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A Short
DescriptiveGrammar
of Middle High German
with Texts and Vocabularv

John A. Asher
Professorof Gernan
in the Universityof Auckland

Auckland University Press


Oxford Universitv Press

PREFACE

JOHN A. ASHER I967

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

coverage. A truly complete grammar of a medieval language as rich


in extant literature as Middle High German remains unattainable even today, after a century and a half of research by a host of
scholars.The manuscripts on which such a grammar would be based
are - quite simply - too numerous and too diverse for a grarnmarian to cover. I would mention, as an example, one group of
manuscripts only: those containing the Weltchro ik of Rudolf von
Ems. Of this poem, which comprises over 33,000 lines, there are
more than eighty extant manuscripts and manuscript fragments
(none of them published), and these present the widest diversity in
language. Many points of grammar in the best of these manuscripts
diverge from the rules of every known grammarian from Paul and
Weinhold right up to the presentday. Thesescholarscannot however
be blamed for their failure to take into account the manuscriptsof
the Weltchrcnik for there are, of other works, literally thousands of
other important manuscripts,likewiseunpublished.A scholar'slife
is not long enoughto consult them all, and a completegrammar of
Middle High Cerman remainsa dream.
This being so, the author of a grammar-bookon this subjectmust
decide, at the outset, the criteria according to which he will include
certain points of grammar, but exclude others. Most books give
what is historically relevant (including artificial spellingsinvented
by grammarians,e.g. e'as opposed to e), but most of the actual
manuscript readings themselvesare severelyedited. To give two very
simple examplesonly: the grammar of Paul/Mitzka gives,as the
first person singular of the past indicative of tuon, only the forms
tdt(c) or tet(e): no reference is made to forms, frequently occurring
in reliable manuscripts, such as rerl, tett, thet, thett, thdtte and so on.
Helm gives, as the past subjunctive of sah, only the one form solde,
whereas solt, solte, sollte, solde, sdlt, sdlte, st)llteare all of common
occurrencein reliablemanuscripts.
The criterion according to which a given point of grammar is
includedin this book, or excludedfrom it, is its indispensabilityfor
the understandingof those Middle High German texts most commonly studied.No known points of grammar have been overlooked
but many, after careful investigation, have been discarded. The
detailedprinciplesof Middle High Germanword-order,for example,
have little relevancefor a student wishing to understand a text. The
pedective functions of the prefix ge- have, similarly, only marginal
importance in a description of the language (as distinct from a
historical grammar). The past participle of rfrrizis excluded for similar
reasons: while easily recognizable if found, it is so rare as to be

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.

This book is dedicated to my father on the occasion of his


seventv-fifth birthdav.

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

WALTHER VON DER VOGELWEIDE


FREIDANK

38
44

CO URTLY EPIC POETRY


HARTMANN VON AUE
WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH
GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBURG
RUDOLF VON EMS
DAS NIBELUNGENLIED

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'

in the modern senseof the term: everyregion had


its own particular
dialect. On the other hand, most poets endeavoured,
in the lat"
twelfth and early thirteenth centuries at least, to
write in a uniform
l a n g u a g et:h e p o e t r yo f W a l t h e rv o n d e r V o g e l w e i d e ,
for examole
revealsonly occasionalrrrces of lhe dialcci
he ur.O in .u.rfaul
speech. l.r used in this book, the term ,Midtlle High
German, iefers
to-the languageof the major poets who ,rrrotebetwin
about I lziand
1250.
The extant poetry of this time is ,courtly,,in that
the poets were
themselvescourtiers, their poetry was written
for the courts they
attended,and its content expressedthe courtly
ethos.poets traveilei
I r o m o n e c o u r t l o a n o t h e rT. h e s t r i ri n g t o w a r d s
a u n i f o r ml a n-pn.i,
guage
(nver \ holly achieved) is rherefore
not surprising. u, ,ft" '
wishedtheir writings to be understoodas widely
aJpossible.

Middle High German is, from many points


of yiew, similar to
present-dayGerman. It has, for example,
similar 'u.rtr,
pronunciation,
similar conjugationsof weak, strong and ;rrcgrt,l,
,i_itu,
e n d i n g so f a r t j c l c s r. d j e c t i v c . ,p. r o n o u n sa n d n o u n s
(moslof $hich
n a \ e a l s o t h c s a m eg e D d e ra \ t o d r y ) . t n t h c f o l l o w i n g
prg
- esthc.e
similaritiesare frequentlyused as short-cutsto
learnin"s.^

PRONUNCIATION

AND

SPELLINC

1.1 In general,the spelling of Middle High German conveysthe


pronunciation of the languagemore preciselythan is the casewith
German spellingand pronunciationtoday. A simpleexampleis seen
in tlre spelling of Middle High German lop, lobes,where the p and D
indicatethe dillerencein pronunciation,present-dayGerman having
, for both sounds:Zob, lober. A further simpleexampleis the letter
i?, which in Middle High German always conveys a sound, e.g.
genafullga'mahel].In present-dayGermanl may, in sornepositions,
indicate merely the length of the precedingvowel, e.g. Gemqhl,or
have no function at all, e.g. R[?ir.
On thc basis of evidencein nanuscripts, the pronunciation of
most Middle High German spellings has been fairly accurately
established.The syrnbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet
usedin this chapterconvey,with reasonableadequacy,the approximatc pronunciationof the soundsin question.
As regardspronunciation and spelling,the following differences
betweenMiddle High German and the present-daylanguagedeserve
mention:

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

Vowelsand diphthongswhich can be mutated,and their corresponding mutatedform, are as follows:


UNMUTATED
VOWEL

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

Where it corresponds to a modern s, ss or f, z is pronounced


[s],
e.g. daz [das]. Otherwise the pronunciation is [ts], e.g. zil [tsi:t].

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.'

rg vas fil sanft ent'sla:fen


'ryafostu
'va:fan
nu
krnt
'a:ne
liep
lait mak nrgt ga'si:n
svas du ge'by:tst das laist rg
'fry:ndi:n
mi:n

Dir frow,;e begundetteinen.


'lu ritst hinne und l6st mich
eine.
*cnne v,ilt tlu wider her zuo mir?
6ri du fi)erst min friiide
samentdtl'

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

I.6 FLUCTUATION IN SPELLING


As pronunciation varied more than it does today (there being no
authorities,such as dictionaries,fixing pronunciation and spelling,
and no standardlanguagein the modern sense),Middle High German showsconsiderablefluctuation in spelling,e.g.k nic or k nec,
hinnan or hinnen. yreudeor vrijude or vrijide, ouch or och, phlegen or
l.gen, truoc or truog, Iop or lob, mr ot m6, werlt or vtelt, and so ou.
/ard r at the beginning ofa word are interchangeable,e.g.Jiiunde
or viunde,f r or v r.
Seealso 4.6, 5.1.2 and 6.2.

1.4 Students using this book may learn elsewhereother differences


between Middle High German pronunciation and that of the
language today, e.g. the pronunciation of ei as [ei], oa as
[ou], and
of lr as [w]. The change of [ei] to [ai], [ou] to [au], and of [w] to
[v],
like certain other changes, is known to have been completed in the
thirteenth century, but it cannot be more accurately dated from
extant manuscripts. Either pronunciation is therefore acceptable.

t2

l3

DER;

EIN

2.4.2 The'Genitive of Reference' is widely used where present-day


C c r m a n w o u l d e m p l o ya p r e p o s i t i o ne. . g .

USE OF CASES

des ist zit


it is time for this
2.1

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

2.1,2 As in present-dayGerman, demonstrativepronouns may be


distinguishedfrom relative pronouns by word-ordcr (scc 7.3), e.g.
Demonstrative; der trouc Lliuousenmin
it deceivedmy eyes
Relative:

der ie ein v'drer degenschein


who alwaysseemeda real warrior
Seealso 5.3.1 and 5.6.

sins gcl ckes w6


glad at his success
'Partitive
Genitive' dependson;
2.4.3 The
2.4.3.1 pronouns of quantity such as }rl w6nic,e.g.
doch v'as der schandenqlse vil
but there were so many shameful things
2.4.3.2 indefinite, negative and interrogative pronouns, such as /r/,
nil1t,waz,e.g.
hdst qb di der zweier niht
but if you have not these two
Wqz ich nu niutrer mcere sage
What new tidings I now tell

2.2 INDEFINITE ARTIcLE


N
A
c
D

MF
eii
etnen
etnes
einen

ein
etne
ctnef
ei er

N
eln
ein
eines
einem

2.3 PossEsstvE ADJEcTTvES


The following are usually declinedin the singularlike era (see2.2);
mtn my' din your; sinhis,its; i her, its, their; r.rr.rer
our; iruclyour;
delteinno, any; ke,r no. In tlle plural thcy usuallyfollow the strong
declensionof adjectives(see3.2.2),e.g. niniu idr.
2.4 USE oF cAsEs
The use of casesis similar to that in present-dayGerman. The most
important differenceis the wider useof the genitive:
2.4.1 Many verbsgovernthe genitive,e.g,enbern,gedenken,hiieten,
verdriezen,e,g.
Hiietet u ol der drier
Take good care with the three
l4

l5

3 ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

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

3.1 In the inflexion of adjectives and adverbs there is even more


freedom than is the case with other parts of speech.To most points
of grammar in this chapter, exceptions are commonplace.
3.2 ADJECTIVES
3.2.1 When they come after the definite article (see 2.1) or diser
(see5.3.2), attributiveadjectivesusuallyfollow the weak declension.
WEAK DECLENSION
(identicalwith the weak declensionof nouns, 4.3)
PLURAL

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

(similar to the article declensions,


2.1.1 and 2.2)

N
A
c
D

enge

This difference is becauseof mutation in the adjective (see 1.2.2).


The distinction is preserved today in schtin,schon;fest, /ast (despite
the change of meaning in the two adverbs).

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

e.g, ein guoter man, min liebiu trov,e, cleiniujuncvrouwelin.


3.2.3 Predicative adjectives are uninflected, e.g.
din leben ist guot
your life is good

16

17

,1.2.3 NEUTER

4 NOUNS

Nearly all neutersbelong to this declension.


SINCULAR

4.1 Nouns may be classilied,as in present-dayGerman, into strong


or weak declensions.Within the strongdeclensionare one masculine
type, two feminine types, and one neuter type. There is one weak
declensionfor masculines,feminines and four neuters (the latter
without -n in the accusativesingular).
Most nouns have the samc gender as today. This fact may assist
the studentin determiningthe declensionto which a noun belongs.

l4'ol'

r1)Oft

G
D

wortes
Worre

To this declensionbelongnumerousmasculines,e.g.6ole; feminines,


e.g. zunge; and four neuters: herze, 6re, ouge, \'ange. The neulers
do not have -n in the accusativesinsular.
N
A.

4.2.1.1 Most masculincsbclong to this declension.


N
A
G
D

SINCULAR
'4C
IAC
lages
tage

PLURAL
tage
tage
tage
tagen

4.2.1.2 A,s in present-dayCerman, some strong masculinesare


mutated (see 1.2.2) in the plural, e.g. ga.rt (genitive singular gaslas,
nominative plural gesre).
4.2.2 FEMININE
4.2.2.1 TYPE I
Most feminines belong either to this type or to the weak declension
(see4.3).
SINGULAR
PLURAL
N
klage
klage
tr
klage
klage
klage
c
klagen
D
klage
klagen
4.2.2.2 TYPE rr
SINCULAR
N

G
D

t8

kra/t
kraft
kraft or krefte
kralt or krefte

PLURAL

krefte
krefte
krefte
kreften

worl
wort
wotte
worten

4.3 WEAK DECLENSION

4.2 srRoNG DEcLENSIoN


4.2.I MAScULINE

PLURAL

C
D

SINCULAR
bote
boten
bolen
boten

PLURAL
boten
boten
boten
boten

,1.4 NOTES ON DECLENSIONS

4.4.I STRONG MASCULINES AND NEUTERS


4.4.1.1 A fcw strong masculinesand neuters end in -c in the
nominative singular,e.g. ,lle (c sing. ,[rrres,N plur.,lrrrte).
4.4.1,2 A few strong masculinesand neutersadd -n- to the stem
of all inflected forms, e.g. /</i (c sing. kliwes, N pl'r. klwe).
,1.4.
1.3 A few neutersare declined,with mutation in the plural, like
the /(a/b-typc in present-dayGerman, e.g. kalp (kalhes,kelber\, huon
(huo es, h ener).
4 . 4 . 2 F - E Mt N t N E s
4.1.2.1 A few strong feminines of Type I end in a consonant,
e.g.:al (:al,:al).
4.1.?,.2 A largegro up of feminines,e.g.vrov,e,enlc,may be inllected
accordingto either the strong or the weak declension.
4.4.3 rater, muoter,hruoder,tohter
rater, muoter, bruoder, tohter belong to a spccial dcclension:tlrey
are uninflected in the singular, and mutated in the plural, e.g,
singular,n AGD muoter: plural, Nlc miietet, t) nliietarn. Hence
VAter,M tter, Br (ler, Tdchter today.

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).

e.g. z(e),mit(e)' Iells, e c ttfr(:)'


i^f"i, (e]s; prepositions,
".i.
^VnrAl,'iiGl*,' si(e)t, tas@)t(e),\tart(et)e,b(e)liben:and the
negative(e)n- or -n(e), e.g. ichn(e)'
Seealso 5.1.2 and 6.2.

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

e.g. er bat im lrinken bringen


he asked for a drink to be brought to him
5.2 d6: dqr
Forms such as dd an, dd itne, dd von. tl6 vor, dar an, dar in, dar ndch,
dar if, dar under, dar fi)r, dar zuo are rarely joined together as in
present-dayCerman. They can be even widely separatedwithin a
sentence,e.g.
dd enwere delrcin zt+,ivelan
there was no doubt of this

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

The future perfect and conditional tensesexisting today are not


found in Middlc High German.
The present participle (e,g. lobende,nemende)is rarely used.

5.3.1 The demonstrativepronoun and adjectiye most frequently


used is der, diu, daz (see2.1).

6.1.2 The usc of the following is similar to that in present-day


German:

5.3.2 diser,disiu,diz are inllectedaccordingto the strongdeclension


of adjectives(see3.2.2).A very common alternativeform of drscris
dirre. The neuter nominativc and accusative singular may be spelt
diz, ditz or ditze.
5.4 INTERRoGATIvE PRoNoUNS
M&F
N

XJf

waz
L'AZ

c
D

lrej
b"em

wes
wem

5.5 swcr; swaz


'whoever', 'he
swer, which correspondsto English
who', etc., and
'whatever',
'that which',
snaz, which corresponds to
etc., are
declined like i'er and.ba. (see5.4), e.g.
sver ime iht sol
whoeverowes him anything
5.6 der, diu, daz (see2.1 and 5.3.1) are also used for 'he who',
etc.,e.g.
die minc gespilcn u drcn
they who were my playmates

22

6.1.2.I the perfectand plupcrfcct tcnses(formed with h6n and sin,


used like /raborand selr today);
6.1.2.2 the passivevoice (formed in the present and past with
verden),
For the usc of thc subjunctivesee8.2 and 8.3.
6.2 FLUCTUA.I.IoNIN SPELLING
Minor fluctuationsin spelling,includingthe lossof e,,are as common
irr verbsas in other parts of spccch(seel 6,4.6 and 5.lr2), e.g.Iobcte
or lobet, niw or nim, nugen or tniigcn, solte or soklc. A consonant
bctwentwo vowelsis frequcntlydropped, the contraction of -ageand -ege-to -ci- being particularlycommon, e.g. ,rqgeteor seite,gc.\uget or ges?it, lcgcteor leite, gt,lcget or geleit, da: ist or deist, gibast
or,qi.rl.
6.3 Nearly all verbs may be classified.likc thosc in present-day
Gcrman, as \\eak or strong. Most verbs belong to the sameclassas
ln present-dayCcrman.
6.4 WEAK VERBS
Weak vcrbs may be divided into two types: rcgular ueak verbsand
the so-cafled'R ckuntlaut' yerbs.

tt.O,z

6.4.1 REGULAR WEAK VERBS, e.g. loben


PAST
PRESENT
SUBJUNCTIVESUBJUNCTIVE

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

wir ndmen wi nemen

ir

neme(n)t ir

nAmet ir

nemet

si nement si nAmen si nemen

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

VERRS, e.g. nemen

PRES INDIC
SINO
(3ivctr whc..
vow.l difrlF
froo io6..)

cLAss

6.4.2'RijcKUMLAUT' VERBS

6.5 sTRoNc

INFTN
& PRES
INDIC
PLUR

Pelihen

6.6.3 Verbsof ClassVII havethe samestemvowel,not necessarily


-a-, in both infinitive and pastparticiple,e.g.st6zen,stiez, gestdzen.
VI and VII havea mutatedstemvowel (see1.2.2)
Verbsof Classes
and
third person singularof the presentindicative,
in tbe second
vellest,
er
vellet.
e.g.du

rrir n&men
ir

ne,met

si n?men

The second person singular of the past indicative, e.g. du nnme,


has the vowel of the pasr subjunctive.
6.6 PRINCIPAL PARTS OF STRoNG VERBS
6.6.1 Strong verbs rnay be classifiedaccording to the yowels of the
infinitive, present indicative singular, past indicative singular, past
indicative plural, and past participle. Nearly all strong verbs belong
to one of the following sevenclasses:
a/l

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 The following frequently used verbs are irregular:


7.I.I

IRREGULAR WEAK VERBS

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

7.I.2 IRREGULAR STRoNG VERBS


P R E SI N D I C

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

INFIN & PRES

(ge)gangen
or gegdn

7.1.3.2 sfin ot sftn

geddht

hdh of naDen
PRES INDIC

ich gie(nc) ich gd or g ich gienge


etc.
du giexge etc.
er gie(nc)
w giengen
i gienget
si giengen

ich stuont ichsfiorsG


etc.
du stiiende
er stuont
wir stuonden
ir stuondet
si stuonden

ich tete
(lu t.Pte
er tete
wir tdten
ir fttet
si taten

ich stiiende gestanden


etc.
ot geslAn

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

ttir sin or birn


ir sit or birt
Jl rlrl

IQS

rir rdren
wAret
si wdren

er

Si

wir sin
ir stt
s/ sir

7.1.4 The variation bctwcen.rand r in the tensesof pesex(see7.1.


3.4) is found, like the variation between(c)/rand g, and betweend
and l, in severalstrong verbs,e.g.
kiesen, kiuse, k4s, kurn, gekorn
ziehen, ziuhe, z6ch, zugen, gezogen

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

This use is particularly common where ge- is prefixed to the verb,


e.g.
dO ich in gezamete
when I had tamed it
7.3 WORD.ORDER

(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

ich wiste or u,/esse

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

Word-order is similar to that in present-day German. Various


word-orders may be used to adapt a sentenceto the metre, or to give
emphasis to a particular word, or group of words.

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

8.2.3 If one clause contains the subjunctive or the imperative, the


vcrb in a dependentclause may also be in the subjunctive, e.g.
Daz er bi mir l<zge,
wessezrcmen
If anyone knew that he had lain beside me
8.3 EN- WITH THE SUBJUNCTIVE

8.I

vERa NEGATIoN

8.3.1 In a dependent clause ez-, -ne or -n with the subjunctive


usuallycorrespondsto a clausein Englishintroducedby,unless,,e.g.
mich enwendesder t6t

8.1.1 Negation of a verb is usually expressedby en-, -ne or -r,


before the verb, and niht after it, e.g.
si enredeteim niht vil mite
she did not talk much to him
8.1.2 Negation is also frequently expresscd by en-, -ne or -z only,
or by niltt only, e-g.
ine v'eiz
I do not know
liep 6ne leit mac niht gesin
Joy cannot exist without sorrow

unless death prevents me


8.3.2 This construction is found also in clausesdependenton a
vcrb or noun with negativemeaning,e.g. ,prevent,,.doubt', which is
itsclf negated,e.g.
Sit ich dich, herze, niht v,ol mac envenden,
dun u'ellestmich vil trirrecllchen I6n
Since, heart, I truly cannot prevent you
from wanting to leave me most sadly
en-r -ne ot -n in such clausesis without negative meaning.

8,2 UsE oF SUaJUNCTIVE


8.2.1 The subjunctiveis usually found in clauseswhere the sub_
junctive would be used in present-day German, e.g.
jn indirect speech: undjdhen alle geliche,
dd enu'<zredeheinzvivel an
and all said with one accord
there was no doubt of tbis
to expressa wislt:. got sendesi zesamene
may God send those together
to expressan unreal condition (after or, or with inversion of subject
and verb):
Gieng ein hunt tages tisent stunt
If a dog went a thousand times a day
8.2.2 The subjunctive is however more widely used than in present_
day German: in several constructions either the indicative or the
subjunctive may be used with little change of meaning.

30

3t

9 METRE

9.3 THE NIBELUNGENLIED

9.I Middle High German metre is based, like that of presetrt-day


German, on the alternation of stressed and unstressed syuables.
The commonest foot is trochaic ( 7 x ), and all other possible feet,
e.g. | , I x x, rray be considered variations of the trochaic pattem.
An unstressedsyllable, or more than one, preceding the first stressed
syllable in a line, ts called an Auftak or anacrusis.
For the elision of -e see1.2.4.
9.2 COURTLY EPIC POETRY

il

/xl/l

.lr

.1, I

mit t6tem herzen sie si dar

9.2.2.2 Type Ib contains four stresses,of which the last falls on a


'open'
short vowel in an
syllable(see1.2.1.2).The line ends with an
unstressedsyllablesuch as -e, -er, e.g.

,l/

xl |

.lt'l

Ditz geschach als ich iu sage

.,lt

"lr'lt

xltx]

d6 ich ze rehte solde sehen


9.2.2.3 Type II contains three primary stresses,of which the last
falls on a long vowel, e.g. ren, a diphthong, e.g. scieizlez,or a short
vowel in a 'closed' syllable, e.g. rvizde,The line ends with a secondary
stress ( \ ), which falls on a syllable such as -a, -ez, e.g.

lr,l r' lrlr I


d6 ze sinen 6ren

xlr 'li

xl

Ir"l r '

I rxl rl

bl,im stCt ouch Hagene

9.3.2.2 The second,fourth and sixth half-linesend accordingto


any one of the three typesabove,but contain only three stresses,
followedby a perceptiblepause,e.g.

tltxl

/xl^l

" l schiltwahtepflegen
der

9.3.2.3 The eighthhalfJine fouowsType Ia or Ib, e.g.

Artis und diu ki)negin

'lt.lt

xlt xlr r lr lr I

Nu ldzet iu$'er sorgen

Trisyllabic endings such as the following are not uncommon:

9.2.1 Courtly epic poetry comprises couplets, each line of which


follows the same t)4)e as the other,
9.2.2 There are, in general, three types of line. All three normally
have four stresses.(The number of unstressedsyllables may however vary from line to line.)
9,2,2.L Type Ir contains four stresses,and ends with a strcssed
syllable,e.g.

I/ xl/

9.3.1 The Nibelungenlied and the poems of Der Kiirenberger


comprisestanzasof four long lines,eachdivided by a caosurainto
two half-lines.
9.3.2 The metricalpattem is as follows:
9.3.2.1 The first, third, f.fth and seventhhalfJinesfollow Type Il
above,e.g.

/l\l

vil riuweclichez scheiden

,l r "17 "lrl rl

in v'azzer unde in winde

x xlrxl rxl

t"ltl

so genese danne swer der mac


9.3.3 An ntire stanza is therefore scannedas follows:

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

uns ermordet hdn?

. ^l t ' l I ' l r l r l

daz ist s6 guoten helden

lr

xltxl t,l/l

noch vil selten her petArr.'

9,4 LYRIC PoETRY


The metre of lyric poetry shows almost infinite variety, not only
within a given line, but also in the kinds ofline within a given stanza.
Only two principles mentioned above are common to almost all
lyric poetry: first, that the basic foot is the trochee(/ x ), or a variation
of the trochaic pattem, e.g. L I x x : and secondly that, whatever
the arrangement of stressedand unstressedsyllables within the line,
most line-endings follow one of the three types described in 9.2.2.

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

Diu frouwe begundeweinen,


'du ritst hinoeund lAstmicheine.
wennewilt du wider her zuo mir?
6we du fi.ierstmin friiide samentdir!'

FRIEDRICH

VON

HAUSEN

Min herze und min lip diu wellent scheiden,


diu mit ein ander varnt nu mange zit.
der lip wil gerne vehten an die heiden:
s6 hdt iedoch daz herze erwelt ein wip
vor
al der werlt. daz miiet mich iemer sit,
5
daz si ein ander niene volgent beide.
mir habent diu ougen vil getAn ze leide.
got eine miieze scheidennoch den strit.
Ich winde ledic sin von solher swere,
ro do ich daz kriuze in gotes6re nam.
ez ware ouch reht deiz herze als 6 dA were,
wan daz sin stetekeit im sin verban,
ich solte sin ze rehte ein lebendic man,
ob ez den tumben willen sin verbare.
r5 nu sihe ich wol daz im ist gar unmere
wie ez mir an dem ende siile ergan.
Sit ich dich, herze, niht wol mac erwenden,
dun wellest mich vil troreclichen lAn,
s6 bite ich got daz er dich ruoche senden
20 an eine stat da man dich wol enpfd.
owe wie sol ez armen dir ergAn!
wie torstest eine an solhe not ernenden?
wer sol dir dine sorge helfen enden
mit solhen triuwen als ich hdn getdn?
zs Nieman darf mir wenden daz zunstete,
ob ich die hazze diech dA minnet 6.
swie vil ich si geflOhetoder geb&te,
sd tuot si rehte als ob sis niht verste.
mich dunket wie min wort geliche g
ro als ez der summer vor ir 6ten tete.
ich were ein gouch, ob ich ir tumpheit hete
fiir guot: ez engeschihtmir niemer m.
REINMAR

Waz ich nu niuwer mere sage


desndarf mich niemanfrdgen:ich enbin niht vr6.
die friunt verdriuzetminer klage.
dem ist allemsd.
desman ze vil gehceret,
J)

nu han ich es beidiu schadenunde spot.


waz mir doch leidesunverdienet,daz erkennegot,
und ane schultgeschiht!
ichn geligeherzeliebebi,
son h6t an miner vrdide niemanniht.
Die h6hgemuotenzihent mich,
ich minne niht s0 screals ich gebdreein wip.
si liegentunde unrentsich:
si wasmir ie gelichermdzes6 der lip.
nie getrdstesi dar under mir den muot.
muoz ich, und dessi mir noch getuot,
der ungenAden
erbeitenals ich mac.
wol gewesen:
mir ist eteswenne
gewinneab ich nu niemerguotentac?
Sd wol dir, wlp, wie reineein nam!
wie sanfteer doch z'erkennenund ze nennenistl
ez wart nie niht sOlobesam,
swdduz an rehtegiietekerest,sOdu bist.
din lop niemanmit redevolendenkan.
swesdu mit triuwenphligest,wolim, dersteinsalic man
und mac vil gerneleben.
du gist al der werldehdhenmuot:
wan maht och mir ein liitzel frtiiden geben?
Zwei dinc hdn ich mir fiir geleit,
diu stritentmit gedankenin dem herzenmin:
ob ich ir h6henwerdekeit
mit minemwillenwoltelazenminresin,
si
odeob ich dazwelledaz si grcezer
und si vil salic wip stmin und aller mannevri.
diu tuont rnir beidiu w:
ich enwirdeir lastersniemervrd;
vergdtsi mich,daz klageich iemerme.
Ob ich nu tuon und han getan
daz ich von rehteiD ir huldensohesin,
und si vor aller werldehdn,
waz mac ich des,vergizzetsi dar under min?
swernu giht daz ich ze spotteki.inneklagen,
der lize im mine redebeidesingenunde sagen
unde merkewa ich ie spracheein wort,
ezn lege e i'z gesprecheherzenbi.

36

HART]ir'IG VON RUTE

Als ich sihedaz bestewlp,


wie k0me ich daz verbir
daz ich niht umbevAheir llp
und twingesi ze mir.
dickeich st6nze sprunge
als ich welledar,
sd si mir s0 suozevor gestet.
nem al diu werlt sln war,
s6 mich der minnendunsin aneg6t,
ich mohteesniht verl6n,
der spruncenwurdegetan,
tr0te ich bi ir hulde
durch disenunsin best6n.
HEINRICH

VON MORUNGEN

Owe, sol aber mir iemerm0


geliuhtendur die naht
noch wizer danneein snO
ir lip vil wol geslaht?
: der trouc diu ougenmin:
ich wdnde,ez soldesin
desliehtenmdnenschin,
d0 taget ez.
'Owe, sol aber er immer
m
den morgenhie betagen?
als uns diu naht eng6,
<iazwir niht durfen klagen:
'owe, nu ist ez tac',
ais er mit klagepflac
do'r jungesibi mir lac.
d0 tagetez.'
0w, si kustedne zal
in demeslAfernich.
d0 vielenhin ze tal
ir trOnenidersich,
iedochgetrOsteich sl,
daz si ir weinenll
und mich al ummevi.
d0 tagetez.
5t

schOnebeide
gebrochenbluomenunde gras.
vor dem waldein einemtal,
tandaradei,
scbOnesancdiu nahtegal.

'OwC, daz er sO dicke sich


bi mir erseenhat!
als er endahte mich,
sOwolte er sunderwat
mich armen schouwen bl0z.
ro ez was ein wunder 916z
daz in des nie verdr6z.
d6 taget ez.'

25

Ich kam gegangen


zuo der ouwe:
d0 was min friedel komen.
da wart ich enpfangen,
hrefrouwe,
daz ich bin selic iemerm.
kustermich?wol t0sentstunt:
tandaradei,
sehtwie r6t mir ist der munt.

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

WALTHER VON DER VOGBLWEIDE

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

st6z den rigel viir die tiir,


16kein bcesewort dar vi.ir.
La kein bcesewort dar viir,
st6z den rigel viir die ti.ir:
rs daz zimt wol denjungen.
hiietet iuwer zungen.

Sie verwizent mir daz ich


sd nidere wende minen sanc,
daz si niht versinnent sich
waz liebe si, des haben undanc!
sie getraf diu liebe nie,
die n6ch dem guote und ndch der schceneminnent, wC wie
minnent die?

Hiietet iuwer ougen


offenbdreund tougen,
lat si guotesite spehen
zo und die bceseniibersehen.
Und die bceseniibersehen
lat si, guotesite spehen:
offenbAreund tougen
hiietet iuwr ougen.

Bi der schcne ist dicke haz:


zer schcne niemen si ze gdch.
liebe tuot dem herzen baz:
der liebe gt diu schcenendch.
liebe machet schcenewip:
desn mac diu schene niht getuon, sin machet niemer lieben lip.
Ich vertrage als ich vertruoc
und als ich iemer wil vertragen.
d0 bist schane und hast genuoc:
waz mugen si mir dA von gesagen?
swaz si sagen, ich bin dir holt,
und nim din glesin vingerlin fiir einer kiineginne golt.

25 Hiietet iuwer dren,


oder ir sit tdren.
wort dar in,
ldt ir bcesiu
daz gunCretiu den sin.
Daz gunCretiu densin,
30 lat ir bcEsiuwort dar in.
oder ir sit t6ren,
hiietet iuwer 6ren.

Hast d0 triuwe und stetekeit,


s6 bin ich sin an angest gar
daz mir iemer herzeleit
mit dinem willen wider var.
hAst ab d0 der zweier niht,
son miiezestd0 min niemer werden. owOdanne, ob daz geschiht!
ll

WALTHER

VON

DER

VOGELWEIDE

Niemankan mit gerten


kindeszuht beherten:
den man zerenbringenmac,
dem ist ein wort als ein slac.
s Dem ist ein wort als ein slac,
den man zdrenbringenmac:
kindeszuht beherten
niemankan mit gerten.
Hiietet iuwer zungen:
ro daz zimt wol denjungen.

40

Hiietet wol der drier


leider alzevrler.
35 zungenougen6ren sint
dicke schalchaft,zerenblint.
Dicke schalchaft,zerenblint
zungenougen6ren sint,
leideralzevrier
ro hiietetwol der drier.

t2

WALTHER VON DER VOGELWEIDE

FrO Welt, ir sult dem wirte sagen


daz ich im gar vergoltenhabe:
min gr6ziu giilte ist abegeslagen;
daz er mich von dem brieveschabe.
swerime iht sol, der mac wol sorgen.

4l

ich im langeschuldicwere, ich wolt C zeinemjuden borgen.


er swigetunz an einentac:
sd wil er danneein wettehan,
sdjener niht vergeltenmac.
'Walther,d0 ziirnestane n6t:

I5

d0 solt bi mir belibenhie.


gedenkewie ich dirz erbOt,
waz ich dir dineswillen lie.
als dicke d0 mich s6rebete.
mir was vil inneclicheleit daz dff daz ie sOseltentate.
bedenkedich: din lebenist guot:
s6 d0 mir rehtewidersagest,
so wirst d0 niemerwol gemuot.'
Fr6 Welt, ich h6n ze vil gesogen:
ich wil ntwonen,desist zit.
din zart hat mich vil ndchbetrogen,
wand er vil stezerfrdiden git.
do ich gesachreht under ougen,
dd wasdin schcene
an ze schowenwiinneclichal sunderlousen:
doch was der schandenalsevil,
dO ich din hindenwart gewar,
daz ich dich iemerscheltnwil.
'Sit ich dich niht erwendenmac,
s0 tuo doch ein dinc desich ger:
gedenkean manegenliehtentac,
und sichdoch underwilenther
niuwan sd dich der zit betrage.'
daz tat ich wunderlichengerne,wan deichfiirhte dine ldge,
vor der sich niemankan bewarn.
got gebeiu, frowe, guotenaht:
ich wil ze hereberge
varn.

IJ

WALTHER VON DER VOCELWEIDE

OwCwar sint verswunden alliu miniu jAr!


ist mir min lebengetroumet oder ist ez war?
daz ich ie wdndeez ware, wasdaz alleziht?
dar ndchh6,nich geslifen und enweizesniht.
: n0 bin ich erwachet, und ist mir unbekant
daz mir hie vor waskijndic als min anderhant.

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

ich wolte seldenkr0ne weclichentragen:


die mohteein soldenere mit simesperbejagen.
moht ich die liebenreise gevareniiber sC,
sOwolte ich dennesingen wol und niemermr ouw,
niemermr ouw.

t4

FREIDANK

COURTLY EPIC POETRY

HARTMANN VON AUE

Rost izzetstahelund isen,


also tuot sorgeden wisen.
SorgemachetgrAwezhdr,
susaltetjugent enejar-

EREC
Lines 1294-1333,Erec's victory over the knight lders is welcomedby
rich andpoor alike, and especiallyby hisfuture wife, Enite.

Nit tuot niemanherzeleit


wan im selben,der in treit.
Swerverdientder tdren haz,
der geveltden wisendestebaz.

Gieng ein hunt tagesttsent stunt


ze kirchen,er war doch ein hunt.
ro
SwAder ohsekr6ne treit,
dA h6nt diu kelberwerdekeit.
Der krebz gat a[ez hinder sich
mit fiiezenvil, deistwunderlich.

r:

Sich badetdiu krd in allemfliz


und wirt durch daz doch niemerwiz.
zo

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

si enredeteim niht vil mite:

44

45

ro wan daz ist ir aller site


daz si zem erstenschamicsint
undebl0c samdiu kint.
dar nachergrifentsi den list
daz si wol wizzenwaz in guot ist,
r5 und daz in liep ware
daz si ni dunket sware,
unde daz si namen,
swAsi sin reht bekemen,
einensi.iezen
kus viir einenslac
40 und guotenaht viir iibeln tac.
l6

s miinlich im die vreudenam


der in dO aller bestegezam.
disesprichenwider diu wip,
disebanectenden lip,
disetanzten,disesungen,
ro diseliefen,disesprungen,
diseschuzzenzuo dem zil,
diseh6rten seitspil,
disevon senederarbeit,
disevon grdzermanheit.
18

HARTMANN VON AUE

WoLFRAM voN

PARZIVAL

DER ARME HEINRICH


Lines 97-l I 1. 'In the midst of life we are in death.'
Dirre werlte veste,
ir stete und ir beste
und ir grcestemagenkraft
diu stat ane meisterschaft:
s des muge wir an der kerzensehen
ein wirez bilde geschehen,
daz si zeiner aschenwirt
iemitten daz si lieht birt.
wir sin von brcedensachen:
lo nu sehetwie unserlachen
mit weinen erlischet!
unser siieze ist gemischet
mif

hittFffc

Book III, lines 117,7-118,28.The boy Parzival is taken by hismother


into theforesl, wherehe may grow up unspoihby cowtly life.

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

sichzdch diu vrouwej6mersbalt


0z ir landein einenwalt,
zer wastein Soltane,
niht durch bluomen0f die pl6ne.
ir herzenj6mer was sOganz,
si enkOrtesich an keinenkranz,
er ware rot oder val.
si brahb dar durch vliihtesal
deswerdenGahmureteskint.
liure, die bi ir dd sint,
miiezenb0wenunde riuten.
si kundewol getriuten
ir sun: daz sich der versan,
ir volc si gar viir sich gewan,
ez ware man oder wip.
den geb6tsi allen an den lip,
daz si immer ritters wiirden l0t,
'wan vriesche
daz minsherzentrOt,
welh ritters lebenware,
daz wiirde mir vil swere.
n0 habetiuch an der witze kraft
und helt in alle ritterschaft.'
der site vuor angestlichevart.
der knappealsusgeborgenwart

47

zer wastein Soltdneerzogen,


an kiineclichervuore betrogen,
ez enmdhtean einemsite sin:
bogenunde bdlzelin
die sneiter mit sin selbeshant
und schdzvil vogeledie er vantswenneaberer den vogelerschOz,
desschalvon sangeC wassOgrOz,
s6 weindeer unde roufte sich,
an sin hdr kerte er gerich.
sin lip was kl6r unde fier:
0f dem plAn an dem rivier
twuoc er sichalle morgen.
er enkundeniht gesorgen,
ez enwzere
ob im der vogelsanc.
in
diu siieze sin herzedranc:
daz erstracteim siniu briistelin.
al weindeer lief zer kiinegin.
sd sprachsi: 'wer hit dir getdn?
d0 were hin 0z 0f den p16n.'
niht,
er enkundeir gesagen
als kindenlihte noch geschiht.
dem mere giencsi langendch.
einstagessi in kaphensach
0f die boumendchder vogeleschal.
si wart wol innendaz zeswal
von der stimmeir kindesbrust.
destwanc in art und sin gelust.
19

corrFRIED voN srRAssBURc


TRISTAN UND ISOLD

Lines I 1,645-l I,706. During their voyagefrom Ireland to Cornwall,


TristanandIsold insdvertentlvdrink the love-ootion.
Hie mite strichendie kiele hin.
si beidehaten under in
guotenwint und guotevar.
nu was diu vrouwineschar,
r is6t und ir gesinde
in wazzerundein winde
desungevertes
ungewon.

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

si truoc ez dannenund warf daz


in den tobendenwilden s0:
'0w0 mir armen!' sprachs' '6w0,
daz ich zer werldeie wart geborn!
ich arme,wie h6n ich verlorn
min' re und mine triuwe!
daz ez got iemerriuwe
daz ich an dise reiseie kam,
daz mich der tOt d0 niht ennam,
dd ich an diseveigevart
wart!
mit 1s6t'ie bescheiden
is6t,
ouweTristan unde
diz tranc ist iuwer beidert6t!'

20

ich sachdaz manic werder gast


bl mir 0f dem mere versanc.
min herealsOgar ertranc
daz ein man d6.niht genas
der nit mir dar komenwas.
d0 min schif sich gar zerlie,
eine barken ich gevie,
diu truoc mich hinz an daz lant.
dannoch was mir unbekant
war mln vil liebiu vrowe kam.

RUDOLF VON EMS

DER GUOTE GERHART


Lines 39794009. The King of England and his bride are parled in a
shipwreck-

dd wir ze lande soltenvarn,


d6 begansichzuo mir scharn
ungemiieteund hdhezleit.
j6mer, ndt und arbeit
diu sint mir stete bi gewesen.
ich bin von jdmer ungenesen,
wan ich daz grcesteungemach
daz vor mir iemangeschach
muosteduldenunde spehen,
d0 ich ze rehtesoldesehen
mit jdmer an uns beiden
vil riuweclichezscheiden
und liebervriundegrOzendt,
die ich liden sachden tOt.
als ich iu sage.
Ditz geschach
fif dem mer an einemtage
wurdenstarkewinde916z.
min schif an ein gebirgevldz,
daz in vil gr6zerwilde schein.
uns warf der wint an einenstein,
daz unserschif ze stuckenbrast.

50

5l

21 DAS NIBELUNGENLIED

Stanzas1828-1847.Hagenand Volker guard the sleepingNibelungen


from attack by Kriemhild'smen'Nu lazetiuwer sorgen', sprachHageneder degen.
'ich wil noch hinte selbe der schiltwahtepflegen.
ich trowe uns wol behiieten unz uns kumet der tac,
dessit gar en' angest: so genesedanneswerder mac.'
DO nigen si im alle und sagtenim des danc.
si giengen zuo den betten. diu wile was niht lanc
daz sich gelegethten die wzetlichenman.
Hagene der kijene der helt sich wafen began.
D6 sprach der videlere, Volkr der degen:
'versmahercziu niht, Hagene, s6 wolde ich mit iu pflegen
der schiltwahte hinte unz morgen fruo.'
der helt vil minnecliche dancte Volkre duo.
'Nu l6n'iu got von himele, vil lieber Volk0r.
z'allen minen sorgen son'gerte ich niemens mr,
niwan iuch aleine, swd ich hete n6t.
ich sol ez wol verdienen, mich enwendesder t6t.'
D6 garten si sich beide in liehtez ir gewant.
d6 nam ir ietwedere den schilt an sine hant,
und giengen 0z dem htse fi.ir die tiir stan.
d6 pflagen si der geste, daz was mit triuwen getan.

52

Dd si entsldfen wdren und er d,az ewant,


dd nam der degen widere den schilt an die hant,
und gie tz dem gademe fiir die tiir stan,
und huote der ellenden vor den Kriemhilde man.
Des nahtes wol enrnitten, ine weiz iz 6 geschach,
daz Volkr der kiiene einen helm schinen sach
verre 0z einer vinster, die Kriemhilde man
die wolden an den gesten schadengerne han getan.
DO sprach der videlere: 'friunt her Hagene,
uns zimet disiu sorge ensamtze tragene.
ich sihe gewdfent liute vor dem htse stOn.
als ich mich versinne, ich wane si wellent uns bestn.'
'So

swiget', sprach d6 Hagene, 'lat se uns her ndher baz.


si unserwerden innen, s6 wirt hie helmvaz
verrucket mit den swerten von unser zweier hant.
si werdent Krienihilde hin wider iibele gesant.'
Ein der Hiunen recken yil schieredaz gesach,
daz diu tiir was behiietet. wie balde er d6 sprach:
'des wir
dA hetenwillen, jan'mag es niht ergin.
ich sihe den videlere an der schiltwahte stdn.
Der treit 0f sinem houbte einen helm glanz,
loter unde herte, starc unde ganz.
ouch lohent im die ringe sam daz fiwer tuot,
bi im stet ouch Hagene: des sint die gestewol behuot.'

Volkr der snelle, zuo des saleswant


slnen schilt den guoten leint'er von der hant.
d6 gie er hin widere, die videln er genam.
dO diente er sinen friunden als ez dem helde gezam.

Zebant si krten widere. d6 Volkr daz ersach,


wider sinen gesellen er zorneclichen sprach:
'nu lat mich zuo
den recken von dem h0se gdn.
ich wil vr6gen mare der vrouwen Kriemhilde man.'

Under die tiir des h0ses saz er 0f den stein.


kiiener videlare wart nie dehein.
d6 im der seiten dcenen s6 siiezlich erklanc,
die stolzen ellenden sagtensVolkeren danc.

'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.

D6 klungen sine seiten daz al daz hOs erddz.


sin ellen zuo der fuoge diu beidiu wdren 916z.
siiezer unde senfter videlen er began:
do entswebteer an den betten vil manegensorgendenman.

S0 wir danne beide kamen in den strit,


ir zwne oder viere in einer kurzen zit
sprungen zuo dem htse und taten uns diu leit
an den sldfenden, diu nimmer wiirden verkleit.'

53

PART III

's0 l6t doch daz geschehen,


DO sprachaber Volkdr:
daz wir si bringeninnen daz ich si habegesehen'
daz desiht habenlougen die Kriemhildeman,
daz si ungetriweliche vil gernehCtengetan.'
Zehantdd rief in Volk0r hin engegene:
'wie gCtir susgewafent, ir snellendegene?
welt ir schdchenriten, ir Kriemlilde man?
hdn.'
dar sult ir mich ze helfe und minenhergesellen
Des antwufle im niemen. zornecwassin muot:
'pfi, ir zagenbcese', sprachder helt guot,
'wolt ir sldfende uns ermordethan?
daz ist sOguotenhelden noch vil seltenher getan.'

The texts in Part II are from the following editions:


Des MinnesangsFr hling: K. Lachmann- C. von
Kraus, Stuttgart, 1965.
Texte zur Geschichtedes Deutschen Tageliedes: E.
3:
Scheunemann- F. Ranke, Bem, 194'78,9, lO, 12, 13 Walther von der Vogelweide: Gedichte: M. Wehrli,
Bern, 1950.
llalther von der Vogelweide: Gedichte: H. Paul
ll:
A. Leitzmann - H. Kuhn, Tiibingen, 1959.
t : H. Bezzenberger,Halle, I 872
Bescheiclenhei
t4:
Erec: A. Leitzmarn - L. Wolff, Tiibingen, 1963.
l5:
Der atme Heinrich: F. Ranke, Basel, 1943'
ID:
Iwein: G. Benecke- K. Lachmann - L. Woltr,
t'7:
1,2,4,5,6,'1:

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,

abe ady. off


ab(er) ddy. again, but
^l adj. all; adv. all, gnite
allenthalbenadv. everywhere
allez d,tv. always
almeisticadl. most
alr6t arr. all red
als(e)rdy. so; conl. when, as, as if,
as good as
als6 adv. thus, likewise,so
alsusarJr,thus
alten 'rv. grow old
alze adv. too
anderswad..lv.elsewhe(e
an(.e)prep. at, on, to, in, with, by,
against,with regard to
an(e)p/?p. without, apart from
angeadv. carefully
angestlichadl. anxious
antrYiirten)rv. answer
arbeit {,f, suffering
armman,rm.poor man
art Jn. inborn nature
balt ddj. unyielding
bankenlrr. exercise
barkie r, exercise
b@teseebiten
baz adv. better, more
bedenkenrileg. v. rel. consider
beginneni/reg. y. begin
begunde(n)ree beginnen
behrtenrrv. enforce, win
behiieten lrr. guard
tuide adj. & prcn, both; beidiu, beide
...undboth...and
beiagen lrr. gain
bekennenlvr. know
belibensr.t(a) remain
benemen,rv.1z take away

brgen rr./1(6) hide


bern .ry.1Ilproduce
bescheidenJv.,4/ assign
beschouwen)rv. see
beslicznrv..a/(6)lock
bestan, bstenr'ffg.y. remain, attack
btagenwv. remain
btragen py. (mperu.) be tedious;
michbehagetdesit is tediousto me
betriegen rv.11(a) deceive, cheat
betriibenwv. sadden
bettestat sl bed
betwingenrv.I1(a) defeat
bevinden sv.,a/(a) find out
bewam wy. protect
bewindensv.I//(a) bind
bi pfsp. beside,with, by
birt seettln
biten rv.Z(6) request, pray to
bliuclichddj. shy
bl6z adj. naked
bloc ddj. shy
bluome Dm. flowet
bogeDm. bow
t iilzelin rr. little arrow
base a/j. wicked
bresten rr.,arl break
brief Jm. Ietter, document
brade adj. frail
briistelinJn. little breast
buhuatJm. tournament
buoze {,f, penance
btwen wv. till
da adv. therel' conj. vrherci see 5.2
dahte ree deckn
dahte ree denken
danne adv. then; crrj. than
dannenadv. a,ray
dannoch adr. however
dar adv. thither, there; dar iDn
where; dar under at the same time;
dar zuo also; ree 5.2
)f

decken ri'. cover


degenJ|n. warrior
deheinadj. no, any
deicb- &z ich
deist: daz ist
deiz: daz daz
denkenizeg.v. think
der, diu, dlz r?e 2.1,5.3.1,5.6
derst:der ist
desadr. therefore,with regardto this
desn: des ne
destedv. so much the
dicke adv. often
diech: die ich
dln see2.3,5.1
dinc sn. thing, matter, allair
ding- ree dinc
dirre ree diser
dirz- di. ez
diser, dislu, di(t)z(e)ddj. & prcn. this
di(t)z(e) .reediser
diu ree der; diu wellent scheiden
(neut. rcfefting to vrds. of dif.
8,"ndel)(they) wish to part
do, _d0, duo adv. then, thete; runj.
'd@nenwv. sound
do'r-do er
diirpelllchadj. peasant
d e (m. &l), driu (r.) nun. three
dainneddy. inside it
dun:du en
dunken lrPg.r. (ir@eru.)seem; mich
dunket it seemsto me
duo Jeedo
dr!r(ch)prcp. thaough,becausof,
despite
durfen iffeg.r. need
duz: du ez
A ad!. & conj. before, rather than
eime: einem
ein art. a, an; prcn, & n!rn. one; eine
adj, decl.w.alone: see2.2
ellen sr. valour
ellendeadj. far from home
(e)n-ree t.l, t.3
e bern sv.lV (with gen.) do wirhour
enbizensv.I(a) eat
endeckenPr. uncover
engegencady. towards
engenrieg.y. leave
enmittenadr. in the middle
enpfallen ry. Z1] vanish
enpfa(he)n irrea. v. receive
ensamt 4dr. togethea
entshfen Jy.IZI fall asleep
enlsrvebnwv. lull to sleep
entq/afenen rY. take tlie weapons
from
entwonenlry. be weaned
enwende$:enwendees

56

erbeiten nr. (with gen., avrait


erbieten rv./1(6) offert ez erbieten
entertain
erdiezensr.1/(b)ring out
Gre I honour, glory; ziren bringen
train to be honourable
er$alrirrcg:t'. happen, fare
erg fen Jr.r(d) gain
erkomenireg.y. be startled
erl@senpy. release
efnnden1'r. venture
ercehen,ersnry.Z(a) see;sich bl . ..
ersenfeastone's eyeson
erstreckel l9y.swell
ervindenry./11(a)perceive
efweln }t,y. choose
erwendenlry. prevent
erwerbenry.//1(r) gain
es J?e5.1
eteswenne
ddy. sometims
neclichenadv. eternally
ez see5.1
ezn: ez en
ezzen sr.Y(a) eat
fseev
gach adj. hasty
gadem.rr. room
galle tt,l gall
gan, gen iz?g.v. go, walk
ganz adj . lotal, undamaged
gar adv. wbolly
garten ree genden
gb&rdesl demeanour
gebArenlrv. behave;als ich gebareas
my behaviourwould indicate
gbenrv. /(o) give
gebendern. head-dress
gebietenrv./,f(r) command
gebirge rr. high rocks
gebited sv.r(1,) request
geborgenJee bergen
gedenken i//e!J.r. (tltith gen.) think,
remember,expressone's thoughts
geganJeegan
gegebenrv.l/(a) give
geh(rrenlrv. hear
geleit:geleget
geleiteJn. protection
gelenden'ry. arrive
gelichadi. equal, like, similar
gelicheddy. in like manner.wirh one
accord
geliep rn. p/ar. lovers
geligenrv. Z(b) lie (down)
geliuhtenlrr. gleam
gelogens?9liegen
geliicke rr. success
gelustJm. desire
gemahell't & J,n..bride(groom)
gemuetesr. dtipos[ton

ged.nol adj. minded; rol geEuot


happy
gen seegin
genemenJv.IIl takc
geoeseorv. Z(a) survive
genu(x rror. enough
gerich sr. revenge; gerlch kCretr
inflict puDishment
geln v,v, ($)ith gen.l wafi
gerte sI rod
gerwen |'y. prepare
gesachre geseheD
ge$rgenpy. say
geschehen rv.t(a) happen, fall to
one's lot
gesehnsv.Z(a) look, se
geslnrireg.v.be
gesindeJr. retinuc
gesitzenrv.Z(r) sit (down)
gesbht ddl. formed
gesmogenJee snuegen
gesogenJee stgen
gesorgn}t,y. feel sorrow
gespilepm. playmate
gesprechen
JI).IZ speak
gest6n,i/eg.y. stand
g(t) ree gan
getrefren rr.Irz strike
gtiuten lrv. care for
gc'Jl twe adj. trustworthy
getrcsten Pv. comfort
getuonrrreg.v. do
gevallensy.I41 please
gevanrieg.y. obtaiD
geYarcnrv.I/,1 8o
geyelt ree geY|llel
geviderern. feathers
gevie segeyan
geflahenry. entreat
gewantJn. armour
gewat aclj. aware
gewinnen sv.11/(a) gain; yiir sich
gewinnensununon
gezamenrey, tame
gezemen sy.lv (with dat. of person)
befiti Qnpers.) please; mich gezimt
des that pleasesme
gie(nc), gieng(en) ree ga!
gibt ree iehen
gi(s)t Je gebn
glanz adj. deaming
glesln adj. glass
gouch ,rrn.fool
ga adj. gey
griw- see grl
grifen rv.I(d) seize
grdz adj. gj"eat
g iene ad./.gren
griizer pv. greet
guldln adj. golden
gtlte .|r debt
gunerenw. sully
guruen rrreg.y. grani

Enot adj. Bood; Jr. wealth, good,


good things; ftu guot hsbeo lake itr
gooo Dart
hobe qf, harbour
brben, hao treg.y. havc, cstecm;
brbet iucl rtr der ritze krafa us
your wits
be(he)n r'rreg,r. hanS
haz '''. ill-will
hszzen wy. dislike
heben,ireg.y.rqf. go up, begin
helmYazsr. helmet
heln ry.Irl conceal
her oy'v.hither(to)
he., berl pn. load
here sz. company
hCre a./j. noble; btre frouwe Holy
Virgin !
herebergeY restiDg-place
bergesellevn. comrade
herte ddl. hard
herzeleitsn. grief
herzeliep adj, beloved; rr. dear lovc
heEenliche ddy. sincerely
heEendtl, anguish
bet(e),h6t(e)seehaben
hie adr. here; hie mite meaowhile;hle
vor formerly
bindenadr. from behind
hi,oder prep. behind; hinder 6lcb
backwards
hinnan, hinnen ady. away
binne ddv. away
hlnte ddv. tonight
binz p/ep. to; hinz sn to
Hiune wm. Hun
hiute adv. today
hdheadr. high
hohgemuotadj. arrogant
hold- ree holt
holt ddj. in love
houb(e)trr. head
hovelichenarlr. in a courdy mannea
hiireschadj. courtly
hiieten l'v. (lrir, ger.) guard, watch
over, take care with
buldelf, favour, grace
huobe lrl pie.e of land
huonJn. hen
huop seeheben
hos rr. building, castl.

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

Bge ,rl snares


l n, lezelr sy,VII let, leave, cease
laster sn. shame
legenlrl. lay (down), place
leid- sesleit
leinenp'. lean
leit ddj. painful, dreadful; rn. pain,
lnJury,sortow
leit : Iegete
ll, lie ree |an
Iiden Jr.I(a) suffer
hetr- ree liep
lleb Jf love, lovableoess
liegensy./I(a) tell a lie
lieht adj. brieht, radiant; sn. light
tep adj. dear,lovable, pleasant;J|r.
Joy
Igen rv.Z(6) lie (down)
Iihen sv.I(b)lend
llhte ddr. easily
linde )rl lime-treD
llp Jnl. body, life, person,soul;
an den llp on pain of dath
llst rrn. wisdom
liut sn. people
lobesamadj. praiseworthy
lohen}r,r.cast flame
lougensr. denial
lot ddj. loud; lot werdnmention
loter ddj. bright
litzel adj. & pton. little
mac, mag J?emugen
mac sm. relative
mag- ree mac
magenkraft ll power
maget .!n girl
maht Jemugen
mane},m. moon
manec,manic adf. many aJmuch
m4n(eJg-Je?manec
manhitll courage
mAdichr/on. everyone
6ere sr. tidi[gs, explanation
mAzet/: value
m, mr(e)adv. more, also, again
megderee maget
meisterschaft r, strength
mr(e)seem
micbel adl. great
min ree2.3,5.1
minneclicheadr. sincerely
minnenl'v. love
minr adj. less
mirz: mir da.z
mit(e)prep. with
miien lrv. grieve
miezeairreg.v.must, may; Jee6.1.1
mugen irreg.t). can, wishi muge wir
(.n of y. otcas. dropped beforc vif\

muost(e),muoz ree miiezen


muot fi. spirit, heart, wish
nach prep. after, for, towards; adv.
narly
naht .!n night
nam lrtn. name
-n(e)see8.l, 8.3
nemenrv.lrl take
nider(e)a/v. low, down
nidersichadr. down
nieman,nimenp/on. nobody
niemeradv. never
nieneadv. not
nigenrv..l(a)bow
niht dilv. nol; prott. nothing
nim ssenemen
nit Jm. envy
ni(u)wanddv. only
niuwea4. new
ndt Jl distress,need,danger
n6tic ddj. needy

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

rou'len wv. ref. tear one's hair


riiefestu : riiefest du
ruochen l'v. deign
ruofen sv.I4l call
ruorYe,r, rest

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

sinadj.& prcn. see2.3,2.4.2,5.1


sis:si s
sit a/r. afterwards,since; corj. since
site sm- custom, behaviour
sitzensv.l(r) sit
slac ffi. blow
slaf srn.sleep
sHfen rl. Zll sleep
slahcnsv./l strike
sliizzelinrr. little key
smiegensv.11(a)press
sn6,rm.snow
snel dr?j.swift
snidenrv.I(.r) cut
so, sOddv. so, then; conl. when, if, as
soldeJeesuln
soldenEresn. merccnary
solh, sailhar?j.such
solt srn.aeward
solt(e)ssc suln
sorgesf. & wl care, danger
spehen}'v. gazeat, sce
spil sa, entertajnmcnt
spot rn. mockery; ze spotte insincefely
stan, stenir're8'.y.
sland, suit
stat ll place
stete a.h. constantly; ll constancy
strtekeit I conslancy
st6nrcc stan
st6(f)sl?cstan
stic rr. path
stig ree stic
st6zensr. ru/ p sh
strazell road
strichenrl.1(d) speed
strit .rrn.battle, combat, dispule
striten ry.1(d)struggle
stunt {f time; tages tiisent stunt a
thousandtinles a day
stuontrcc stan
siiczcddj. sweet;ll sweetness
siiczcrddy. more sweetly
siiczlichddv. sweetly
stgen $.1/(d) suck
siile rr suln
suln izeg.v. should, must, owe: see
6.1.1
summer.rrr. drumming
sunderp/ep. without
suozeaalv,s\\eelly
susadr. thus,in ihis \\ay
swa coli. whcrever
swach.r./J.litlle
swar aoru.tvneaever
snere a.1j.painful; ll suilering
swazrrfdr. \lhalever
s\rennecdltrr.whenever
swcrprdr. whoever,he who, if anyone

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

u nere ddj. cf no impo.tance


unrekantadj, unknown
unsenftddl. harsh
unserJee2,3, 5.1
unsinsm. folly
unstletelf inconstancy
untriuwe s, treachery
unzprcp. & conj. until; unz an until
iz prep. out of: adt'. oll
0zenady. outwardly
Y&f
ra(he)nirreg.v.catch
val adj. yeilow
valke lrm. falcon (occas.symbol for
valln rr. //1 fall
var ddj. in colour
var sl journey
vam rv.l4 journey, go; vrrnde guot
transientwealth
vart sf journey; angstlicheYr vam
travel an anxious road
varwev. colour
vasteadv. strongly
vehtenr!.1rl fight
reige adj. fatal
yerbernry.1rl give up, forbear
verbunnn
lrreg.v.(rill dat. ofpenon)
prevent;Yerbanprevents
verderbensr./11(D)be spoiled
vrdienenpv. earn, aepay
verdriezen sv.//(b) (impen,) gro'Jr
tired of; mich verdriuzetds I grow
tired of it
Yergani/reg.r. Passby
poiso
Yergeben
rv.I(a)
rv.
I(a) poison
(re)l
(re)pi
Yergeltensr.111(6)(re)pay
gen.) forget
wrgezzen sr.Y(a) (with
with gen.)
verhouwen rr. r4,a hew down

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

lil adv, most, very i adj . & pron. fiDch,


mary
vinge.llnsn. ring
Yinstrddj. dark; .'l darkness
fiwer Jr. fire
tleiz see vliton
fliegen sr.11(a) fly
Yliezensv.11(6)flow, run
fliz Jm. diligence
rlizqn sv.I(a) ftf. take pains
vliihtesal {f, refuge
volenden)rv. complete
Yreischen
sr.I41find out
yreude, wiiide, rriiude sf. & v,f. Joy
wi adj. free
friedel sn. lover
vriescheJeeYreiscbn
Ydund- JeeYrimt
friundln .rl love
Yriuni Jm. friend
frd adj, happy, el^d
fr6, r'ro(u)we wJ & sf. lady, dame
ra(iide,vriiudeseevreude
friimde d/j. strange
vro(u)we ree fto
Yrouwlnadl. of ladies
frowelln$r. maiden
fruo adv. early
fiieren r'y. take, wear
fuogeJl artistry
Yuore.'f way of lile
fuort ,teefiieren
fuoz sm. foot
viirprep. before,out of, in preference
lo, insteadof
Yiirbaz adv. lurther
wa, wa corj, where
wafensr. alarm; lrv. arm
wan(d) ad,. & corj. except, because,
why not, if only
wande(n).ree$enen
$nen wv. lmaglne
wa. adv. & .orj. whither
nar 'f attenlion; war nemenobserve
wAr ddj. t(ue, real; rn. truth; fiir war
truly
waatJeewerdn
was ,reesin
waste{,/. clearing
wat .e,fclothing
rYrtlicb a..t, noble
wCJn. pain; inl. alas
rfelh pror. what
welleni eg.v.wish; enwellegot may
God forbid; ree 6.1.1
welt(e),werlde,werlt(e).!' world
wenden)rv. direct,ascribe]'(witheen.)
preventfrom

61

INDEX

I''lge ,tm. cowafd

!erd- Jee wert


werden Jr.111(b)become, be
werdkeit,t/. honour
werlde, we.lt(e) ree welt(e)
rem lev.last
vert a/j. worthy
Z seeWrzzen
weSSeZ:WeSS
vette rr. Pledge
liider Dreo. to
wideie\ idv. back, again; ffider vam
fall to one's lot
widersagenpv. renounce
wlben pv, conseclale
wilds, wild sea
wilde
tYlle rt time
*lleni adr,.formerlY
willeclicb adl. glad
rYilt seetellen
vln sm. wine
wip stt. woman
wirde Jee werden
wlse adj. wise
wiz adj. white
kno\a
wizzen irreE.Y.
-well,
truly, right; irr.
wol adv.
hurrah; mir ist wol I am haPPY
wunderlich ddi. strange
*underlichen adv. exceedingly
wiiLnnerr: iov
wiinneciicl, wiinnecllcba/j. wonderful
wunt adl. wounded
wiLken irreg.v. work

zal ,rt number


zdt rrn. tendemess
z(e), ztro, ztroz(e) prcp. to, at, in(to)'
against,as well as; odt_-too
zehant adr. at once, on the spol
zinem:ze eine6
zeiner:ze einer
zem: ze dem
zemen sv.Iv (with dat. of percon) befrt
zer:ze ller
zeren: ze 6rcn
zerganirreS'.v.perish
zerlAn sv.VII rcf. brcak lP
adv. together
zesamene
rf ./1(r) swell
zesrvellen
zihensr.I/(r) train; 'qf. widdraw
ziere a/i. handsome
zihenrv.1(b)accuse
zil Jn. target
zim(e)t ree zemen
zit s, time
z6ch re ziebn
zornec adj. afigty
zorneclicbenddv. angrily
zuht .rt education
zunstEte:ze ursune
zno seez\e)
zwene(m.), zw6 U.), zrlei (n.\ nud.
zr1l Jrr. branch
zwful sm. doubt

Numbersnot precededby p. refer to sections.

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

fluctuation in spelling.1.6, 4.6, 5.1.2,


6.2
Freidank: p.44
Friedrich von Hausen: p.35
futuretense:6.1.1
ge-, 7.2
s e n t7 . 1 . 3 . 1
gender:4.1, p.56
genitive:2.4
Gottfried von Strassburg:p.48
gunneni7.l .5.2
guot.3.4.2.l
guok GArhort,der. p.50
7.l .2
hA(he\nt
hin: 6.1.2.1,7.1,1.2
Hartmann von Aue: p.45
Hartwig von Rute: p.37
heben:7.1.2
Heinrich von Morungen: p.37
herze:4.3
High Cerman: p.9
iht 2.4.3.2
indefinitearticle: 2.2
indefinitepronouns: 2.4,3.2
indirect spee.h: E.2.1
interrogativepronouns: 2,4.3.2,5.4
inversion:7.3,
t.2.1
ir:2.3,5.1
irregular verbs: 7.1
iuwer:2.3,5.1
Iv'ein'.p.46
keini 2.3
kieseni7.1,4
komeni7.1.2
Kiirenberge.: 9.3, p.34
lengthof vowels:1.2.1,9.2.2
lossof e: 4,6, 5.1.2,6.2
Low Cerman: p.9
liitzeli 3.4.2.1
lyric poetry: 9.4, p.34
OJ

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

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