VI - The Battle Against Count Aliers and the Rescuing of the Lion

Summary

Early one day after that

they saw Count Aliers riding up there

with his army.

Then the knights of that land

gave battle,

and their men-at-arms.

The noble knight, Iwein,

appeared in the forefront.

They had been pressed back in before

and had even abandoned defence,

being so entirely trampled down

that they had almost abandoned

valorous ways.

Now such thoughts were removed from them

when they saw the stranger

rushing at the enemies,

and acting so valorously.

Those who had been daunted before

all gazed upon him

and embraced valorous thoughts.

Then Iwein showed his lady,

who was looking down from the ramparts,

that the time often comes

that such wealth as is bestowed upon a worthy man

is not lost.

She did not at all repent the wealth

she had invested in him,

for his valour alone

made the enemy retreat,

in disarray, to a ford.

There they regrouped.

Here a cut, there a thrust!

Now who could equip my lord Iwein

with all the spears

that he shattered there?

He cut and thrust,

as did all his men,

so that the enemy, many of them falling,

had no choice but to

retreat from the ford in disarray

und in den sic lâzen.

Die aber der fluht vergâzen,

die wurden sam die zagen

almeisteil erslagen

unde ouch gevangen.

Hie was der strît ergangen

nâch des herren Îweins êren.

Sî begunden an in chêren

beide lop unde prîs:

er wære höfsch unde wîs,

und in enmöhte niht gewerren,

heten sî in ze herren,

ode einen im gelîchen.

Sî wunschten flîzeclîchen,

daz sî des beidiu zæme,

daz in ir frouwe næme.

Sus wart dem graven Âliere

genendeclîchen schiere

gevangen und erslagen sîn her.

Dannoch hielt er ze wer

mit einer lützeln kraft,

und tet selhe rîterschaft,

die niemen gefelschen möhte.

Dô daz niht langer töhte,

dô muoser ouch entwîchen,

und flôch doch werlîchen

gein einer sîner veste,

die er dâ nâhen weste.