Page:A history of Bohemian literature.pdf/44

Rh

Oh, my beloved, listen to my advice: When you are with your lover, hope in your heart That thy pleasure and mine may not be changed to grief Because of the malice of the evil gossip, For no one knows what his intentions are; Therefore it befits us to be on our guard.

The gossip is fair to all in his speech, But his heart is full of evil, false craft. I should wish that maidens and matrons Would always hate the gossip. And that man shall be my comrade Who will never be at peace with such a one (as the gossip).

For in this world there is nothing more difficult Than to beware of gossips; For he is friendly with you to your face, But, like a snake, he bites you from the back; His speech is sweet as honey And his heart is as cruel poison.

Dear God, do not grant success To him who troubles the comfort of lovers, As his heart is endeavouring (to find) Where the two lovers live together. Almighty Lord God, Deign Thou to guard these two."

It will be noticed that the refrain "Almighty Lord God," &c. (slightly varying in the middle of the poem), recurs three times. It has been conjectured that these Songs at Daybreak, which were discovered in the archives of Bohemian castles, were the works of knights or nobles, men somewhat similar to the "Minnesänger" of Germany. By the song which I have translated it will be seen that these songs are tainted with the peculiar views concerning conjugal fidelity which characterise so large a part of chivalrous literature, where Tristram is so often the hero and King Mark so often the knave.