Three Translations from Old High German

Wes er mit mir pflaege 
niemer niemen
bevinde daz, wan er und ich, 
und ein kleinez vogellîn: 
tandaredei, 
daz mac wol getriuwe sîn.

What he did to me 
May no one ever 
Know but he and I 
And a little bird: 
Tandaredei 
(Who can keep a secret).

*

Mich dunket niht sô guotes noch sô lobesam 
sô diu liehte rôse und diu minne mîns man. 
diu kleinen vogellîn 
diu singent in dem walde: dêst menegem herzen liep. 
mir enkome mîn holder geselle, ine hân der sumerwunne niet.

I think nothing so good or praiseworthy
As the bright rose, and my dear one's love.
The little bird
That sings in the forest sets many a heart a-flutter
But if my sweetheart cometh not, no summer sun can melt my butter.

*

Dû bist mîn, 
ich bin dîn, 
des solt dû gewis sin. 
dû bist beslozzen 
in mînem herzen, 
verlorn ist daz sluzzelîn: 
dû muost ouch immér darinne sîn.

You are mine,
I am thine,
Of this much please be certain.
You're under arrest.
Your cell? My breast. 
The key? Don't know.
Really, now. You mustn't go.

Comments

[Ray]

There's a songbook that might interest you if you can find it - Der Zupfgeigenhansl.
Hans Breuer roamed German-speaking Europe prior to WWI, collecting folksongs. They predate Modern German by centuries. The old dialects are fascinating and informative.

RayS