Old High German Poetry: An Anthology

This anthology offers parallel texts and translations of the poetic material that survives in Old High German, the earliest stage of the German language, from roughly 800 to about 1050. The translations keep as close to the originals as possible, while giving at the same time some indication of the poetic form. The works included are rich and varied, ranging from heroic lays to charms and blessings to historical poetry and hagiography. There is the heroic song of the battle between Hildebrand and his son, a charm featuring major pagan deities (Wodan, Balder, Frigg), poetic presentations of the creation and judgement day, a poem about a victory over the Vikings, and much more. Selections from the massive Gospel-poem by Otfried, the first named German poet, are offered. An appendix featuring Old Saxon analogues is also included.