Konrad von Würzburg: Der Welt Lohn (<1260)
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Maere and Novellas
Konrad von Würzburg: Der Welt Lohn (<1260)
Rölleke, H. (ed.): Konrad von Würzburg, Das Herzmäre. Stuttgart 1968.
KvWW-1:
The knight Wirnt of Grafenberg leads a life full of splendor. Day and night he strives for honor and is praised widely in all German countries. He is handsome and full of virtues. He is always clad in precious garments, likes to hunt, and plays chess and a string instrument. He accepts challenges from all opponents He always is servant of the ladies thus all women praise him. One evening while reading a book about adventure and love an extraordinary beautiful lady appears. Her face shines and lights the whole room. She surpasses every woman in beauty and wears costly beautiful garments and a crown. When the knight beholds her he dismally jumps up and welcomes her.
Motif References:
P 52.2 (Li) Knight in service of a lady
F 575 Remarkable beauty
KvWW-150:
The lady now wants to reward the knight for his service. The knight replies that how can he receive a reward for service when he never has seen her before. But if she accepts him in her service he will commit himself to her. Then she reveals her name as Lady World. As reward for his perseverance in serving her, Lady World shows her decayed and wicked backside, crawling over with snakes, toads, flies, ants, ulcers all over feeding the maggots. A horrible fetidness arises from her no human being is able to bear.
Motif References:
Q 60 Other good qualities rewarded
Q 72 Loyalty rewarded
Z 100 Symbolism
Z 139 Personifications – miscellaneous
Q 190 Rewards – miscellaneous
F 576 Extraordinary ugliness
KvWW-234:
The horrorstruck knight becomes aware to whom he has committed himself. He renounces all worldly pleasures thus doing penance for his past life. He adjourns to a pilgrimage to the holy land.
Motif References:
Q 526 Pilgrimage as penance
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