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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 March 2023
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.
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