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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
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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
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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。〃
〃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
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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
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sh