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HAUSEN (12th century); his poems are descriptive of the events of the Crusades, and breathe sincere piety. He died in 1190, at Philomelium, in Asia Minor, whilst pursuing the Turks.

SEHNSUCHT.

Gelebt ich noch die lieben zit,
daz ich daz lant solde beschouwen,
Dar inne al min vröûde lit
nu lange an einer schoenen vrouwen.
Sô gesache wol min lip

nie mêr weder man noch wip
getrûren, noch gewinnen rouwen;
mich dûhte nû vil manigez guot,
dâ von ie swaere was min muot.

HEINRICH (HERZOG VON BRESLAU), called 'Der Milde,' on account of his benevolence and charity, succeeded to his father, Henry III., in the year 1266.

After many successful contests with his neighbouring princes and the Bishop of Silesia, he was named Duke of Cracow, in the year 1289. This led to new struggles, at the termination of which he died (1290). His language is distinguished for elegance.

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HEINRICH, Who called himself GOTTES KNECHT, lived about the middle of the 13th century. In his principal poem,' Von des Todes gehügede' (in memory of death), he lays bare the defects of his time, sparing neither clergy, judges, nor the fair sex. The picture he draws of the latter is by no means flattering. They are vain. and coquettish,' he says, 'wear long dresses, flashy skirts, and, whilst proudly walking along, they raise clouds of dust after them. They also paint their faces, and altogether set such a bad example, that even the peasant girls begin to imitate them, by wearing yellow ribbands.' He also accuses them of want of propriety, and says, in one of his epistles:

'Der weibe chiusche is enwicht.'

Woman's chastity is gone.

HELBLING (SEIFRID), an Austrian, born 1230, wrote fifteen poems, in which he inculcates good moral lessons, and, as a good patriot, denounces the tendency of his countrymen to introduce foreign customs. He unsparingly denounces both high and low. He probably died soon after having written his last poem in 1299.

HOHENFELS (BURKHARD VON), the contemporary of Ulrich von Winterstetten, allows also his Pegasus to roam about, without restraint. His poems describe the life of the huntsman and bear a didactic character.

Like the sun's uprising light,
Shines that maid, before whom fade
Other charms, however bright;
As the stars at break of day,
Late so brilliant, fade away.

When my spirit-light had flown
Wanton forth in pleasure's quest,
Then those beaming eyes have shown
O'er the rover's path, and led
Home to her from whom it sped.

When again its wing it took,
Falcon-like for joy to soar,
Ne'er the gentle spell it broke;
Soon again it sought its home
In that breast it wandered from.

O'er it fear was ever coming,
Lest its mistress, at the thought
That for other loves 'twas roaming,
Vengeful all its joys might blight;
Therefore back it winged its flight.

JOHANNSDORF (ALBRECHT VON).-Almost exclusively devoted to love-songs. In one of them, the writer, in alluding to the clouds, which occasionally overcast even the serenest domestic heaven, exclaims :

'Well do I know how love begins,

Could I but know how it will end!'

'Wie sich minne hebt, daz weiz ich wol,
Wie si ende nimt dez weiz ich niht !'

Kanzler (Der), supposed to have been a Swiss, whose lyric and didactic poems are distinguished for beauty, correctness, and piquancy. We give here a translation of his beautiful song'Summer.'

Who would summer pleasures try,
Let him to the meadows hie.
O'er the mountain in the vale
Gladsome sounds and sights prevail;
In the fields fresh flowers are springing,
In the boughs new carols singing,
Richly, in sweet harmony,
There the birds new music ply.
This is all thine own, sweet May!
As thy softer breezes play,
Snow and frost-work melt away.

Old and young, come forth! for ye
Winterbound again are free;
Up, ye shall not grieve again,
Look upon that verdant plain,
Its gloomy robe no more it wears;
How beauteously its face appears!

KÜRENBERG (DER VON).

He who 'mid the flowers enjoys
The sweetness of his lady's eyes,
Let him cast his cares away,

And give his mind and thanks to May!

From the heart's most deep recess,
Hovering smiles, intent to bless,
Gather on my lady's lips;
Smiles that other smiles eclipse;
Smiles, more potent, care-dispelling,
Than the bank with flowers sweet-smelling,
Than the birds' melodious measures,
Than our choicest woodland treasures,
Than the flower-besprinkled plains,
Than the nightingale's sweet strains;
Fairer, sweeter beauty reigns.

Supposed to be born in the south of Germany, about the middle of the 12th century. His poems, resembling in character the Volkslied,' and the early epic, treat principally on chivalry.

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LOVE'S SUFFERING.

Leit machet sorge, vil liep wunne,

Eines hübschen riters gewan ich künde:

daz mir den benomen hân die merker und ir nît,
des mohte mir mîn herze nie vrô werden sît!

LANDEGGE (KONRAD SCHENK VON), was present at the siege of Vienna (1276), and fought in France. His poems express his longing for Switzerland and Suabia. "There is nothing like Suabia,' he says; Hainaut, Brabant, Flanders, or France, do not produce such lovely faces.'

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LOB DER GELIEBTEN.

Diu vil süeze, reine wandelsvrie
zieret Swâbenlant;

Hanegöuwe, Brabant

Vlandern, Vrankrîch, Picardîe
hât sô schoenes niht

noch so lieblich angesiht.

LICHTENSTEIN (ULRICH VON), born in the beginning of the 13th century, and descended from a noble family of Styria (Steyermark). He, in his memoirs, containing all his gallant adventures during a long career, shows what love is capable of. Ulrich, on one occasion, falls desperately in love with a princess; no sacrifice is too great for him to testify his affection, and to win her good graces, for he loves her so tenderly. The sweetest vernal flowers he offers to her; to look at her, to walk on the lawn which bears the impress of her dear little foot is balm and consolation to his heart; and yet, notwithstanding all these demonstrations, the cruel princess remains cold and inexorable-and why? The gentle reader who asks this question will be less surprised, when informed that our amorous swain has a deformity displeasing to the object of his affections, poor Ulrich has three lips. A man with three lips daring to love such a beautiful princess! And pray, why not? Some people might consider this an additional charm in a lover; not so the lovely dame, who evinces her dislike in every possible way, first by looks, then by words, and finally by sending Ulrich down stairs! Is it possible? Should anybody ever have thought that dear little foot capable of such an act? Yes, it really was So. Ask Ulrich von Lichtenstein; he felt it, but bore it like a man, for the Lichtensteins of that age could hear a great deal. Yes; notwithstanding this striking proof of his lady-love's dislike, he still perseveres, does not even shrink from undergoing an operation, on account of that unfortunate lip; and commits other eccentricities too numerous to be mentioned here, but all to no purpose. The lady has made up her mind not to have him; and when the

nuisance becomes at last intolerable, she inflicts on this obstinate lover a rebuke so serious, so very serious, that Ulrich never ventured to divulge the nature of it to anybody. This happened in the summer of 1232, and the event alluded to is thus described :

'Da that ihm seine Geliebte ein Ding, dass alle Biedern, wenn er es aus zucht melden dürfte, sein Leid mit ihm klagen würden.'

Whatever it may have been, one thing is quite certain, it cured him of his love; but, ever after, he vented his anger and disappointment in verses quite as uncomplimentary to the gentle sex, as his former effusions had been expressive of admiration and respect towards them. His reproaches are contained in his didactic poem, 'Itwitz oder der Frauen Buch.'

MARNER (DER), derived from 'mare,' living towards the middle of the 13th century, was a Swabian sea-faring man. He wrote many Minnesongs, but is more remarkable for his didactic poems, proverbs, and fables. Look at the ant,' he says in one of the latter,' she collects in summer her food for the coming winter; do the same, ye men, and recollect that there comes a season, when you will be glad to enjoy the fruit of your labour.'

'Sam tuo dû mensche,

Unt bûwe en zît.'

'The same do thou, O man,

And build in time.'

MEISSNER (DER), a native of Meissen, in Saxony, wrote, between 1260-1280, didactic poems, proverbs, and maxims. His poem on 'Germany's degradation,' written about 600 years ago, is still applicable to the present condition of that country. He inculcates especially the necessity of never yielding one inch of the native soil to any aggressor:

'Gib niht dîn erbe in vremdin lant,

daz dir dein Schepfer hât an geerbet.'

MORUNGEN (HEINRICH VON), probably of Saxon origin, lived at the beginning of the 13th century. His poems are imbued with the deepest feeling.

My lady dearly loves a pretty bird,

That sings and echoes back her gentle
tone;

Were I, too, near her, never should be heard,
A songster's note more pleasant than my

own;

Sweeter than sweetest nightingale I'd sing.
For thee, my lady fair,

This yoke of love I bear;

Were but the troubles of my heart by her

Regarded, I would triumph in my pain; But her proud heart stands firmly, and the stir

Of passionate grief o'ercomes not her disdain.

Yet, yet I do remember how before

My eyes she stood, and spoke,
And on her gentle look

Deign thou to comfort me and case my My earnest gaze was fixed: O were it so

sorrowing.

once more!

NIFEN (GOTTFRIED VON) lived towards the middle of the 13th century. His poems, like those of Nithard, describe rural life, but the language is more refined.

In the following lines, he declares that all the charms of spring are nothing when compared with the smiles of his own sweet beloved.

Up, up! let us greet
The season so sweet!

For winter is gone,

And the flowers are springing
And little birds singing,

And bright is the sun!
Where all was dressed
In a snowy vest,
There grass is growing
With dewdrops glowing,
And flowers are seen
On beds so green.

All down in the grove
Around, above,

Sweet music floats;
As now loudly vying,
Now softly sighing,

The nightingale 's plying
Her tuneful notes,

And joyous at spring,
Her companions sing,
Up, maiden, repair
To the meadow so fair,
And dance we away
This merry May!'

Yes, though May is coming,
And summer is coming,

And birds merry sing,
What boots me the joy
If my fair, too coy,

This heart will wring;
If that auburn hair,
Those eyes so fair,
Those lips so smiling
Are only beguiling
And piercing my heart,
With witching art.

NITHART, also called NEIDHARD, probably a Bavarian or Austrian, lived between 1210-1250. In his poems, he gives a graphic description of the life of the middle classes, of country feasts, fairs, and the fights, which invariably took place on such occasions. Without possessing any æsthetic merit, these poems convey a good idea of the manners of his time. In one of them, we are introduced to a domestic scene. It is spring; and we must, therefore, not wonder that with the bursting of buds, the tender sensations of the heart should also spring forth. And such was really the case with one of those blooming peasant girls, who wanted to meet her lover under yonder limetree in the green meadow, where young and old assemble on festive occasions. But the mother objects to it. Follow my advice,' says the old dame, experienced no doubt in such matters; do not go; but if you do, you will repent it.'

But the girl, self-willed and heedless of her mother's warnings, departs nevertheless, and no doubt did repent of it.

It appears also, that the villagers of those times wore, on such festive occasions, very fascinating dresses, for the poem says:

'Lange röcke tragent sî und enge schaperûnen,
rôte hüete, rinkelohte schuohe, swarze hosen.'

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