| OWÊ, SOL ABER MIR ... | I'D GAZE FOREVER IF I MIGHT ... |
| Heinrich von Morungen | trans. Leonard Cottrell |
|
"Owê, sol aber mir iemer mê geliuhten dur die naht noch wîzer danne ein snê ir lîp vil wol geslaht? Der trouc diu ougen mîn: ich wânde, ez solde sîn des liehten mânen schîn, dô tagete ez." "Owê, sol aber er iemer mê den morgen hie betagen? Als uns diu naht engê daz wir niht durfen klagen: 'owê nû ist ez tac', als er mit klage pflac do er jungest bî mir lac. Dô tagete ez." "Owê, si kuste âne zal in deme slâfe mich. Dô vielen hin ze tal ir trêne nider sich, iedoch getrôste ich si, daz si ir weinen li, und mich al ummevi. Dô tagete ez." "Owê, daz er sô dicke sich bî mir ersehen hât! Als er endahte mich, sô wolte er sunder wât mîn arme schouwen blôz. Ez was ein wunder grôz, daz in des nie verdrôz. Dô tagete ez." |
"I'd gaze forever if I might: her body sheds a glow whiter than a fall of snow, and lights the night. The glimmer tricked my eye and made it seem to me the moon was passing by - and then day dawned." "Some morning he won't have to leave when the sky turns pale, but now we greet the sun with grief: I heard him wail 'Alas, the night has fled!' That's what my lover said last time we were in bed - and then day dawned." "She gave me kisses while she slept, more than I could count, but then when she awoke she wept, all down her front. I kissed the tears away and quieted her cry: she clove to me in play - and then day dawned." "Amazing, how he never tires of feasting eyes on me! He pulled the bedclothes off to see what he admires. What was there to discover besides a naked lover? (I'd keep us under cover) - but then day dawned." |
For more of this translator's work see: http://planck.com/rhymedtranslations/versetrans.htm
Trans. Copyright © Leonard Cottrell 1999