Now he tarried there no longer –

his lion followed him as before –

and rode until he espied a castle.

Good comfort for a knight was to be found there.

The citadel was very strong,

in every way optimally protected

against attacks and mangonels.

The hill was surrounded by

a castle wall, high and thick;

yet he who was called lord there

saw full many a sorrowful sight.

The outer bailey of his castle had been burned down,

right up to the castle wall.

Now my lord Iwein came riding up there,

as the road instructed him.

When he turned towards the castle,

the bridge was let down,

and he saw six comely squires

walking towards him.

They would be well worthy of the emperor

in all their conduct,

in their persons and in their clothing.

He was welcomed by these.

Very soon there came walking up

the host, like a well-bred man.

He greeted him and led him away,

towards good comfort, up into the castle,

where he saw a well-favoured company

of knights and ladies.

Then he took note

of both their demeanour and their disposition –

he found then nothing but good there.

Any man who has ever suffered troubles

will pity a man's hardship

much more intensely than a man

who never acquired troubles.

The host had fought much himself

and often ridden at risk of his life,

and was all the more friendly to the stranger because of this,

for he sat with him the whole time

until he had been disarmed.

Der wille was dâ ungespart

von manne und von wîbe, 85v

sî wurden sînem lîbe

ze dienste gechêret

und über stat gêret.

Sî wâren vil vaste

ze liebe dem gaste

alle wider ir willen frô,

wand ir herze meindez niender sô.

In het ein tægelîch herzeleit

vil gar die freude hin geleit,

dâ er niht umbe weste,

er sam ander geste.

Ouch enhet ir freude und ir schimpf

deheiner slahte gelimpf.

Diu trügefreude ist enwiht,

diu sô mit listen geschiht,

sô der munt lachet

und daz herze krachet

vor leide und vor sorgen.