Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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A Short
DescriptiveGrammar
of Middle High German
with Texts and Vocabularv
John A. Asher
Professorof Gernan
in the Universityof Auckland
PREFACE
rIRST
PUBLISHED
REPRINTED
I968
SECOND BDITION
REPRINTED
PRTNTED
IN
UNIVERSITY
I96?
(REVISED)
t975
I981
NEW
ZEALAND
OF AUCKLAND
BY THE
BINDERY
I o F r H I s B o o K s t a n d so r f a l l s b y t h e f o u r c r i t e r i ao n
DARr
which it is based.First, it is descriptive,in so lar as no reference
I
is made (except briefly in the Infoduction) to the history of High
German prior to about I170. Secondly,it is designedfor students,
and contains only what is essentialfor the understandingof those
Middle High German texts most commonly studied.Thirdly, it is,
I hope,lucid: the methodofpresentationhasbeentestedand retested
in every detail to ensure the utmost clarity. Fourthly, I would like
to feel that it is reliable: twenty-five years of researchand teaching
in the Middte High German field have led me to accept what is
found in the grammar-books only if it has been proved correct by
checkingagainstrelevantmanuscriptreadings,
Thesefour criteria are related.The modern descriptiveapproach
to linguistic analysis has unfortunately had as yet little effect on the
teaching of medieval languages: by tradition, all Middte High
German grammars are, in part at least, historical. Like most
medievalists,I believe in teaching the history of the language, but I
see little good in making description dependent upon history, No
good teacher of a modern foreign language would follow such a
procedure: he would only confuse his studentsby attempting to teach
them from the same book not only the contemporary language but
also aspectsof its previous history over a thousand years or more.
The same applies surely to medieval languages. The historical
approach is one of the reasons why many students of Middle High
German (at German as well as other universities) have, in my experience, an inadequate understanding of the language. Too much
time is spent on historical grammar, and too little time on the
language as it was spoken and written by Hartmann, Wolfram,
Gottfried, Walther and their contemporaries.The historical approach
is also one reason why students at some universities, regarding
Middle High German as an arid subject par excellence, avoid it.
The study of a foreign language should be exciting to the student.
Taught descriptively, a medieval language is this. After all, the
process of learning such a language non-historically - that is, at
one point only in its evolution - brings the student close to the
minds of those who used the language at that time in their writing:
the transienceof Middle High German was never suspectedby those
who spoke and wrote it.
These comments do not imply opposition to the teaching of
historical grammar. This subject is prescribed for my own senior
students, but only after they have gained a thorough understanding
of (normally) at least four languages, including contemporary
German and Middle High German. Knowledge of these languages,
based on descriptive grammar, is a necessaryfoundation for the
study of historical grammar.
In this book Middle High German is described,as far as possible,
in accordance with its own laws, and not those of previous history.
This does not mean however that all traditional terminology has
been discarded. Certain traditional terms, such as Prcterite-present
and even Riickumlsut, have been retained for three reasons: first,
because the groups of verbs in question are distinct grammatical
phenomena in Middle High German, and may therefore justifiably
be named; secoldly, becausethe traditional names are not wholly
inappropriate; and thirdly, because students will encounter these
terms, in any case, when they undertake the study of historical
grammar. In such circumstancesthe invention, on my part, of new
terminology could prove an unnecessaryhindrance to students when,
later, they embarked on historical grammar.
It is assumedthat users of this book are already acquainted with
the grammar of contemporary German. I see only advantages in
making use of this knowledgein setting out the basic grammar of
Middle High German. It is possible, where the structure of Middle
High German and that of the present-day language are identical
(and sometimeswhere they are closely similar), to provide the student
with legitimate short-cuts to learning: he may, where appropriate,
simply transfer to Middle High German the knowledge he has
already gained of the language today. Comparisons with present-day
German - including, for example,referencesto the modem counter- servea similar purpose:the
pa s of the various noun declensions
associating
what is new to him
student understands more clearly by
with what he already knows. Such comparisons with present-day
German are only pedagogicalin purpose: if they convey information
about historical grammar, this is incidental. Every effort - including,
wherever possible, the most straightforward terminology - has been
made towards the objectives of brevity and clarity.
There is as yet no book which treats Middle High German
grammar in its entirety: this book, likewise, does not claim complete
irrelevant in a book such as this. The claim, made by most grammarians, that the possessiveir (as distinct from other possessives)is
'rule'
normally uninflected, finds likewise no place here. If true, this
for ir (which is borne out in some critical editions, but not in all
reliable manuscripts) would have little bearing on a student's understandingof Middlc High German. The grammar in Part I provides
what is essential.
I hope that this book will speedand easethe approach of students
to Middle High German literature, the study of which is fast developing at many universities in the world. The texts in Part II (which
provide the examplesin Part I) are intended to illustrate the diversity
and beauty of Middle High German poetry.
Readerswishing to study the methodologyunderlyingthis book
are referredtoJohn A. Asher,Zur Methodologieder Lehrb cher/ r
Sprachendet MittelqlteN. ln: DeutscheSprache: Ceschichteund
Gegenwart.Festschriftfiir Fliedrich Maurer zum 80. Gebu stag.
Francke Verlag. Bern/Miinchen. 1978.pp.l-14.
I owe thanks to Professor D. H. Green (Trinity College, Cambridge) and two Auckland colleagues,Professor K. J. Hollyman and
Dr Kathryn Smits, who read the manuscript of this book before
publication. Dr Smits also helped me a great deal in checking the
manuscript,in the courseof which she made a word-index of the
texts. I am deeply in debt to all three colleagues for their many
valuable suggestions and for their encouragement. I would also
thank the typographer, Mr Pat Dobbie, for his care in the design.
CONTENTS
PREFACE
PART I GRAMMAR
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 PRONUNCIATION AND SPELLINC
CHAPIER 2 DER; EIN| USE OF CASES
CHAPTER 3 ADJECTIVES AND ADVERXS
CIIAPTER 4 NOUNS
CHAPTER 5 PRONOUNS
CHAPTER 6 VERBS (D
CHAPTER 7 VERBS (II)
CHAPTER 8 VERB NEGATION; USE OF SUBJUNCTwE
9
l1
t4
18
2l
30
METRE
PART II TEXTS
LYRIC POETRY
ANONYMOUS
DER KURENBERGER
DIETMAR VON AIST
FRIEDRICH VON HAUSEN
REINMAR
HARTWIG VON RUTE
HEINRICH VON MORUNGEN
34
34
34
38
44
PART III
INDEX
VOCABULARY
45
41
48
50
52
))
63
PART I GRAMMAR
INTRODUCTION
H E M A r N R E A S o Nf o r t h e s t u d yo f M i d d l e H i g h G e r m a ni s i t s
literature. Both in quality and diversity, Middle High German
poctry is comparablewith that produced by Goethe and his contcmporaries,or that of the ElizabethanAge. Middle High German
has also a specialinterestfor studentsof medievalhistory, theology
and language.
By the eighth century AD, High German had evolved south of a
line which would run today from near AixJa-Chapclle eastwards
across Germany, and would pass close to Diisseldod, Kassel,
Magdeburgand Wittenberg. Dialectsspokennorth of this line, i.e.
in the more low-lying part of German-speakingEurope, are known
'Low' German. The earliestform
as
of High German, which existed
until about 1050, is given the name Old High German. The Middle
itigh German period extendsroughly from the middle ofthe eleventh
century until the fifteenth,although its best known literary works,
itlcl'rdrng Parzival, Tristan und Isokl, the Nibelmgenlied and the
lyrics of Walther von der Vogelweide,all appearedbetweenabout
ll90 and 1230. New High German dales from about the fifteenth
centuryto the presentday.
The terms Old, Middle and New High German are at leastpartly
misleading.For example,somefeatureswhich in the opinion ofearly
philologistswere characteristicof Old High German, as opposedto
Middle High German,are found evenin the thirteenthcentury- by
which time certain forms, previously regardedas characteristicof
Ncw High German, had already made their appearance.The subdivision into Old, Middle and New High German is however
traditionaland convenient.
Printing was not in use until the fifteenthcentury,and our knowledge of Middle High German derivgsfrorn manuscripts,of which
there are still some thousandsin existence.These manuscriptsare
our only sourceof information about the language:its spellingand
pronunciation,its vocabularyand grammar.From thesemanuscripts
it is clear that Middle High German was not a'standard language'
PRONUNCIATION
AND
SPELLINC
1.2 vowELs
1.2.1 LENcTH
L2.1.l The circumflexis a sign used by modern scholarsto indicate
a long vowel, e.g.
minen I'mt:nenf
1.2.1.2 Vowels without a circumflexare short, exceptfor mutated
long vowels(see1.2.2).Short vowelsinclude thosein stressed'open'
syllables(i.e. syllablesending in a vowel, e.g. the first syllable of
le-ben),e.g.
l0
leben
['lben]
wgel
['fcgel]
ll
I.2.2 MUTATIoN
I,5
MUTATED
VOWEL
EXAMPLE
PRONUNCIATION
e (ot ti)
geste
['gesta]
w@nen
['ve:nen]
o
6
hitvesch
here
['hafeJ]
I na:ral
ii
ki)sse
u
ou
uo
tu
triuwe
yreude
eu (or 6u or iii)
e
Ji)eze
['kvse]
I rry:val
['frcyde]
t ryesal
I.2.3 DIPHTHoNGS
Three diphthongal sounds no longer exist in standard German
tod,ayt ie, uo, iie, e.g.
die
[die]
guot
[guet]
f eze ['fyasa]
oz corresponds in pronunciation to present-dayaa, e.g.
ouch
[aux]
I.2.4 ELISIoN
In poetry (see9) an unstressed-e at the end of a word is elided when
the first sound in the following word is an unstressed vowel, e.g.
noch wizer danne ldanl ein sn
even whiter than snow
I.3
coNSoNANTS
PHONETIC
TRANSCRIPTION
The phonetic transcription of the poem below conveys its approximate Pronunciation:
'sla:fest
'friedel 'tsiare
'5ldfest du, friedel ziere?
du
'vekat
'laidar 'Jiera
man
ons
nan wecket uns leider schiere:
'fcgali:n
ain
so: vcl ge'ta:n
eirt wgellin s6 wol getdn
'lrnden
das rst der
an das tsyi:
lu: ist der linden an dez zni
gegAn:
ge'ga:n
'lch was vil sanfte entsldfen:
nu r efestu kint v,Afen.
litp dne leit mac niht gesin.
s$az du gebiutst, dqz leiste ich,
friundin min.'
dy'frauve be'gunda'vainon
du ri:tst hrn ond la:st mlg 'aina
'veno yrlt
'vrdar
du
her tsua mir
'frcydo
o:'ve: du fyarst mi:n
'sament
dir
t2
l3
DER;
EIN
USE OF CASES
DEFINITE
ARTICLE,
DEMONSTRATIVE
2.I.1
AND
RELATIVE
PRONOUN
STNGULAR
PLURAL
M&F
N
MFN
NoM.
ACC.
cEN.
DAT.
der
den
des
dem
diu
die
der
der
daz
daz
des
dem
die
die
der
diu
diu
der
den
den
MF
eii
etnen
etnes
einen
ein
etne
ctnef
ei er
N
eln
ein
eines
einem
l5
3,3 ADVERBS
Most adverbs end in -a. Some adjectives and adverbs which are
otherwise identical in form have a different stem vowel, e.g.
ADJECTIVE
SINGULAR
MFN
N
A.
G
D
guote
guoten
guoten
guoten
guote
Suoten
guoten
guote
guote
guoten
guoten
guoten
guolen
Suoten
guoten
Suoten
e.g. der guote man, diu entlel6seherzen6l,daz leide vaz.
SINCULAR
MFN
guot(er)
guoten
guotes
guotem
guot(iu)
guote
guoler
guoter
ange
schene
sch6ne
tr@ge
bAge
veste
vaSte
3.4 COMPARISON
1.4.1 The comparative and superlative of adjectiyes and adverbs
are formed by the addition of -er and -est or -i, e.g. krcftic, kreft iger,
kreftigest. The stem vowel is mutated (see 1.2.2) in the comparative
and superlative of most monosyllabic adjectives, e.g. 916z, gruzer,
grezest.
3.4.2 The following are irregular:
3.4.2.1
ADJECTIVES
guot
bezzer
be(zze)st
bel
wirser
wirs(es)t
Iiitzel
minre
min(ne)st
michel
mre
meist
3.4.2.2
N
A
c
D
enge
3.2.2 When they come after any word other than the definite
article or drser, attributive adjectives usually follow the strong
declension.
STRONG DECLENSION
guot(ez)
guot(ez)
guoleS
guotem
PLURAL
N
guotiu
guotiu
guote
guoter
guoler
guoLen
guoren
ADVERB
ADVERSS
wol
baz
beste
i)bele
wirs
wirste
M&F
guote
16
17
,1.2.3 NEUTER
4 NOUNS
l4'ol'
r1)Oft
G
D
wortes
Worre
SINCULAR
'4C
IAC
lages
tage
PLURAL
tage
tage
tage
tagen
G
D
t8
kra/t
kraft
kraft or krefte
kralt or krefte
PLURAL
krefte
krefte
krefte
kreften
worl
wort
wotte
worten
PLURAL
C
D
SINCULAR
bote
boten
bolen
boten
PLURAL
boten
boten
boten
boten
l9
5 PRONOUNS
4.4.4 mqn
or is inr ariable
,na/t either follows the strongdeclension(see4 2' l ' l )'
today rn
infrexion
of
lack
the
plural.
Hence
in all cases,singularand
such phrases as zweitausendMann'
4.5 NOUN DECLENSIONSTODAY
5.I
PERSONALPRONOUNS
5.1.I DECLENSION
today corresPond
The Tog, Gast,Kruft, and -8otedeclension-typesof
4'2'2'2 and 4'3'
io ttroi-in Middl; High German: 4.2.1'1,4'2'12,
the.singular1o
ih. itog"uyp. declensionof today correspondsin
the plural Io rne
t h e s t r o n g f e m i n i n e d e c l e n s i o n( 4 2 2 1 ) ' a n d i n
weak feminine declension (4.3).
A,
mich
mtn
mlr
Ndr
dich
^
din
c
dir
o
4.6 LOSS OF E
disappearln
An unstressede [a] may. for merricalor other reasons'
di.en(e)stes'
nicrich(e)'
k
most positions, i e. tssk), herz(e)' red(e),
inflexions
in
common
if"\niar.'ftrr loss of unstressedc is especially
ter(e)s'
after / and r, e.E gabd(e\. lterlrc)' vi
in all parts
The loss of [a] is not confined to nouns, but may occur
e g' si'(e)s;
of speech, inciuaing articles, e.g' err(e)s; possessives'
pronouns'
adjectives, e-g. sckrn(e),schen(e)ste;adverbs, e'g' relt(e);
PLURAL
wir
uns
unser
uns
SINGULAR
l'cft
iuch
iuwer
tu
MFN
N
t
c
o
r
in
sin
im(e)
si(e)
s(e)
ir
ir
ez
ez
es ot sin
im(e)
si(e)
s(e)
in
5.1.2 CONTRACTION
Pcrsonal pronouns and other parts of speech are sometimes contracted, not only through the loss of e (see4.6 and 6'2) e g' do er or
do'r, tlu ez or duz, but also through the loss of other sounds, e'g' die
ich or diech, ich in or ichn, ichne or ine, ich ez or i'2.
5.1.3 oMrssroN
nounor pronoun'but
whether
a subject'
A verbnormallyrequires
occasionallya pronoun subjectis omitted,.g.
wanmsht ochmir ein liitzelfriiden geben?
why canyou not give me too a little joy?
5.1.4 ir: du
lr, referringto only one person,is most frequentlyfound in a polite
context (in a conversationbetween,for example,acquaintances)'
dir is most frequentlyusedin an intimate context (to address,for
example,God, a closerelative,or a lover). There are howeYerno
clcar rulesfor the useof the two pronouns: ir and du may be used
the same
evenin the samepoem,by the samesPeaker,in addressing
(See,for
implied'
in
attitude
person,and with only a subtlechange
p.42,Poem12,lines33-35')
example,
2l
20
5.1.5 REFLExTvES
6 vERBS (r)
SINGULAR
PLURAL
MFN
A.
O
D
sich
sin
im(e)
sich
ir
ir
sich
sin
im(e)
sich
tn
6.I TENSES
6.1.1 Thu essentialMiddle High German tensesare the prescnt
and Past. To expressfuturity Middle High German useseither the
present tensc, or onc of the verbs suln, xellen or zlie:e, plus the
infinitive,e.g.
ich;ol ez y'ol yerdienen
I will repay it well
5.3 DEMONSTRATIvES
XJf
waz
L'AZ
c
D
lrej
b"em
wes
wem
22
tt.O,z
PRESENT
INDICATIVE
PAST
INDICATIYE
ich lobe
ich lobete
du lobest
du lobetest du lobest
er lobel
er lobete
er lobe
as in Past
wir loben
wir lobeten
wir loben
lndicative
ich lobe
ir
lobe(n)t ir
lobetet
ir
lobet
si
lobent
lobeten
si
loben
si
IMPERA.
PAST
TIVE
PARTICIPLE
gelobet
lobe
Ithen
lch
(a)
biegen
biuge
bouc
bugen
gebogen
(b)
bieten
biute
bat
buten
geboten
(a)
(b)
singen
hellen
sanc
sungen
gesungen
hille
haV
hulfen
geholfen
nemen
nime
nam
nAmen
genomen
(a)
geben
gibe
gap
gAbm
gegeben
(b)
sitzen
s(E
s6zen
gesezzen
VI
graben
gruop
gegraben
VII
vallen
viel
gevallen
II
PAST SUBJ
(butai.d vowel
ich neme
ich neme
idn.)
IMPER
PAST PART
nim
genomen
,T,*lli.
ich nime
ich nam
du nimest
du name
du nemest
du namest neme(n)t
er nimel
er nam
ef neme
er nEme
wft nemen
ir
neme(n)t ir
nAmet ir
nemet
gegrffin
Crifen
lihen
III
PRES SUBJ
(vowel of
PAST PART
ged
These verbs, which are inflected like regular weak verbs (see6,4.1),
have a mutated vowel or diphthong in the present tef,se (e,@,e,
ii, iu, or iie) and the corresponding unmutated vowel or diphthong
(see 1.2.2) in the past tense, e.g. ich setze, ich satzte; ich here, ich
hdrte; ich kiisse, ich kuste. The past participle of most such verbs
can be either mutated, e.g. gesetzet, or unmutated, e,g, gesatzt,
Only six such verbs persist in present-day German. brennen,kennen,
nennen,rennen,senden,wenden.
PAST INDIC
PAST INDTC
PLUR
(siv.n *h.o
vowcl difd!
irqtD pi.r .
morc. 3n9.,
gfilen
IV
PRES INDIC
PAST INDIC
SING
(66t & thi.d
p.rsolt
(a)
(b)
Iobe(n)t
PRES INDIC
SINO
(3ivctr whc..
vow.l difrlF
froo io6..)
cLAss
6.4.2'RijcKUMLAUT' VERBS
6.5 sTRoNc
INFTN
& PRES
INDIC
PLUR
Pelihen
rrir n&men
ir
ne,met
si n?men
25
7.1.3 gdn,slAn,tuon,sln
7 vERBS (rr)
PAST INDIC
PRES INDIC
PRES SUBJ
PAST SUBJ
PAST PART
7 .1.3.1 gdn or gn
ich gdn or g6n
lu gdstor g1st
et gAt or gAt
vir gdn or g4n
ir gdt or get
si gAnt or gAnt
7.1.1.1
INFIN
PAST INDIC
dunken
y rhten
brdlte
dAhtu
drhte
vorhte
wiirken
worhte
bringen
denken
t.I. | -2
PAST PART
brAht
PAST INDIC
ichstAn orstOn
du sftst or stast
er sfit or sftt
t|t stdtr ot sftn
ir sftt or st,t
si stdnt or ge
gediht
gevorhl
geworht
PRES SUB'
PAST SUBJ
7.1.3.3 tuott
icll
du
er
\rir
1r
si
ich hdn
ich hdte or
ich habe
ich hcete
du hdst
hete, etc.
etc.
etc.
er hdt
wir hdn
t
hat
si
hdnt
PAST INDIC
PAST INDIC
INDIC PLUR
SING
SING
PLUR
lo
PAST PART
beginnen
begiarc
began ot
hegunde
begunden
begunnen
heben
hebe
huop
huoben
erhaben
komen
kume
kam
kdmen
komen
swefn
svere
svtuor
slruorery
ge'worn
h6(he)n
hdhe
ydhe
hie(nc)
hiengen
gehangen
vie(nc)
viengen
geyangen
fi(he)n
tuo(tl)
tuost
tuol
tuon
tuot
tuont
'7.1.3.4
(ge)gangen
or gegdn
geddht
hdh of naDen
PRES INDIC
ich tete
(lu t.Pte
er tete
wir tdten
ir fttet
si taten
ich tuo
etc.
ich tete
etc.
getAn
iclt si
du slst
ich were
gewesen
sin ot wesen
ich bin
du bist
ich wss
du v'are
fr
er
i)l
IQS
rir rdren
wAret
si wdren
er
Si
wir sin
ir stt
s/ sir
27
7.I.5 .PRETERITE.PRESEN
VTE'R B S
7.1.5.1 The following so-called'preterite-present'
verbsand wellen
have in the presentindicativethe endings-, -(")t, -, -en, -et, -en,
which are similar to those of the past indicativeof strong verbs
today:
7.1.5.2 rNFrN& PRES
INDIC PLUR
(Pr6. subj.b3t
sa6c vo*.l)
PRES INDIC
SINC
PAST INDIC
& SUBJ
(be)durfen
ich, er darf
du darft
ich dorfre
kunnen
ich, er kan
du kanst
ich kunde
muezen
ich, er muoz
du muost
ich muos(t)e
mugen
ich, er mac
du maht
ich mohte
suln
ich, er sol
du solt
ich soke
wlzzen
ich, er weiz
du weist
gunnen
ich, er gan
du ganst
ich gunde
tugen
ich, er touc
ich tohte
ich, er tar
du tarst
ich torste
ich, er wil
du teil(t)
ich wolte
wellen
7.2.3 The past tense can be used with a pluperfect function, e.g.
swenne aber er den vogel erschlz
but whenever he had shot the bird
7.2 T|lE PREFIX GE7.2.1 ge- is prefixed to most, but not all past participles,e.g.
gelobet, geromen, geboten,gedAfu; komen, worden.
7.2.2 ge-is oftenprefixedto verbsfor metricalreasons,and without
significantlychangingtheir meaning,e.g.
wazmugensi mir dd vongesagen?
what can they sayto me about this?
28
29
8 VERB NEGATION;
USE OF SUBJUNCTIVE
8.I
vERa NEGATIoN
30
3t
9 METRE
il
/xl/l
.lr
.1, I
,l/
xl |
.lt'l
.,lt
"lr'lt
xltx]
xlr 'li
xl
Ir"l r '
I rxl rl
tltxl
/xl^l
" l schiltwahtepflegen
der
'lt.lt
xlt xlr r lr lr I
I/ xl/
/l\l
,l r "17 "lrl rl
x xlrxl rxl
t"ltl
r " I r xI I | ^ |
-" lr I r , I rl r | |zornec
was sln muor:
r'lrlrl
r
lr'l
I
l^l
"ltlr
'pft, ir
zagen base',
sprach der helt guot,
I 'l rlrltl lr "l r '.1 r | ^ |
I'wolt
Des qntwurte im niemen.
ir sllfende
. ^l t ' l I ' l r l r l
lr
xltxl t,l/l
1t
JJ
PART II
TEXTS
LYRIC POETRY
ANoNYMous
D0 bist min, ich bin dtn:
dessolt d0 gewissin.
d0 bist beslozzen
in minemherzen:
5 verlorn ist daz sliizzelln:
d0 muostimmer drinne sln.
DER Ki,RENBERGER
'Ich z6cb mir einen valken m6re danne ein j6r.
dd ich in gezamete als ich in wolte han
und ich im sin gevidere mit golde wol bewant,
er huop sich 0f vil hohe und floug in anderiu lant.
s Sit sach ich den valken schOnefliegen:
er fuorte an sinem fuoze sidine riemen,
und was im sin gevidere alr6t guldin.
got sende si zesamene die gerne geliep wellen sln!'
PNCERTAIN)
D I E T M A Rv o N A I S T ?( A U T H O R S H I U
'Slafestdu, friedelziere?
man wecketuns leider schiere:
ein vogellins6 wol getAn
daz ist der linden an daz zwi gegdn.'
'Ich wasvil sanfteentslafen:
nu riiefestukint wdfen.
liep dne leit mac niht gesin.
swazdu gebiutst,daz leisteich, friundin min.'
ro
FRIEDRICH
VON
HAUSEN
36
VON MORUNGEN
schOnebeide
gebrochenbluomenunde gras.
vor dem waldein einemtal,
tandaradei,
scbOnesancdiu nahtegal.
25
W A L T H E RV O N D E R V O G E L W E I D E
Ich saz 0f eime steine
und dahte bein mit beine:
dar 0f satzt ich den ellenbogen:
ich hete in mine hant gesmogen
daz kinne und ein min wange.
d6 dAhte ich mir vil ange,
wie man zer welte solte leben:
deheinen rdt kond ich gegeben,
wie man driu dinc erwurbe,
der keinez niht verdurbe.
diu zwei sint Creund varnde guot.
daz dicke ein ander schadentuot:
daz dritte ist gotes hulde,
der zweier iibergulde.
die wolte ich gerne in einen schrin.
jd leider desn mac niht gesin,
daz guot und weltlich re
und gotes hulde mre
zesamenein ein herze komen.
stig unde wege sint in benomen:
untriuwe ist in der saze,
gewalt vert 0f der straze:
fride unde reht sint sere wunt.
diu driu enhabent geleitesniht, diu zwei enwerden gesunt.
WALTHERVON DER VOGELWETDE
'Underder linden
an der heide,
d6 unserzweierbettewas,
da mugt ir vinden
38
D0 het er gemachet
als0 riche
von bluomeneinebettestat.
deswirt noch gelachet
innecliche,
kumt iemenan daz selbepfat.
zs bl den rdsener wol mac,
tandaradei,
merkenw6 mirz houbetlac.
Daz er bl mir lage,
wesseziemen
ro (nu enwellegot!), sd schamtich mich.
wes er mit mir pfl:ege,
niemerniemen
bevindedaz, wan er unt ich,
und ein kleinezvogellin:
:s tandaradei,
daz mac wol getriuwesin.'
l0
Herzeliebezfrowelln,
got gebedir hiute und iemerguot.
kund ich baz gedenkendin,
deshete ich willeclichenmuot.
waz mac ich dir sagenm,
wan daz dir niemanholder ist?ow, di von ist mir vil w.
39
WALTHER
VON
DER
VOGELWEIDE
40
t2
4l
I5
IJ
42
liut unde lant, dar inn ich von kinde bin erzogen,
die sint mir frijmde worden reht als ez si gelogen.
die mine gespilenwdren, die sint trege unt alt.
daz velt ist n0 ver(Eset, verhouwenist der walt:
wan daz daz wazzerfliuzet als ez wilent fl62,
fiir wdr min ungeliicke wandeich wurde gr0z.
mich griiezetmanegertrage, der mich bekande0 wol.
diu welt ist allenthalben ungenidenvol.
als ich gedenkean manegen wiinneclichentac,
die mir sint enpfallen gar als in daz mer ein slac,
iemermr ouw.
Ow wie jemerliche junge liute tuont,
den 0 vil hovelichen ir gemiietestuont!
die kunnenniuwan sorgen: ouwwie tuont si s6?
swar ich zer werlte kere, da ist niemanfr6:
tanzenlachensingen zergdtmit sorgengar:
nie kristenmangesachs6 jamerlicheschar.
n0 merkentwie den frouwen ir gebendestat:
ez ftagenIdie stolzenritter dorpellichewat.
uns sint unsenftebrieve her von R6me komen,
uns ist erloubettroren und frdide gar benomen.
daz miiet mich inneclichen (wir lebtenie vil wol),
daz ich n0 fi.ir min lachen weinenkiesensoldie vogelin der wilde betriiebetunserklage:
waz wundersist an frtiiden ob ich dA von verzage?
w waz spricheich tumber durch minen bcesenzorn?
swerdirre wi.innevolget der hat jene dort verlorn,
iemermer ouwe.
!
Ow wie uns mit siiezen dingenist vergeben
sweben:
gallen
dem
honege
in
ich sihedie bittern
diu Welt ist 0zenschcene, wiz gruenunde r6t,
und inndn swarzervarwe, vinstersamder t6t.
swensi n0 habeverleitet, der schouwesinentrdst:
er wirt mit swacherbuoze grdzersiindeerl0st.
dar an gedenkent,ritter: ez ist iuwer dinc.
ir tragentdie liehtenhelme und manegenhertenrinc,
dar zuo die vestenschilte und diu gewihtenswert.
wolte got, wan wzereich der sigeniinftewert!
so wolte ich n6tic armman verdienenrlchen solt.
joch meineich niht die huoben noch der hOrrengolt:
43
t4
FREIDANK
EREC
Lines 1294-1333,Erec's victory over the knight lders is welcomedby
rich andpoor alike, and especiallyby hisfuture wife, Enite.
r:
zs
d6 ez alsd waskomen,
als ir da vor habetvemomen,
daz Ereckes6 wol gelanc
daz er ldrs betwanc
0fdem h0sze Tulmein,
der ie ein wArerdegenschein,
und d0 vrouweEnite
behertetwart mit strite,
sinsgeliickeswarendo
vil herzenlichevr6
armeunderiche
und j6hen alle geliche,
di enweredeheinzwivelan,
er enwrereder tiuristeman
der ie keme in daz lant.
dA wasniemanzehant
dem sin sigewere leit:
si pristensinemanheit.
ir spil begundensi mOren
d6 ze sinenren,
9162buhurt huop sichd6
undetanzenanderswa.
in entwafenteder herzogeimdrn:
in ir sch6zleite in
daz kint vrouweEnite
ze ruowe nachdem strite.
ir geberdewas vit bliuclich,
-i--.
----,t-
^-li^L
44
45
WoLFRAM voN
PARZIVAL
hittFffc
t0
o,llen
unserbluomeder muozvallen
wenetsin.
rr so er allergriienest
t7
t5
HARTMANN
VON
AUE
IWEIN
Lines59-72.A festiwl is heldat King Arthur's court.
Art0s und diu kiinegin,
ir ietwederz under in
sich 0f ir aller willen vleiz.
d6 man des pfingestagesenbeiz,
46
ESCHENBACH
47
48
unlangeskAmensi d6 von
in ungewonlichen6t.
Tristan ir meisterdd gebdt
daz man ze landeschielte
und eineruowehielte.
nu man gelantein einehabe,
nu gie daz volc almeisticabe
durch banekieiz ar daz lztl.t;
nu giencouch Tristan zehant
begriiezenunde beschouwen
die liehtensinevrouwen;
und alseer zuo z'ir nider gesaz
und redetendiz undedaz
von ir beiderdingen,
er bat im trinken bringen.
Nu'n was dA niemaninne
6nedie kiiniginne
wan cleiniujuncvrouwelin,
der einezsprach:'seht.bie statwin
in disemvezzeline.'
nein,ez'n wasniht mit wine,
doch ez ime gelichware,
ez wasdiu werndesware,
diu endeldseherzendt,
von der si beidel6gentdt.
nu wasaber ir daz unrekant:
si stuont0f und gie hin zehant,
da daz tranc und daz glas
verborgenunde behaltenwas.
Tristandeir meisterbdt si daz:
er b6t isdte viirbaz.
si tranc ungerneund iiber lanc
und gap d6 Tristand' unde er tranc
und wAndenbeideez were win.
iemittengiencouch Brangaen'
in
undeerkandedaz glas
und sachwol, waz der redewas:
si erschracs6 sOreundeerkam,
daz ez ir alle ir craft benam
und wart reht alseein tote var.
mit tdtem herzengie si dar;
si nam daz leide vei.gevaz,
49
20
50
5l
21 DAS NIBELUNGENLIED
52
'Nein durch
mine liebe', sprach d6 Hagene.
'komt ir von
dem htse, die snellendegene
bringent iuch mit swerten vil lihte in solhe ndt,
daz ich iu miiese helfen, warez aller miner mage tOt.
53
PART III
18:
l9:
20:
2t:
54
Bertin, 1964.
W. Deinert, Tiibingen,
Parzival: A- Leitzmann
1961.
Ttistan und Isold: F. Ranke, Bern, 1946.
Der guote Grhart: I. A. Ashcr. Tiibingen, l97l'
(Seealso DZI, 381'Euphorion, 59;Beilr', 94, Sonderheft.)
Das Nibelungenlied.' K. Bartsch - H. de Boor,
Wiesbaden,1961.
VOCABULARY
The meanings given in the vocabulary are those valid for the
contexts in which they occur in Part II. Not included in the vocabulary are most words whose spelling and meaning are close to those
in Dresent-davGerman,
w:weak;
J:strong,
56
ichn:ich en
i adv. ever, always
ieman,iemenpror. anyone
iemet adv, ever
iemittn ady. meanwhile; iemitten dlz
at the very time wheD
ietweder pror. each
)/
\
iht adr, noti Non. anything
im(e) ree 5.1
immer ddv. ever, flever
in prcn. see5.1
i\ prep. \rr(to)
ln adv. in
in: ich ne
innen adv. inwardly
inn(e)prep, in
innecliche(n) a/v. deeply, inwardly
innenadv.within; innenbriDgenmake
aware;innenrietden percive
ir see2.3,5.1
IsenJr, rron
iu ree 5.1
iuch sse5.1
iuwer J?e2.3, 5.1
I'z:ich ez
lazel see e7,;Len
,ehenree jehen
,Emerlichadj. lamentable
iEmerlicheadv. lamentably
ian':ia ne
ihenrr.I(a) say; giht says
joch corj. and
junc ddj. young; jungestddv. the last
time
iuncvrouwelin rr. young lady-inwaiting
kalp sr. calJ
kaphenrv. gaze
kelberree kalp
kerenr'v, turn; reJt.turn
kiel sm. ship
kiesensv.1{b) choose
kint rr. chiid, young person
Har adj. handsome
klingensr.I/(a) sound
knappe 'rn. boy
komenizeg,r. come
kond ,reekunnn
kra s, crow
krebz sm. crab
kreftic ddj. strong
kristenman.rm.Christian
kriuze sr. cross
kiienead7.bold
kiine d./v. scarcly
kum(e)t ree komen
kund(e) ree kunnen
kindic adj. familiar
kiinc, kiiLnicsn. king
ktuclich a../j. .oyal
kiinegin, kiinegir(ne), kiiniginne s/
quen
kiinicriche sz. kingdom
kunnen izg.y. can
kuster- kuste er
58
ob ptep. above
ob conj. if, whether
och seeo(u)ch
ode(r) conj. or
ofrenbAreadv. publicly
6re wn. ear
o( )ch adv. also
ouweJl meadow
o(u)w6,6w rrr. alas
pfi int. fre
plingestacrm. Whit Sunday
pflegen, phlegen sv.V(a) (u,ith gen.)
care for, watch over, do
p|an rm., plene{,t meadow
prisennv. praise
reck l9rr, waarior
rede .'l story, words, matter
rcht adj. tight, real; sr. justice, right;
Yonrehte, ze rehte rightly, truly
reht(e)a/v. just, right(ly)
reine adj. perfect
rich adl. rich
riche adv. richly
rieme )rm.jess
rigel srn. bolt
nc rn. ring of chain mail
ring- Jeerinc
riten sv.(ai ride
riuten )rv, make arable
riuwclichddj. sorrowful
riuwenrv.I/ (a) move to sorrow
rivir sm. stream
s':s(ixe)
sach Jee s,eben
sache y' stuff
sal sm. building
s&lder, heavenlybliss
salic ddj. blessed,happy
sam conj, as
samentpr"ep.with
s,anftddr. gently
satzt Jee setzen
saz ,rl ambush
schabensv.I4 erase
schachen}'r. rob
schalsn. sound
schalchaft a/j. wicked
schaltnrr. r{1 push
schamen)rv. rejt be ashamed
schamicddJ.bashful
schar{,/' company
scharn}1,v.reJ?,throng
scheidenrv.r?1 part, settle
schilte seeschalten
schireadv, soon
schiznrv.1/(6)shoot, throw a spear
scbiltwahte$ guard
schinrm. shine
schinnrr.1(a) seem,appear,gJeam
sch6neddv. beautifully
sch@neddj. beautiful; Jl beauty
scho(u)r,rnrl. see, look
sch6zrm. lap
schrinJm. chest
schuldic@dj.indebted
schuzznJ?eschizen
se:s(ixe)
shenrv.Z(a) see,Iook; sich (recotd
pers. sing.imper,) look
site lr, string
seitspilrr. string-music
selp adj. & pron. same,self
senen1',r,be love-sick
senfteradr. more softly
sere.zdv.much, pressingly
seEen)rv. put
sich pron. himse4 herse4 itself,
themselves
sich rse s,ehen
sidin adj. silken
s(i)(e),sip/on. see5.1
srge s.7,.vrcrory
sigenunlt s/: victory
sihe s?sehen
slme: sinem
sin rm. miDd
sin-si en
sln ireg.r. be
59
60
swernrffeg.y.swear
swie colr. however
swigenr1,.1(a)be silent
tagenwr, dawn
tal rr. valley; ze tal down
tandaradeiint. tandaradei
tFt(e) ree tuon
tiure arl]. excellent
torstestJeeturren
tougenddv. privately
trege arlv. listlessly
trFge a.t. listless
tragenry.n bear, wear
tran Jm. tear
trit seetragen
triegensv.1/(a)deceive
triun, triwen rrr. bclicve
triuwe Y: loyalty
trouc rrr lriegen
troumenlrv. dream
truoc, truog rcr"tmgen
trfireclichenadv. sadly
trfiren x,r,.mourn
tr0t rrr. darling
tr0te .ieet un
triwen Jeetriun
tugenirr.g.v. be fit for
tunrb-Jeetump
tump adj. foolish
tumpheitll lack of undcrstanding
t'uonirreg). do, act, nakc, do something; wol getanbeautiful
turrcn ir.rcg.r.dare
tisenlstunt.r/r. a thousandtimes
t$ahen.tf.r1 wash
t{ingen .Jr.111(.,prcss,force
twuoc rse twahen
nbel adj. bad
iibelcd.h. in a bad state
iibergulde.tl thal which surpasses
iibersehen.!v./(.r) not see
tf ptep. ol|',in, to; r./r. up
umbeva(he)n,ummevA(he)nirreg.v,
undancJ'r. jngratitude:habenundanc
may they be confounded
und(e),unt cori. and
nndcr prep. under, belween; under
o gen in lhe face
undcr*ilent a/v. fronl 1in1eto time
unarenl|v. dishonour
ungcmachrr. misfortune
ungemiictcrr, sorrow
ungenidcI disfavour,unkindness
d.!j. not to be cllred
ungenesen
ungetIiitelichedrlv. treacherously
ungcvertern. rough going
ungc$on(lich)ddl. unaccustomed
unlangesadr,.soon
Yerklagenn,y.ceaseto lament
verbn rr.l{1 give up
verleitenwv. lead astray
verliesenrv-1.1(6)
lose
vrcesen
lry. lay waste
wrre adv. far away
verriickenley. thrust awry
vrsinnenrv.Il,a(a) rel. understand,
reach the yearsof discretion
versmahenlr!. be objectionable
Yerstenlrreg.y. understand
vertragenJr. Zl endure
verwizenrv.1(d)repaoach
verzagenlrr. despair
vesteddj. stfong; ll stability
Yezzellnrn. little vessel
Yidell'l fiddle
Yidel*reJrr?.fiddler
Yidelenpv. play the fiddle
fer adj. proud
61
INDEX
adjectives:3, 5.3
adverbs:3.1,3.3,3.4
-age-t6.2
anacrusis:9,1
arme Heinrich,detap.46
attributive adjectives:3.2.1,3.2.2
Aurakt:.9.\
(be)durfe
n: 7.l .5.2
btingen',7.l.l.l
bruoder4.4.3
caesum:9.3.i
cases:2.4
circumflex:1.2.1
classesof strong verbs:6.6.2
closedsyllables:1.2.1.2,
9.2.2.3
comparison:3.4
conditional clauses:t.2.1
consonants:1.3
contraction:5.1.2,6.2
couplet:9.2.1
courtly epic poetry: 9.2, p.45
courts:p.l0
dd, dar'.5.2
definitearticle:2.1,3.2
dehein:2.3
demonstratives:2.1, 5.3
denken:7.1.1.1
d e r :2 . 1 ,5 . 3 , 1 , 5 . 6
Dietmar von Aist: p.34
din:2.3,5.1
diphthongs: 1.2,2,|.2.3
dirc.5.3.2
diser 3.2,5.3.2
di(trz(e)i 5.3.2
dunkeni7,l.l.l
dutfen: 7.l ,5.2
editions: p.54
-ege-t6.2
ein.2.2,p.56
elisio l.2.4, 4.6, 5.1.2,6.2
( e ) n - : 8 . 1t ,. 3
Erec: p.45
62
p.9
manuscnpts:
m e t r e :1 . 2 . 4 , 9
nrichel.3.4.2.l
ni 2.3,5.t.1
n t i i t ? n :6 . 1 . 17, . 1 . 5 . 2
ntugen.T.l.5.2
nltuttrt 4.4.3
n r u t a t i o n f: . 2 . 2 ,3 . 3 . 3 . 4 . 1 .4 . 2 . 1 . 2 .
1 . 2 . 2 . 21, . 4 . t . 3 ,4 . 4 . 3 ,6 . 4 . 2 ,6 . 5 ,
6.6.3
,(.):8.1,8.3
n c g a l i o n8: . 1 , 8 . 3
ncgaiivcpronouns:2.4.3.2
Ncw High German:p.9
NiheluH0liel: 9.3, p.52
n i h t .2 . 4 . 3 . 2 , 8 . 1
nouns:4
pp.56,62
nunrerals:
0b:8.2.1
Old lligh (ierman: p.9
omjssionof pronouns:5.1.3
o p e ns )l l a b l e s1: . 2 . 1 . 2 , 9 . 2 . 2 . 2
6rt:1.3
ouge:4.3
partitivegenitive:2.4.3
pAssrvc:
6.L2.2
past participlcs:
7.2.1
p a s tt e n s e6: . 1 . 17. . 2 . 3
p e r l c c tt c n s e : 6 . 1 . 2 . 1
personalpronouns:5.1
phonetictranlcription:I
plupcrfccttense:6.1.2.1,7.2.f
adjectivcs:
2.3
Possessj\e
prcdicaii\cadjcclives:
3.2.3
\\ith da, da/: 5.2
PrcPosrtions
parliciples:
6.
l.
I
Prcscnl
tcnset6.1.l
Prcscnt
'pretcflte-present
ve.bs:7_1.5
Pnncipalparts:6.6
p r o n o u n s2:, : 1 , 1 , 5
pronuncratlon:
I
Rcinmar:p.35
rclatr\'cpronouns:2.I
'Riickut aut' \erbs.
6.4.2
Rudolf \on Ems: p_50
64
i i , ?r r r c g v- .: 6 . 1 . 2 . 17,. 1 . 3 . 47,. 1 . 4
rir pron. & adj.: 2.1,5.1
spelling:I
sfin'.7.1.3.2
standardlanguagc:p.9, L6
sti .1.1.3.2
s t r e s sl :, 9
sl.ong declcnsion:3.2.2. 4.1, 4.2,
4 . 4 . 14, . 1 . 2
strongvcrbs:6.3,6.5,6.6,1.1.2,7.1.4
subjunctivc:8.2,
E.3
suln:6.1.1,1.1.5.2
i)ra::5.5
J)11el:5.5
t e n s c s6:. 1 , 7 . 2 . 3
tohtar:4.4.3
Triltun und Isold: p.48
trochee:9.1,9.4
try?n.7.1.5.2
tuon:1.1.3.3
turrent7.1.5.2
iihel(e).3.4.2
u n s d 2 . 3 ,5 . 1 . 1
!d(he)n:1.1.2
vat(r.1.4.3
v e r b s6: , 7
rit.2.4.3.1
vo\\els:1.2,3.3,3.4.l,4.2.1.2,4.2.2.2,
4.1.t.3, 4.4.3,6.4.2,6.5, 6.6,9.2.2
tiirht..n:71 1 |
walrher !on der Vogelweide:pp.l0,
JII
hangc.1.3
v ' a . . 2 . 4 . 3 . 2 ,5 . 4
seiik de!lcnsion: 3.2.1, 4.1, 4.1.
4.4.2.2
weakvcrbs:6.3,6.4,7.1.1
h e l l e: 6 . 1 . 1 , 7 . 1 , 5
re ict 2.4.3.1
n'er'.5.4
t'errltn:6.1.2.2,7.2.1
u'esen:1.1.3.4,7.1.4
wizzen:1.1.5.2
wol:3.4.2.2
Wolfram von Eschenbach
I p.47
word-order:2.1.2,1.3.a.2.1
t r t " k e n7: . 1 . 1 . 1
ziehen:7.1.4