Hadamar von Laber, Die Jagd (The Hunt)

This parchment manuscript on 84 leaves dates from the 14th century. On leaf 3r-81v it contains probably the most influential courtly love allegory "Die Jagd" by the Upper Palatinate poet Hadamar von Laber (c. 1330-1355). It is written in 565 verses. The form of the nobility poetry from Jüngere Titurel (Younger Titurel), the seven-line Titurel verse, was used.

Among the hunt's allegorical pictorial material, the hunter tracks his game, his lover. He is accompanied by the leader-dog "herze" and other faithful dogs: "gelücke, lust, liebe, genâde, froide, wille, wunne, trost, staete, triuwe, harre". He managed to catch the shy game, but "herze" escapes and is wounded. All that remains for the hunter is lament and the hope of "waiting". Woven into the allegory are reflections by forest men who help the hunter with advice.

To the digitised copy