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Of our Lord that is most high；
Rather would he they should die
All his kin and parentry；
So that Nicolete were nigh。
〃Ah sweet love； and fair of brow；
I know not where to seek thee now；
God made never that countrie；
Not by land； and not by sea；
Where I would not search for thee；
If that might be！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Now leave we Aucassin； and speak we of Nicolete。 The ship wherein
she was cast pertained to the King of Carthage； and he was her
father； and she had twelve brothers； all princes or kings。 When
they beheld Nicolete； how fair she was； they did her great worship；
and made much joy of her； and many times asked her who she was； for
surely seemed she a lady of noble line and high parentry。 But she
might not tell them of her lineage； for she was but a child when men
stole her away。 So sailed they till they won the City of Carthage；
and when Nicolete saw the walls of the castle； and the country…side；
she knew that there had she been nourished and thence stolen away；
being but a child。 Yet was she not so young a child but that well
she knew she had been daughter of the King of Carthage； and of her
nurture in that city。
Here singeth one：
Nicolete the good and true
To the land hath come anew；
Sees the palaces and walls；
And the houses and the halls！
Then she spake and said； 〃Alas！
That of birth so great I was；
Cousin of the Amiral
And the very child of him
Carthage counts King of Paynim；
Wild folk hold me here withal；
Nay Aucassin； love of thee
Gentle knight； and true； and free；
Burns and wastes the heart of me。
Ah God grant it of his grace；
That thou hold me； and embrace；
That thou kiss me on the face
Love and lord！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When the King of Carthage heard Nicolete speak in this wise； he cast
his arms about her neck。
〃Fair sweet love；〃 saith he； 〃tell me who thou art； and be not
adread of me。〃
〃Sir；〃 said she； 〃I am daughter to the King of Carthage； and was
taken； being then a little child； it is now fifteen years gone。〃
When all they of the court heard her speak thus； they knew well that
she spake sooth： so made they great joy of her； and led her to the
castle in great honour； as the King's daughter。 And they would have
given her to her lord a King of Paynim； but she had no mind to
marry。 There dwelt she three days or four。 And she considered by
what means she might seek for Aucassin。 Then she got her a viol；
and learned to play on it； till they would have married her on a day
to a great King of Paynim； and she stole forth by night； and came to
the sea…port； and dwelt with a poor woman thereby。 Then took she a
certain herb； and therewith smeared her head and her face； till she
was all brown and stained。 And she let make coat； and mantle； and
smock； and hose； and attired herself as if she had been a harper。
So took she the viol and went to a mariner； and so wrought on him
that he took her aboard his vessel。 Then hoisted they sail； and
fared on the high seas even till they came to the land of Provence。
And Nicolete went forth and took the viol； and went playing through
all that country； even till she came to the castle of Biaucaire；
where Aucassin lay。
Here singeth one：
At Biaucaire below the tower
Sat Aucassin； on an hour；
Heard the bird； and watched the flower；
With his barons him beside；
Then came on him in that tide；
The sweet influence of love
And the memory thereof；
Thought of Nicolete the fair；
And the dainty face of her
He had loved so many years；
Then was he in dule and tears！
Even then came Nicolete
On the stair a foot she set；
And she drew the viol bow
Through the strings and chanted so；
〃Listen； lords and knights； to me；
Lords of high or low degree；
To my story list will ye
All of Aucassin and her
That was Nicolete the fair？
And their love was long to tell
Deep woods through he sought her well；
Paynims took them on a day
In Torelore and bound they lay。
Of Aucassin nought know we；
But fair Nicolete the free
Now in Carthage doth she dwell；
There her father loves her well；
Who is king of that countrie。
Her a husband hath he found；
Paynim lord that serves Mahound！
Ne'er with him the maid will go；
For she loves a damoiseau；
Aucassin； that ye may know；
Swears to God that never mo
With a lover will she go
Save with him she loveth so
In long desire。〃
So speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When Aucassin heard Nicolete speak in this wise； he was right
joyful； and drew her on one side； and spoke； saying：
〃Sweet fair friend； know ye nothing of this Nicolete； of whom ye
have thus sung？〃
〃Yea； Sir； I know her for the noblest creature； and the most gentle；
and the best that ever was born on ground。 She is daughter to the
King of Carthage that took her there where Aucassin was taken； and
brought her into the city of Carthage； till he knew that verily she
was his own daughter； whereon he made right great mirth。 Anon
wished he to give her for her lord one of the greatest kings of all
Spain； but she would rather let herself be hanged or burned； than
take any lord； how great soever。〃
〃Ha！ fair sweet friend；〃 quoth the Count Aucassin； 〃if thou wilt go
into that land again； and bid her come and speak to me； I will give
thee of my substance； more than thou wouldst dare to ask or take。
And know ye； that for the sake of her； I have no will to take a
wife； howsoever high her lineage。 So wait I for her； and never will
I have a wife； but her only。 And if I knew where to find her； no
need would I have to seek her。〃
〃Sir；〃 quoth she； 〃if ye promise me that； I will go in quest of her
for your sake； and for hers； that I love much。〃
So he sware to her； and anon let give her twenty livres； and she
departed from him； and he wept for the sweetness of Nicolete。 And
when she saw him weeping； she said：
〃Sir； trouble not thyself so much withal。 For in a little while
shall I have brought her into this city； and ye shall see her。〃
When Aucassin heard that； he was right glad thereof。 And she
departed from him； and went into the city to the house of the
Captain's wife； for the Captain her father in God was dead。 So she
dwelt there； and told all her tale； and the Captain's wife knew her；
and knew well that she was Nicolete that she herself had nourished。
Then she let wash and bathe her； and there rested she eight full
days。 Then took she an herb that was named Eyebright and anointed
herself therewith； and was as fair as ever she had been all the days
of her life。 Then she clothed herself in rich robes of silk whereof
the lady had great store； and then sat herself in the chamber on a
silken coverlet； and called the lady and bade her go and bring
Aucassin her love； and she did even so。 And when she came to the
Palace she found Aucassin weeping； and making lament for Nicolete
his love； for that she delayed so long。 And the lady spake unto him
and said：
〃Aucassin； sorrow no more； but come thou on with me； and I will shew
thee the thing in the world that thou lovest best； even Nicolete thy
dear love； who from far lands hath come to seek of thee。〃 And
Aucassin was right glad。
Here singeth one：
When Aucassin heareth now
That his lady bright of brow
Dwelleth in his own countrie；
Never man was glad as he。
To her castle doth he hie
With the lady speedily；
Passeth to the chamber high；
Findeth Nicolete thereby。
Of her true love found again
Never maid was half so fain。
Straight she leaped upon her feet：
When his love he saw at last；
Arms about her did he cast；
Kissed her often； kissed her sweet
Kissed her lips and brows and eyes。
Thus all night do they devise；
Even till the morning white。
Then Aucassin wedded her；
Made her Lady of Biaucaire。
Many years abode they there；
Many years in shade or sun；
In great gladness and delight
Ne'er hath Aucassin regret
Nor his lady Nicolete。
Now my story all is done；
Said and sung！
NOTES
〃THE BLENDING〃of alternate prose and verse〃is not unknown in
various countries。〃 Thus in Dr。 Steere's Swahili Tales （London；
1870）； p。 vii。 we read： 〃It is a constant characteristic of popular
native tales to have a sort of burden； which all join in singing。
Frequently the skeleton of the story seems to be contained in these
snatches of singing； which the story…teller connects by an
extemporized account of the intervening history 。 。 。 Almost all
these stories had sung parts； and of some of these； even those who
sung them could scarcely explain the meaning 。 。 。 I have heard
stories partly told； in which the verse parts were in the Yao and
Nyamwezi languages。〃 The examples given （Sultan Majnun） are only
verses supposed to be chanted by the characters in th