Ir sult sprechen willekomen

Ir sult sprechen willekomen is a poem by Walther von der Vogelweide. Thematically, it does neither fully belong to the Minnesang nor to the Sangspruchdichtung, but it commingles both forms.

Portrait of Walther von der Vogelweide from the Codex Manesse (Folio 124r)

In the 19th century, the poem was rediscovered by German nationalists and even served as an inspiration for Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben and his "Deutschlandlied".

Since 1973, Alois Kircher's theory that Walther in this poem was repudiating an attack by Peire Vidal, who had denigrated the Germans in his 37th Chanson[1] and had praised Provence as the land "from the Rhône to Vence, and from the sea up to the Durance," has gained general acceptance.

Text

I. Ir sult sprechen willekomen: der iu mære bringet, daz bin ich. allez, daz ir habt vernomen, daz ist gar ein wint: ir frâget mich. ich wil aber miete: wirt mîn lôn iht guot, ich gesage iu lîhte, daz iu sanfte tuot. seht, waz man mir êren biete.

You shall welcome me: Because it is me who brings you news. Everything you have hitherto heard Is nothing at all: Ask me then! But I do demand compensation. If the meed is good I may tell you what pleases you. See what is offered to me.

II. Ich wil tiuschen frouwen sagen solhiu mære, daz si deste baz al der werlte suln behagen: âne grôze miete tuon ich daz. waz wold ich ze lône? si sint mir ze hêr: sô bin ich gefüege und bite si nihtes mêr, wan daz si mich grüezen schône.

I will bring news to German dames, so that they will appeal to the world even more. This I will due without much reward. For what should I ask from them? They are too elegant for me. This is why I am modest and ask for nothing But their regards.

III. Ich hân lande vil gesehen unde nam der besten gerne war: übel müeze mir geschehen, kunde ich ie mîn herze bringen dar, daz im wol gevallen wolde fremeder site. nû waz hulfe mich, ob ich unrehte strite? tiuschiu zuht gât vor in allen.

I have visited many lands and always gaily seen the best ones. But woe is me if I were ever able to convince my heart to like foreign customs. What would I get if I told lies? German manners[2] are preferable to all the others.

IV. Von der Elbe unz an den Rîn und her wider unz an Ungerlant mugen wol die besten sîn, die ich in der werlte hân erkant. kan ich rehte schouwen guot gelâz unt lîp, sem mir got, sô swüere ich wol, daz hie diu wîp bezzer sint danne ander frouwen.

From the Elbe to the Rhine and back to Hungary, there are the best people I have ever seen. If I am able to evaluate good demeanour and looks, by God, I would like to swear that in this country women are better than ladies anywhere else.

V. Tiusche man sint wol gezogen, rehte als engel sint diu wîp getân. swer si schildet, derst betrogen: ich enkan sîn anders niht verstân. tugent und reine minne, swer die suochen wil, der sol komen in unser lant: da ist wünne vil: lange müeze ich leben dar inne!

German men are well accomplished, and the women look like angels. He who chides them lies to himself; otherwise I cannot fathom him. If someone seeks virtue and pure love, he must come to our country: here delight dwells. I would like to live here a long time!

VI. Der ich vil gedienet hân und iemer mêre gerne dienen wil, diust von mir vil unerlân: iedoch sô tuot si leides mir sô vil. si kan mir versêren herze und den muot. nû vergebez ir got, dazs an mir missetuot. her nâch mac si sichs bekêren.	She whom I served for a long time and whom I will continue to serve all the time I will not give up. But she harms me so cruelly. She hurts both my heart and mind. May God forgive her that she sins against me. Maybe she will change her mind then.

Reinterpretation

The song "Willkommen" by German band Ougenweide (1976) is based on this poem. The original tune, however, has not been preserved.

Notes

1. Alamans trob deschauzitz e vilans ; E quand negus si feing esser cortes, Ira motals cozens et enois es ; E lor parlars sembla lairar de cans… "I find the Germans undistinguished and crude; when one of them makes pretensions to be courteous, It is a mortal punishment and a painful sorrow, and their speech is like the barking of dogs."
2. The basic meaning of the word zuht (< zîhen, "to draw forth" (cf. L. educere)) is associated with human breeding and nurturing of livestock. Additional meanings that the word acquired later include 'training' and 'education', particularly of children (including in decency and modesty); "good breeding" is one possible translation, as are "mannerliness," "decency," and even "chastity".

References

• Alois Kircher: Dichter und Konvention. Zum gesellschaftlichen Realitätsproblem der deutschen Lyrik um 1200 (Literatur in der Gesellschaft 18). Düsseldorf 1973.
• Wolfgang Mohr: Die ‚vrouwe‘ Walthers von der Vogelweide. In: Zeitschrift für Deutsche Philologie 86 (1967).
• Hermann Reichert: Walther von der Vogelweide für Anfänger 3rd, revised volume. facultas.wuv, Vienna 2009, ISBN 978-3-7089-0548-8