An anthology of German literature

by Calvin Thomas

1494-1576. Sachs is the most winsome and versatile German poet of the 16th century. He lived at Nürnberg, practising the trade of the shoemaker and the art of the mastersinger, and writing an immense number of poetic productions. His total of verses has been estimated at half a million. For the reader of to-day he is most enjoyable in his Schwänke, or humorous tales, and his Fastnachtspiele, or shrovetide plays. The text of the first selection follows Keller’s reprint in the Bibliothek des Literarischen Vereins in Stuttgart, Vol. 106, page 109; that of the second, Goetze’s reprint in Braune’s Neudrucke, No. 40.

1

Sanct Peter mit der Gais.

Weil noch auf Erden ging Christus

Unnd auch mit im wandert Petrus,

Eins tags auss eym dorff mit im gieng,

Bey einer wegscheid Petrus anfieng:

O herre Got und maister mein,

Mich wundert sehr der güte dein,

Weil du doch Gott allmechtig bist,