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SUMMEE. 759
so that here again the twofold nature of giants (p. 528-9) is set
in a clear light.
The Skaldskaparmal puts them down among the
ancient iotnar : 209 b Somr (al. Somir) ok Svasu&r, 210 a Vindsvalr
ok Vi&arr (1. Yetr). Even now Summer and Winter are much
used as proper names, and we may suppose them to have been
such from the beginning, if only because [as names of seasons]
they do not agree with any in the Non-Teutonic tongues. An
urkunde in Neugart no. 373 (as early as A.D. 958) introduces us
to two brothers named Wintar and Sumar. Graff 1, 631 has the
proper name Wintarolf in the augmentative form (see p. 762 n.)
Now I will produce plain marks of their personality, which
have long maintained themselves in popular phrases and poetic
turns of speech. We say every day : Summer, Winter is at the
door, comes in, sets in. H. Sachs iv. 3, 21 a : till Summer step
this way/ * In MHGr. the one is commonly called lieb (lief,
dear), the other leid (loathly, sad) :
genam/ took leave, Ben. 344.
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(
der liebe Burner urloup
urloup nam der Winder/ 362.
f
Both are provided with a retinue : Sumer, dine holden (retainers)
von den huoben sint gevarn/ 304. Sumer, din gesinde, 406.
min sane siile des Winters wdpen tragen/ my song should W. s
livery wear, MS. 1, 1 78 b . Winder ist mit sinen vriunden komen/
Ben. 414.
Evidently they have marched up with their men, each
with intent to war upon and chase away his foe : der leide
Winder hat den Sumer hin verjaget/ 381. er (der Winter) ist dir
gehaz, er en-weiz niht umbe waz, selten er des ie vergaz, swenne
er dinen stuol besaz, er en-ructe in viir baz, sin gewalt wol tusend
ellen viir den dinen gat/ he hateth thee, he wot not why ; he
seldom forgat, when thy chair he besat, but he pushed it further ;
his power passeth thine, etc. MsH. 3, 258. Ben. 303. Winter 2
hat ez hie gerumet cleared out, Ben. 437. Again, as summer
begins with May, we have that month acting as its representative,
and just as full of life and personality. (All three receive the
title of lord : min Jierre Winter ! MsH.
3, 443 b .
3, 267 a . her Meie !
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her ! Meige Walth. 46, 30). May makes his : entry
so der Meige in gat/ Meist. Alex. 144 b . so der vil siieze
Meige in gat/ Trist. 537.
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Meige ist komen in diu lant/ Ms. 1,
1 Alse die Somer quam int lant, Reinaert 2451. alse de Sommer queme int
lant, Eeineke 2311. do here de Summer trat, Wiggert 2, 48.
2 Without article, therefore not com. noun ; conf . p. 704 note, Solaus.
VOL. II. Y