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And they had a mantle stretched on the grass； and were eating bread； and
making great joy。
Here one singeth：
There were gathered shepherds all； Martin； Esmeric； and Hal； Aubrey；
Robin； great and small。 Saith the one； 〃Good fellows all； God keep
Aucassin the fair； And the maid with yellow hair； Bright of brow and eyes
of vair。 She that gave us gold to ware。 Cakes therewith to buy ye know；
Goodly knives and sheaths also。 Flutes to play； and pipes to blow； May
God him heal！〃
Here speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When Aucassin heard the shepherds； anon he bethought him of
Nicolete； his sweet lady he loved so well； and he deemed that she had
passed thereby； then set he spurs to his horse； and so came to the
shepherds。
〃Fair boys； God be with you。〃
〃God bless you；〃 quoth he that had more words to his tongue than the
rest。
〃Fair boys；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃say the song again that anon ye sang。〃
〃Say it we will not；〃 quoth he that had more words to his tongue than
the rest； 〃foul fall him who will sing it again for you； fair sir！〃
〃Fair boys；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃know ye me not？〃
〃Yea； we know well that you are Aucassin； out damoiseau； natheless
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Aucassin and Nicolete
we be not your men； but the Count's。〃
〃Fair boys； yet sing it again； I pray you。〃
〃Hearken！ by the Holy Heart；〃 quoth he； 〃wherefore should I sing for
you； if it likes me not？ Lo； there is no such rich man in this country；
saving the body of Garin the Count； that dare drive forth my oxen； or my
cows； or my sheep； if he finds them in his fields； or his corn； lest he lose
his eyes for it； and wherefore should I sing for you； if it likes me not？〃
〃God be your aid； fair boys； sing it ye will； and take ye these ten sols I
have here in a purse。〃
〃Sir； the money will we take； but never a note will I sing； for I have
given my oath； but I will tell thee a plain tale； if thou wilt。〃
〃By God；〃 saith Aucassin； 〃I love a plain tale better than naught。〃
〃Sir； we were in this place； a little time agone； between prime and
tierce； and were eating our bread by this fountain； even as now we do； and
a maid came past； the fairest thing in the world； whereby we deemed that
she should be a fay； and all the wood shone round about her。 Anon she
gave us of that she had； whereby we made covenant with her； that if ye
came hither we would bid you hunt in this forest； wherein is such a beast
that； an ye might take him； ye would not give one limb of him for five
hundred marks of silver； nor for no ransom； for this beast is so mighty of
medicine； that； an ye could take him； ye should be healed of your torment；
and within three days must ye take him； and if ye take him not then； never
will ye look on him。 So chase ye the beast； an ye will； or an ye will let be；
for my promise have I kept with her。〃
〃Fair boys；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃ye have said enough。 God grant me to
find this quarry。〃
Here one singeth。
Aucassin when he had heard； Sore within his heart was stirred； Left
the shepherds on that word； Far into the forest spurred Rode into the wood；
and fleet Fled his horse through paths of it； Three words spake he of his
sweet； 〃Nicolete the fair； the dear； 'Tis for thee I follow here Track of boar；
nor slot of deer； But thy sweet body and eyes so clear； All thy mirth and
merry cheer； That my very heart have slain； So please God to me maintain
I shall see my love again； Sweet sister； friend！〃
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Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Aucassin fared through the forest from path to path after Nicolete； and
his horse bare him furiously。 Think ye not that the thorns him spared； nor
the briars； nay； not so； but tare his raiment； that scarce a knot might be tied
with the soundest part thereof； and the blood sprang from his arms； and
flanks； and legs； in forty places； or thirty； so that behind the Childe men
might follow on the track of his blood in the grass。 But so much he went
in thoughts of Nicolete； his lady sweet； that he felt no pain nor torment；
and all the day hurled through the forest in this fashion nor heard no word
of her。 And when he saw Vespers draw nigh； he began to weep for that
he found her not。 All down an old road； and grassgrown he fared； when
anon； looking along the way before him； he saw such an one as I shall tell
you。 Tall was he； and great of growth； laidly and marvellous to look
upon： his head huge； and black as charcoal； and more than the breadth of
a hand between his two eyes； and great cheeks； and a big nose and broad；
big nostrils and ugly； and thick lips redder than a collop； and great teeth
yellow and ugly； and he was shod with hosen and shoon of bull's hide；
bound with cords of bark over the knee； and all about him a great cloak
twy…fold； and he leaned on a grievous cudgel； and Aucassin came unto him；
and was afraid when he beheld him。
〃Fair brother； God aid thee。〃
〃God bless you；〃 quoth he。
〃As God he helpeth thee； what makest thou here？〃
〃What is that to thee？〃
〃Nay； naught； naught；〃 saith Aucassin； 〃I ask but out of courtesy。〃
〃But for whom weepest thou；〃 quoth he； 〃and makest such heavy
lament？ Certes； were I as rich a man as thou； the whole world should not
make me weep。〃
〃Ha！ know ye me？〃 saith Aucassin。
〃Yea； I know well that ye be Aucassin； the son of the Count； and if ye
tell me for why ye weep； then will I tell you what I make here。〃
〃Certes；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃I will tell you right gladly。 Hither came I
this morning to hunt in this forest； and with me a white hound； the fairest
in the world； him have I lost； and for him I weep。〃
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〃By the Heart our Lord bare in his breast；〃 quoth he； 〃are ye weeping
for a stinking hound？ Foul fall him that holds thee high henceforth！ for
there is no such rich man in the land； but if thy father asked it of him； he
would give thee ten； or fifteen； or twenty； and be the gladder for it。 But I
have cause to weep and make dole。〃
〃Wherefore so； brother？〃
〃Sir； I will tell thee。 I was hireling to a rich vilain； and drove his
plough； four oxen had he。 But three days since came on me great
misadventure； whereby I lost the best of mine oxen； Roger； the best of my
team。 Him go I seeking； and have neither eaten nor drunken these three
days； nor may I go to the town； lest they cast me into prison； seeing that I
have not wherewithal to pay。 Out of all the wealth of the world have I no
more than ye see on my body。 A poor mother bare me； that had no more
but one wretched bed； this have they taken from under her； and she lies in
the very straw。 This ails me more than mine own case； for wealth comes
and goes； if now I have lost； another tide will I gain； and will pay for mine
ox whenas I may； never for that will I weep。 But you weep for a stinking
hound。 Foul fall whoso thinks well of thee！〃
〃Certes thou art a good comforter； brother； blessed be thou！ And of
what price was thine ox？〃
〃Sir； they ask me twenty sols for him； whereof I cannot abate one
doit。〃
〃Nay； then；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃take these twenty sols I have in my
purse； and pay for thine ox。〃
〃Sir；〃 saith he； 〃gramercy。 And God give thee to find that thou
seekest。〃
So they parted each from other； and Aucassin rode on： the night was
fair and still； and so long he went that he came to the lodge of boughs； that
Nicolete had builded and woven within and without； over and under； with
flowers； and it was the fairest lodge that might be seen。 When Aucassin
was ware of it； he stopped suddenly； and the light of the moon fell therein。
〃God！〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃here was Nicolete； my sweet lady； and this
lodge builded she with her fair hands。 For the sweetness of it； and for
love of her； will I alight；