Vor tags ich hört, in liebes port, wohl diese wort,

Von wächters mund erklingen ;—

Ist jeman je, verborgen hie, der achte wie

Er mög hindannen sprengen; &c.

I HEARD before the dawn of day
The watchman loud proclaim;-

"If any knightly lover stay

In secret with his dame,

Take heed, the sun will soon appear;
Then fly, ye knights, your ladies dear,
Fly ere the daylight dawn.

"Brightly gleams the firmament,
In silvery splendor gay,
Rejoicing that the night is spent,

The lark salutes the day :
Then fly, ye lovers, and be gone!
Take leave before the night is done,
And jealous eyes appear.",

That watchman's call did wound my heart,

And banish'd my delight: "Alas, the envious sun will part

Our loves, my lady bright."

On me she look'd with downcast eye,
Despairing at my mournful cry,

"We tarry here too long."

66

Straight to the wicket did she speed ;
"Good watchman spare thy joke!
Warn not my love, till o'er the mead
The morning sun has broke:
Too short, alas! the time, since here
I tarried with my leman dear,

In love and converse sweet."

Lady, be warn'd! on roof and mead
The dew-drops glitter gay;
Then quickly bid thy leman speed,
Nor linger till the day;

For by the twilight did I mark

Wolves hyeing to their covert dark,
And stags to covert fly."

Now by the rising sun I view'd
In tears my lady's face:

She

gave me many a token good,

And many a soft embrace.

Our parting bitterly we mourn'd;

The hearts which erst with rapture burn'd, Were cold with woe and care.

A ring, with glittering ruby red,
Gave me that lady sheen,

And with me from the castle sped

Along the meadow

green:

And whilst I saw my leman bright,

She waved on high her 'kerchief white :

In the raging fight each pennon white
Reminds me of her love;

In the field of blood, with mournful mood,
I see her 'kerchief move;

Through foes I hew, whene'er I view

Her ruby ring, and blithely sing,

"Lady, I fight for thee."

JOHN HADLOUB.

"MEISTER Johans Hadloub," a native of Zurich, flourished at the end of the 13th century. He almost closes the line of true Minnesingers, and yet rises far above the artificial school of Meister-singers by whom they were succeeded. He was the friend of Rudiger von Manesse, an illustrious name not merely in the story of German poetry, but in the history of literature, as the judicious patron and protector of the declining taste of the age, and as the preserver of

the ornaments of a century and a half of literary excellence, then hastening into neglect. Hadloub's songs occupy no mean rank in the collection; they give promise of continued energy and excellence: but with him, and two or three cotemporaries, ends for a long time the poetic fame of Germany. The second of our specimens we owe to the kindness of a friend.

Swie verre ich von der schonen var
Ich habe ein botten der vert alse drate,
Der vert zuo zir in einer stunt ;
Den sendi ich alle morgen dar, &c.

FAR as I journey from my lady fair,

I have a messenger, who quickly goes Morning and noon, and at the evening's close, Where'er she wanders he pursues her there. A restless, faithful, secret messenger

Well may he be, who, from my heart of hearts, Charg'd with love's deepest secrets, thus departs, And wings his way to her!

'Tis every thought I form that doth pursue

Thee, lady fair!

Ah! would that there

My wearied self had leave to follow too!

Ach! ich sach si triuten wol ein kindelin,
Davon wart min muot liebes irmant; &c.

I SAW yon infant in her arms carest,

And as I gazed on her my pulse beat high: Gently she clasp'd it to her snowy breast,

While I, in rapture lost, stood musing by : Then her white hands around his neck she flung, And press'd it to her lips, and tenderly Kiss'd his fair cheek as o'er the babe she hung.

And he, that happy infant! threw his arms
Around her neck, imprinting many a kiss;
Joying, as I would joy, to see such charms,

As though he knew how blest a lot were his.
How could I gaze on him and not repine?

Alas! I cried, would that I shared the bliss Of that embrace, and that such joy were mine!

Straight she was gone; and then that lovely child
Ran joyfully to meet my warm embrace:
Then fancy with fond thoughts my soul beguiled ;–
It was herself! O dream of love and grace!
I clasp'd it, where her gentle hands had prest,

I kiss'd each spot which bore her lips' sweet trace, And joy the while went bounding through my breast.