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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：
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Aucassin and Nicolete
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
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Aucassin and Nicolete
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。
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Aucassin and Nicolete
〃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 start； and my brain burst。 Rather would I
die even such a death； than know thou hadst lain in a man's bed； and that
bed not mine。〃
〃Aucassin；〃 she said； 〃I trow thou lovest me not as much as thou
sayest； but I love thee more than thou lovest me。〃
〃Ah； fair sweet friend；〃 said Aucassin； 〃it may not be that thou
shouldst love me even as I love thee。 Woman may not love man as man
loves woman； for a woman's love lies in the glance of her eye； and the bud
of her breast； and her foot's tip…toe； but the love of man is in his heart
planted； whence it can never issue forth and pass away。〃
Now while Aucassin and Nicolete held this parley together； the town's
guards came down a street； with swords drawn beneath their cloaks； for
the Count Garin had charged them that if they could take her they should
slay her。 But the sentinel that was on the tower saw them coming； and
heard them speaking of Nicolete as they went； and threatening to slay her。
〃God！〃 quoth he； 〃this were great pity to slay so fair a maid！ Right
great charity it were if I could say aught to her； and they perceive it not；
and she should be on her guard against them； for if they slay her； then
were Aucassin； my damoiseau； dead； and that were great pity。〃
Here one singeth：
Valiant was the sentinel； Courteous； kind； and practised well； So a
song did sing and tell Of the peril that befell。 〃Maiden fair that lingerest
here； Gentle maid of merry cheer； Hair of gold； and eyes as clear As the
water in a mere； Thou； meseems； hast spoken word To thy lover and thy
lord； That would die for thee； his dear； Now beware the ill accord； Of the
cloaked men of the sword； These have sworn and keep their word； They
will put thee to the sword Save thou take heed！〃