Taylor, Edgar [Editor]; Austin, Sarah [Editor]: Lays of the minnesingers or German troubadours of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries: Illustr. by specimens of the contemporary lyric poetry of Provence and other parts of Europe ; With histor. and crit. notes, and engravings from the ms. of the minnesingers in the king's library at Paris, and from other sources (London, 1825)

GERMANY. 117

drawn the protection of a silken line; and that any
luckless wight who trespasses on his parterre rues the
consequences of his aggression.

The tale is repeated to Dietrich [Theoderic] of
Bern [Verona] and Wittich his friend, and they im-
mediately determine to brave the little monarch by
rifling his roses. On their arrival at the spot, how-
ever, Dietrich is ravished with the beauty of the
scene : not so Wittich, who commences the work of
destruction ; the pride of the garden soon lies pro-
strate, and the heroes repose on the earth musing on
their doughty exploit, when on a sudden the mo-
narch appears;

Behold there came a little king

In warlike manner dight,
A king he was o'er many a land,

And Laurin was he hight

A lance with gold entwined round

The little king did bear,
And on the lance a pennon gay

Wav'd flutt'ring in the air.

And thereupon two greyhounds fleet

Right seemly were pourtray'd,
And alway look'd as though they chas'd

The roebuck through the glade.

His courser bounded like a fawn

With golden trappings gay,
And costly gems, too, sparkled round,

Bright glittering as the day.

And in his hands the hero grasp'd
Right firm the golden rein ;