth century)/Muspilli(Carroll Hightower)Weingartner Reisesegen* (tenth century)/The Weingarten Travel Blessing (tenth century)(Carroll Hightower)From Carmina Burana*/From Carmina Burana(Sylvia Stevens) ANONYMOUS (twelfth century)Du bist min, ich bin din/I have thee, thou hast me(Alexander Gode)Mich dunket niht so guotes, noch so lobesam/To me nothing seems as splendid nor as praiseworthy(Sylvia Stevens) DER VON KURENBERG (c. 1150-70)Ich stuont mir nehtint spate an einer zinnen/Late at night I stood on a battlement(Frederick Goldin)Ich zoch mir einen valken mere danne ein jar/I trained me a falcon, for more than a year(Frederick Goldin)Der tunkele sterne/The Morning Star(Frederick Goldin)Wip unde vederspil diu werdent lihte zam/Woman and falcons-they are easily tamed(Frederick Goldin) PSEUDO-DIETMAR VON EIST (c. 1150)Ez stuont ein frouwe alleine/A lady stood alone(J.W. Thomas)So wol dir, sumerwunne!/Gay summer's bliss, good-bye!(J.W. Thomas) MEINLOH VON SEVELINGEN (writing c. 1170-80)Mir erwelten miniu ougen/My eyes have seen and chosen(J.W. Thomas)So we den merkaeren!/Woe then to the gossips!(J.W. Thomas) DIETMAR VON EIST (?-1171?)Uf der linden obene da sanc ein kleinez vogellin/Yonder on the linden tree there sang a merry little bird(J.W. Thomas)Wie mohte mir min herze werden iemer rehte fruot/How can I hope a wise heart to attain(Carroll Hightower) FRIEDRICH VON HAUSEN (?-1190)Deich von der guoten schiet/When I parted from my Good(Frederick Goldin)Wafena, wie hat mich Minne gelazen!/Help! How Minne has deserted me (Frederick Goldin)Ich denke under wilen/I think sometimes about what i would tell her(Frederick Goldin)Si darf mich des zihen niet/She may not accuse me(Sylvia Stevens)Min herze und min lip diu wellent scheiden/My heart and my body want to separate(Frederick Goldin) HEINRICH VON VELDEKE (1140/50-1200/1210)We mich scade ane miner vrouwen/Whoever hurts my favor with my lady(Frederick Goldin)Tristrant muste ane sinen danc/Tristan had no choice(Frederick Goldin)In den aprillen, so di blumen springen/In April when the flowers spring(Frederick Goldin) ALBRECHT VON JOHANNSDORF (late twelfth century)Wie sich minne hebt, daz weiz ich wol/This I know, how love begins to be(M.L. Richey)Ich vant ane huote/I discovered the sweet lovely lady(Sylvia Stevens)Guote liute, holt die gabe/Good folk, go gain the gifts(F.C. Nicholson) HEINRICH VON MORUNGEN (?-1222)Hete ich tugende niht so vil von ir vernomen/Had I not perceived so much of worth in her(F.C. Nicholson)Von den elben/Many a man gets bewitched by the elves(Frederick Goldin)Ich wene, nieman lebe der minen kumber weine/I believe there is no one alive who weeps for my sorrow(Frederick Goldin)Ich hort uf der heide/I heard on the meadow(Frederick Goldin)Owe, sol aber mir iemer me?/Alas, shall I not see again?(Frederick Goldin)Mirst geschen als eime kindeline/It has gone with me as with a child(Frederick Goldin)Vil sueziu senftiu toterinne/You sweet soft murderess(Frederick Goldin) HARTMANM VON AUE (1160/65-after 1210)Ich sprach, ich wolte ir iemer leben/I said I would always live for her(Frederick Goldin)Manger gruezet mich also/Often a friend will greet me thus(Frederick Goldin)Ich var mit iuweren hulden/I go with your good grace(Frederick Goldin)REINMAR DER ALTE (1160/65-c.1205)Waz ich nu niuwer maere sage/No one needs to ask(Frederick Goldin)Lieber bote, nu wirp also/Messenger, hear what I say(J.W. Thomas)WALTHER VON DER VOGELWEIDE (c.1170-c.1230)Ich saz uf eime steine/I sat down on a rock(Frederick Goldin)Ir sult sprechen willekomen/You should bid me welcome(Frederick Goldin)Lange swigen des hat ich gedaht/To be long silent was my thought (Frederick Goldin)Saget mir ieman, waz ist minne/Will anyone tell me what Minne is?(Frederick Goldin)Under der linden/Under the lime tree(Frederick Goldin)Nemt, frowe, disen kranz/Lady, take this garland(Frederick Goldin)Herzeliebez frowelin/Dearly beloved gentle girl(Frederick Goldin)Ir reinen wip, ir werden man/You excellent women, you valient men(Frederick Goldin)Allererst lebe ich mir werde/Now my life has gained some meaning(J.W. Thomas)Ouwe, war sint verswunden alliu miniu jar!/Alas, all my years, where have they disappeared!(Frederick Goldin)Owe, daz wizheit unde jugent/Alas, that wisdom, and youth(Frederick Goldin)WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH (1170/75-1220)Sine klawen/Its claws have struck through the clouds(Frederick Goldin)Der helnden minne ir klage/You always sang at break of day(Frederick Goldin)NEIDHART VON REUENTHAL (1185/90-c.1245)Frout iuch, junge unde alte!/Young and old, rejoice(Frederick Goldin)Sumer, diner suezen weter muezen wir uns anen/Summer, now we must live without your sweet weather(Frederick Goldin)Sinc an, guldin huon! ichgibe dir weize!/Sing, my golden cock, I'll give thee grain!(J.W. Thomas)Mirst von herzen leide/There is pain in my heart (Frederick Goldin) STEINMAR (late thirteenth century)Ein knecht der lag verborgen/A farmhand lay all hidden(James J. Wilhelm)Sit si mir niht lonen wil/Since she gives so little pay(J.W. Thomas) OSWALD VON WOLKENSTEIN (1377-1445)Simm Gredlin, Gret, mein Gredelein/O Margie, Marge, dear Margaret(J.W. Thomas) MARTIN LUTHER (1483-1546)Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott/A mighty fortress is our God(Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978)Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir/From depths of woe I cry to you(F. Samuel Janow)Von Himmel hoch da komm ich her/From heaven above to earth I come(Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978)Mitten wyr ym leben sind/In the very midst of life(F. Samuel Janow) ULRICH VON HUTTEN (1488-1523)Ein neu Lied Herr Ulrichs von Hutten/Ulrich von Hutten's Song(Catherine Winkworth) HANS SACHS (1494-1576)Ein schone Taqweis: von dem Wort Gottes/A Fair Melody: To Be Sung by Good Christians (Catherine Winkworth)<