XXIII. HARTMANN VON AUE
The first in order of the three great romancers who interpreted the French tales of chivalry for medieval Germany. They were adapters rather than translators, just as were the French poets themselves in relation to their Keltic sources. Hartmann was born in Swabia about 1165, took part in a crusade, probably that of 1197, and died before 1220. His chief works are the two Arthurian romances Erec and Iwein, and the two pious ‘legends’ Gregorius and Der arme Heinrich. The selection from Der arme Heinrich is given in Bötticher’s translation, as found in Bötticher and Kinzel’s Denkmäler, II, 2.
- I
- From ‘Iwein’, lines 2073-2338: The enterprising maid Lunete persuades her mistress to marry Iwein, who has just slain her husband.
- II
- From ‘Der arme Heinrich’, lines 1004-1247: Poor Henry at Salerno with the maid who is eager to give her heart’s blood that he may be cured of his leprosy.
