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tells him the tidings。 These are but visions ye tell of； for there
is no beast so great in this forest； stag； nor lion； nor boar； that
one of his limbs is worth more than two deniers； or three at the
most； and ye speak of such great ransom。 Foul fall him that
believes your word； and him that telleth Aucassin。 Ye be a Fairy；
and we have none liking for your company； nay； hold on your road。〃
〃Nay； fair boys；〃 quoth she； 〃nay； ye will do my bidding。 For this
beast is so mighty of medicine that thereby will Aucassin be healed
of his torment。 And lo！ I have five sols in my purse； take them；
and tell him： for within three days must he come hunting it hither；
and if within three days he find it not； never will he be healed of
his torment。〃
〃My faith；〃 quoth he； 〃the money will we take； and if he come hither
we will tell him； but seek him we will not。〃
〃In God's name；〃 quoth she； and so took farewell of the shepherds；
and went her way。
Here singeth one：
Nicolete the bright of brow
From the shepherds doth she pass
All below the blossomed bough
Where an ancient way there was；
Overgrown and choked with grass；
Till she found the cross…roads where
Seven paths do all way fare；
Then she deemeth she will try；
Should her lover pass thereby；
If he love her loyally。
So she gathered white lilies；
Oak…leaf； that in green wood is；
Leaves of many a branch I wis；
Therewith built a lodge of green；
Goodlier was never seen；
Swore by God who may not lie；
〃If my love the lodge should spy；
He will rest awhile thereby
If he love me loyally。〃
Thus his faith she deemed to try；
〃Or I love him not； not I；
Nor he loves me！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Nicolete built her lodge of boughs； as ye have heard； right fair and
feteously； and wove it well； within and without； of flowers and
leaves。 So lay she hard by the lodge in a deep coppice to know what
Aucassin will do。 And the cry and the bruit went abroad through all
the country and all the land； that Nicolete was lost。 Some told
that she had fled； and some that the Count Garin had let slay her。
Whosoever had joy thereof； no joy had Aucassin。 And the Count
Garin； his father； had taken him out of prison； and had sent for the
knights of that land； and the ladies； and let make a right great
feast； for the comforting of Aucassin his son。 Now at the high time
of the feast； was Aucassin leaning from a gallery； all woful and
discomforted。 Whatsoever men might devise of mirth； Aucassin had no
joy thereof； nor no desire； for he saw not her that he loved。 Then
a knight looked on him； and came to him； and said：
〃Aucassin； of that sickness of thine have I been sick； and good
counsel will I give thee； if thou wilt hearken to me〃
〃Sir；〃 said Aucassin； 〃gramercy； good counsel would I fain hear。〃
〃Mount thy horse；〃 quoth he； 〃and go take thy pastime in yonder
forest； there wilt thou see the good flowers and grass； and hear the
sweet birds sing。 Perchance thou shalt hear some word； whereby thou
shalt be the better。〃
〃Sir；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃gramercy； that will I do。〃
He passed out of the hall； and went down the stairs； and came to the
stable where his horse was。 He let saddle and bridle him； and
mounted； and rode forth from the castle； and wandered till he came
to the forest； so rode till he came to the fountain and found the
shepherds at point of noon。 And they had a mantle stretched on the
grass； and were eating bread； and making great joy。
Here one singeth：
There were gathered shepherds all；
Martin； Esmeric； and Hal；
Aubrey； Robin； great and small。
Saith the one； 〃Good fellows all；
God keep Aucassin the fair；
And the maid with yellow hair；
Bright of brow and eyes of vair。
She that gave us gold to ware。
Cakes therewith to buy ye know；
Goodly knives and sheaths also。
Flutes to play； and pipes to blow；
May God him heal！〃
Here speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When Aucassin heard the shepherds； anon he bethought him of
Nicolete； his sweet lady he loved so well； and he deemed that she
had passed thereby； then set he spurs to his horse； and so came to
the shepherds。
〃Fair boys； God be with you。〃
〃God bless you；〃 quoth he that had more words to his tongue than the
rest。
〃Fair boys；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃say the song again that anon ye sang。〃
〃Say it we will not；〃 quoth he that had more words to his tongue
than the rest； 〃foul fall him who will sing it again for you； fair
sir！〃
〃Fair boys；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃know ye me not？〃
〃Yea； we know well that you are Aucassin； out damoiseau； natheless
we be not your men； but the Count's。〃
〃Fair boys； yet sing it again； I pray you。〃
〃Hearken！ by the Holy Heart；〃 quoth he； 〃wherefore should I sing for
you； if it likes me not？ Lo； there is no such rich man in this
country； saving the body of Garin the Count； that dare drive forth
my oxen； or my cows； or my sheep； if he finds them in his fields； or
his corn； lest he lose his eyes for it； and wherefore should I sing
for you； if it likes me not？〃
〃God be your aid； fair boys； sing it ye will； and take ye these ten
sols I have here in a purse。〃
〃Sir； the money will we take； but never a note will I sing； for I
have given my oath； but I will tell thee a plain tale； if thou
wilt。〃
〃By God；〃 saith Aucassin； 〃I love a plain tale better than naught。〃
〃Sir； we were in this place； a little time agone； between prime and
tierce； and were eating our bread by this fountain； even as now we
do； and a maid came past； the fairest thing in the world； whereby we
deemed that she should be a fay； and all the wood shone round about
her。 Anon she gave us of that she had； whereby we made covenant
with her； that if ye came hither we would bid you hunt in this
forest； wherein is such a beast that； an ye might take him； ye would
not give one limb of him for five hundred marks of silver； nor for
no ransom； for this beast is so mighty of medicine； that； an ye
could take him； ye should be healed of your torment； and within
three days must ye take him； and if ye take him not then； never will
ye look on him。 So chase ye the beast； an ye will； or an ye will
let be； for my promise have I kept with her。〃
〃Fair boys；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃ye have said enough。 God grant me to
find this quarry。〃
Here one singeth。
Aucassin when he had heard；
Sore within his heart was stirred；
Left the shepherds on that word；
Far into the forest spurred
Rode into the wood； and fleet
Fled his horse through paths of it；
Three words spake he of his sweet；
〃Nicolete the fair； the dear；
'Tis for thee I follow here
Track of boar； nor slot of deer；
But thy sweet body and eyes so clear；
All thy mirth and merry cheer；
That my very heart have slain；
So please God to me maintain
I shall see my love again；
Sweet sister；