Part 48 (1/2)
Wolt meiner Gfattern vergeben das!
Wer ist der, der sich nie verga.s.s?
Kompt! wir wollen dran giessn ein Wein!
Der MANN spricht:
Nun, es sol jr verziehen sein! 160 Mein Fraw bricht Hafn,[36] so brich ich Krug, Vnd wo ich anderst redt, ich lug.
Doch, Gfatter, wenn jr burg wolt werden, Dieweil mein Weib lebet auff Erden, Das sie solches gar nimmer thu. 165
Die GEFATTER spricht:
Ey ja, gluck zu, Gfatter! gluck zu!
Ich wil euch gleich das glait[37] heimgeben.
Vnd wollen heint in freuden leben Vnd auff ein newes[38] Hochzeit halten Vnd gar vrlaub geben der alten. 170 Das kein vnrat weyter drauss wachs Durch das heiss Eyssen, wunscht Hans Sachs.
[Notes: 21: _Fa.s.snacht_. The usual modern form is _Fastnacht_, as if from _Faste_, and meaning 'eve of the Lenten fast.' So the Grimm Dictionary explains it. But in early texts we find _vasnacht, fasnacht, fasenacht, fa.s.snacht_, which Kluge in his Etymological Dictionary derives from _faseln_ in the sense of _Unsinn treiben_.
22: _Aussdroschen_, 'gone bankrupt, 'failed'.
23: _West geren_ = _wusste gern_.
24: _Ein Mensch ... thet_, 'accused a person of anything.'
25: _Es ist mir um das Herz_, 'I am concerned,' 'it is my wish.'
26: _Lappen_; a foolish or 'soft' person.
27: _Sey denn sach_, 'unless,' 'except.'
28: _Zicht_ = _Beschuldigung_.
29: _Mucken_ = _Grillen_.
30: _Zepfft ... stucken_, 'bothers me with this business.'
31: _Hoschen_ = _huschen_.
32: _Vergwiest_ = _vergewissert_.
33: _Die Kuh wiedergeben_ seems to be a peasant phrase for acknowledging that one has been in the wrong.
34: _Weilt_ = _weil du_.
35: At this point nearly a hundred lines are omitted. The wife confesses several transgressions and pleads to be let off, but the husband insists that she handle the iron. When at last she does so it burns her badly. The husband chides her in strong language, whereupon +Gefatter+ intervenes as a peacemaker.
36: _Hafn_ = _Topfe_.
37: _Glait_ = _Geleit_.
38: _Auff ein newes_ = _aufs neue_.]
+XLV. FOLKSONGS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY+
While the 16th century brought forth no great German lyrist, it is exceptionally rich in good songs, mostly anonymous, that express the joys and sorrows of the general lot. Not all of them were the work of unlettered poets, but all were made to be sung; for lyric poetry as a branch of 'mere literature' had not yet come into being. The selections are from t.i.ttmann's _Liederbuch aus dem 16. Jahrhundert_, Leipzig, 1881, which gives full information as to the source of the various texts. The t.i.tles have been supplied by the editor.
+1+
+Lob der Geliebten.+
Mein einigs herz, mein hochste zier, Wie we ist mir allzeit nach dir, Wie leuchten deine auglein klar, Wie schon ist dein goldgelbes har, Dein mundlein rot, dein w.a.n.glein weiss!
Fur allen bleibt dir doch der preis.
In deinem dienst, sag[1] sicherlich, Bleib ich allzeit und ewiglich.