按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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； 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