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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； friend！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Aucassin fared through the forest from path to path after Nicolete；
and his horse bare him furiously。 Think ye not that the thorns him
spared； nor the briars； nay； not so； but tare his raiment； that
scarce a knot might be tied with the soundest part thereof； and the
blood sprang from his arms； and flanks； and legs； in forty places；
or thirty； so that behind the Childe men might follow on the track
of his blood in the grass。 But so much he went in thoughts of
Nicolete； his lady sweet； that he felt no pain nor torment； and all
the day hurled through the forest in this fashion nor heard no word
of her。 And when he saw Vespers draw nigh； he began to weep for
that he found her not。 All down an old road； and grassgrown he
fared； when anon； looking along the way before him； he saw such an
one as I shall tell you。 Tall was he； and great of growth； laidly
and marvellous to look upon： his head huge； and black as charcoal；
and more than the breadth of a hand between his two eyes； and great
cheeks； and a big nose and broad； big nostrils and ugly； and thick
lips redder than a collop； and great teeth yellow and ugly； and he
was shod with hosen and shoon of bull's hide； bound with cords of
bark over the knee； and all about him a great cloak twy…fold； and he
leaned on a grievous cudgel； and Aucassin came unto him； and was
afraid when he beheld him。
〃Fair brother； God aid thee。〃
〃God bless you；〃 quoth he。
〃As God he helpeth thee； what makest thou here？〃
〃What is that to thee？〃
〃Nay； naught； naught；〃 saith Aucassin； 〃I ask but out of courtesy。〃
〃But for whom weepest thou；〃 quoth he； 〃and makest such heavy
lament？ Certes； were I as rich a man as thou； the whole world
should not make me weep。〃
〃Ha！ know ye me？〃 saith Aucassin。
〃Yea； I know well that ye be Aucassin； the son of the Count； and if
ye tell me for why ye weep； then will I tell you what I make here。〃
〃Certes；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃I will tell you right gladly。 Hither
came I this morning to hunt in this forest； and with me a white
hound； the fairest in the world； him have I lost； and for him I
weep。〃
〃By the Heart our Lord bare in his breast；〃 quoth he； 〃are ye
weeping for a stinking hound？ Foul fall him that holds thee high
henceforth！ for there is no such rich man in the land； but if thy
father asked it of him； he would give thee ten； or fifteen； or
twenty； and be the gladder for it。 But I have cause to weep and
make dole。〃
〃Wherefore so； brother？〃
〃Sir； I will tell thee。 I was hireling to a rich vilain； and drove
his plough； four oxen had he。 But three days since came on me great
misadventure； whereby I lost the best of mine oxen； Roger； the best
of my team。 Him go I seeking； and have neither eaten nor drunken
these three days； nor may I go to the town； lest they cast me into
prison； seeing that I have not wherewithal to pay。 Out of all the
wealth of the world have I no more than ye see on my body。 A poor
mother bare me； that had no more but one wretched bed； this have
they taken from under her； and she lies in the very straw。 This
ails me more than mine own case； for wealth comes and goes； if now I
have lost； another tide will I gain； and will pay for mine ox whenas
I may； never for that will I weep。 But you weep for a stinking
hound。 Foul fall whoso thinks well of thee！〃
〃Certes thou art a good comforter； brother； blessed be thou！ And of
what price was thine ox？〃
〃Sir； they ask me twenty sols for him； whereof I cannot abate one
doit。〃
〃Nay； then；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃take these twenty sols I have in my
purse； and pay for thine ox。〃
〃Sir；〃 saith he； 〃gramercy。 And God give thee to find that thou
seekest。〃
So they parted each from other； and Aucassin rode on： the night was
fair and still； and so long he went that he came to the lodge of
boughs； that Nicolete had builded and woven within and without； over
and under； with flowers； and it was the fairest lodge that might be
seen。 When Aucassin was ware of it； he stopped suddenly； and the
light of the moon fell therein。
〃God！〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃here was Nicolete； my sweet lady； and this
lodge builded she with her fair hands。 For the sweetness of it； and
for love of her； will I alight； and rest here this night long。〃
He drew forth his foot from the stirrup to alight； and the steed was
great and tall。 He dreamed so much on Nicolete his right sweet
lady； that he slipped on a stone； and drave his shoulder out of his
place。 Then knew he that he was hurt sore； natheless he bore him
with what force he might； and fastened with the other hand the
mare's son to a thorn。 Then turned he on his side； and crept
backwise into the lodge of boughs。 And he looked through a gap in
the lodge and saw the stars in heaven； and one that was brighter
than the rest； so began he to say：
Here one singeth：
〃Star； that I from far behold；
Star； the Moon calls to her fold；
Nicolete with thee doth dwell；
My sweet love with locks of gold；
God would have her dwell afar；
Dwell with him for evening star；
Would to God； whate'er befell；
Would that with her I might dwell。
I would clip her close and strait；
Nay； were I of much estate；
Some king's son desirable；
Worthy she to be my mate；
Me to kiss and clip me well；
Sister； sweet friend！〃
So speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When Nicolete heard Aucassin； right so came she unto him； for she
was not far away。 She passed within the lodge； and threw her arms
about his neck； and clipped and kissed him。
〃Fair sweet friend； welcome be thou。〃
〃And thou； fair sweet love； be thou welcome。〃
So either kissed and clipped the other； and fair joy was them
between。
〃Ha！ sweet love；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃but now was I sore hurt； and my
shoulder wried； but I take no force of it； nor have no hurt
therefrom since I have thee。〃
Right so felt she his shoulder and found it was wried from its
place。 And she so handled it with her white hands； and so wrought
in her surgery； that by God's will who loveth lovers； it went back
into its place。 Then took she flowers； and fresh grass； and leaves
green； and bound these herbs on the hurt with a strip of her smock；
and he was all healed。
〃Aucassin；〃 saith she； 〃fair sweet love； take counsel what thou wilt
do。 If thy father let search this forest to…morrow； and men find me
here； they will slay me； come to thee what will。〃
〃Certes； fair sweet love； therefore should I sorrow heavily； but； an
if I may； never shall they take thee。〃
Anon gat he on his horse； and his lady before him； kissing and
clipping her； and so rode they at adventure。
Here one singeth：
Aucassin the fra