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Wolfram von Eschenbach Quotes
d. 1220 Germany
Wolfram von Eschenbach (c. 1170 – c. 1220) was a Bavarian epic poet and Minnesinger. His romance Parzival was probably based on the Perceval of Chrétien de Troyes, and inspired Wagner's Parsifal and Lohengrin.
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19 quotes
You have heard the saying from before your time that if a man saved another from death that other would be his enemy ever after.
If vacillation dwell with the heart the soul will rue it.
Losers always meet with mockery, Heaven sides with the fortunate.
All that was ever told of Arthur, the man of the merry month of May, happened at Whitsun or at blossom-time in Spring.
Any brother of mine and I make one person, as do a good man and his good wife.
Two hearts that are but one have shown their strength in fierce enmity.
To win a boar’s head one must sacrifice the hounds.
Mistress Love, you have one merit and no others: Mistress Affection keeps you company. Else would your rule be sadly wanting!
How I wish I had your looks! If only you had some sense in you, God would have left you nothing to wish for.
You must be rich and poor with discretion. A nobleman who squanders his property does not display a noble spirit, while if he hoards his wealth to excess it will bring dishonour.
A loyal-hearted man rejoices at a friend's advancement; a disloyal man cries out in sorrow when something pleasant befalls his friend and he is there to see it.
Alas that he asked no Question then! Even now I am cast down on his account! For when he was given the sword it was to prompt him to ask a Question!
Was that not a wise man who laid it down that age should have possessions? – "Youth has its fill of good things, eld of sighs and sorrows"! – "There never was a fate so pitiful as age cum poverty"!
The Waleis…are even denser than Bavarian folk, though stout men with their weapons. Whoever is born in either land will blossom into a prodigy of tact and courtesy!
You must never lose your sense of shame. If one is past all shame what is one fit for? One lives like a bird in moult, shedding good qualities like plumes all pointing down to Hell.
Trees have their sap from water. Water fecundates all things made that are called "creature". We see by means of water. Water gives many souls a splendour not to be outshone by the Angels.
Wherever you can win a lady's ring and greeting, take it – it will rid you of the dumps. Waste no time, but kiss and embrace her. It will bring you good fortune and raise your spirits, granted she be chaste and good.
Weindiu ougn hânt süezen munt.
Upon a green achmardi she bore the consummation of heart’s desire, its root and its blossoming – a thing called "The Gral", paradisal, transcending all earthly perfection! She whom the Gral suffered to carry itself had the name of Repanse de Schoye. Such was the nature of the Gral that she who had the care of it was required to be of perfect chastity and to have renounced all things false.
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