HENRY, DUKE OF BRESLAU. "HERZOG Heinrich von Pressela," (the fourth of that name), reigned from 1266 to 1299, and is the subject of panegyric by cotemporary poets. The Manesse MS. contains two of his songs; one of them, (a translation of which follows,) has been greatly admired, and is undoubtedly a singular production for the age. Ich clage dir, meie! ich clage dir, sumer wunne! Ich clage dir, ougebrehender kle! Ich clage dir, gruener walt! ich clage dir, sunne! Ich clage dir, Venus, sendú leit, Das mir die liebe tuot so we! POET. To thee, O May, I must complain, And thee, too, Love! my song shall be Relentlessly inflicts on me. Yet, would ye all with one consent Lend me your aid, she might repent: Then for kind heaven's sake hear, and give me back content! MAY, &c. "What is the wrong? stand forth and tell us what; Unless just cause be shown, we hear thee not." POET. She lets my fancy feed on bliss ; But when, believing in her love, I seek her passion's strength to prove, She lets me perish, merciless : Ah! woe is me, that e'er I knew Her from whose love such misery doth ensue! MAY. "I, May, will strait my flowers command; My roses bright, and lilies white, No more for her their charms expand." SUMMER. "And I, bright Summer, will restrain The birds' sweet throats; their tuneful notes No more shall charm her ear again." PLAIN. "When on the plain she doth appear, away; My flow'rets gay shall fade her ear." MEAD. "And I, the Mead, will help thee too; Gazing on me, her fate shall be, That my bright charms shall blind her view." WOOD. "And I, the Greenwood, break my bowers SUN. "I Sun, will pierce her frozen heart, Love. Till from the blaze of my bright rays, Vainly she flies :—then learns a gentler part." "Seek'st thou revenge?" saith Love, "then at my nod The paths of joy shall close, so lately trod." РОЕТ. Nay then! Oh leave her not thus shorn of bliss ; Leave me to die forlorn, so hers be happiness. |