pgvogsod

SÔ DIE BLUOMEN ÛZ DEM GRASE .............................................DRINGENT ...	WHEN ALL THE FLOWERS PUSH UPWARDS THROUGH THE GRASS ...
Walter von der Vogelweide	trans. Tim Chilcott
sô die bluomen ûz dem grase dringent same si lachen gegen der spilden sunnen in einem meien an dem morgen fruo und diu kleinen vogellîn wol singent in ir besten wîse die si kunnen was wünne mac sich dâ gelîchen zuo ez ist wol halb ein himelrîche suln wir sprechen was sich deme gelîche sô sage ich waz mir dicke baz in mînen ougen hât getân und tæte ouch noch gesæhe ich daz. swâ ein edeliu schoene frouwe reine wol gekleidet unde wol gebunden dur kurzewîle zuo vil liuten gât hovelîchen hôhgemuot niht eine umbe sehende ein wênic under stunden alsam der sunne gegen den sternen stât der meie bringe uns al sîn wunder was ist dâ sô wünneclîches under als ir vil minneclîcher lîp wir lâzen alle bluomen stân und kapfen an daz werde wîp. nû wol dan welt ir die wârheit schouwen gên wir zuo des meien hôhgezîte der ist mit aller sîner krefte komen seht an in und seht an schoene frouwen wederz dâ daz ander überstrîte daz bezzer spil ob ich daz hân genomen owê der mich dâ welen hieze deich daz eine dur daz ander lieze wie rehte schiere ich danne kür hêr meie ir müeset merze sîn ê ich mîn frowen dâ verlür.	When all the flowers push upwards through the grass, as though they’re smiling at the dazzling sun; when very early one May morning, the tiny birds sing forth the best songs that they know - what joy can be compared to this? It is half heaven. But if we have to say what equals it, I’ll tell you what has often been more pleasing to my sight, and would be now, if only I could see it. A noble, chaste and lovely lady, in splendid dress from head to foot, who likes to be among her friends, her spirits high and yet controlled, who lets her eyes glance round from time to time, just like the sun among the stars - May brings us all its miracles, but which of them can be as marvellous as this figure of such loveliness? We leave the flowers alone and gaze upon the gorgeous lady. So, if you want to see the truth, let’s go then to the festival of May. It’s come in all its plenteousness. Look at it, then look at these fine ladies, and see which one surpasses now the other. So don’t I have the greater of delights? Oh, if anyone gave me the choice - to choose the one and let the other go - how quickly would my choice be made! So Mr. May, I’d sooner you became like March before I’d give my lady up for you.

A characteristic contrasting by Walther of natural and human beauty, though the contest is clearly decided before it has been joined.