| UNDER DER LINDEN ... | UNDER THE LINDEN TREE ... |
| Walther von der Vogelweide | trans. Elisabeth Siekhaus |
Under der linden an der heide dâ unser zweier bette was dâ mugt ir vinden schône beide gebrochen bluomen unde gras vor dem walde in einem tal tandaradei ....schône sanc diu nahtegal. Ich kam gegangen zuo der ouwe dô was mîn friedel komen ê dâ wart ich enpfangen hêre frouwe daz ich bin sælic iemer mê kuste er mich wol tûsentstunt tandaradei ....seht wie rôt mir ist der munt. Dô het er gemachet alsô rîche von bluomen eine bettestat des wirt noch gelachet inneclîche kumt ieman an daz selbe pfat bî den rôsen er wol mac tandaradei ....merken wâ mirz houbet lac. Daz er bî mir læge wessez ieman nu enwelle got sô schamt ich mich wes er mit mir pflæge niemer nieman bevinde daz wan er und ich und ein kleinez vogellîn tandaradei ....daz mac wol getriuwe sîn | Under the linden by the meadow, where our bed was, there you can find, beautifully broken, the flowers and the grass. Before the forest in a valley - Tandaradei - ....Beautifully sang the nightingale. I came walking to the meadow, my lover had come there already before. There I was received, (Holy Virgin!) for that I am happy forever. Did he kiss me? At least a thousand times. tandaradei - ....See, how red my mouth is! There he made - so splendidly, a bed out of flowers. Those will laugh, heartily, who come by on the path and see by the roses, tandaradei - ....where my head lay. That he lay with me - if anyone knew (God forbid) I would be ashamed. How he was with me, Never, no one may find out, except for him and me, and a little bird tandaradei - ....that will well keep my secret. |
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Trans. Copyright © Elisabeth Siekhaus 2008