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Never shalt thou win me； still
Am I held in evil will
Of thy father and thy kin；
Therefore must I cross the sea；
And another land must win。〃
Then she cut her curls of gold；
Cast them in the dungeon hold；
Aucassin doth clasp them there；
Kissed the curls that were so fair；
Them doth in his bosom bear；
Then he wept； even as of old；
All for his love！
Then say they； speak they； tell they the Tale：
When Aucassin heard Nicolete say that she would pass into a far
country； he was all in wrath。
〃Fair sweet friend；〃 quoth he； 〃thou shalt not go； for then wouldst
thou be my death。 And the first man that saw thee and had the might
withal； would take thee straightway into his bed to be his leman。
And once thou camest into a man's bed； and that bed not mine； wit ye
well that I would not tarry till I had found a knife to pierce my
heart and slay myself。 Nay； verily； wait so long I would not： but
would hurl myself on it so soon as I could find a wall； or a black
stone； thereon would I dash my head so mightily； that the eyes would
start； and my brain burst。 Rather would I die even such a death；
than know thou hadst lain in a man's bed； and that bed not mine。〃
〃Aucassin；〃 she said； 〃I trow thou lovest me not as much as thou
sayest； but I love thee more than thou lovest me。〃
〃Ah； fair sweet friend；〃 said Aucassin； 〃it may not be that thou
shouldst love me even as I love thee。 Woman may not love man as man
loves woman； for a woman's love lies in the glance of her eye； and
the bud of her breast； and her foot's tip…toe； but the love of man
is in his heart planted； whence it can never issue forth and pass
away。〃
Now while Aucassin and Nicolete held this parley together； the
town's guards came down a street； with swords drawn beneath their
cloaks； for the Count Garin had charged them that if they could take
her they should slay her。 But the sentinel that was on the tower
saw them coming； and heard them speaking of Nicolete as they went；
and threatening to slay her。
〃God！〃 quoth he； 〃this were great pity to slay so fair a maid！
Right great charity it were if I could say aught to her； and they
perceive it not； and she should be on her guard against them； for if
they slay her； then were Aucassin； my damoiseau； dead； and that were
great pity。〃
Here one singeth：
Valiant was the sentinel；
Courteous； kind； and practised well；
So a song did sing and tell
Of the peril that befell。
〃Maiden fair that lingerest here；
Gentle maid of merry cheer；
Hair of gold； and eyes as clear
As the water in a mere；
Thou； meseems； hast spoken word
To thy lover and thy lord；
That would die for thee； his dear；
Now beware the ill accord；
Of the cloaked men of the sword；
These have sworn and keep their word；
They will put thee to the sword
Save thou take heed！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
〃Ha！〃 quoth Nicolete； 〃be the soul of thy father and the soul of thy
mother in the rest of Paradise； so fairly and so courteously hast
thou spoken me！ Please God； I will be right ware of them； God keep
me out of their hands。〃
So she shrank under her mantle into the shadow of the pillar till
they had passed by； and then took she farewell of Aucassin； and so
fared till she came unto the castle wall。 Now that wall was wasted
and broken； and some deal mended； so she clomb thereon till she came
between wall and fosse； and so looked down； and saw that the fosse
was deep and steep； whereat she was sore adread。
〃Ah God；〃 saith she； 〃sweet Saviour！ If I let myself fall hence； I
shall break my neck； and if here I abide； to…morrow they will take
me and burn me in a fire。 Yet liefer would I perish here than that
to…morrow the folk should stare on me for a gazing…stock。〃
Then she crossed herself； and so let herself slip into the fosse；
and when she had come to the bottom； her fair feet； and fair hands
that had not custom thereof； were bruised and frayed； and the blood
springing from a dozen places； yet felt she no pain nor hurt； by
reason of the great dread wherein she went。 But if she were in
cumber to win there； in worse was she to win out。 But she deemed
that there to abide was of none avail； and she found a pike
sharpened； that they of the city had thrown out to keep the hold。
Therewith made she one stepping place after another； till； with much
travail； she climbed the wall。 Now the forest lay within two
crossbow shots； and the forest was of thirty leagues this way and
that。 Therein also were wild beasts； and beasts serpentine； and she
feared that if she entered there they would slay her。 But anon she
deemed that if men found her there they would hale her back into the
town to burn her。
Here one singeth：
Nicolete； the fair of face；
Climbed upon the coping stone；
There made she lament and moan
Calling on our Lord alone
For his mercy and his grace。
〃Father； king of Majesty；
Listen； for I nothing know
Where to flee or whither go。
If within the wood I fare；
Lo； the wolves will slay me there；
Boars and lions terrible；
Many in the wild wood dwell；
But if I abide the day；
Surely worse will come of it；
Surely will the fire be lit
That shall burn my body away；
Jesus； lord of Majesty；
Better seemeth it to me；
That within the wood I fare；
Though the wolves devour me there
Than within the town to go；
Ne'er be it so！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Nicolete made great moan； as ye have heard； then commended she
herself to God； and anon fared till she came unto the forest。 But
to go deep in it she dared not； by reason of the wild beasts； and
beasts serpentine。 Anon crept she into a little thicket； where
sleep came upon her； and she slept till prime next day； when the
shepherds issued forth from the town and drove their bestial between
wood and water。 Anon came they all into one place by a fair
fountain which was on the fringe of the forest； thereby spread they
a mantle； and thereon set bread。 So while they were eating；
Nicolete wakened； with the sound of the singing birds； and the
shepherds； and she went unto them； saying； 〃Fair boys； our Lord keep
you！〃
〃God bless thee；〃 quoth he that had more words to his tongue than
the rest。
〃Fair boys；〃 quoth she； 〃know ye Aucassin； the son of Count Garin de
Biaucaire？〃
〃Yea； well we know him。〃
〃So may God help you； fair boys；〃 quoth she； 〃tell him there is a
beast in this forest； and bid him come chase it； and if he can take
it； he would not give one limb thereof for a hundred marks of gold；
nay； nor for five hundred； nor for any ransom。〃
Then looked they on her； and saw her so fair that they were all
astonied。
〃Will I tell him thereof？〃 quoth he that had more words to his
tongue than the rest； 〃foul fall him who speaks of the thing or
tells him the tidings。 These are but visions ye tell of；