A VOGLEWEDE HISTORY

Walther Our tradition holds that the name Voglewede is derived from the German family name Vogelweide (Birdmeadow). Some of us further hold that our family can trace its lineage back to the great German poet, Walther von der Vogelweide. It has been pointed out, however, that because the German name was so well known, it could have been assumed by one of our ancestors, rather than given as a birthright. For more recent information, see the Travelog of Bill Borns).

Walther von der Vogelweide

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Walther von der Vogelweide was a minnesinger and poet, who was born about 1170 and died in 1228. One old document mentions his name and a small event in his life; in the record of the travelling expenses of Wolfger von Ellenbrechtskirchen, Bishop of Passau, there is an entry for 12 November 1203, which says that five solidi were given for a fur coat as a present to the singer Walther von der Vogelweide. Further information regarding his place of birth exist only in his poems, especially two in imperfect rhyme. Since he was usually very exact in his rhyme, this faultiness can only be explained if they were originally written in the Bavarian-Austrian dialect. Austria, therefore, is probably his birth-place. On one occasion Walther speaks of Duke Leopold VI as the ruler of his native country, and proclaims the fact that he learned to read and sing in Austria, and that he always feels himself drawn to go to Vienna. The Tyrolese, however, claim him as a countryman, as do also the Bohemians, and many have erected monuments to his memory. A chronological arrangement of his poetry is not possible, so his works provide few clues about his life. All that is certain is that Walther developed artistically the knightly Minne poetry, and introduced the real love song into the artistic court poetry, and this is his particular merit as a minnesinger.

Walther von der Vogelweide's didactic poetry, a form of the poetic art that generally belonged to the wandering scholar, stands on the same high level as his love lyrics. Ruler and people listened attentively to his words of exhortation. His poetry is of value both for the history of his times and for that of civilization. The poet probably did not live to see the Crusade of Frederick II, for which he had written a song. At least he ceased writing in the year 1228. Where he died and where he was buried are as little known as the place of his birth.

The image of Walther von der Vogelweide is taken from Manässische Liederhandschrift (manuscript) at the Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg (University Library of Heidelberg) and dates back to the period 1310-1330. More information regarding the life and work of Walther von der Vogelweide is available on-line from Albert K. Wimmer's Anthology of Medieval German Literature.


UNTER DER LINDEN
by
Walther von der Vogelweide

Unter der linden an der heide,
dâ unser zweier bette was,
Dâ magt ir vinden schône beide
gebrochen bluomen unde gras.
Vor dem walde in einem tal,
tandaradei,
schône sanc die nahtegal.

Ich kam gegangen zuo der ouwe,
dô was mîn friedel komen ê.
Dâ wart ich empfangen, hêre frouwe,
daß ich bin sælic iemer mê.
kust er mich? wol tûsentstunt,
tandaradei,
seht wie rôt mir ist der munt.

Dô hêt er gemachet alsô rîche
von bluomen eine bettestat.
Des wirt noch gelachtet inneclîche,
kumt iemen an daz selbe pfat.
Bî den rôsen er wol mac,
tandaradei,
merken wâ mirz houbet lac.

Daz er bî mir læge
wessez iemen, nu enwelle got,
so schamte ich mich.
Wes er mit mir pflæge,
niemer niemen bevinde
daz wan er unde ich,
Und ein kleines vogellîn,
tandaradei,
daz mac wol getriuwe sîn.

Balzano Under the linden in the heather,
that's where our bed for two was.
There you'd find
lovingly broken flowers and grass.
In the valley by the wood,
tandaradei,
sweetly sang the nightingale.

I came walking down by the meadow,
My love was already there.
And he received me, his lady,
the joy of that moment will last.
Did we kiss? A thousand times,
tandaradei,
see how red my mouth is.

Then he made a wonderful place
all of flowers to lie in.
Even now, anyone would laugh,
if they were to come along that path
By the roses, they could tell,
tandaradei,
just where my head lay.

That he lay with me
if anyone found out,
Oh god, I'd be so ashamed.
What he did with me
may no one ever know,
except for him and me,
and one little bird,
tandaradei,
that will never say a word.


Other Poetry of the Period

DU BIST MEIN
Author Unknown

Du bist mein, ich bin dein
dessen sollst du gewiß sein.
Du bist beschlossen
in meinen Herzen
Verloren ist das Schüsselein.
Du mußt auch immer drinnen sein.
You are mine, I am yours
of that you should be certain.
You are locked
in my heart
Lost is the key.
And you must remain inside forever.
Wimmer states that this vignette dates from the second half of the twelfth century.
It represents the summary of a Latin love letter - in which the exact words
of the Middle High German verses have been written in Latin prose
ad te [...] quem teneo medullis cordis inclusum
- composed most likely by a nun and discovered inside a manuscript
from the monastery of Tegernsee in southern Bavaria.


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