Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | I. Admiration | | Song | | Walther von der Vogelweide (c. 1170–c. 1230) |
| | From the German by Edgar Taylor
WHEN from the sod the flowerets spring, | |
| And smile to meet the sun’s bright ray, | |
| When birds their sweetest carols sing, | |
| In all the morning pride of May, | |
| What lovelier than the prospect there? | 5 |
| Can earth boast anything more fair? | |
| To me it seems an almost heaven, | |
| So beauteous to my eyes that vision bright is given. | |
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| But when a lady chaste and fair, | |
| Noble, and clad in rich attire, | 10 |
| Walks through the throng with gracious air, | |
| As sun that bids the stars retire,— | |
| Then where are all thy boastings, May? | |
| What hast thou beautiful and gay, | |
| Compared with that supreme delight? | 15 |
| We leave thy loveliest flowers, and watch that lady bright. | |
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| Wouldst thou believe me,—come and place | |
| Before thee all this pride of May, | |
| Then look but on my lady’s face, | |
| And which is best and brightest say. | 20 |
| For me, how soon (if choice were mine) | |
| This would I take, and that resign; | |
| And say, “Though sweet thy beauties, May, | |
| I ’d rather forfeit all than lose my lady gay!” | | | | |
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