Kaiserchronik A (V)

ze den hæten si decheine minne.

for which they had no love.

an dem sameztage sâ.

straightway, on the Saturday.

einez heizet Rotundâ.

One is called the Rotunda;

daz was ein hêrez betehûs.

that was a splendid temple.

der got hiez Saturnus·

The god was called Saturn;

dâr nâch was iz aller tiuvel êre.

after him it was to the honour of all devils.

swenne Rômære.

Whenever the Romans

dâr innen gebeteten.

had prayed in there

alsô si wolten.

as they wished,

si îlten ûz an daz velt.

they hurried out to the field.

vile michel wart ire gelf.

Very great was their revelry,

vone bûhurte joch von springene.

with tourneying and with leaping,

vone tanzene unde von singene.

with dancing and with singing.

swer dô gewan mêre.

Whoever then won more

lobes unde der êren.

praise and honour,

der mahte deste baz.

he was all the better off.

daz buoch saget uns daz.

The book tells us

der guote sancte Bonifatius·

that the good St Boniface

der wîhete sît daz selbe hûs·

later consecrated that same house,

ein vile heiliger hêrre.

a very holy lord,

dem almehtigen gote zeêren·

to the honour of almighty God,

dâr nâch sancte Marien.

and after him of St Mary

unde allen gotesheiligen.

and all God's saints.

dô der vile heilige man.

When the very holy man

ze Rôme an den stuol kom.

came to the throne in Rome —

der was der vierde bâbest nâch sancte Grêgôrien·

he was the fourth pope after St Gregory —

dô was er in grôzen sorgen·.

he was in great anxiety

daz diu unkiusche bî im solte gestân·

that the impurity should remain beside him.

dô besante sich der heilige man.

Then the holy man sent

nâch allen den guoten kristenen.

for all the good Christians

die er ze Rôme iener weste.

whom he knew of anywhere in Rome.

si macheten sich wüllîn unde barvuoz.

They put on wool and went barefoot;

sîn samenunge wart vile grôz.

his gathering became very large.

zevorderst er an die türe gieng.

He went foremost to the door;

ze wîhen er sâ vieng.

at once he began to consecrate.

dem wâren gote gemahelte er daz hûs.

He wedded the house to the true God.

die tiuvel brâsten oben ûz.

The devils burst out through the top,

sumelîche in daz apgründe.

some into the abyss.

des ist zeRôme noch hiute urkünde.

Of this there is evidence in Rome to this day.

nû schulen wir wider grîfen·

Now we must take up again

dâ wir die rede liezen.

where we left the story.

nû en volget im niht mêre.

Now follow him no more."

dô sprâchen di bruoder beide·

Then both the brothers said,

meister er hât ein ungemeiletez kint erslagen.

"Master, he has killed an unblemished child

und hât iz under sînem bette begraben·

and has buried it under his bed;

dâ mit zoubert er swaz er wile.

with it he works whatever magic he wants.

sîner wunder ist alsô vile·

His wonders are so many:

er sprichet wellen wir im volgen.

he says, if we will follow him,

den blîen machen wir zegolde·

we shall turn lead into gold;

er sprichet welle in ieman vâhen.

he says, if anyone tries to seize him,

der nemege im niemer genâhen·

that one can never come near him;

swenne er sich welle helen.

whenever he wants to hide himself,

inenmege nieman gesehen·

no one can see him;

swenne er welle ersterben

whenever he wants to die

und aber lebentic werden.

and come alive again,

swanne im gevalle.

whenever it pleases him,

sô sî er inder helle·

then he is in hell;

swenne er welle zehimele.

whenever he wants, in heaven,

dô antwurte im sus.

Then he answered him thus,

der heilige apostolus

the holy apostle:

nû wel dir ûz der menige.

"Now choose from the crowd

der wîsesten zwelive.

twelve of the wisest;

gên wir heim indîn hûs.

let us go home to your house;

nim dînen tôten her ûz.

take your dead one out of there,

ein kint ungemeiliget.

an unblemished child,

dâ dû mit hâst gezouberet.

with which you have worked magic;

daz hâstdû under dînem bette begraben.

you have buried it under your bed.

dâ sulen wir der rede ein ende haben.

There we shall have an end of this dispute."

der gotes widerwarte.

God's adversary

der rede erkom er harte.

was sorely frightened at these words;

dô sprach der alt man.

Then the old man said:

liebe ich kan direz allez baz gesagen.

“Dear [son], I can tell you all this better

denne dû iz selbe kunnest verstên.

than you could understand it yourself.

diu wîlsælde muoz ie ergên.

The fortune of the hour must always come to pass.

dû bist noch ein jungez kint.

You are still a young child.

der wîle viere unde zweinzic sint.

There are twenty-four hours

under tage. unde under naht.

in the day and in the night;

ir iegelich hât ire kraft.

each of them has its power.

ir newirdet mêre noch minner.

They become neither more nor fewer;

si neverwandelent sich nie mêre

they never change at all;

si sint alle gelîche lanc.

they are all of equal length.

sun nim indînen gedanc.

Son, take this into your mind:

wie mahte mennische von sînen listen.

how could a person, by his skills,

ire louf dâr under gevristen.

hold back their course among them?

daz bewârte dir Pytagoras. die

Pythagoras proved this for you: the

wîle diu voretûsent jâren was.

hour that was a thousand years ago,

wilt dû dâr nâch arbeiten.

If you will labour after it,

ienoch vindesdû sie gereite.

you will still find it ready.

zewâre sagen ich dir daz.

Truly I tell you this:

hætes dû ein teil gevlizzen baz.

had you applied yourself a little better,

sô wære dir astronomîa vile kunde.

astronomy would be well known to you.

dû sprichest ouch daz alte und junge.

You say also that old and young

zeeineme volcwîge sîn komen.

have come to a battle;

nû lâ zehenzic tûsent den lîp haben verloren.

now suppose a hundred thousand have lost their lives:

swelicher ie dâ tôt lac.

whoever lay dead there,

daz was sîne wîle und sîn tac.

that was his hour and his day;

er nemahtees niht überwerden.

he could not escape it,

sweliches tôdes er solte ersterben.

whatever death he was to die.

er ertrinke. oder werde erslagen.

Whether he drowns or is slain,

diu wîle muoz indar tragen.

the hour must carry him to it,

alsô iz dâr inne gestê.

just as it stands within it.

daz meisterent allez septem planetae.

All this is governed by the seven planets,

di di himele rihtent.

which rule the heavens

unde die wîle tihtent.

and compose the hours,

unde ir iegelich besunder.

and each of them separately

welzet alumbe.

rolls all the way round

unde muoz ire zît durch gân.

and must go through its time.

dâ nekanst dû mir niht vongesagen.

Of that you can tell me nothing;

in den buochen bin ich gezogen.

I was brought up in the books.

heiz uns queln denne.

then have us put to torment,

swie sô dir gevalle.

however it pleases you.”

an dem dritten tage vile vruo.

On the third day, very early,

daz lantvolc zôch allenhalben zuo.

the country people gathered from all sides,

rîtær und vrouwen.

knights and ladies;

diu wunder wolten si gerne schouwen.

they were eager to see the wonders —

der Rômære ein vile michel schar.

a very great host of the Romans.

Simon der goukelære kom ouch dar.

Simon the conjurer came there too.

ûf ein êrîn sûl er steic.

He climbed up on a bronze pillar;

daz lantvolc im allez neic.

all the people bowed to him.

die tiuvele vuorten in ûf zuo den luften.

The devils carried him up into the air

mit michelen kreften.

with great strength.

sancte Paulus viel zuo der erde.

Saint Paul fell to the ground;

er bettete in suoze und werde.

he prayed sweetly and worthily.

sancte Pêter stuont ûfwert.

Saint Peter stood upright.

zeder marter wâren si beide gereht.

Both were ready for martyrdom.

mit herzen joch mit muote.

With heart and with mind

maneten si got den guoten.

they reminded the good God

waz er sînen jungeren gehiez.

of what he had promised his disciples

dô er siu vile trûrige liez.

when he left them in great sorrow:

swes si in sîneme namen gebæten.

whatever they asked in his name,

daz erez allez tæte

he would do it all;

daz er dem tiuvel iht verhengte.

that he should not let the devil

daz er die kristenheit geschente.

bring shame on Christendom.

dô die hêrren gebeteten. sô si solten.

When the lords had prayed as they ought,

si tâten alsô si wolten.

they did as they wished.

sancte Pêter huopûf sîne hant.

Saint Peter raised his hand;

er bescheinte mînes trehtînes gewalt.

he made manifest my Lord's power.

er sprach ich gebiute iu tiuveln swarzen.

He said, “I command you, black devils,

bîdes almehtigen gotes warten.

by the words of almighty God,

indem namen des heiligen Kristes.

in the name of the holy Christ,

daz ir in niht langer envristet.

that you hold him up no longer:

ir lât in wider nider vallen.

let him fall back down,

zeichen disem liute allem.

as a sign to all these people

daz got rîchesenet eine.

that God alone reigns

über alle dise werlt gemeine.

over all this world together,

über erde und über mer.

over earth and over sea

und über allez himelischez her.

and over all the heavenly host.”

alsô sancte Pêter daz kriuze voltet.

As Saint Peter completed the cross,

die tiuvel vluhen sâ zestete.

the devils fled at once from the spot.

den goukelære si verliezen.

They let go of the conjurer;

zuo der erde si in stiezen.

they hurled him to the ground.

er viel daz er aller zerbrast.

He fell so that he burst apart entirely.

wie trûric der keiser dô wart.

How sad the emperor became then!

dô zurnte der küninc Nere.

Then King Nero grew angry.

nechein mennische getorste dâr zuo komen.

No human being dared come near it

iz enwolte den tôt dâ holen.

unless he wanted to fetch his death there.

dar gieng der hêbrêische man.

There went the Hebrew man;

er hiez den var stille stân.

he bade the bull stand still.

iz was allez getân.

It was all done.

er hiez im entwîchen.

He bade them draw back from him,

beide arme und rîche.

both poor and rich.

er neliez iz nieman hoeren.

He let no one hear it;

er rûnete im indaz ôre.

he whispered into its ear.

bizzdaz er volsprach ein wort.

As soon as he had finished a word,

der var viel nider tôt.

the bull fell down dead.

dô vröuweten sich algemeine

Then all together rejoiced,

di juden und diheidene

the Jews and the heathens.

nû vernemet ir algemeine.

Now hear, all of you together,

wie ich iu di rede bescheide

how I settle the dispute for you:

habeez Zambrî mit gote getân.

if Zambri has done it with God,

sô heize in ouch mit gote wider ûf stân.

then let him also, with God, bid him rise up again.

nemac er dâr mit niht volkumen.

If he cannot accomplish that,

sô nedarf nieman sîne werc loben.

then no one need praise his works.

und verliesen ir mînes hêrren hulde.

and you would lose my lord's favour.

jâ newesse er waz er wolte.

Truly, he did not know what he was about.

der selben unholden.

That same witch —

ernesolte si insînem hove niemer verdulten.

he ought never to tolerate her at his court.

mit zorne gieng er inden sal.

In anger he went into the hall;

dâ sâzen di megede überal.

there the maidens were sitting all around.

er sprach waz hüetest dû dâse.

He said, "Why are you guarding them there,

übeliu hornblâse.

you wicked horn-blower?

dû soltest billîcher dâ zeholze varn.

It would be more fitting for you to go off to the woods

danne di megede hier bewarn.

than to look after the maidens here.

dû bist ein unholde.

You are a witch,

und sitzest hier behangen mit golde.

and you sit here hung with gold."

si sprach goteweiz hêrreguot kneht.

She said, "God knows, sir, good fellow,

ir tuot mir michel unreht

you do me great wrong,

wande ich iu mîn dienest entbôt

for I offered you my service

daz ir mich liezet âne nôt.

so that you would leave me in peace.

got weiz wole di schulde.

God knows well the truth of it,

ob ich bin ein unholde.

whether I am a witch

oder iedecheines zoubers gepflac.

or ever practised any sorcery."

er wolte ir tuon einen slac.

He meant to strike her a blow,

stôzen mit dem vuoze.

to kick her with his foot;

dem heiligen gelouben zeêren.

in honour of the holy faith.

daz versmâhete den junchêrren.

That displeased the young lords.

dô gevuogteez got alsus.

Then God arranged it thus,

daz der eine bruoder Astrolâbîus.

that the one brother, Astrolabius,

und ander sîn genôze.

and the other, his companion,

ob erez angot wolte gedingen.

if he would put his hope for it in God.

nûkündet uns daz buoch sus.

Now the book tells us thus:

daz der priester der hêrre Eusebius.

that the priest, lord Eusebius,

die wîl er jungelinc was.

while he was a youth,

inden swarzen buochen er las.

had read in the black books;

dâ hæte er sich inne gevlizzen.

he had applied himself to them

daz im wole was gewizzen.

so that he was well versed [in them].

dô in der tiuvel sô verre entspuon.

When the devil had lured him so far away,

iz enmahte anders nieman widertuon.

no one else could undo it,

erne gewünne wider sîn vingerlîn.

unless he got back his ring,

iz entæte denne eine mîn trehtîn.

unless my Lord alone should do it.

eines morgenes vile vruo.

One morning, very early,

den jungelinc namer dâr zuo.

he took the youth with him;

an einem buoche er dô las

he then read in a book;

vile unlange stuont daz.

it was not long

unze der tiuvel zuo vuor.

before the devil came there.

alse tiure erinbeswuor.

He conjured him so earnestly

er eröffenete im di sache.

that he put the matter to him:

wer daz hæte gemachet.

who had brought it about

daz dem kinde misseschæhe.

that harm befell the child,

und ober dâr mit wære.

and whether he had a hand in it.

der tiuvel antwurte im dô sus.

Then the devil answered him thus:

sim hêrre Eusebius

"Sim, lord Eusebius,

nû swüere dû hier vore einen eit.

you swore an oath before

dû behieltest dîne kristenheit.

that you would keep your Christian faith;

nû bist dû meineide.

now you are forsworn.

jâ gestuont ich mir nie sô leide.

Truly, I was never in such distress,

wande mir goteweiz.

for, God knows, to me

inder helle niewart niesôheiz.

it was never so hot in hell

sô mir bî dir ist.

as it is for me near you.

nûgip mir der rede ein vrist.

Now give me a respite in this matter,

erloube mir zevarne hinnen.

allow me to go away from here;

ich handelez nâch dînen minnen.

I will deal with it as you wish."

dô sprach der gotes dienestman.

Then the servant of God said,

ich gebiute dir ingotes ban.

"I command you under God's ban

dû bringest mir daz vingerlîn.

to bring me the ring;

es en mac nechein ander rât sîn.

there can be no other way.

vile schiere dû hin île.

Hurry off very quickly;

ineiner halben wîle.

within half a while

sîne süne liebe.

his dear sons.

dô gevuogteez sich dâr nâch schiere.

Then it came about soon after

daz Etzel ertranc. insîn selbes bluote.

that Etzel drowned in his own blood.

Dietmâr der helt guot.

Dietmar, the good hero,

der reit ûf daz lant zeMêrân.

rode into the land at Meran.

vile manige daz sâhen.

Very many saw this:

daz indi tiuvel nâmen.

that the devils took him.

si vuorten in inden berc zeVulcânû.

They carried him into the mountain at Vulcano;

daz gebôt in sancte Johannes der heilige man.

St John, the holy man, commanded them to.

dâ brinnet er unz an den jungesten tac.

There he burns until the Last Day,

daz im nieman gehelfen nemac.

and no one can help him.

swer nû welle bewæren.

Whoever now wants to prove

daz Dieterîch Etzelen sæhe.

that Dietrich saw Attila,

der heize daz buoch vüretragen.

let him have the book brought out.

dô der küninc Etzel zeOvene wart begraben.

When King Attila was buried at Buda,

dâr nâch stuont iz vüre wâr.

after that, it was, in truth,

driu und vierzic jâr.

forty-three years

daz Dieterîch wart geboren.

before Dietrich was born.

zeKriechen. wart er erzogen.

He was brought up among the Greeks;

dâ er daz swert umbe bant.

there he girded on the sword.