Heinrich von Melk

Heinrich von Melk was a medieval author.

The author of " From the death gehugede " called Heinrich and describes himself as a poor kneht ( ' servant ') of God and calls his abbot Erkenfried. Although there were many Henrys and more than an abbot Erkenfried in the 12th century, probably only comes Erkenfried of Melk ( to 1163 ) in question. Henry was therefore a cleric or monk or lay brother, the mid-12th century probably lived in Lower Austria in the monastery Melk Abbey.

His satirical colored works represent a high point of ascetic literature of his time dar. Narrated are of him two early Middle High German rhyme Seals: " From the death gehugede " (literally: " Thinking about death ", an attempt to Latin Memento mori translate ) belongs the memento mori seal on. The moral mirror "From priestly life " is considered a major cultural and historical document. The only manuscript with these texts, the Codex Vindobonensis 2696, was written around 1300.

Be used for the dating of early minnesong like the verses 610ff. of " From the death gehugede ", which are addressed to the widow of a knight standing in front of his body:

Translation: ' Now look, the way in which the tongue is in his mouth, with which he could sing love songs pleasant '.

Because of these love songs nothing else is said, as they can lead to eternal destruction, no specific minstrel can be dated; especially not the Kürenberger. It can be meant anonymous, vernacular poetry.

Expenditure

• Heinrich von Melk: From the death gehugde - exhortation of death, Middle High German, High German, translated, annotated and edited with an introduction to the work. by Thomas Bein, ( = Loeb Classical Library, Volume 8907 ), Stuttgart 1994 ISBN 3-15-008907-7