Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Nobody Is Happy
Verses by Walther von der Vogelweide (Lachmann number 124, lines 18-24), tr. Philip Wilson, The Bright Rose: Early German Verse 800–1250 (Todmorden: Arc Publications, 2015), page numbers unknown:
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Alas, how miserably the young people act
who were once so courteous in all they did.
All they know is sorrow: why is it so?
Nobody is happy no matter where I go.
Dance, laughter, song are all cast down.
Did ever Christian see such a lamentable crowd?
Owê wie jaemerlîche junge liute tuont!
den ê vil hovelîchen ir gemüete stuont,
die kunnen niuwan sorgen: owê wie tuont si sô?
swar ich zer welte kêre, dâ ist nieman frô;
tanzen, lachen, singen zergât mit sorgen gar,
nie kein kristenman gesach sô jaemerlîche schar.
