pgvb3903

DÔ FRIDERICH ÛZ OESTERRÎCH ALSÔ GEWARP ...	WHEN FREDERICK OF AUSTRIA DREW HIS LAST BREATH ...
Walther von der Vogelweide	trans. Tim Chilcott
Dô Friderich ûz oesterrîch alsô gewarp daz er an der sêle genas und im der lîp erstap dô fuort er mînen krenechen trit in die erde dô gieng ich slîchent als ein pfâwe swar ich gie daz houbet hanht ich nider unz ûf mîniu knie nû riht ich ez ûf nâch vollem werde ich bin wol ze fiure komen mich hât daz rîche und ouch diu krône an sich genomen wol ûf swer tanzen welle nâch der gîgen mir ist mîner swære buoz êrste wil ich eben setzen mînen fuoz und wider in ein hôhgemüete stîgen.	When Frederick of Austria drew his last breath, his soul found life, his body went to death. He took my cocky crane-strut down with him to the grave, and like a peacock then, I slunk around wherever I could go. I let my head droop down until it reached my knees. But now I hold it up again, so high and brave. I’ve found a friendly hearth, a home; empire and crown alike have let me in. So who’ll get up and dance as fiddles play? Now that I’m free of all my cares, at last I’ll walk about with sure and steady step, and rise up once again, my heart held high.

Frederick of Austria, who had been a patron of Walther since 1194, died on crusade in April 1198,
with effects on Walther’s position that he vividly portrays. The change in fortune also depicted
was almost certainly the result of his being accepted into the service of King Philip.