Song and Legend From the Middle Ages [44]
ending When at last our soul us leaves, From hell-fires, flaming clamor Lest we fall 'neath the hammer! Too oft we've heard with tremor, How pitiably it grieves The land so pure and holy All helplessly and fearfully! Jerusalem, weep lowly, That thou forgotten art! The heathen's boastful glory Put thee in slavery hoary. Christ, by thy name's proud story In mercy take her part! And help those sorely shaken Who treaties them would maken That we may not be taken And conquered at the start.
-- Tr. by Kroeger.
When from the sod the flowerets spring, And smile to meet the sun's bright ray, When birds their sweetest carols sing, In all the morning pride of May, What lovelier than the prospect there? Can earth boast any thing more fair? To me it seems an almost heaven, So beauteous to my eyes that vision bright is given.
But when a lady chaste and fair, Noble, and clad in rich attire, Walks through the throng with gracious air, As sun that bids the stars retire, Then, where are all thy boastings, May? What hast thou beautiful and gay, Compared with that supreme delight? We leave thy loveliest flowers, and watch that lady bright.
Wouldst thou believe me,--come and place Before thee all this pride of May; Then look but on my lady's face, And which is best and brightest say: For me, how soon (if choice were mine) This would I take, and that resign, And say, "Though sweet thy beauties, May, I'd rather forfeit all than lose my lady gay!"
--Tr. by Taylor.
The Minnesingers wrote many songs in praise of the Virgin. She was the embodiment of pure womanhood, their constant object of devotion. The following extracts are taken from a hymn to the Virgin, formerly attributed to Gottfried von Strassburg. It is one of the greatest of the Minnesongs. It consists of ninety-three stanzas, of which six are given.
Stanza 1.-- Ye who your life would glorify And float in bliss to God on high, There to dwell nigh His peace and love's salvation; Who fain would learn how to enroll All evil under your control, And rid your soul Of many a sore temptation; Give heed unto this song of love, And follow its sweet story. Then will its passing sweetness prove Unto your hearts a winge'd dove And upward move Your souls to bliss and glory.
Stanza 12.-- Ye fruitful heavens, from your ways Bend down to hear the tuneful lays I sing in praise Of her, the sainted maiden, Who unto us herself has shown A modest life, a crown and throne; Whose love has flown O'er many a heart grief-laden. Thou too, O Christ, thine ear incline To this my adoration, In honor of that mother thine Who ever blest must stay and shine, For she's the shrine Of God's whole vast creation.
Stanza 19.-- Thou sheen of flowers through clover place, Thou lignum aloe's blooming face, Thou sea of grace, Where man seeks blessed landing. Thou roof of rapture high and blest, Through which no rain has ever passed, Thou goodly rest, Whose end is without ending. Thou to help-bearing strength a tower Against all hostile evils. Thou parriest many a stormy shower Which o'er us cast in darkest hour, The hell worm's power And other ruthless devils.
Stanza 20.-- Thou art a sun, a moon, a star, 'Tis thou can'st give all good and mar, Yea, and debar Our enemies' great cunning. That power God to thee hath given That living light, that light of heaven: Hence see we even Thy praise from all lips running. Thou' st won the purest, noblest fame, In all the earth's long story, That e'er attached to worldly name; It shineth brightly like a flame; All hearts the same Adore its lasting glory.
Stanza 82.-- To worship, Lady, thee is bliss, And fruitful hours ne'er pass amiss To heart that is So sweet a guest's host-mansion. He who thee but invited hath Into his heart's heart love with faith, Must live and bathe In endless bliss-expansion. To worship thee stirs up in man A love now tame, now passion. To worship thee doth waken, then Love e'en in those love ne'er could gain; Thus now amain Shines forth thy love's concession.
From
-- Tr. by Kroeger.
When from the sod the flowerets spring, And smile to meet the sun's bright ray, When birds their sweetest carols sing, In all the morning pride of May, What lovelier than the prospect there? Can earth boast any thing more fair? To me it seems an almost heaven, So beauteous to my eyes that vision bright is given.
But when a lady chaste and fair, Noble, and clad in rich attire, Walks through the throng with gracious air, As sun that bids the stars retire, Then, where are all thy boastings, May? What hast thou beautiful and gay, Compared with that supreme delight? We leave thy loveliest flowers, and watch that lady bright.
Wouldst thou believe me,--come and place Before thee all this pride of May; Then look but on my lady's face, And which is best and brightest say: For me, how soon (if choice were mine) This would I take, and that resign, And say, "Though sweet thy beauties, May, I'd rather forfeit all than lose my lady gay!"
--Tr. by Taylor.
The Minnesingers wrote many songs in praise of the Virgin. She was the embodiment of pure womanhood, their constant object of devotion. The following extracts are taken from a hymn to the Virgin, formerly attributed to Gottfried von Strassburg. It is one of the greatest of the Minnesongs. It consists of ninety-three stanzas, of which six are given.
Stanza 1.-- Ye who your life would glorify And float in bliss to God on high, There to dwell nigh His peace and love's salvation; Who fain would learn how to enroll All evil under your control, And rid your soul Of many a sore temptation; Give heed unto this song of love, And follow its sweet story. Then will its passing sweetness prove Unto your hearts a winge'd dove And upward move Your souls to bliss and glory.
Stanza 12.-- Ye fruitful heavens, from your ways Bend down to hear the tuneful lays I sing in praise Of her, the sainted maiden, Who unto us herself has shown A modest life, a crown and throne; Whose love has flown O'er many a heart grief-laden. Thou too, O Christ, thine ear incline To this my adoration, In honor of that mother thine Who ever blest must stay and shine, For she's the shrine Of God's whole vast creation.
Stanza 19.-- Thou sheen of flowers through clover place, Thou lignum aloe's blooming face, Thou sea of grace, Where man seeks blessed landing. Thou roof of rapture high and blest, Through which no rain has ever passed, Thou goodly rest, Whose end is without ending. Thou to help-bearing strength a tower Against all hostile evils. Thou parriest many a stormy shower Which o'er us cast in darkest hour, The hell worm's power And other ruthless devils.
Stanza 20.-- Thou art a sun, a moon, a star, 'Tis thou can'st give all good and mar, Yea, and debar Our enemies' great cunning. That power God to thee hath given That living light, that light of heaven: Hence see we even Thy praise from all lips running. Thou' st won the purest, noblest fame, In all the earth's long story, That e'er attached to worldly name; It shineth brightly like a flame; All hearts the same Adore its lasting glory.
Stanza 82.-- To worship, Lady, thee is bliss, And fruitful hours ne'er pass amiss To heart that is So sweet a guest's host-mansion. He who thee but invited hath Into his heart's heart love with faith, Must live and bathe In endless bliss-expansion. To worship thee stirs up in man A love now tame, now passion. To worship thee doth waken, then Love e'en in those love ne'er could gain; Thus now amain Shines forth thy love's concession.
From