Quotes from Walther von der Vogelweide

The sun no longer showsHis face; and treason sowsHis secret seeds that no man can detect;Fathers by their children are undone;The brother would the brother cheat;And the cowled monk is a deceit…Might is right, and justice there is none.

Now the summer came to passAnd flowers through the grassJoyously sprang,While all the tribes of birds sang.

Aller werdekeit ein füegerinne daz sît ir zewâre, frowe Mâze. ein sælig man, der iuwer lêre hât!

Owê war sint verswunden alliu mîniu jâr! ist mir mîn leben getroumet, oder ist ez wâr?

Swer guotes wibes liebe hat Der schamt sich ieder missetat.

For five hundred years after Walther's death - until Goethe - no German lyric poet was his equal.