GOFFREDO of STRASBURGO. — The greatest representative of chivalric poetry in Germany, living at the end of the 12th century, died between 1210 and 1220. He composed the finest epic poem of the German Middle Ages: *Tristan and Isolde* (ca. 20,000 lines), left unfinished, whose legend—already poeticized by the French trouvères and spread throughout Europe, and translated into German by Eilhart V. Oberg around 1190—he drew from the French Thomas.
His principal quality was the profoundest investigation to which he subjected the erotic element of the legend. His gifts include the most refined psychological analysis, the fluidity of thought, the melodious harmony of language and rhyme, and the masterful allegory (of which he gave the first example in Germany); yet in him the glorification of love is unfortunately not divorced from sensual pleasures. Ulrich von Türheim and, better, Henry of Freiberg continued the tale up to the burial of the heroes. Some lyrics also remain from him; however, a *Laud* of the Virgin Mary is not among them.
The editio princeps is corrupt. Many editions followed; the New High German version by W. Hertz (4th ed., Stuttgart 1904) stands out.