Walther von der Vogelweide Quotes

Mir ist verspert der sælden tor
dâ stên ich als ein weise vor
mich hilfet niht swaz ich dar an geklopfe.

He was known to his countrymen as the Nightingale, but his own sweet-sounding name of Bird's-meadow (Vogelweide) suggests even more directly the pure, true, flute-like strain which he poured into Europe’s choir of voices.

Daz si da heizent minne,
Deis niewan senede leit.

Under der linden
an der heide,
dâ unser zweier bette was,
dâ mugt ir vinden
schône beide
gebrochen bluomen unde gras.

Diu welt ist ûzen schoene wîz grüen unde rôt
und innân swarzer varwe vinster sam der tôt.

The mouthpiece of the half-inarticulate, all-suggesting music that is at once the very soul and the inseparable garment of romance.

He has no equal in medieval German lyric poetry and perhaps not even in European lyric poetry of the Middle Ages.

He who has a good woman's love is ashamed of every ill deed.

Under the lime tree
On the heather,
Where we had shared a place of rest,
Still you may find there,
Lovely together,
Flowers crushed and grass down-pressed.

He is equally great whether his theme be religion, patriotism, or love. As a political poet he is one of the greatest of all time.

The world is beautiful outside: white, green, and red; but inside it is black and dark as death.

But sadly, I can see no way
for goods and worldly reputation
and the grace of God
to join together in one heart.

And when their bones into confusion fall,
Say ye, who knew the living man by sight,
Which is the villein now and which the knight?

Dich heizet vater maniger vil,
swer mîn ze bruoder niht enwil.

Alas, where have they gone to, year on weary year?
Was it all a dream then, my life's, my love's career?