X - The Daughters of the Count of the Black Thorn

Summary

Before he departed from there,

Death began, in those days,

to bring his case against a count

and force upon him, violently,

pressing matters –

upon the Count of the Black Thorn.

Thus he was doomed,

for to appease him he had to give him

his health and his life.

He left behind him there, still alive,

two beautiful damsels.

Now the elder wanted

to part the younger by force

from her inheritance,

which was to have served them both.

In reply, the younger said:

‘Sister, God ought to forbid you

to impose such hardship upon me.

I imagined that I would profit by

great joy with you.

Sister, you are

too harshly disposed towards me.

If you desire to deprive me of my property

and my honour,

I will defend myself against that with a champion.

I shan't fight – I am a woman.

You will not profit at all by the fact

that I am so incapable of defending myself.

In truth, I shall readily find a man

who in his courtesy

will never deny me favour,

but will protect me against you.

Sister, you must let me

have my inheritance,

or find a champion against me.

I shall seek King Arthur

and find a champion in his castle there,

who will, by his prowess,

protect me against your pride.’

The evil sister marked this

and deliberated in her mind

waz sî darumbe tæte,

und durch ir charge ræte,

sô sweic sî derzuo,

und chom ze hove vor ir sô fruo,

daz ir der herre Gâwein wart.

Diu junger ergreif die nâchvart –

daz machte ir kintheit,

dazs ir ir willen het geseit.

Dô diu junger chom hin nâ,

dô vant sî die altern dâ.

Diu was ir kempfen harte frô. 110r

Ouch lobt ez her Gâwein sô,

daz sî ez niemen solde sagen.

Nû was in den selben tagen

diu küneginne wider chomen,

die Meliakanz het genomen

mit micheler manheit.