MIR IST VERSPERT DER SÆLDEN TOR ...	TO ME, THE GATE OF PARADISE IS SHUT ...
Walther von der Vogelweide	trans. Tim Chilcott
Mir ist verspert der sælden tor dâ stên ich als ein weise vor mich hilfet niht swaz ich dar an geklopfe wie möht ein wunder groezer sîn ez regent beidenthalben mîn daz mir des alles niht enwirt ein tropfe des fürsten milte ûz oesterrîche fröit dem süezen regen gelîche beide liute und daz lant erst ein schoene wol gezieret heide dar abe man bluomen brichet wunder und bræche mir ein blat dar under sîn vil milterîchiu hant sô möhte ich loben die liehten ougen weide hie bî sî er an mich gemant.	To me, the gate of paradise is shut. I stand an orphan there, locked out; however much I knock, it’s all in vain. What greater marvel could there be? - on every side of me, the rain falls down, but not one single drop is given me. The open purse of Austria’s noble prince, like gentle rain, refreshes both the people and the land. He is a lovely meadow, beautifully adorned, where you can gather countless flowers. And if he plucked a single leaf for me - his hand so generous, so rich in gifts - I then could praise the wondrous sight of him. So let him, then, remember me.

An early complaint by Walther about his exclusion from the court, possibly written in 1198, after the death of his patron
Duke Frederick of Austria. The ‘noble prince’ referred to is probably Leopold VI, Frederick’s successor.

For more of this work see: http://www.tclt.org.uk/

Trans. Copyright © Tim Chilcott 2005

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