Hartmann von Aue: Der arme Heinrich (1190/1200)
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Maere and Novellas
Hartmann von Aue: Der arme Heinrich (1190/1200)
Neumann, F.(ed.): Hartmann von Aue, Der arme Heinrich. (=UB 456) Wiesbaden 1958
HvAAH-1:
Prologue: Hartmann identifies himself as a learned knight who tells this story he found in a book. (29) In Swabia there once lived a rich nobleman: he was a virtuous knight who knew how to sing about love. (75) But like Absalon he suddenly lost all his happiness which shows that all worldly things are transient. (97) Stricken with leprosy he is soon isolated from all people like Hiob (Job).
Motif References:
P 50 Noblemen (knights) [rules of chivalry]
U 110 Appearances deceive
N 170 The capriciousness of luck
V 300 Religious beliefs
Q 331 Pride punished
L 400 Pride brought low
Q 551.6.0.1 Punishment: man stricken with leprosy
HvAAH-133:
But unlike the patient Hiob (Job) Heinrich does not accept his fate. He travels to Munpasiliere and Salerno to be cured. (184) He is told that he can be cured only by a maiden’s heart-blood offered in free sacrifice.
Motif References:
V 440 Other religious virtues
F 955 Miraculous cure for leprosy
D 1003 Magic blood – human
D 1500.1.7.3 Magic healing blood
D 1502.4.2.1 Blood of children (innocent maidens) as cure for leprosy
H 1553 Tests of patience
D 2161.1.1 Magic cure of leprosy
HvAAH-246:
Heinrich returns home, gives away all his possessions to the poor and to the church. He retires to his last estate, whose tenant and his family looks after him. (295) One of the tenant’s daughters, who is eight years old, looks after Heinrich and he gives her gifts and playfully calls her his wife. (348) Heinrich lives with them for three years. The tenant starts worrying about Heinrich’s death because he fears the other lords. Heinrich now takes his illness as punishment for his former life of neglecting God. (369) One night the maiden overhears Heinrich complaining of his fate and mentioning the sacrifice which could heal him. She wants to sacrifice her life to save him.
Motif References:
Q 542 Penance: giving all earnings to the poor
Q 551.6.0.1 Punishment: man stricken with leprosy
N 831 Girl [woman] as helper
HvAAH-525:
Her parents overhearing her laments at night, ask her about her grief and she tells them her decision. Her father says she never could achieve this sacrifice, for she has not even got the slightest idea of death. The maiden replies life too is difficult and salvation is not guaranteed for all that. Her mother reminds her of her filial duties, but the maiden insists that worldly life means loss of soul, the world’s splendor is vain. If she sacrifices herself her parents will not have to pay her marriage-portion. Marriage would mean unhappiness if she were to love her husband, if not it would be her death. She prefers to be betrothed to Christ, which will guarantee eternal happiness and youth. (865) Her parents are convinced by her words, they think her inspired by the Holy Spirit: Saint Nikolaus was lead to God as well by the Holy Spirit while he was still a baby.
Motif References:
W 28 Self-sacrifice
V 229.2 Sancticity of saints
V 520 Salvation
HvAAH-913:
Heinrich cannot dissuade her from her plans and so they leave for Salerno. There the doctor asks the maiden if she has made this decision of her own free will, because otherwise her sacrifice would be in vain. In detail he describes the procedure of cutting out her heart alive to frighten her. But she insists. (1190) They lock themselves up in a room. The maiden takes off her clothes without feeling ashamed and she is tied to the table. She is very beautiful. In order to guarantee an easy death, the doctor sharpens the knife which Heinrich overhears. He peeps through a little opening and is stricken with the maiden’s beauty. He leaves his fate to God and rescues the maiden, (1291) who is very unhappy about his interference. She keeps lamenting, tearing her hair and beating her breast and accuses him of cowardice. They return home.
Motif References:
W 46 (Li) Modesty
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman
F 955 Miraculous cure for leprosy
D 1003 Magic blood – human
F 1041.21.6 Tearing hair and clothes from excessive grief
D 1500.1.7.3 Magic healing blood
D 1502.4.2.1 Blood of children (innocent maidens) as cure for leprosy
D 2161.1.1 Magic cure of leprosy
HvAAH-1366:
God now proves his mercy towards Heinrich like he did towards Hiob (Job) and cures Heinrich. He becomes as beautiful as he was at the age of twenty. Heinrich grows even richer than he was before and now he does not forget about God. He gives their leasehold land to the tenants as their property and gives riches to the maiden.
Motif References:
F 955 Miraculous cure for leprosy
D 2161.1.1 Magic cure of leprosy
HvAAH-1461:
Following the advice of his counselors, he marries the maiden after having asked his relatives and his vassals for consent. (1519) They marry, have a long and happy life, and after their death they obtain salvation. (Heidelberger and Kalocaer Hs: Heinrich and the maiden separate after marriage and retire to a monastery, thus obtaining salvation.)
Motif References:
T 121.1 Knight weds peasant girl
T 131.1 Relative’s consent to marriage necessary
T 315.1 Marital continence by mutual agreement
V 520 Salvation
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