Bright Rose: Early German Verse 800-1250

The first part, translated from Old High German, includes the most important poems written anonymously in monastery scriptoria from the ninth to the eleventh centuries, though in many cases an older, Indo-European past is witnessed: the Song of Hildebrand; the Muspilli; the Song of Ludwig; the Wessobrunn Prayer; various spells, blessings and verses. These poems offer an overview of a society in transition from a Germanic worldview to the Christian. The second part, from Middle High German, offers mainly texts from the medieval Minnesang [love song] by minstrels active in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries at German courts. Philip Wilson is an experienced and widely-published translator and academic who currently lives and works in Norwich at the University of East Anglia. Having been a teacher of modern languages at schools in Essex for many years, in 2007 he took an MA in Literary Translation at UEA; within 5 years he was an Assistant Professor of Western Languages at Inonu University, Turkey. His published translations include the works of Martin Luther, Charles Cros, Michel Deguy, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Heinrich von Morungen and Gerard de Nerval, an have appeared in Modern Poetry in Translation, In Other Words, Ambit, Assent, Chimera, and Other Poetry.

• Introduction; Acknowledgements; OLD HIGH GERMAN VERSE: Das Hildebrandslied - The Song of Hildebrand; Muspilli - Muspilli; Das Ludwigslied - The Song of Ludwig; Das Wessobrunner Gebet - The Wessobrunn Prayer; Spruche und Segen - Spells and Blessings: Merseburger Zauberspruche - Merseburg Spells; Strassburger Tumbo-Spruch - Strasbourg Stupid Saying; Lorscher Bienensegen - Lorsch Bee Blessing; Wurmsegen - Worm Blessing; Wiener Hundesegen - Vienna Dog Blessing; Trierer Pferdesegen - Trier Horse Blessing; Zuricher Hausbesegnung - Zurich House Blessing Vier Verse - Four Verses: Hirsch und Hinde - Stag and Hind; St.Galler Spottvers - St. Gall Satire; Spinnwirtelspruch - Spindle Whorl Saying; Hicila-Vers - Hicila Verse; MIDDLE HIGH GERMAN VERSE: Anonym (1)-(3) - Anonymous (1)-(3): Du bist min, ich bin din - You're mine, I'm yours; Mich dunket nicht so guotes - I think nothing so good; 'Mir hat ein ritter,' sprach ein wip - A woman spoke: 'I have been served - '; Der von Kurenberg: Ich zoch mir einen valken - For more than a year; Der tunkel sterne - The darkened star; Jo stuont ich nehtint spate - I stood late at night; Dietmar von Aist: 'Slafest du, friedel ziere?' - 'Do you sleep, my dearest love?'; Ez stuont ein frouwe alleine - A lady stood by herself; Henirich von Veldeke: Do man der rehten minne pflac - Those were the days: when love was true; Friedrich von Hausen: In minem troume ich sach - In a dream I once saw; Heinrich von Rugge: Got hat mir armen - God has afflicted; Hartmann von Aue: Ich var mit iuweren hulden - I go with your blessing; Heinrich von Morungen: Owe - Oh no.; Vil sueziu senftiu toeterinne - My sweet soft assassin; Von den elben wirt entsehen - By the elves is bewitched; Reinmar von Hagenau: Ich will allez gahen - I will quickly go; Ich wirbe umbe allez, daz ein man - I strive for something that would make; Walther von der Vogelweide: Under der linden - Under the lime-tree; In einem zwivellichen wan - In a state of hopeful despair; Saget mir ieman, waz ist minne - What is love? Can anyone tell me?; Aller werdekeit ein fuegerinne - You hold every value in its place; Ich saz uf eime steine - I sat down on a rock; Owe war sint verswunden - Alas, where have vanished; Wolfram von Eschenbach: 'Sine klawen - ' - 'Its claws - '; Reinmar von Zweter: All schuol sint gar ein wint - Every school is useless; Der Tannhauser: Der winter ist zergangen - The winter has left us now; Steinmar: Ein kneht, der lag verborgen - A servant once lay hidden; Notes