Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages

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Wilhelm Wägner. Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages

INTRODUCTION

PART FIRST. THE AMELUNG AND KINDRED LEGENDS

LANGOBARDIAN LEGENDS

I. ALBOIN and ROSAMUND

II. KING ROTHER (RUOTHER)

III. ORTNIT

THE AMELUNGS

I. HUGDIETERICH AND WOLFDIETERICH

II. KING SAMSON (SAMSING)

III. DIETWART

DIETRICH OF BERN

I. DIETRICH AND HILDEBRAND

II. DIETRICH’S COMRADES

III. ADVENTURES. LAURIN. ILSAN

IV. DIETRICH, THE FAITHFUL ALLY

V. ERMENRICH TURNS AGAINST THE HERO OF BERN

VI. KING ETZEL, WALTER OF WASGENSTEIN, AND HILDEGUNDE

VII. ETZEL AND DIETRICH AGAINST THE REUSSEN

VIII. THE RAVEN-FIGHT (BATTLE OF RAVENNA)

IX. GOING HOME

PART SECOND. THE NIBELUNG AND KINDRED LEGENDS

THE NIBELUNG HERO

I. SIEGFRIED’S YOUTH

II. SIEGFRIED IN BURGUNDY

III. THE DRAGONSTONE

IV. THE WOOING OF BRUNHILD

V. TREASON AND DEATH

THE NIBELUNGS’ WOE

I. KING ETZEL’S WOOING

II. THE BURGUNDIANS VISIT HUNLAND

III. THE NIBELUNGS’ LAMENT

THE HEGELING LEGEND

I. HAGEN

II. HETTEL THE HEGELING AND HIS HEROES

III. GUDRÛN

IV. QUEEN GERLIND

V. BATTLE AND VICTORY

BEOWULF (I.E., BEE-WOLF, OR WOODPECKER.)

I. Grendel

II. Beowulf, the Bold Diver

III. The She-wolf of the Sea

IV. Beowulf is made King

V. The Fight with the Dragon

PART THIRD

CAROLINGIAN LEGENDS

I. The CHILDREN of HAYMON

II. ROLAND

III. WILLIAM OF ORANGE

LEGENDS OF KING ARTHUR AND THE HOLY GRAIL

I. TITUREL

II. PERCIVAL

III. LOHENGRIN (LOHERANGRIN.)

IV. TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE

LEGEND OF TANNHÄUSER

Tannhäuser in Trouble

Отрывок из книги

Untroubled by the conscientious scruples of the historian, the poet throws the glamour of his genius over the events he relates, when taking for his theme the great deeds of the past, he strives to make them live in the hearts of his hearers.

The story of Alboin and Rosamund has a strictly historical foundation, although many poetic liberties have been taken with it. For instance, it is contrary to fact that the heroes of this and the following tale were predecessors of Theoderic, for Alboin did not march into Italy at the head of his Langobards until the year 568 A.D., whereas Theoderic died in 526, and his Gothic empire was destroyed in 553. Nevertheless we give the stories in their poetical order, as the natural connection between them is thus kept up.

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He then kissed her and tore himself away. She gazed after him with tearful eyes as long as he was in sight, thinking sadly how many noble warriors had preceded him in his quest, and how none of them had ever returned to home or friends.

Ortnit at length reached the rock where he expected to find the lind-worms. Seeing them nowhere, he dismounted, blew his horn, and loosed the faithful dog that he had taken with him to help him to hunt the monsters down. Suddenly a door in the rock opened, and the giant Welle came out, shouting to him to come on, and calling him opprobrious names; but the king cut his great club in two with one stroke of his sword. The giant sprang back, and in a moment had unsheathed a sword six yards long, whirled it round his head, and struck Ortnit so hard a blow upon the helmet that he fell senseless to the ground.

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