Taylor, Edgar [Hrsg.]; Austin, Sarah [Hrsg.]: 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. 121

nion in Italy and Sicily, which, before the end of the
century, comprised within its limits the trade of
Amalphi, as well as the school of the united wisdom
of the Christian and Mahometan world at Salernum,
and soon completed the circle of Teutonic influence
by co-operating with the policy and example of the
German emperors to bring forward, as we have seen,
the vernacular literature of Italy.

Harald, it is perhaps needless to say, was a Nor-
wegian prince, who led his followers even to Africa,
Constantinople, and the Holy Land ; and his song is
inspired by Ellisif or Elizabeth, the daughter of Jaris-
leif, a Russian prince. Mr. Herbert, in the second vo-
lume of his "Miscellaneous Poetry," has directed his
talents to the illustration of Harald's muse ; and from
him we may quote the following elegant and spirited
translation from the Icelandic of the Knytlinga Saga
as printed in Bartholinus. His version is taken be-
cause it would be presumption to attempt another,
and yet the piece can hardly be omitted altogether,
in taking a general view of the early efforts of the
barbaric schools of poetry.

My bark around Sicilia sail'd;

Then were we gallant, proud and strong;

The winged ship, by youths impell'd,

Skimm'd, as we hoped, the waves along:

My prowess, tried in martial field,

Like fruit to maiden fair shall yield !
With golden ring in Russia's land
To me the virgin plights her hand.