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captive； and seized away his spear and shield； and straightway they
led him off a prisoner； and were even now discoursing of what death
he should die。
And when Aucassin heard them；
〃Ha！ God；〃 said he； 〃sweet Saviour。 Be these my deadly enemies that
have taken me； and will soon cut off my head？ And once my head is
off； no more shall I speak with Nicolete； my sweet lady； that I love
so well。 Natheless have I here a good sword； and sit a good horse
unwearied。 If now I keep not my head for her sake； God help her
never； if she love me more！〃
The damoiseau was tall and strong； and the horse whereon he sat was
right eager。 And he laid hand to sword； and fell a…smiting to right
and left； and smote through helm and nasal； and arm and clenched
hand； making a murder about him； like a wild boar when hounds fall
on him in the forest； even till he struck down ten knights； and
seven be hurt； and straightway he hurled out of the press； and rode
back again at full speed； sword in hand。 The Count Bougars de
Valence heard say they were about hanging Aucassin； his enemy； so he
came into that place； and Aucassin was ware of him； and gat his
sword into his hand； and lashed at his helm with such a stroke that
he drave it down on his head； and he being stunned； fell grovelling。
And Aucassin laid hands on him； and caught him by the nasal of his
helmet； and gave him to his father。
〃Father；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃lo here is your mortal foe； who hath so
warred on you with all malengin。 Full twenty years did this war
endure； and might not be ended by man。〃
〃Fair son；〃 said his father； 〃thy feats of youth shouldst thou do；
and not seek after folly。〃
〃Father；〃 saith Aucassin； 〃sermon me no sermons； but fulfil my
covenant。〃
〃Ha！ what covenant； fair son？〃
〃What； father； hast thou forgotten it？ By mine own head； whosoever
forgets； will I not forget it； so much it hath me at heart。 Didst
thou not covenant with me when I took up arms； and went into the
stour； that if God brought me back safe and sound； thou wouldst let
me see Nicolete； my sweet lady； even so long that I may have of her
two words or three； and one kiss？ So didst thou covenant； and my
mind is that thou keep thy word。〃
〃I！〃 quoth the father； 〃God forsake me when I keep this covenant！
Nay； if she were here； I would let burn her in the fire； and thyself
shouldst be sore adread。〃
〃Is this thy last word？〃 quoth Aucassin。
〃So help me God；〃 quoth his father； 〃yea！〃
〃Certes；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃this is a sorry thing meseems； when a man
of thine age lies！〃
〃Count of Valence；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃I took thee？〃
〃In sooth； Sir； didst thou；〃 saith the Count。
〃Give me thy hand；〃 saith Aucassin。
〃Sir； with good will。〃
So he set his hand in the other's。
〃Now givest thou me thy word；〃 saith Aucassin； 〃that never whiles
thou art living man wilt thou avail to do my father dishonour； or
harm him in body； or in goods； but do it thou wilt？〃
〃Sir； in God's name；〃 saith he； 〃mock me not； but put me to my
ransom； ye cannot ask of me gold nor silver； horses nor palfreys；
vair nor gris； hawks nor hounds； but I will give you them。〃
〃What？〃 quoth Aucassin。 〃Ha； knowest thou not it was I that took
thee？〃
〃Yea； sir；〃 quoth the Count Bougars。
〃God help me never； but I will make thy head fly from thy shoulders；
if thou makest not troth；〃 said Aucassin。
〃In God's name；〃 said he； 〃I make what promise thou wilt。〃
So they did the oath； and Aucassin let mount him on a horse； and
took another and so led him back till he was all in safety。
Here one singeth：
When the Count Garin doth know
That his child would ne'er forego
Love of her that loved him so；
Nicolete； the bright of brow；
In a dungeon deep below
Childe Aucassin did he throw。
Even there the Childe must dwell
In a dun…walled marble cell。
There he waileth in his woe
Crying thus as ye shall know。
〃Nicolete； thou lily white；
My sweet lady； bright of brow；
Sweeter than the grape art thou；
Sweeter than sack posset good
In a cup of maple wood！
Was it not but yesterday
That a palmer came this way；
Out of Limousin came he；
And at ease he might not be；
For a passion him possessed
That upon his bed he lay；
Lay； and tossed； and knew not rest
In his pain discomforted。
But thou camest by the bed；
Where he tossed amid his pain；
Holding high thy sweeping train；
And thy kirtle of ermine；
And thy smock of linen fine；
Then these fair white limbs of thine；
Did he look on； and it fell
That the palmer straight was well；
Straight was haleand comforted；
And he rose up from his bed；
And went back to his own place；
Sound and strong； and full of face！
My sweet lady； lily white；
Sweet thy footfall； sweet thine eyes；
And the mirth of thy replies。
Sweet thy laughter； sweet thy face；
Sweet thy lips and sweet thy brow；
And the touch of thine embrace。
Who but doth in thee delight？
I for love of thee am bound
In this dungeon underground；
All for loving thee must lie
Here where loud on thee I cry；
Here for loving thee must die
For thee； my love。〃
Then say they； speak they； tell they the Tale：
Aucassin was cast into prison as ye have heard tell； and Nicolete；
of her part； was in the chamber。 Now it was summer time； the month
of May； when days are warm； and long； and clear； and the night still
and serene。 Nicolete lay one night on her bed； and saw the moon
shine clear through a window； yea； and heard the nightingale sing in
the garden； so she minded her of Aucassin her lover whom she loved
so well。 Then fell she to thoughts of Count Garin de Biaucaire；
that hated her to the death； therefore deemed she that there she
would no longer abide； for that； if she were told of； and the Count
knew whereas she lay； an ill death would he make her die。 Now she
knew that the old woman slept who held her company。 Then she arose；
and clad her in a mantle of silk she had by her； very goodly； and
took napkins； and sheets of the bed； and knotted one to the other；
and made therewith a cord as long as she might； so knitted it to a
pillar in the window； and let herself slip down into the garden；
then caught up her raiment in both hands； behind and before； and
kilted up her kirtle； because of the dew that she saw lying deep on
the grass； and so went her way down through the garden。
Her locks were yellow and curled； her eyes blue and smiling； her
face featly fashioned； the nose high and fairly set； the lips more
red than cherry or rose in time of summer； her teeth white and
small； her breasts so firm that they bore up the folds of her bodice
as they had been two apples； so slim she was in the waist that your
two hands might have clipped her； and the daisy flowers that brake
beneath her as she went tip…toe； and that bent above her instep；
seemed black against her feet； so white was the maiden。 She came to
the postern gate； and unbarred it； and went out through the streets
of Biaucaire； keeping always on the shadowy side； for the moon was
shining right clear； and so wandered she till she came to the tower
where her lover lay。 The tower was flanked with buttresses； and she
cowered under one of them； wrapped in her mantle。 Then thrust she
her head through a crevice of the tower that was old and worn； and
so heard she Aucassin wailing within； and making dole and lament for
the sweet lady he loved so well。 And when she had listened to him
she began to say：
Here one singeth：
Nicolete the bright of brow
On a pillar leanest thou；
All Aucassin's wail dost hear
For his love that is so dear；
Then thou spakest； shrill and clear；
〃Gentle knight withouten fear
Little good befalleth thee；
Little help of sigh or tear；
Ne'er shalt thou have joy of me。
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