The study examines Hadamar's love allegory in the forms in which it has been handed down to us, with special reference to modifications of content and stylistic tendencies. Proceeding from a discussion of the complicated transmission situation, the author demonstrates that "Jagd" (hunt) should best be regarded as a ,variable' text. In the course of its history, the number and order of the stanzas was expanded, rearranged and then abridged. This is chiefly accounted for by the associative nature of its structure, which in its turn expresses a desire to achieve as multi-faceted an allegorical depiction of the problematic of courtly love (Minne) as possible. The study provides full annotation of selected passages of central importance and sets out to make a contribution both to the philological study of medieval texts and the discussion on allegory.
