Herbort von Fritzlar: 'Liet von Troye' (H)

unt hiezen sie kêren dannen

and told them to turn away from there.

sie nâmen die ruoder in die hant

They took the oars in hand

unt kârten hine zuo Trôjenlande

and turned toward the land of Troy.

in was zuo der verte gâch

They were in haste for the voyage.

in quam ein süeze wint nâch

A sweet wind came after them,

iren schiffen harte guot

very good for their ships,

der warf sie durch des meres vluot

which drove them through the sea's flood

harte snellîche

very swiftly

zuo Trôje in daz rîche

to Troy, into the kingdom

dâ saz der küninc Laomedon

where King Laomedon reigned.

dô hiez Ercules unt Jâsôn

Then Hercules and Jason ordered

ire segele strîchen abe

their sails struck.

sie hetten vunden eine habe

They had found a harbour

bî eineme wazzer kleine

by a little stream,

lûter und vile reine

clear and very pure,

vrisch unt guot in allen wîs

fresh and good in every way.

der küninc eine tohter hâte

The king had a daughter,

harte wîse an râte

very wise in counsel,

als mir daz buoch saget

as the book tells me;

sie was ein harte wîse maget

she was a very wise maiden,

wende sie wole wiste

for she knew well

aller hande liste

all kinds of arts

die ûf der erden

that on earth

iemer mohte werden

could ever be.

sie kunde arzedîen

She knew medicine

unt von nigromanzîen

and necromancy,

daz man heizet swarze buoch

which is called the black books,

dâ man ane vindet vluoch

in which one finds curses

unt beswernisse

and conjurations:

wie man in übelnisse

how, in wickedness,

die übeln geiste beswert

one conjures the evil spirits,

daz man an in ervert

so that one learns from them

allez daz dâ ist geschehen

all that has happened,

unt wie man vore kan besehen

and how one can foresee

manic dinc daz künftic ist

many a thing that is to come.

noch sô lernet man die list

Even now that art is learned

in einer stat zuo Tolêt

in a city, at Toledo,

die in Ispanîen stêt

which stands in Spain.

die maget hiez Medea

The maiden was called Medea.

iz wære verre oder nâch

Whether it were far or near,

in dem lande überal

throughout the land,

swaz von mennischen wizzen sal

whatever human beings may know,

daz mohte sie wole wizzen

that she could well know;

sie hette siches sô gevlizzen

she had applied herself to it so.

sie beswuor daz wazzer daz iz gienc

She conjured the water so that it went

wider an sîn ursprinc

back to its source

unt zuo bergewert schôz

and shot uphill,

daz iz wîlen nider vlôz

though it had once flowed down.

des nahtes sie den mânen beswuor

By night she conjured the moon

daz er hinderwert vuor

so that it went backward

als er solte vüre gân

when it should have gone forward.

des was niht man hette es wân

There was nothing in it; people fancied

daz iz alsô wære

that it was so.

daz kunnen zouberære

That is what sorcerers can do,

und zouberærinnen

and sorceresses.

von sus getânen sinnen

Of arts of this kind

kunde die vrouwe vile

the lady knew a great deal,

beide zuo erneste unt zuo spile

both in earnest and in play.

dô Medea vernam

When Medea heard

daz hêrre Jâsôn dar quam

that lord Jason had come there,

kan daz ieman verstân

Can anyone understand that?

daz ist harte wunderlich

That is very strange.

ich wæne die elber triegent mich

I think the elves are deceiving me.

machet minne daz ich reben

Does love make me rave?

nein mir ist zouber gegeben

No, a spell has been put on me.

ez enist doch dechein zouber niet

Yet it is no spell at all;

von minnen ez mir geschiet

it comes to me from love.

daz entsebe ich dâ bî wole

I can tell that well by this:

mir ist daz herze alsam ein kole

my heart is like a coal.

die dâr zuo wesen sol

that is needed for it;

iedoch wirdet sie uns wole

yet we shall get it.

zuohant sie dô genante

At once she then ventured [on it];

ein lieht sie entbrante

she kindled a light;

ein bilede sie hervüre tete

she brought out an image

besungen mit ireme gebete

sung over with her prayer,

bezoubert unt besworen

bewitched and conjured;

ez was guot wider den zorn

it was good against wrath

unt wider ander grimmicheit

and against other fierceness.

sie gapez im er wart gemeit

She gave it to him; he was glad.

sie gap im eine salben

She gave him an ointment

unt hiez daz er sich allenthalben

and told him to smear himself all over

gar mite bestriche

with it, entirely:

swâ in daz viur ane bliche

wherever the fire flashed on him

sô enkünde ez im niht geschaden

it could do him no harm.

dô gap sie im ûz ire laden

Then out of her chest she gave him

ein güldîn vingerlîn

a golden ring

daz wider den zoubern solte sîn

that was to serve against spells

unt wider eiter unt vergift guot

and was good against venom and poison,

wider den wurm unt wider des viures gluot

against the dragon and against the fire's glow.

eine tugent er dâr ane vant

He found one virtue in it:

swenne er ez beslôz in der hant

whenever he closed it in his hand

sô daz des vingerlînes stein

so that on the ring's stone

deheinez lieht beschein

no light shone,

daz zeichen im geschach

this sign befell him:

daz in nieman ensach

that no one saw him.

ouch gap sie im einen brief

She also gave him a letter;

swer in sach der hette in liep

whoever saw him loved him

unt beranten in ûf der walstat

and charged at him on the battlefield.

iedoch satzte er sich zuo wer

Yet he put himself on the defensive.

Ercules reit under dem her

Hercules rode among the host;

er sluoc unt tratte

he struck and trampled;

in dem bluote er watete

he waded in the blood.

zuo jungest quam er gerant

At last he came charging

dâ er Laomedonen vant

to where he found Laomedon,

leidic unt in ungehabe

sorrowful and in distress;

daz houbet sluoc er im abe

he struck his head off.

er sprach diz sî dîn zol

He said, "Let this be your toll,

den ich dir geben sol

which I owe you

dô ich durch dîn lant reit

from when I rode through your land

sunder schaden unt âne leit

without doing harm or injury.

daz dû mir dô entbüte

What you sent to tell me then

des gedenke ich dir hiute

I remember against you today

mit zornigem muote

with a wrathful heart;

des liges dû in dem bluote

for that you lie in the blood."

er warf daz ros umbe

He turned his horse around;

durch rihte unt durch krümbe

by straight ways and crooked

reit er unde rante

he rode and charged

unz er sîn leit volante

until he had wholly avenged his wrong.

er sluoc ir alsô vile nider

He struck down so many of them

daz er vore tôten kûme hin wider

that for the dead he could scarcely ride

gerîten mohte in die stat

back into the city.

die er ûf der walstat

Those whom on the battlefield

niet mohte hân erslagen

he could not slay

die wâren gesloffen in die hagene

had crept into the thickets.

dô der strît was gestriten

When the battle had been fought,

die Kriechen alle sament riten

the Greeks all rode together

unt stapfeten in zuo Trôje

and paced into Troy

mit schalle unt mit schoie

with clamour and with joy,

wenne in nie lieber geschach

for nothing more welcome had ever befallen them.

dô schuofen sie ire gemach

Then they took their ease.

sie quâmen mit gelfe unt mit gamen

They came with shouting and with sport;

dô vunden sie niht wen wîbes namen

there they found nothing but womenfolk

unt arme gesindelæhe

and poor servant-folk,

unvlætic unt unwæhe

unkempt and shabby,

von krankem geslehte

of base kindred,

unt boesen küchenknehte

and wretched kitchen-boys.

die vrouwen gevlohen wâren

The ladies had fled;

wie solten sie gebâren

how were they to act?

sie enwisten wie gelâzen

They did not know how to bear themselves.

in dem betehûse sie sâzen

They sat in the temple,

dâ heime in ellende

at home, in desolation;

sie leneten zuo der wende

they leaned against the walls,

ire wangen neigeten sie ûz der hant

they bowed their cheeks into their hands;

zuovallen was in ire gewant

their clothes were torn,

ire gebende beroubet

their headdresses snatched away,

ire houbet zuostroubet

their heads dishevelled,

unberihtet ire hâr

their hair undressed.

sie sprâchen ouwê unsælic jâr

They said, "Alas, unhappy year,

unt ouwê unsælic slac

and alas, unhappy blow,

ouwê unsælic tac

alas, unhappy day,

ouwê unsælige zît

alas, unhappy time!

wir hân verloren in alle sît

We have lost on every side;

unse vriunde sîn uns erslagen

our kinsmen have been slain.

mohten wir uns des entsagen

If we could make sure

daz dechein unreht gewalt

that no wrongful violence

mit uns hier würde gestalt

would be done to us here,

wir enklageten niht mê

we would lament no more.

nû ist uns allenthalben wê

Now we are in pain on every side."

die hêrren dô quâmen

The lords then came;

mit gewalt si sie nâmen

they took them by force.

dô enwas ir dechein des erlân

Not one of them was spared

ir enwürde gewalt getân

from having violence done to her.

Thelamon mit im nam

Telamon took with him

des küninges tohter Esionam

the king's daughter Hesione,

eine juncvrouwen schoene

a beautiful young lady;

die wart im zuo lône

she was given to him as a reward

wende er zuo vorderst ran

because he charged foremost

dô man die burc gewan

when the city was won.

er was ir harte gemeit

He was very glad of her.

dâ quam abe sîn grôz leit

From that came great grief.

er wolte sie zuo kebese hân

He wanted to have her as a concubine;

daz begunde iren mâgen sint versmâhen

that later came to vex her kinsmen.

Dares hât alsus geschriben

Dares has written thus:

einen mânde sie sint beliben

for a month afterwards they remained

zuo Trôje die geste

in Troy, the strangers,

der hette vünf süne unt tohter drî

He had five sons and three daughters.

der süne hiezen drî alsus

Of the sons, three were called thus:

Ector Parîs Elenus

Hector, Paris, Helenus;

der vierde hiez Deiphebus

the fourth was called Deiphobus,

unt der vünfte Troilus

and the fifth Troilus.

si wâren alle tugenthaft

They were all men of excellence.

Ector hette die kraft

Hector had strength,

über allen den walt

all over the forest

sîne âdern klungen

its streams rang out.

dâ kuolte ich mîne zungen

There I cooled my tongue;

mîne ougen ich bespræjete

I splashed my eyes;

den wint ich mir zuo wæjete

I fanned the breeze toward myself.

als ich mich kuolte alsus

As I was cooling myself thus,

dô quam vrouwe Vênus

there came lady Venus,

Pallas unt Junô

Pallas and Juno;

der zierde schein alsô

their splendour shone so

ich wânte in dem brunnen

that I thought in the spring

schinen drî sunnen

three suns were shining.

sie wâren zuo mir gesant

They had been sent to me.

sie truogen einen apfel an der hant

They carried an apple in hand;

der was von golde alrôt

it was of gold, all red.

ir iegelîche mir sîne gift bôt

Each of them offered me her gift

daz ich wolte schouwen

so that I would judge

weliche under den vrouwen

which among the ladies

die allerschoeneste wære

was the most beautiful of all.

Junô bôt dise êre

Juno offered this honour:

ich mache daz dû iemer rîche bist

"I will make you rich forever."

Pallas kunst unt list

Pallas, knowledge and skill;

Vênus bôt zuo lône

Venus offered as a reward

ein wîp alsô schoene

a woman so beautiful

daz niergen wære decheine

that nowhere would there be any

Nestor hette nâch im gesant

Nestor had sent for him

daz er zuo Pirô quæme

to come to Piro

unt von im vernæme

and hear from him

ein vile guot mære

a very good piece of news;

ich enweiz waz daz wære

I do not know what it was.

dem küninge was zuo Pirô gâch

The king was in haste to reach Piro.

sîn wîp hiez Elenâ

His wife was called Helen;

daz was daz wîp schoene

she was the beautiful woman

die Parîse zuo lône

whom, as a reward to Paris,

Vênus gelobet hette

Venus had promised

ump daz geræte

for that decision,

wande er ir des apfels jach

because he awarded her the apple,

alsô gienc die zît hine

So the time passed

die wîle daz ire vride was

while their truce lasted.

die wîle klagete Calcas

Meanwhile Calchas lamented

daz er in der stat hæte

that he had in the city

eine tohter harte stæte

a daughter, very constant,

schoene hövisch unde wîs

beautiful, courtly and wise,

die was geheizen Briseis

who was called Briseis;

die mohte dâ niht belîben

she could not stay there:

sie wolten sie vertrîben

they wanted to drive her out

durch ire gotinne

on account of their goddess

die sie hetten dâr inne

whom they had in there.

sie klageten daz alle tage

They complained every day

nû bin ich niuwit her komen

Now I have got no further

als ir vore hât vernomen

than you have heard before:

Troilus unt Briseidâ

Troilus and Briseida

die schieden sich dâ

parted there

mit sôgetânen leiden

with such sorrow

solten sie verscheiden

that, had they been about to die

unde des lîbes wandel hân

and end their lives,

ez hette in vile baz getân

it would have been far better for them.

Menesteus unt Thelamon

Menestheus and Telamon

unt hêrren Thideusis sun

and lord Tydeus's son,

der herzoge Diomedes

duke Diomedes,

unde der wîse Ulixes

and the wise Ulysses,

unde ander manic man

and many another man

wie ez iuch gevalle

however it may please you;

ez mac doch wole wâr wesen

it may well be true all the same.

ich hân grôzer dinc gelesen

I have read of greater things

denne des ir hier bereit sît

than what you have before you here.

von gotes gebote an der zît

By God's command, at that time,

der tiuvel ûz den bileden sprach

the devil spoke out of the images

unde vore sagete swaz geschach

and foretold whatever came to pass.

manic wunder er treip

He worked many a wonder,

daz man von im schreip

which was written of him.

hin abe quam uns zouberlist

From that came down to us the magic art

die nigromantia geheizen ist

that is called nigromantia [necromancy],

als ir hât vernomen vore

as you have heard before.

in der kamern lac Hector

In the chamber lay Hector

Troilus huop den sturm an

Troilus began the fight

mit Diomedê

with Diomedes.

im tet daz harte wê

It grieved him sorely

daz sînes wîbes ziklâtîn

that his woman's silk

sîn baniere solte sîn

should be the other's banner.

er sach an der stûchen dâ

He saw there by the sleeve

daz sîn amîe Briseidâ

that his beloved Briseida

sînen willen schiere tæte

would soon do his will

oder getân hæte

or had done it.

sie hæten beide grôzen haz

They both had great hatred:

Troilus umbe daz

Troilus because

daz jener sîn wîp wolte hân

the other wanted to have his woman;

rôt wart der zindât

The silk turned red

der dâ wîz solte sîn

that should have been white.

Achilles tet daz schîn

Achilles made it plain

daz er der sterker was

that he was the stronger.

er warf in ûf daz gras

He threw him onto the grass

daz er aller zuodrant

so that he was utterly broken,

unde quam ûf in gerant

and came charging at him;

er sluoc in unde tratte

he struck him and trampled [him];

decheine wîs er ime statete

in no way did he let him

daz er sich ûf erhüebe

raise himself up.

sîn ougen wurden trüebe

His eyes grew dim,

sîn nase begunde bleichen

his nose began to pale;

daz was ein bitter zeichen

that was a bitter sign.

im entvielen die hende

His hands went slack;

Hector nam sîn ende

Hector met his end.

dô er in verscheiden sach

When he saw him die,

Achilles sus zuo ime sprach

Achilles spoke to him thus:

got der müeze dich bewaren

"May God keep you;

dîn sêle müeze wole gevaren

may your soul fare well.

dû wære in dîneme künne

You were, among your kindred,

trôst unde wünne

comfort and joy

dîne vriunde gemeine

to your friends one and all,

grôz unde kleine

great and small,

arme unde rîche

poor and rich,

alle gemeine gelîche

all of them alike,

vater muoter wîp kint

father, mother, wife, child,

bruoder swester unde die dâ sint

brother, sister, and those there are

den dû vore soltes sîn

whom you were to protect;

die en mügen den tôt dîn

they will not get over your death,

verwinden niemer mê

ever again.

ich wæne der werlte êr zuogê

I think the world will sooner perish

êr dîn gelîche werde geboren

than your like is born.

dû hâst den lîp hier verloren

You have lost your life here

durch triuwe unde durch êre

for loyalty and for honour.

got genâde dîn iemer mêre

God have mercy on you forever more."

dâ schrîeten die Trôiere

Then the Trojans cried out;

sie wurfen die baniere

they threw the banners

ûf die erden

on the ground.

von leiden unt von swerde

From sorrow and from pain

wâren sie alle verzaget

they were all disheartened.

Achilles quam in nâch gejaget

Achilles came chasing after them;

dâ wart erslagen unde ertrat

there were slain and trampled

vünfhundert vore der stat

five hundred before the city,

die ervielen alle

who all fell

nâch Hectores valle

after Hector's fall.

daz lant sîn schaden hæte

The land suffered harm from it,

diz grôze ungeræte

this great calamity

unde ander manic ungemach

and many another hardship

der sint durch die schult geschach

that later came about for this cause:

wende Hector was ervalt

because Hector had fallen.

die nôt die wart sô manicvalt

The distress became so manifold

daz ichez gesagen niht enkunde

that I could not tell it

unde hette ich zehen munde

even if I had ten mouths.

dô Hector tôt was gelegen

When Hector lay dead,

dô klagete manic tiure degen

many a worthy warrior lamented

wende ire hêrre tôt lac

because their lord lay dead;

daz lant allez erschrac

the whole land was struck with dread,

iemer durch mînen willen

ever, for my sake.

ich muoz dir iemer wesen holt

I must always be well disposed to you;

daz hâsdû harte wole verschult

you have well deserved that.

dû wære mir ie heimelich

You were always close to me.

sô dir got nû sich

So [help] you God, now see

wie ich mîne wîse ane gevâhe

how I set about my course:

mir enwerde Polixena

unless Polyxena becomes mine,

dâ hoeret anders niht zuo

nothing else is left for it

wan daz ich mir den tôt tuo

but that I take my own life.

nû kêre hinewec balde

Now go away quickly,

daz ich den lîp behalte

so that I may keep my life,

die Kriechen mit schalle

the Greeks with clamour,

die andern von dem valle

the others for the fall,

wende Troilus erslagen was

because Troilus was slain.

er viel tôt ûf daz gras

He fell dead on the grass,

aller zuohouwen

all hacked to pieces.

des schrîeten die vrouwen

At that the ladies cried out

Achilles in dem slâfe erschrac

Achilles started up from his sleep.

dô er die boteschaft verstuont

When he understood the message,

balde er ûf stuont

he quickly stood up.

liebe er im gedâhte

Fondly he thought of him:

Antilocum er wahte

he woke Antilochus,

die ez engesâhen nie

those who had never seen it.

die wîle wir daz bilede hân hier

As long as we have the image here

innewendic in unsen graben

within our moats,

sô wollen wir daz vürewâr haben

we will hold it for certain

daz unser stat niet missegê

that our city will not come to grief.

ich enweiz niet waz sagen mê

I do not know what more to say.

Pallas hât ez her gesant

Pallas sent it here;

ez ist Palladium genant

it is called the Palladium.

daz anebeten wir hier inne

We worship it in here

mit liebe unde mit minne

with affection and with love

unde mit grôzen êren

and with great honours.

op wir gevangen wæren

As for our being captured:

die wîle diz bilede hier inne ist

as long as this image is in here

sô enhoeret dâr zuo decheine list

there is no stratagem for it

unde hetten des alle wân

and they all believed

daz ez wole solte gân

that it would go well.

des nahtes harte spæte

Very late that night,

dô man sich geleget hæte

when people had gone to bed,

Andenor gienc in daz betehûs

Antenor went into the temple

dâ der priester Theanus

where the priest Theanus

behuotte ire heilictuom

guarded their sacred object,

daz dâ hiez Palladium

which was called the Palladium —

doch mohte ez baz der tiuvel wesen

though it may rather have been the devil;

wir hân vile dâr abe gelesen

we have read much about it,

waz dâ wunders abe geschach

what wonders came of it.

Andenor zuo dem priester sprach

Antenor said to the priest,

dû hâst hiute wole gesehen

"You have clearly seen today

wie unserme opfer ist geschên

what has happened to our sacrifice,

sie hæte ein sunderlîchen art

She had a peculiar nature,

unde vore andern wîben ein ander leben

and a life unlike other women's.

Circe kunde trenke gegeben

Circe knew how to give potions,

solich zouber soliche spîse

such magic, such food,

ez enwart nieman sô wîse

that there was never anyone so wise

der ires dinges enbeiz

who tasted of her things —

ich hân ez versuochet biz ichez weiz

I have tried it until I know it;

daz spriche ich vonder wârheit

I say this in truth —

er wart in solichen stric geleit

[but] he was caught in such a snare

daz er in muoste belîben

that he had to stay in it.

sie kunde wunder trîben

She could work wonders.

noch mêr ich von ir sagen muoz

I must tell still more of her:

sie hæte solichen gruoz

she had such a greeting,

solich gelâz soliche wort

such bearing, such words,

swer ez hæte gehôrt

that whoever had heard it

als ich ez gehôrt hân

as I have heard it

der muoste iemer dâ bestân

would have had to stay there forever.

ich geswîge aller zouberlist

I say nothing of all her magic arts:

Circe sô geartet ist

Circe is so made by nature

si wil man über man

that she wants man after man;

nieman sich behüeten kan

no one can guard himself

er en müeze dâ belîben

from having to stay there

mit ir unde mit iren wîben

with her and with her women.

sie gap mir trinken als ich getranc

She gave me drink; when I had drunk,

ich muoste ân mînen danc

I had, against my will,

gedenken an ire minne

to think of her love.

mir stuonden mîne sinne

My thoughts were fixed

sint ze allen gezîten an sie

from then on, at all times, on her;

ich enmohte ir vergezzen nie

I could never forget her.

als ich ire spîse geaz

When I had eaten her food,

aller der wîbe ich vergaz

I forgot all the women

der ich dâ vore künde ie gewan

I had ever known before.

sô ich sie dicker sach an

The more often I looked at her,

sô ich mir lieber gesach

the more pleasing the sight was to me.

waz sol es mêr mir geschach

Why say more? It happened to me

als manigen was geschên

as it had happened to many.

ich wil ir ouch des jehen

I will also grant her this:

ez enwart nie süezer wîp geboren

no sweeter woman was ever born.

sie hæte ouch mich dâr zuo erkoren

She had chosen me for it, too,

unde sagete daz ich wære

and said that I was

der bezziste minnære

the best lover

der ie bî ir gelac

who had ever lain with her.

ich beleip dâ manigen tac

I stayed there many a day.

vernemet wie ich dannen quam

Hear how I came away from there:

mîn herze mich mir selben nam

my heart took me from myself;

des weiz ich wole daz zouberlist

from this I know well that magic

gein mannes herzen ein wint ist

is a wind against a man's heart.

ich gehielt mich zuo mîner manheit

I held to my manhood

unde liez von der weichheit

and left the softness

die mich verleit hæte

that had led me astray.

swie ungerne ich ez tæte

However unwillingly I did it,

mîn herze herte dinc tete

my heart did a hard thing.

zouber gift noch bete

Neither magic, poison nor entreaty

mohten mich niht enthalten

could hold me back.

ich liez es got walten

I left it to God's will

unde kârte dannen vürebaz

and turned away from there and went on

dô machete er eine veste

Then he built a stronghold

daz er wole weste

such that he knew well

wære alle die werlt dar komen

that had all the world come there,

sie en mohten sîn dâ niet hân genomen

they could not have taken him there.

dâ obene gesaget ist

It has been told above