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！
… Page 13…
Aucassin and Nicolete
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；
13
… Page 14…
Aucassin and Nicolete
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
14
… Page 15…
Aucassin and Nicolete
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 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？〃
15
… Page 16…
Aucassin and Nicolete
〃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