DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3825#0008
2 PROVENCE.
different countries to which they belong, it is not
meant to attempt learned disquisitions on obscure
subjects, which the author has neither opportunity
nor information sufficient to enable him to fathom.
The object of this volume is merely to exhibit some
specimens of the early lyric poets of Germany, illus-
trated at the same time by a few selections from the
Troubadour schools of other countries, so as to en-
able the reader to form some judgement of their com-
parative merits and influence on the poetic literature
of modern Europe.
The selections are offered with diffidence, as the
result of hours rather of amusement and leisure from
graver pursuits than of laborious research. Strictly
speaking, the field belongs to the professed anti-
quary ; and to him it may be thought should properly
be left the exposition of its objects of interest and
curiosity : but a casual wanderer may be suffered
sometimes to enter the appropriated ground ; and if
he pluck a few of its wild flowers by the way, and
venture yet further (in the absence of more experi-
enced guides) to point out their beauties and talk of
the scenes in which they grew and flourished, who
will altogether condemn him ?
The middle ages have never appeared to the author
to be "a blank in the history of the human mind," or a
period of which it may with truth be said, that art and
science had perished " that their resurrection might
different countries to which they belong, it is not
meant to attempt learned disquisitions on obscure
subjects, which the author has neither opportunity
nor information sufficient to enable him to fathom.
The object of this volume is merely to exhibit some
specimens of the early lyric poets of Germany, illus-
trated at the same time by a few selections from the
Troubadour schools of other countries, so as to en-
able the reader to form some judgement of their com-
parative merits and influence on the poetic literature
of modern Europe.
The selections are offered with diffidence, as the
result of hours rather of amusement and leisure from
graver pursuits than of laborious research. Strictly
speaking, the field belongs to the professed anti-
quary ; and to him it may be thought should properly
be left the exposition of its objects of interest and
curiosity : but a casual wanderer may be suffered
sometimes to enter the appropriated ground ; and if
he pluck a few of its wild flowers by the way, and
venture yet further (in the absence of more experi-
enced guides) to point out their beauties and talk of
the scenes in which they grew and flourished, who
will altogether condemn him ?
The middle ages have never appeared to the author
to be "a blank in the history of the human mind," or a
period of which it may with truth be said, that art and
science had perished " that their resurrection might