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to pay his debt。 This man was in that estate which Achilles； in
Hades； preferred above the kingship of the dead outworn。 He was
hind and hireling to a villein；
＇Greek text＇
It is an unexpected touch of pity for the people； and for other than
love…sorrows； in a poem intended for the great and courtly people of
chivalry。
At last the lovers meet； in the lodge of flowers beneath the stars。
Here the story should end； though one could ill spare the pretty
lecture the girl reads her lover as they ride at adventure； and the
picture of Nicolete； with her brown stain； and jogleor's attire； and
her viol； playing before Aucassin in his own castle of Biaucaire。
The burlesque interlude of the country of Torelore is like a page
out of Rabelais； stitched into the cante…fable by mistake。 At such
lands as Torelore Pantagruel and Panurge touched many a time in
their vague voyaging。 Nobody； perhaps； can care very much about
Nicolete's adventures in Carthage； and her recognition by her Paynim
kindred。 If the old captive had been a prisoner among the Saracens；
he was too indolent or incurious to make use of his knowledge。 He
hurries on to his journey's end；
〃Journeys end in lovers meeting。〃
So he finishes the tale。 What lives in it； what makes it live； is
the touch of poetry； of tender heart； of humorous resignation。 The
old captive says the story will gladden sad men：…
〃Nus hom n'est si esbahis；
tant dolans ni entrepris；
de grant mal amaladis；
se il l'oit； ne soit garis；
et de joie resbaudis；
tant par est douce。〃
This service it did for M。 Bida； the painter； as he tells us when he
translated Aucassin in 1870。 In dark and darkening days； patriai
tempore iniquo； we too have turned to Aucassin et Nicolete。 ｛5｝
BALLADE OF AUCASSIN
Where smooth the Southern waters run
Through rustling leagues of poplars gray；
Beneath a veiled soft Southern sun；
We wandered out of Yesterday；
Went Maying in that ancient May
Whose fallen flowers are fragrant yet；
And lingered by the fountain spray
With Aucassin and Nicolete。
The grassgrown paths are trod of none
Where through the woods they went astray；
The spider's traceries are spun
Across the darkling forest way；
There come no Knights that ride to slay；
No Pilgrims through the grasses wet；
No shepherd lads that sang their say
With Aucassin and Nicolete。
'Twas here by Nicolete begun
Her lodge of boughs and blossoms gay；
'Scaped from the cell of marble dun
'Twas here the lover found the Fay；
O lovers fond； O foolish play！
How hard we find it to forget；
Who fain would dwell with them as they；
With Aucassin and Nicolete。
ENVOY。
Prince； 'tis a melancholy lay！
For Youth； for Life we both regret：
How fair they seem； how far away；
With Aucassin and Nicolete。
A。 L。
BALLADE OF NICOLETE
All bathed in pearl and amber light
She rose to fling the lattice wide；
And leaned into the fragrant night；
Where brown birds sang of summertide；
（'Twas Love's own voice that called and cried）
〃Ah； Sweet！〃 she said； 〃I'll seek thee yet；
Though thorniest pathways should betide
The fair white feet of Nicolete。〃
They slept； who would have stayed her flight；
（Full fain were they the maid had died！）
She dropped adown her prison's height
On strands of linen featly tied。
And so she passed the garden…side
With loose…leaved roses sweetly set；
And dainty daisies； dark beside
The fair white feet of Nicolete！
Her lover lay in evil plight
（So many lovers yet abide！）
I would my tongue could praise aright
Her name； that should be glorified。
Those lovers now； whom foes divide
A little weep；and soon forget。
How far from these faint lovers glide
The fair white feet of Nicolete。
ENVOY。
My Princess； doff thy frozen pride；
Nor scorn to pay Love's golden debt；
Through his dim woodland take for guide
The fair white feet of Nicolete。
GRAHAM R。 TOMSON
THE SONG…STORY OF AUCASSIN AND NICOLETE
'Tis of Aucassin and Nicolete。
Who would list to the good lay
Gladness of the captive grey？
'Tis how two young lovers met；
Aucassin and Nicolete；
Of the pains the lover bore
And the sorrows he outwore；
For the goodness and the grace；
Of his love； so fair of face。
Sweet the song； the story sweet；
There is no man hearkens it；
No man living 'neath the sun；
So outwearied； so foredone；
Sick and woful； worn and sad；
But is healed； but is glad
'Tis so sweet。
So say they； speak they； tell they the Tale：
How the Count Bougars de Valence made war on Count Garin de
Biaucaire； war so great； and so marvellous； and so mortal that never
a day dawned but alway he was there； by the gates and walls； and
barriers of the town with a hundred knights； and ten thousand men at
arms； horsemen and footmen： so burned he the Count's land； and
spoiled his country； and slew his men。 Now the Count Garin de
Biaucaire was old and frail； and his good days were gone over。 No
heir had he； neither son nor daughter； save one young man only； such
an one as I shall tell you。 Aucassin was the name of the damoiseau：
fair was he； goodly； and great； and featly fashioned of his body；
and limbs。 His hair was yellow； in little curls； his eyes blue and
laughing； his face beautiful and shapely； his nose high and well
set； and so richly seen was he in all things good； that in him was
none evil at all。 But so suddenly overtaken was he of Love； who is
a great master； that he would not； of his will； be dubbed knight；
nor take arms； nor follow tourneys； nor do whatsoever him beseemed。
Therefore his father and mother said to him；
〃Son； go take thine arms； mount thy horse； and hold thy land； and
help thy men； for if they see thee among them； more stoutly will
they keep in battle their lives； and lands； and thine； and mine。〃
〃Father；〃 said Aucassin； 〃I marvel that you will be speaking。 Never
may God give me aught of my desire if I be made knight； or mount my
horse； or face stour and battle wherein knights smite and are
smitten again； unless thou give me Nicolete； my true love； that I
love so well。〃
〃Son；〃 said the father； 〃this may not be。 Let Nicolete go； a slave
girl she is； out of a strange land； and the captain of this town
bought her of the Saracens； and carried her hither； and hath reared
her and let christen the maid； and took her for his daughter in God；
and one day will find a young man for her； to win her bread
honourably。 Herein hast thou naught to make or mend； but if a wife
thou wilt have； I will give thee the daughter of a King； or a Count。
There is no man so rich in France； but if thou desire his daughter；
thou shalt have her。〃
〃Faith！ my father；〃 said Aucassin； 〃tell me where is the place so
high in all the world； that Nicolete； my sweet lady and love； would
not grace it well？ If she were Empress of Constantinople or of
Germany； or Queen of France or England； it were little enough for
her； so gentle is she and courteous； and debonaire； and compact of
all good qualities。〃
Here singeth one：
Aucassin was of Biaucaire
Of a goodly castle there；
But from Nicolete the fair
None might win his heart away
Though his father； many a day；
And his mother said him nay；
〃Ha！ fond child； what wouldest thou？
Nicolete is glad enow！
Was from Carthage cast away；
Paynims sold her on a day！
Wouldst thou win a lady fair
Choose a maid of high degree
Such an one is meet for thee。〃
〃Nay of these I have no care；
Nicolete is debonaire；
Her body sweet and the face of her
Take my heart as in a snare；
Loyal love is but her share
That is so sweet。〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When the Count Garin de Biaucaire knew that he would avail not to
withdraw Aucassin his son from the love of Nicolete； he went to the
Captain of the city； who was his man； and spake to him； saying：
〃Sir Count； away with Nicolete thy daughter in God； cursed be the
land whence she was brought into this country； for by reason of her
do I lose Aucassin； that will neither be dubbed knight； nor do aught
of the things that fall to him to be done。 And wit ye well；〃 he
said； 〃that if I might have her at my will； I would burn her in a
fire； and yourself might well be sore adread。〃
〃Sir；〃 said the Captain； 〃this is grievous to me that he comes and
goes and hath speech with her。 I had bought the maiden at mine own
charges； and nourished her； and baptized； and made her my daughter
in God。 Yea； I would have given her to a young man that should win
her bread honourably。 With this had Aucassin thy son naught to make
or mend。 But； sith it is thy will and thy pleasure； I will send her
into that land and that country where never will he see her with his
eyes。〃