Der Sŵînhirte unde der Voget - The Pig Herder and the Bailiff

[Chorus]
Hœret mich, ir liute wert! 
seht den hirten, wîs und hert!
Mag der voget hüeten kasse,
und ûf sîn golt vil vrô belasse, 
uns obligt diu herte sîn,
wol und vette z’ slahte hin.
Behalt dîn golt, dîn kümberlôn,
waz ir begert, wir hân ez schôn!

[Verse 2]
„Wîe vil sŵîne sint dîn eigen?“ sprach der voget grimmiclîch,
„Keinez,“ sprach der hirte fride, „si sint ir selbes, niht mîn ich.“
„Betrâten sî ie fremdes lant?“ frâget er spöttelîch,
„Wol jâ, doch sŵîn tuot, swaz im gelîmt vil sicherlîch.“
Swenn sŵîn ein dîp sol sîn genannt,
sô ist der wint ein rûber gar bekannt.

[Verse 3]
„Wârumbe stânt dîn sŵîn niht in rîhe?“ frâget der voget hôniclîch,
„Si sint sŵîne, niht des hêrres knehte, si gânt, swâ in der muot gerât.“
„Wârumbe wîchent si mir niht?“ sprach er zorniclîch,
„Si wîchent nur, swâ vâre ist, swâ schaden ist bereit.“
Si scheuvent niht die lêre dro,
swâ niht en-schadet, wîchent si niht dô.

[Verse 4]
„Dû gedenkest dîch kluoger mîn?“ sprach der voget scharflîch,
„Nê, herre,“ sprach der hirte lîse, „ich irrer seltener baz.“
„Was ist tiurer: silber odr korn?“ frâget er snellîch,
„Korn, herre, wan âne korn hât silber niht sîn glanz.“
Âne korn hât silber keinen munt,
der sîne werde loben kunt.

[Bridge]
Dô rief der voget: „Wer ist hêrre hie – dû odr ich?“
Der hirte neiget sîn houbet: „Ir über liute, ich über sŵîn.“
„Ich misch mich niht in iuwer amt,“ sprach er gelîch,
„sô lât ouch mîn gewerbe frî und rîn.“
Daz volc begunde lûte lachen,
der voget muoste schantlîch entwachen.

Translation:
[Verse 1]
In the village stands the bailiff high,
the herder stands still and quiet below;
the pigs go grunting all around,
the people watch along the wall.
The bailiff wishes to shame the herder,
yet he smiles into his hands.

[Chorus]
Hear me, you worthy folk!
See the herder, wise and firm!
Let the bailiff guard the strongbox
and rejoice greatly in his gold;
we are bound to tend the herd,
well and fat for slaughter.
Keep your gold, your meager pay —
what you want, we already have!

[Verse 2]
“How many pigs are truly yours?” the bailiff asked grimly.
“None,” said the herder calmly, “they belong to themselves, not to me.”
“Have they ever trodden foreign land?” he asked mockingly.
“Indeed yes — yet a pig does what befits it, safely so.”
If a pig is to be called a thief,
then the wind itself is known as a robber.

[Verse 3]
“Why do your pigs not stand in ranks?” the bailiff asked sweetly.
“They are pigs, not the lord’s servants; they go where their will leads them.”
“Why do they not make way for me?” he spoke angrily.
“They yield only where danger lies, where harm is near.”
They do not fear empty threats;
where no harm is done, they do not move aside.

[Verse 4]
“You think yourself wiser than me?” the bailiff asked sharply.
“No, my lord,” said the herder softly, “I just err far less often.”
“What is dearer: silver or grain?” he asked swiftly.
“Grain, my lord, for without grain silver has no shine.”
Without grain silver has no mouth
to speak its worth in praise.

[Bridge]
Then the bailiff cried out: “Who is lord here — you or I?”
The herder bowed his head: “You over people, I over pigs.”
“I do not meddle in your concerns,” he said at once,
“so leave my trade free as well.”
The people began to laugh aloud;
the bailiff was forced to walk away in shame.

3999/7500

[Verse 1] Im dorfe stât der voget hôch, der hirte stêt vil stille nôch; diu sŵîne grunzend umbe gânt, daz volc schouwet an der want. Der voget wil den hirten schanden, der hirte lächelt in den handen. [Chorus] Hœret mich, ir liute wert! seht den hirten, wîs und hert! Mag der voget hüeten kasse, und ûf sîn golt vil vrô belasse, uns obligt diu herte sîn, wol und vette z’ slahte hin. Behalt dîn golt, dîn kümberlôn, waz ir begert, wir hân ez schôn! [Verse 2] „Wîe vil sŵîne sint dîn eigen?“ sprach der voget grimmiclîch, „Keinez,“ sprach der hirte fride, „si sint ir selbes, niht mîn ich.“ „Betrâten sî ie fremdes lant?“ frâget er spöttelîch, „Wol jâ, doch sŵîn tuot, swaz im gelîmt vil sicherlîch.“ Swenn sŵîn ein dîp sol sîn genannt, sô ist der wint ein rûber gar bekannt. [Verse 3] „Wârumbe stânt dîn sŵîn niht in rîhe?“ frâget der voget hôniclîch, „Si sint sŵîne, niht des hêrres knehte, si gânt, swâ in der muot gerât.“ „Wârumbe wîchent si mir niht?“ sprach er zorniclîch, „Si wîchent nur, swâ vâre ist, swâ schaden ist bereit.“ Si scheuvent niht die lêre dro, swâ niht en-schadet, wîchent si niht dô. [Chorus] Hœret mich, ir liute wert! seht den hirten, wîs und hert! Mag der voget hüeten kasse, und ûf sîn golt vil vrô belasse, uns obligt diu herte sîn, wol und vette z’ slahte hin. Behalt dîn golt, dîn kümberlôn, waz ir begert, wir hân ez schôn! [Verse 4] „Dû gedenkest dîch kluoger mîn?“ sprach der voget scharflîch, „Nê, herre,“ sprach der hirte lîse, „ich irrer seltener baz.“ „Was ist tiurer: silber odr korn?“ frâget er snellîch, „Korn, herre, wan âne korn hât silber niht sîn glanz.“ Âne korn hât silber keinen munt, der sîne werde loben kunt. [Bridge] Dô rief der voget: „Wer ist hêrre hie – dû odr ich?“ Der hirte neiget sîn houbet: „Ir über liute, ich über sŵîn.“ „Ich misch mich niht in iuwer amt,“ sprach er gelîch, „sô lât ouch mîn gewerbe frî und rîn.“ Daz volc begunde lûte lachen, der voget muoste schantlîch entwachen. [Chorus] Hœret mich, ir liute wert! seht den hirten, wîs und hert! Mag der voget hüeten kasse, und ûf sîn golt vil vrô belasse, uns obligt diu herte sîn, wol und vette z’ slahte hin. Behalt dîn golt, dîn kümberlôn, waz ir begert, wir hân ez schôn! Translation: [Verse 1] In the village stands the bailiff high, the herder stands still and quiet below; the pigs go grunting all around, the people watch along the wall. The bailiff wishes to shame the herder, yet he smiles into his hands. [Chorus] Hear me, you worthy folk! See the herder, wise and firm! Let the bailiff guard the strongbox and rejoice greatly in his gold; we are bound to tend the herd, well and fat for slaughter. Keep your gold, your meager pay — what you want, we already have! [Verse 2] “How many pigs are truly yours?” the bailiff asked grimly. “None,” said the herder calmly, “they belong to themselves, not to me.” “Have they ever trodden foreign land?” he asked mockingly. “Indeed yes — yet a pig does what befits it, safely so.” If a pig is to be called a thief, then the wind itself is known as a robber. [Verse 3] “Why do your pigs not stand in ranks?” the bailiff asked sweetly. “They are pigs, not the lord’s servants; they go where their will leads them.” “Why do they not make way for me?” he spoke angrily. “They yield only where danger lies, where harm is near.” They do not fear empty threats; where no harm is done, they do not move aside. [Verse 4] “You think yourself wiser than me?” the bailiff asked sharply. “No, my lord,” said the herder softly, “I just err far less often.” “What is dearer: silver or grain?” he asked swiftly. “Grain, my lord, for without grain silver has no shine.” Without grain silver has no mouth to speak its worth in praise. [Bridge] Then the bailiff cried out: “Who is lord here — you or I?” The herder bowed his head: “You over people, I over pigs.” “I do not meddle in your concerns,” he said at once, “so leave my trade free as well.” The people began to laugh aloud; the bailiff was forced to walk away in shame.

0/500