I - Kalogreant's Adventure in the Forest of Broceliande

Summary

If a man applies his mind

to true kindness,

heavenly bliss and honour will accrue to him.

King Arthur the Good

gives true teaching of this,

he who, with his knightly disposition,

knew how to strive for praise.

He lived in his times

in such splendour

that he then wore honour's crown,

and his name does still.

The proof of this is upheld

by his fellow-countrymen:

they claim he is still alive today.

He has won such repute that,

though his body be dead,

his name will, nevertheless, live forever.

That man will be forever

entirely safe from dishonourable disgrace

who even today follows his ways.

A knight who was learned

and read in books,

when he could not spend his time

in any better way,

also practised poetry.

He applied his industry

to that which people may gladly hear.

He was named Hartmann

and was of the Ouwe family:

he composed this tale.

King Arthur had arranged

in his castle at Cærdoel

one Whitsuntide,

in accordance with his sumptuous custom,

such a splendid festivity

that never before nor since

did he hold any more splendid.

Truly, a base man was

held in very low esteem there,

for nowhere on this earth were assembled

bî niemens zîten anderswâ

sô manech guot rîter als dâ.

ouch wart in dâ ze lône gegebn

in allen wîs ein wunschlebn.

In liebet den hof und den lîp

manech magt unde wîp,

die schoensten von den rîchen.

Mich jâmert wærlîchen,

und hulfez iht, ich woldez clagen,

daz nû bî unsern tagen

selch freude niemer werden mac,

der man ze den zîten pflac.

Doch müezzen wir ouch nû genesn –

ichn wolde dô niht sîn gewesn,

daz ich nû niht enwære,

dâ uns noch mit ir mære

sô rehte wol wesen sol –

dâ taten in diu werch vil wol.