Thank you to Justin E H Smith for his translation of this “Blessing for Horses,” a twelfth-century German poem included in the Codex Manesse.
A man went his way ·
dragging his steed ·
There my lord met him ·
With all of his men ·How · is it going · man?
Why aren’t you riding?
How can I ride when ·
my steed is all stiff?Just push at his flank, man ·
while whispering to him ·
he’ll step with his right foot ·
and get along good ·
And the original Middle High German:
Man gieng after wege ·
zoh sin ros in handon ·
do begagenda imo min trohtin
mit sinero arngrihte ·wes · man · gestu ·
zu ne ridestu ·
waz mag ih riten ·
min ros ist errehet ·nu ziuhez da bi fiere ·
tu rune imo in daz ora ·
drit ez an den cesewen fuoz ·
so wirt imo des erreheten buoz ·
The post title really captured my attention! How interesting. Just curious, how is it evident that “lord” is Jesus and not some random medieval lord? I’m a bit of a history geek, so this kind of stuff is fascinating to me.
This was my assumption because it’s a blessing, but I can ask Justin and get back to you.
You were right! My goof. Have corrected. Curious as to why it’s a blessing.