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will put thee to the sword Save thou take heed！〃
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Aucassin and Nicolete
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
〃Ha！〃 quoth Nicolete； 〃be the soul of thy father and the soul of thy
mother in the rest of Paradise； so fairly and so courteously hast thou
spoken me！ Please God； I will be right ware of them； God keep me out
of their hands。〃
So she shrank under her mantle into the shadow of the pillar till they
had passed by； and then took she farewell of Aucassin； and so fared till she
came unto the castle wall。 Now that wall was wasted and broken； and
some deal mended； so she clomb thereon till she came between wall and
fosse； and so looked down； and saw that the fosse was deep and steep；
whereat she was sore adread。
〃Ah God；〃 saith she； 〃sweet Saviour！ If I let myself fall hence； I shall
break my neck； and if here I abide； to…morrow they will take me and burn
me in a fire。 Yet liefer would I perish here than that to…morrow the folk
should stare on me for a gazing…stock。〃
Then she crossed herself； and so let herself slip into the fosse； and
when she had come to the bottom； her fair feet； and fair hands that had not
custom thereof； were bruised and frayed； and the blood springing from a
dozen places； yet felt she no pain nor hurt； by reason of the great dread
wherein she went。 But if she were in cumber to win there； in worse was
she to win out。 But she deemed that there to abide was of none avail； and
she found a pike sharpened； that they of the city had thrown out to keep
the hold。 Therewith made she one stepping place after another； till； with
much travail； she climbed the wall。 Now the forest lay within two
crossbow shots； and the forest was of thirty leagues this way and that。
Therein also were wild beasts； and beasts serpentine； and she feared that if
she entered there they would slay her。 But anon she deemed that if men
found her there they would hale her back into the town to burn her。
Here one singeth：
Nicolete； the fair of face； Climbed upon the coping stone； There made
she lament and moan Calling on our Lord alone For his mercy and his
grace。
〃Father； king of Majesty； Listen； for I nothing know Where to flee or
whither go。 If within the wood I fare； Lo； the wolves will slay me there；
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Aucassin and Nicolete
Boars and lions terrible； Many in the wild wood dwell； But if I abide the
day； Surely worse will come of it； Surely will the fire be lit That shall burn
my body away； Jesus； lord of Majesty； Better seemeth it to me； That within
the wood I fare； Though the wolves devour me there Than within the town
to go； Ne'er be it so！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Nicolete made great moan； as ye have heard； then commended she
herself to God； and anon fared till she came unto the forest。 But to go
deep in it she dared not； by reason of the wild beasts； and beasts serpentine。
Anon crept she into a little thicket； where sleep came upon her； and she
slept till prime next day； when the shepherds issued forth from the town
and drove their bestial between wood and water。 Anon came they all into
one place by a fair fountain which was on the fringe of the forest； thereby
spread they a mantle； and thereon set bread。 So while they were eating；
Nicolete wakened； with the sound of the singing birds； and the shepherds；
and she went unto them； saying； 〃Fair boys； our Lord keep you！〃
〃God bless thee；〃 quoth he that had more words to his tongue than the
rest。
〃Fair boys；〃 quoth she； 〃know ye Aucassin； the son of Count Garin de
Biaucaire？〃
〃Yea； well we know him。〃
〃So may God help you； fair boys；〃 quoth she； 〃tell him there is a beast
in this forest； and bid him come chase it； and if he can take it； he would
not give one limb thereof for a hundred marks of gold； nay； nor for five
hundred； nor for any ransom。〃
Then looked they on her； and saw her so fair that they were all
astonied。
〃Will I tell him thereof？〃 quoth he that had more words to his tongue
than the rest； 〃foul fall him who speaks of the thing or tells him the tidings。
These are but visions ye tell of； for there is no beast so great in this forest；
stag； nor lion； nor boar； that one of his limbs is worth more than two
deniers； or three at the most； and ye speak of such great ransom。 Foul
fall him that believes your word； and him that telleth Aucassin。 Ye be a
Fairy； and we have none liking for your company； nay； hold on your road。〃
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Aucassin and Nicolete
〃Nay； fair boys；〃 quoth she； 〃nay； ye will do my bidding。 For this
beast is so mighty of medicine that thereby will Aucassin be healed of his
torment。 And lo！ I have five sols in my purse； take them； and tell him：
for within three days must he come hunting it hither； and if within three
days he find it not； never will he be healed of his torment。〃
〃My faith；〃 quoth he； 〃the money will we take； and if he come hither
we will tell him； but seek him we will not。〃
〃In God's name；〃 quoth she； and so took farewell of the shepherds； and
went her way。
Here singeth one：
Nicolete the bright of brow From the shepherds doth she pass All
below the blossomed bough Where an ancient way there was； Overgrown
and choked with grass； Till she found the cross…roads where Seven paths
do all way fare； Then she deemeth she will try； Should her lover pass
thereby； If he love her loyally。 So she gathered white lilies； Oak…leaf； that
in green wood is； Leaves of many a branch I wis； Therewith built a lodge
of green； Goodlier was never seen； Swore by God who may not lie； 〃If my
love the lodge should spy； He will rest awhile thereby If he love me
loyally。〃 Thus his faith she deemed to try； 〃Or I love him not； not I； Nor he
loves me！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Nicolete built her lodge of boughs； as ye have heard； right fair and
feteously； and wove it well； within and without； of flowers and leaves。
So lay she hard by the lodge in a deep coppice to know what Aucassin will
do。 And the cry and the bruit went abroad through all the country and all
the land； that Nicolete was lost。 Some told that she had fled； and some
that the Count Garin had let slay her。 Whosoever had joy thereof； no joy
had Aucassin。 And the Count Garin； his father； had taken him out of
prison； and had sent for the knights of that land； and the ladies； and let
make a right great feast； for the comforting of Aucassin his son。 Now at
the high time of the feast； was Aucassin leaning from a gallery； all woful
and discomforted。 Whatsoever men might devise of mirth； Aucassin had
no joy thereof； nor no desire； for he saw not her that he loved。 Then a
knight looked on him； and came to him； and said：
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Aucassin and Nicolete
〃Aucassin； of that sickness of thine have I been sick； and good counsel
will I give thee； if thou wilt hearken to me〃
〃Sir；〃 said Aucassin； 〃gramercy； good counsel would I fain hear。〃
〃Mount thy horse；〃 quoth he； 〃and go take thy pastime in yonder 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 shep