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Ein ritter so geleret was, daz er an den buochen las, swaz er dar an geschriben vant: der was Hartman genant, dienstman was er zouwe. er nam im manige schouwe an mislichen buochen: dar an begunde er suochen, ob er iht des vunde, da mitte er swaere stunde mhte senfter machen, und von so gewanten sachen, daz gotes eren thte und da mite er sich mhte gelieben den liuten: nu beginnet er iu diuten ein rede, die er geschriben vant. dar umbe hat er sich genant, daz er siner arbeit, die er dar an hat geleit, iht ane lon belibe, und swer nach sinem libe si hoere sagen oder lese, daz er im bittende wese der sele heiles hin ze gote. man giht, er si sin selbes bote und erloese sich da mite, swer vr des andern schulde bite. Er las daz selbe maere, wie ein herre waere ze Swaben gesezzen: an dem enwas vergezzen deheiner der tugent die ein ritter in siner jugent ze vollem lobe haben sol. man sprach do nieman also wol in allen den landen. er hete ze sinen handen geburt unde richeit: ouch was sin tugent vil breit. swie ganz sin habe waere, sin geburt unwandelbaere und wol den vrsten gelich, doch was er unnach also rich der geburt und des guotes so der eren und des muotes.

There was a knight so learned, that he read in books, what was written therein, he was named Hartman, and he was a vassal to Aue. he took many looks, in various books, Therein he began to search, whether he might find something of that, with which make terrible hours, more gentle, and of such nature, that pleases the honor of God and wherewith he might make himself, beloved among the people: now he begins to explain, the narration that he found written. on that account had he named himself, the author of his work, and thereupon he laid, rewards that and whoever after his death, heard it spoken or read it, will pray to God for the salvation of his soul to . and whoever acts as his intercessor, and thereby redeems himself, whenever he prays for the sins of others. He read the same tales, as a nobleman would, among the Swabians: on whom was not lost any of the virtues which a knight in his youth would have. one spoke of no one so highly in all of the lands. He had in his hands noble birth and wealth: also were his virtues very extensive. however extensive his possessions may have been, with irrefutable noble birth and certainly equal to any prince, he was not nearly so rich in birth and wealth as in honor and character.

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Sin name was gnuoc erkennelich: er hiez der herre Heinrich und was von Ouwe geborn. sin herze hate versworn valsch und alle drperheit und behielt ouch vaste den eit staete unz an sin ende. ane alle missewende stuont sin ere und sin leben. im was der rehte wunsch gegeben von werltlichen eren: die kunde er wol gemeren mit aller hande reiner tugent. er was ein bluome der jugent, der werltvreude ein spiegelglas, staeter triuwe ein adamas, ein ganziu krone der zuht. er was der nothaften vluht, ein schilt siner mage, der milte ein glichiu wage: im enwart ber noch gebrast. er truoc den arbeitsamen last der eren ber rcke. er was des rates brcke und sanc vil wol von minnen. alsus kunde er gewinnen der werlte lop unde pris. er was hvesch unde wis. Do der herre Heinrich alsus geniete sich eren unde guotes und vroeliches muotes und werltlicher wnne (er was vr al sin knne gepriset unde geret), sin hochmuot wart verkeret in ein leben gar geneiget. an im wart erzeiget, als ouch an Absalone, daz diu ppige krone werltlicher seze vellet under veze ab ir besten werdekeit, als uns diu schrift hat geseit. ez sprichet an einer stat da: *medi vita

His name was well known: he was called Sir Heinrich and was born in Aue. his heart had forsworn lies and boorishness and always kept his oath steadfast on until his end, his honor and way of life were without any blemish. All of worldly honors that were given were granted unto him: which he could well increase with all sorts of genuine virtues. He was a flower of youth, and a reflection of worldly joy, his loyalty as unyielding as a diamond, a complete paragon of noble bearing. a refuge for those less fortunate, a protector (shield) of his kinsman, with the balanced generosity of a scale: in him was neither excess nor was he lacking. he carried the heavy burden, of honor upon his back. he was a bridge of counsel and sang very well of courtly love. in all these ways he could acquire from the world acclaim and praise. he was courtly and wise. When Sir Heinrich busied himself with honor and wealth and a joyful spirit and worldly pleasures he was above all one of his kindred praised and honored his pride of life was changed into a completely humiliated life. onto him it was shown, as was also on Absalom, that the vain crown of worldly pleasures falls from the greatest splendor to under the feet, just as the scripture has told us it says in one place there in the midst of life

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in morte sumus*. daz diutet sich alsus, daz wir in dem tode sweben, so wir aller beste waenen leben. Dirre werlte veste, ir staete und ir beste und ir groeste mankraft, diu stat ane meisterschaft. des muge wir an der kerzen sehen ein warez bilde geschehen, daz si zeiner aschen wirt, iemitten daz si lieht birt. wir sin von broeden sachen. nu sehet, wie unser lachen mit weinenne erlischet. unser seze ist gemischet mit bitterer gallen. unser bluome der muoz vallen, so er aller grenest waenet sin. an hern Heinriche wart wol schin: der in dem hoehsten werde lebet uf dirre erde, derst der versmahte vor gote. er viel von sinem gebote ab siner besten werdekeit in ein smaehlichez leit: in ergreif diu miselsuht. do man die swaeren gotes zuht gesach an sinem libe, manne unde wibe wart er do widerzaeme. nu sehet, wie genaeme er e der werlte waere, und wart nu als unmaere. daz in niemen gerne sach: als ouch Jobe geschach, dem edeln und dem richen, der ouch vil jaemerlichen dem miste wart ze teile iemitten in sinem heile.

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we are in death. This means mainly that we hover over death, just when we believe living to be best of all. This worlds stability, Its consistency and its best and biggest superiority, exists without mastery. On the candle can we see a true example of this taking place, in that it becomes ash, in the midst of giving light. We are of a fail substance. only seeing, how our laughter is extinguished with tears. Our sweetness is mixed with bitter gall. our flower which must fall off just when it appears to be the freshest. On Sir Heinrich it became clear: whoever was held to be in the highest esteem lives on this earth, he is the maligned before God. he fell by His command from his highest respect into one of shameful misery: he was seized with leprosy. when one saw the painful chastisement of God on his body, he became repulsive to men and women now see how engaging he was before to the world And now he became just as unpleasant. That no one wanted to look at him just as it happened to Job the noble and the powerful, a bunch of shit was cast upon him in the midst of his happiness.