pgvb3913

ICH HÂN GESEHEN IN DER WERLTE EIN MICHEL
WUNDER ...

I’VE SEEN THE GREATEST WONDER IN THE
WORLD ...

Walther von der Vogelweide

trans. Tim Chilcott

Ich hân gesehen in der werlte ein michel wunder
wær ez ûf dem mêr es diuhte ein seltsæn kunder

des min fröide erschroken ist mîn trûren worden munder
daz gelîchet einem guoten man swer nû des lachen
strîchet an der triuwen stein der vindet kunterfeit
ez bîzet dâ sîn grînen nicht hât widerseit
sîn valscheit tuot vil manigem dicke leit
zwo zungen habent kalt und warn die ligent in sîme rachen
in sîme süezen honge lît ein giftic nagel
sîn wolkenlôsez lachen bringet scharpfen hagel
swâ man daz spürt ez kêret sîn hant und wirt ein swalwen

zagel.

I’ve seen the greatest wonder in the world,
and had it been at sea, it would be thought a strange and eerie

monster.

My joy is horrified, and all my sorrow comes awake.
It looks like some good man. And yet whoever struck its smiles
upon truth’s touchstone would find it counterfeit.
It bites, but does not snarl before to warn that it will fight.
Its falseness causes many men much grief.
It has two tongues, both cold and warm, together in its mouth.
In the sweetness of its honey there lurks a poisoned clove.
Its cloudless laughter brings the bitterest hail;
and when one catches on, it turns its hand and makes a swallow-

tail.

The sustained contrasts here evoke the shifting cunning of the dissembler at court,
who is almost certainly an actual and eminent person, despite his anonymous identity.