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into that land and that country where never will he see her with his
eyes。〃
〃Have a heed to thyself；〃 said the Count Garin； 〃thence might great
evil come on thee。〃
So parted they each from other。 Now the Captain was a right rich
man： so had he a rich palace with a garden in face of it； in an
upper chamber thereof he let place Nicolete； with one old woman to
keep her company； and in that chamber put bread and meat and wine
and such things as were needful。 Then he let seal the door； that
none might come in or go forth； save that there was one window； over
against the garden； and strait enough； where through came to them a
little air。
Here singeth one：
Nicolete as ye heard tell
Prisoned is within a cell
That is painted wondrously
With colours of a far countrie；
And the window of marble wrought；
There the maiden stood in thought；
With straight brows and yellow hair
Never saw ye fairer fair！
On the wood she gazed below；
And she saw the roses blow；
Heard the birds sing loud and low；
Therefore spoke she wofully：
〃Ah me； wherefore do I lie
Here in prison wrongfully：
Aucassin； my love； my knight；
Am I not thy heart's delight；
Thou that lovest me aright！
'Tis for thee that I must dwell
In the vaulted chamber cell；
Hard beset and all alone！
By our Lady Mary's Son
Here no longer will I wonn；
If I may flee！
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Nicolete was in prison； as ye have heard soothly； in the chamber。
And the noise and bruit of it went through all the country and all
the land； how that Nicolete was lost。 Some said she had fled the
country； and some that the Count Garin de Biaucaire had let slay
her。 Whosoever had joy thereof； Aucassin had none； so he went to
the Captain of the town and spoke to him； saying：
〃Sir Captain； what hast thou made of Nicolete； my sweet lady and
love； the thing that best I love in all the world？ Hast thou
carried her off or ravished her away from me？ Know well that if I
die of it； the price shall be demanded of thee； and that will be
well done； for it shall be even as if thou hadst slain me with thy
two hands； for thou hast taken from me the thing that in this world
I loved the best。〃
〃Fair Sir；〃 said the Captain； 〃let these things be。 Nicolete is a
captive that I did bring from a strange country。 Yea； I bought her
at my own charges of the Saracens； and I bred her up and baptized
her； and made her my daughter in God。 And I have cherished her； and
one of these days I would have given her a young man； to win her
bread honourably。 With this hast thou naught to make； but do thou
take the daughter of a King or a Count。 Nay more； what wouldst thou
deem thee to have gained； hadst thou made her thy leman； and taken
her to thy bed？ Plentiful lack of comfort hadst thou got thereby；
for in Hell would thy soul have lain while the world endures； and
into Paradise wouldst thou have entered never。〃
〃In Paradise what have I to win？ Therein I seek not to enter； but
only to have Nicolete； my sweet lady that I love so well。 For into
Paradise go none but such folk as I shall tell thee now： Thither go
these same old priests； and halt old men and maimed； who all day and
night cower continually before the altars； and in the crypts； and
such folk as wear old amices and old clouted frocks； and naked folk
and shoeless； and covered with sores； perishing of hunger and
thirst； and of cold； and of little ease。 These be they that go into
Paradise； with them have I naught to make。 But into Hell would I
fain go； for into Hell fare the goodly clerks； and goodly knights
that fall in tourneys and great wars； and stout men at arms； and all
men noble。 With these would I liefly go。 And thither pass the
sweet ladies and courteous that have two lovers； or three； and their
lords also thereto。 Thither goes the gold； and the silver； and
cloth of vair； and cloth of gris； and harpers； and makers； and the
prince of this world。 With these I would gladly go； let me but have
with me； Nicolete； my sweetest lady。〃
〃Certes；〃 quoth the Captain； 〃in vain wilt thou speak thereof； for
never shalt thou see her； and if thou hadst word with her； and thy
father knew it； he would let burn in a fire both her and me； and
thyself might well be sore adread。〃
〃That is even what irketh me；〃 quoth Aucassin。 So he went from the
Captain sorrowing。
Here singeth one：
Aucassin did so depart
Much in dole and heavy at heart
For his love so bright and dear；
None might bring him any cheer；
None might give good words to hear；
To the palace doth he fare
Climbeth up the palace…stair；
Passeth to a chamber there；
Thus great sorrow doth he bear；
For his lady and love so fair。
〃Nicolete how fair art thou；
Sweet thy foot…fall； sweet thine eyes；
Sweet the mirth of thy replies；
Sweet thy laughter； sweet thy face；
Sweet thy lips and sweet thy brow；
And the touch of thine embrace；
All for thee I sorrow now；
Captive in an evil place；
Whence I ne'er may go my ways
Sister； sweet friend！〃
So say they； speak they； tell they the Tale：
While Aucassin was in the chamber sorrowing for Nicolete his love；
even then the Count Bougars de Valence； that had his war to wage；
forgat it no whit； but had called up his horsemen and his footmen；
so made he for the castle to storm it。 And the cry of battle arose；
and the din； and knights and men at arms busked them； and ran to
walls and gates to hold the keep。 And the towns…folk mounted to the
battlements； and cast down bolts and pikes。 Then while the assault
was great； and even at its height； the Count Garin de Biaucaire came
into the chamber where Aucassin was making lament； sorrowing for
Nicolete； his sweet lady that he loved so well。
〃Ha！ son；〃 quoth he； 〃how caitiff art thou； and cowardly； that canst
see men assail thy goodliest castle and strongest。 Know thou that
if thou lose it； thou losest all。 Son； go to； take arms； and mount
thy horse； and defend thy land； and help thy men； and fare into the
stour。 Thou needst not smite nor be smitten。 If they do but see
thee among them； better will they guard their substance； and their
lives； and thy land and mine。 And thou art so great； and hardy of
thy hands； that well mightst thou do this thing； and to do it is thy
devoir。〃
〃Father；〃 said Aucassin； 〃what is this thou sayest now？ God grant
me never aught of my desire； if I be dubbed knight； or mount steed；
or go into the stour where knights do smite and are smitten； if thou
givest me not Nicolete； my sweet lady； whom I love so well。〃
〃 Son；〃 quoth his father； 〃this may never be： rather would I be
quite disinherited and lose all that is mine； than that thou
shouldst have her to thy wife； or to love par amours。〃
So he turned him about。 But when Aucassin saw him going he called
to him again； saying；
〃Father； go to now； I will make with thee fair covenant。〃
〃What covenant； fair son？〃
〃I will take up arms； and go into the stour； on this covenant； that；
if God bring me back sound and safe； thou wilt let me see Nicolete
my sweet lady； even so long that I may have of her two words or
three； and one kiss。〃
〃That will I grant；〃 said his father。
At this was Aucassin glad。
Here one singeth：
Of the kiss heard Aucassin
That returning he shall win。
None so glad would he have been
Of a myriad marks of gold
Of a hundred thousand told。
Called for raiment brave of steel；
Then they clad him； head to heel；
Twyfold hauberk doth he don；
Firmly braced the helmet on。
Girt the sword with hilt of gold；
Horse doth mount； and lance doth wield；
Looks to stirrups and to shield；
Wondrous brave he rode to field。
Dreaming of his lady dear
Setteth spurs to the destrere；
Rideth forward without fear；
Through the gate and forth away
To the fray。
So speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Aucassin was armed and mounted as ye have heard tell。 God！ how
goodly sat the shield on his shoulder； the helm on his head； and the
baldric on his left haunch！ And the damoiseau was tall； fair；
featly fashioned； and hardy of his hands； and the horse whereon he
rode swift and keen； and straight had he spurred him forth of the
gate。 Now believe ye not that his mind was on kine； nor cattle of
the booty； nor thought he how he might strike a knight； nor be
stricken again： nor no such thing。 Nay； no memory had Aucassin of
aught of these； rather he so dreamed of Nicolete； his sweet lady；
that he dropped his reins； forgetting all there was to do； and his
horse that had felt the spur； bore him into the press and hurled
among the foe； and they laid hands on him all about； and took him
captive； and seized away his spear and shield； and straightway they
led him off a prisoner； and were even now discoursing of what death