Jüdisch Historischer Verein Augsburg

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Süßkind von Trimberg – Only by Necessity

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Another Song by Sueskind of Trimberg the only known Jewish Minnesänger from 13th century Bavaria, translated by Yehuda Shenef (2005)

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Where our souls will go?

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. recorded 2025

Süßkind von Trimberg: No Better Cure

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No better cure was ever made

As this I teach and praise

which heal all wounds of vice

to brighten shame’s own shade

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From five fine powders

You must mix it

Faith, rule and gentleness

And manliness to fix it

Stirred up in moderation

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Thus, will taste and stay

The healthiest puree

The best of all known dishes

For the purest of all wishes

You’ll flee pain and condemnation

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it’s not befitting for a silly cause

but whoever keeps it

avoids most serious flaws

happy is whose lips can seal it.

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preserve this noble puree

the fivefold electuary

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whose pure fame

whose high name

desired by the needy

will bloom and be breedy.

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Translation: Yehuda Shenef (2005)

Recorded: Yehuda Shenef (2025)

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Middle High German text (Bavaria, 2nd half of 13th century):

(kein bezzer latewêrie nie gemachet wart, alz ich lêre und kuinde, sinneclîker art, gesunt ze lasters wunden unt ze schanden siuchten. mit vuinf bîmenten rein sol sî gemenget în. triuwe unde zuht, milte unde manheit hœrt dar în; dâ bî sol mâze et builvern, smekken unde truihten. diu latewêrie ist êre genant, ein bais ob allen spîsen. mit ir wirt schanden nôt entrant, si zimt nicht den unwîsen. swem si wonet stæte bî, der ist vor houbet schanden frî.wol im des lîp der latewêrien biuhse sî: sîn reinez lop, sîn hôher nam wirt blüeien unde vrühten.)

Süßkind von Trimberg: "The Noblest Kind"

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Just him I call a nobleman who is noble in his deed.

Not that who is just content with an old tribal seed

We all know, that roses sprout from thorns

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But when nobility becomes too mixed with vice

Even the finest gown will face despise

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Where nobility acts loveable

There it will always shine

But where it does just evil

It shatters each noble shrine

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Thus, who isn’t of a high renown

but though ashamed of sin

And also tames his mind

Even if not by noble kin

Intended for the crown

I call him noblest kind

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Translation: Yehuda Shenef (2005)

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(Middle High German:

swer adellîchen tuot, den wil ich hân für edel, swie man sîns adels achtet nicht gen eime zedel: nu sicht man doch bekomen rôsen von dem dorne. swâ sich gemischet vil untugende zuo dem adel, dâ mag daz adelkleit wol werden zeinem hadel: nicht guot wirt mel dâ vil getreffs ist under korne. swâ adel tuot adellîche tât, der adel liutert immer; swâ adel arkeit vil begât, er houwet guot gezimmer. swer nicht sî von hôhem namen und sich untugende welle schamen, dar zuo sîn selbes dinc zem besten kan gezamen, den heize ich edel, swier nicht sî von adel der geborne)

Süßkind Trimberg – What only You can do

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King Lord, highly praised God, what only you can do.

You light up the day and you darken the night.

Thus, the whole world finds joy and peace from you.

King, were you honored for that? Not quite.

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How you adorn the day with the sunshine splendor of the sun,

And even the night is graced by the light of your moon.

You made the sky with all its stars.

Well, your beauty, forever it was made.

You gave us such a gift – what will not fade.

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Translation by Yehuda Shenef (2005) (p) 2025

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Middle High German text:

(Kunik herre, hôchgelopter got, waz dû vermaht du liuhtest mit dem tage unt vinsterst mit der naht, dâ von diu werlt vil vroude unt ruowe hât. kunig aller êren dir noch nie gebrast, wie den tak du zierest mit der sunnen glast und ouch die naht dîns mânen lieht wol stât. du bêrnest den himel mit den stern, sîn schônheit te mer mak gewern. du hâst ze geben gâbe vil der nicht zergât.)

Süßkind von Trimberg:

THE WOLF’S LAMENT

The wailing of the wolf was loud:

What can I, what else I can do?

Well, listen, they just cast me out.

But hey, I was born this way

Really, I am just what I am

Thus sure, it’s not me to blame.

Look, God made many, ... countless people

Which are busy with cheating and evil

And yet they’re making lots of hay

They have a sinful striving – what’d you say?

They’re by far worse than me, when I’m taking a goose now and then

Well, indeed I have no monies To acquire me any goodies

And thus, I have to steal To fill my stomach with a meal

Aren’t those worse who are evil in their ways

While all I want is to be honest, all my days?

But hey, I was born this way

And I am just what I am thus sure, it’s not me to blame

And with you it is the same

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Süßkind von Trimberg, die Klage des Wolfes

English translation: Yehuda Shenef (2005)