Konrad von Würzburg: The World's Wages
Vers 210-231
'ich fürhte niemen âne got,
der ist gewaltic über mich.
diu Werlt bin geheizen ich,
der dû nu lange hâst gegert.
lônes solt du sîn gewert
von mir als ich dir zeige nû.
hie kum ich dir, daz schouwe dû᾿.
Sus kêrtes im den rucke dar:
der was in allen enden gar
bestecket und behangen
mit würmen und mit slangen,
mit kroten und mit nâtern;
ir lîp was voller blâtern
und ungefüeger eizen,
fliegen und âmeizen
ein wunder drinne sâzen,
ir fleisch die maden âzen
unz ûf daz gebeine.
si was sô gar unreine
daz von ir brœden lîbe dranc
ein alsô egeslicher stanc
den niemen kunde erlîden.
Translation
“I fear no one except God,
who has power over me.
I am called the World,
which you have long desired.
You shall be rewarded by me,
as I will show you presently.
Here I come to you, look at that.”
With that she turned her back to him:
it was covered all over
with worms and snakes,
with toads and vipers;
her body was covered with pox
and ugly sores,
where masses of flies and ants sat;
the maggots were eating her flesh
down to the bones.
She was so full of filth
that a most disgusting stench
emanated from her frail body
that no one could bear.
Audio sample
Dream at the front - Nightmare at the back!
Visit to the writing room: A mysterious woman sneaks in and starts a conversation with the novelist Wirnt von Grafenberg.
This lady, described as beautiful and noble, suddenly turns her back on the knight during the conversation: Eaten away by maggots and covered with snakes, worms and toads, a disgusting stench spreads from her ugly back. It is Lady World, who wants to reveal her servant Wirnt his reward. Lady World can speak and be seen by the author, she can also be afraid (fürhte[n]), has a back (rucke), body (lîp) and is made of flesh and blood (fleisch). The detailed description of the disgusting back is particularly succinct. Through the very vivid description, the text succeeds in making the contrast between the lovely front and the hideous back clear.
Contents
In this story, Wirnt von Grafenberg – a highly respected novelist in the real world – is told by Lady World what it is worth to serve her. Contrary to what he thought, there is a good and a bad side, which the visitor shows him on her own body. The earthly is fleeting, as is beauty. The sight of Lady World and her two sides makes the author think. Finally, he decides to no longer serve Lady World, but the cross and thus God.
What else?
The personification of the two-sided Lady World is a well-known depiction in art and literature of the Middle Ages. However, this marks the first time that it has been described in such a drastic way in German literature. You can not only see and hear the world, but also smell it through its stench (stanc), with the text as a medium making a great effort to convey this synesthetic effect.
