At last, I have The Item. Olive Sayce's Poets of the Minnesang is the book for me! Not only is it a beautiful edition, but Sayce describes each poem and gives its metrical form. Besides that, there is a concise and well written introduction in which she describes genre, development and sources. Finally ...hold on to your hat... there is a glossary of Middle High German terms in the back. Oh man.

In other news, I spent most of the day trying to absorb all of my new receptarian duties. Millions of little things must I do. Today was Friday, which brought papercliply fun in sending out birthday cards and setting out candy for the people who picked up their paychecks. I have to say in favor of this job, there is a certain aura of freshness that hangs about the idea of temporary employment. (I hope I still think that in December, when I'll be locked in the tower for all the hours that the sun is (or isn't) out...)