New-York tribune., 1872-12-04
BOSTON.
LITERARY NOTES.

s.ruv xINSEsINGER OF GERMANY, bi ~ ~ ~
xRoFGER-wHkT LIVES THEY LED LED" "I1Iss
1 "a ,,o-"uow THEY LOVED THEIR LOVES
yvuoN A REauLAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rAioVN"
poeroN. Dec 9--There are few more ias0i-
.,ing epochs IN the,hstory ofiterature tnah ' W.
German poetry was in the hands OF the ,,
the days of English mnstrelsy were la 20 o.. ,
There was In the German character O'p"O''y a. 49,.
foreetful enthusiasm, for devotion 10 0'o " ~, " ~ 49,
sss - ,he pursuit OF poetry or of music It's own
-, an a sonses hich the less ideal and more pracueai
F,elsh mind can hardly understand 10 reau oi tnoS0
davs of me and romance, Is to read something hAo
fairy tale for grown people Hurd hougnton VI 'no
Rtversde Press about TO publish book by A. +
xroecer entitled The Mnnesinger Of Germany, which
"a the best introduction TO that fascinating epoch Tor the
ordinary reader, that we have yet seem
Long before Chaucer had fathered English poetry OF
pan and Italy had developed their languages 70 tha'
purity which alone makes great literary Achievements
possible Germany had passed through period OF spen
dor in the art Of poetry which the last century mas
scarcely surpassed II was the twelfth and hreenh
centuries amid the turmoil of the Crusades' anu "nio
ahe sublime cathedrals OF srasburg ana cologne "eto
being wrought by patient hands, that there sprak UP "
Germany as II by ma1c that wonderful craIt OF ninue
singer. which lasted throughout century, ana 'nen
Rraduay expiredthe grace ana beauty OF their sing
ing appearing more In German literature uhi "oe'.
struck anew the tone, and thus heraded the dawn o
the second brilliant period Of German poetry EnghSh
readers are somewhat familiar with the TWO great
national German epcs. written during what were mis-
called the Dark Ages-the NiebeungeR and the kudrn
but Of the German lyrical poetry Of those ages, scarcely
anything is known outside Of Germany. Yet the per
fection OF form Of these lyric works makes them OF
perennial value. Neither Goethe Schiller attained
that utmost perfection OF rhyme which characterized
Eotfried Won Stmssburg and Walther won der Nogel-
wede while then invention of meters and their ear for
ihe flow of rhythm fluids parallel only in German
musicians Yet strange tell these minne-singer were,
for the part unable to read or writes and Ulnch
Won chteusiein had 10 carry letter from his sweet
heart for weeks IN his pocket before he found some
10 read him. We owe, accordingly, almost all our
knowlcdre Of their songs TO tradition; and yet songs
frOm hmdredand-siNty minneslnger In single
century have been presented TO us
Most strange and romantic the life which these
singers led. With little nothing beside their sword,
fiddle. OF harp, aud bit of ribbon other token
from their sweetheart, they wandered from village TO
village and from castle TO castle, everywhere welcomed
with gadncss and receiving With proud indifference the
remuneration offered for their singing They never men,
TONED the of their ladyoves, unless it were,
each one to especial sancho Panza of page,
who's, business il to commit to memory the songs
which his master sang, then 60 sort OF living episte,
O. the beloved lady. aud sing them In her
The ifc Of Urch Lichtenstein is good ilustra-
tricks and OF these wandering bards
The OF s bish is not precisely known but it was
probably between 1900 and 1908. When he was little
hvoycarsod boy riding his hobbyhorse in the castle
courtyard Ulrch listened the talk of his elders and
grew TO believe that rue honor and happiness conld only
be acquired boy faithfully serving noble snd lovely
woman. and loving her ones own lie. At twelve, he
Thought high time 90 enter upon this career Of knight
" service. He chose for his lady-love Princess OF
Meraa who's page he became. marvel OF beauty and
virtue hut OF rather high rank TO be the legitimate
object Urcis aspirations, this paragon Of al earthly
henceiofth exercised wonderiul,nluence upon
hs lie served her silently for five years. with the
zeal oi a. win lover profoundly happy il her hand but
.s..l Hnep mi 1Ng4pp
away the water n which at dlnnertme she had Dipped
her fair fingers and drink with passionate ecstacy in
own Al the end of these five years OF silent
alteration Ae placed with the Margrave Henry of
Austria o. learn tine accomplishments of true knight
fshiiug riding composing sweet poems. singing, and
serving The ladies' Ia l2Zl he admitted into knight
hood at the festival wherwith Leopold OF Austria cele
hraed the wcdj.u- OF his daughter Agnes with Duke
uf saxonv Al tai, festival Ulrch again the SOW
ele OF his love and though he cid NOT speak to
her vowed noIe ferventy cAan that henceforh all
H. EmgLO0d should he devoted to her and so be sailed
forth n ouct Of adventures aud bore himself valantly
sake. Al last he hogan 70 think il hard that hi
should So ptsJuu1tcly worship lady, and sine should
r,uain iu Ignorance Of hi, love- lie found mediator
M accordingly. in the person Of a of his own. III
taught Dis niece a song, in tbc lad honor; and at the
same time thai she communicated the song, she to
sound the ladl heart 20 her sentiments for Urch
Ilfirh o hye weeks. I'm search Of OppOrtuni-
te, a. display ms kn -atly prowess; ana returned TO
De- crush I'd with the That the Princess had found
hs song neatly composed, bur his love too high fown
and aa suggested tnlt even if she could forget her own
Iunb ~i couu moi forget the ugiuess OF her uitor's
lips II sccm. that pOJs Urich had sort Of double
uu .rr-up. Bui what 14. difficulty ght-
d loNtrf III, sirgcJn at Grdtz. and had the
third Up iie hay FOR weeks a sick bed,
before completely cIrel aud taen word to
hs chr;l he would gladly cut of his hand ALSO il
she should wish. Tl sacrifice she was gracious as
not tU reqare ami his courage ana new song he had
composed on honor far softensd stony heart
that sha consented him. the pretext being that she
would like o. know how mt looked now. The meeting
took place at q riding party noble Knights aud ladies.
Princess gave Uuch fair opportunity TO speak
her, hur wiid such air ot coquetry that he
euced by &c. and could not open MS lips. WhereupOn
The csute Princess plc out lock of the poor Knights
hair, while he helping her TO d,mouut from her
horse whispering that she found in hm great lack Of
that hodns, for which he had been uju5tly celebrated.
of course Uic in despair, and wanted 10 die; hut
tie next Ga, De her again, and found himself able TO
express ms devotion. From this time she played
ana win hm-caimiug alET the glory Of his SER
vice. buf granting him no favor in return.
At great festival 1925 Ulrch surpassed himself In
kughty deeds and OF course he his messenger with
to lay at bis lGy's feet. she received the
messenger cooy and poor Ulrich began break again
Vulnerable auccs I'm her honor and had Of his fin
gtrs nearly on In thi, wound the Obdurae far one
did not believe; whcreupou Urch had the finger struck
OF entirely with a sharp knife. lie then composed a
most artistic poem and had green velvet case made,
small hands and IN Il he deposited the poem and the i'm
ger. shs received them with expressions OF sympathy
but tcaly remarked that she had never be-
b0eG sensible mau woald do such thing. Alter this
end 10 the mad adventures undertook in
her honor gong home for comfort and then, 10 his