Top 15 Gottfried von Strassburg Quotes

medieval German poet

Gottfried von Strassburg (died c. 1210) was a German poet known mainly for his unfinished Tristan, a romance based on the Tristan of Thomas of Britain. Gottfried's poem was the main literary source of Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde.

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Alternative Names: Gottfried • Gottfried of Strassburg • Gottfried of Strasburg

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Isolde my mistress, Isolde my beloved, in you my life, in you my death!

Isot ma drüe, Isot m'amie
En vus ma mort, en vus ma vie.

I have no idea what the other will be like, but this death suits me well! If my adorable Isolde were to go on being the death of me in this fashion I would woo death everlasting!

Ine weiz, wie jener werden sol;
dirre tôt der tuot mir wol.
solte diu wunneclîche Isôt
iemer alsus sî mîn tôt,
sô wolte ich gerne werben
umbe ein êweclîchez sterben.

What a wretched sort of deception, when a man so lies to his friends that he dupes himself.

Ez ist ein armer trügesite,
der vriunden alsô liuget,
daz er sich selben triuget.

A worthy man is bound to suffer malice and envy: a man grows in worth so long as he is envied.

Hazzen unde nîden
daz muoz der biderbe lîden.
der man der werdet al die vrist,
die wîle und er geniten ist.

Alas for the sight where, after dire grief, one sees a sadder sight with grief more dire!

Owe der ougenweide
da man nach leidem leide
mit leiderem leide
siht leider ougenweide!

If one cannot overlook a hurt, many hurts will grow from it. It is a fatal style of living.

Swer keinen schaden vertragen kan,
dâ wahsent dicke schaden an.
und ist ein veiclîcher site.

He that never had sorrow of love never had joy of it either!

Swem nie von liebe leit geschach,
dem geschach ouch liep von liebe nie.

Love is so blissful a thing, so blessed an endeavour, that apart from its teaching none attains worth or reputation.