When Lord Iwein was given

strength and health,

his senses were still

mortally wounded in so many ways

by love of his lady

that it seemed to him that if, in a short time,

his lady did not redeem him

by consoling him in person,

he would soon die in consequence.

Loving exigency compelled him

to this hasty thought:

‘Whether I go about it for a short or a long time,

I do not know how I can ever

win her love,

except by going to the fountain

and pouring water upon it, time and again.

If I gain troubles by that,

well, I am well used to troubles,

and would rather suffer them for a short time

than bear troubles forever.

Moreover, I shall suffer troubles forever more,

unless those troubles cause her, for her part, such pain,

that I may still gain her love

by violent means.’

He stole away with his lion,

no-one noticing him

at court there, or elsewhere,

and caused a harsh storm to rise there.

It became so stormy

that no-one within those walls

was confident he would survive.

‘May that man be forever accursèd,’

said both women and men there,

‘who first began

to build on this land!

Any man can cause us this affliction and disgrace

whenever he wishes!

There are plenty of evil places in this world,

but this is the most evil place

on which any castle was ever erected.’

So many trees fell in the forest,

und der sius136 und der dôz

werte mit dem schalle,

daz er die liute alle

gar verzwîfeln tet.

Dô sprach ir junchfrouwe Lûnet:

‘Frouwe, chumt vil drâte

der dinge ze râte,

wâ ir den man vindet,

mit dem ir überwindet

disen schaden und diz leit.

Der ist iu weizgot ungereit,

man ensuoche in danne verre.

Irn möht schande merre

niemer gewinnen,

swenner nû scheidet hinnen

alles strîtes erlân,

der iu diz laster hât getân.