Las, qu'i non sun sparvir, astur
Encyclopedia
Las, qu'i non sun sparvir, astur (las kinunˈsun sparˈβir asˈtur), which translates "Oh, to be a sparrow-hawk, a goshawk!", is the incipit
of an anonymous Old Occitan cobla
(single stanza poem). It was found in the margins of an eleventh-century manuscript in the British Library
. Possibly it was added late in that century, certainly by a German
scribe. It was first published in 1984, and has been translated into French and English.
In the poem the lover expresses erotic desire and the longing for fulfillment through his wish to be a sparrow hawk or, which was more prized, a goshawk so that he could fly to her. In the Middle Ages, the value of a sparrow hawk was proportional to its resemblance to the goshawk in size, strength and beauty. The symbolism of the male lover as hunting bird reoccurs in the troubadour lyric and in the Middle High German
Minnesang
, beginning a century later. The apposition of joy (joi) and grief (dolor) would become a mainstay of the troubadours.
Incipit
Incipit is a Latin word meaning "it begins". The incipit of a text, such as a poem, song, or book, is the first few words of its opening line. In music, it can also refer to the opening notes of a composition. Before the development of titles, texts were often referred to by their incipits...
of an anonymous Old Occitan cobla
Cobla (Occitan literary term)
A cobla is a stanza in Occitan lyric poetry, the art form of the troubadours. Though not usually standalone work in itself, in many instances a cobla or two is all that survives of what was once a complete poem. Each cobla of a song was usually played to the same melody, but a few songs were...
(single stanza poem). It was found in the margins of an eleventh-century manuscript in the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
. Possibly it was added late in that century, certainly by a German
Kingdom of Germany
The Kingdom of Germany developed out of the eastern half of the former Carolingian Empire....
scribe. It was first published in 1984, and has been translated into French and English.
In the poem the lover expresses erotic desire and the longing for fulfillment through his wish to be a sparrow hawk or, which was more prized, a goshawk so that he could fly to her. In the Middle Ages, the value of a sparrow hawk was proportional to its resemblance to the goshawk in size, strength and beauty. The symbolism of the male lover as hunting bird reoccurs in the troubadour lyric and in the Middle High German
Middle High German
Middle High German , abbreviated MHG , is the term used for the period in the history of the German language between 1050 and 1350. It is preceded by Old High German and followed by Early New High German...
Minnesang
Minnesang
Minnesang was the tradition of lyric and song writing in Germany which flourished in the 12th century and continued into the 14th century. People who wrote and performed Minnesang are known as Minnesingers . The name derives from the word minne, Middle High German for love which was their main...
, beginning a century later. The apposition of joy (joi) and grief (dolor) would become a mainstay of the troubadours.