IV - Kay's Mockery and Gawein's Advice

Summary

Now Lord Key was delighted

to find cause for scorn.

He said: ‘Sir Kalogreant,

where is your kinsman, Sir Iwein?

It appears still, as it appeared then,

and, I believe, always will appear:

his speech was coloured by wine,

when he avenged you here by words.

Oh, how he cut and thrust!

If he had been given more to drink,

he would have slain twelve giants!

Great is his valour.

In truth, if he wishes to avenge you,

he is tardy.

It is I who will avenge you there.

Again I find I must face duress,

as I very often have done,

standing in for my friends.

I don't know why they do it,

or what wrong they are avenging upon themselves –

those who talk so much

about their own deeds,

when no-one else will concede they are right.

It is good to be in a fight

in which no-one deals a counter-blow.

Now he has escaped us,

to his own disgrace.

He feared that if he had come here,

as he had taken on the challenge,

he would have to face the danger first.

I would, however, have readily spared him the necessity.

Many a base man belittles

a worthy man whenever he can,

if he performs any act of valour,

and it grieves him to the heart

if honour befalls any man.

Now, see, I do no such thing,

for I gladly grant every man

what honour befalls him.

I praise him whenever he acts rightly

and am silent about his disgrace – that is well.

Ez ist reht, daz mir gelinge,

wan ezn sprichet ze dem dinge

niemen minre danne ich.

Iedoch sô fürdert er sich,

swâ sich der boese selbe lobt, 49r

wande niemen gerne für in tobt,

der sîne höfscheit prîse.

Der herre Îwein ist niht wîse –

er möhte swîgen als ich.’

Diu rede dûhte sî gemlich,

daz er sich dûhte als guot,

wan alsô falschlîchen muot

gewan nie rîter dehein.

D ô sprach mîn her Gawein:

‘Wie nû, mîn her Key,

nû sprechet ir doch, ir sît frî

falscher rede – wie schînet daz?

Ir erzeiget doch iezuo grôzen haz

disem guoten knehte.