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love of her； will I alight； and rest here this night long。〃
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Aucassin and Nicolete
He drew forth his foot from the stirrup to alight； and the steed was
great and tall。 He dreamed so much on Nicolete his right sweet lady； that
he slipped on a stone； and drave his shoulder out of his place。 Then
knew he that he was hurt sore； natheless he bore him with what force he
might； and fastened with the other hand the mare's son to a thorn。 Then
turned he on his side； and crept backwise into the lodge of boughs。 And
he looked through a gap in the lodge and saw the stars in heaven； and one
that was brighter than the rest； so began he to say：
Here one singeth：
〃Star； that I from far behold； Star； the Moon calls to her fold； Nicolete
with thee doth dwell； My sweet love with locks of gold； God would have
her dwell afar； Dwell with him for evening star； Would to God； whate'er
befell； Would that with her I might dwell。 I would clip her close and strait；
Nay； were I of much estate； Some king's son desirable； Worthy she to be
my mate； Me to kiss and clip me well； Sister； sweet friend！〃
So speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When Nicolete heard Aucassin； right so came she unto him； for she
was not far away。 She passed within the lodge； and threw her arms about
his neck； and clipped and kissed him。
〃Fair sweet friend； welcome be thou。〃
〃And thou； fair sweet love； be thou welcome。〃
So either kissed and clipped the other； and fair joy was them between。
〃Ha！ sweet love；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃but now was I sore hurt； and my
shoulder wried； but I take no force of it； nor have no hurt therefrom since I
have thee。〃
Right so felt she his shoulder and found it was wried from its place。
And she so handled it with her white hands； and so wrought in her surgery；
that by God's will who loveth lovers； it went back into its place。 Then
took she flowers； and fresh grass； and leaves green； and bound these herbs
on the hurt with a strip of her smock； and he was all healed。
〃Aucassin；〃 saith she； 〃fair sweet love； take counsel what thou wilt do。
If thy father let search this forest to…morrow； and men find me here； they
will slay me； come to thee what will。〃
〃Certes； fair sweet love； therefore should I sorrow heavily； but； an if I
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Aucassin and Nicolete
may； never shall they take thee。〃
Anon gat he on his horse； and his lady before him； kissing and clipping
her； and so rode they at adventure。
Here one singeth：
Aucassin the frank； the fair； Aucassin of the yellow hair； Gentle
knight； and true lover； From the forest doth he fare； Holds his love before
him there； Kissing cheek； and chin； and eyes； But she spake in sober wise；
〃Aucassin； true love and fair； To what land do we repair？〃 Sweet my love；
I take no care； Thou art with me everywhere！ So they pass the woods and
downs； Pass the villages and towns； Hills and dales and open land； Came
at dawn to the sea sand； Lighted down upon the strand； Beside the sea。
Then say they； speak they； tell they the Tale：
Aucassin lighted down and his love； as ye have heard sing。 He held
his horse by the bridle； and his lady by the hands； so went they along the
sea shore； and on the sea they saw a ship； and he called unto the sailors；
and they came to him。 Then held he such speech with them； that he and
his lady were brought aboard that ship； and when they were on the high
sea； behold a mighty wind and tyrannous arose； marvellous and great； and
drave them from land to land； till they came unto a strange country； and
won the haven of the castle of Torelore。 Then asked they what this land
might be； and men told them that it was the country of the King of
Torelore。 Then he asked what manner of man was he； and was there war
afoot； and men said；
〃Yea； and mighty！〃
Therewith took he farewell of the merchants； and they commended
him to God。 Anon Aucassin mounted his horse； with his sword girt； and
his lady before him； and rode at adventure till he was come to the castle。
Then asked he where the King was； and they said that he was in childbed。
〃Then where is his wife？〃
And they told him she was with the host； and had led with her all the
force of that country。
Now when Aucassin heard that saying； he made great marvel； and
came into the castle； and lighted down； he and his lady； and his lady held
his horse。 Right so went he up into the castle； with his sword girt； and
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fared hither and thither till he came to the chamber where the King was
lying。
Here one singeth：
Aucassin the courteous knight To the chamber went forthright； To the
bed with linen dight Even where the King was laid。 There he stood by him
and said： 〃Fool； what mak'st thou here abed？〃 Quoth the King： 〃I am
brought to bed Of a fair son； and anon When my month is over and gone；
And my healing fairly done； To the Minster will I fare And will do my
churching there； As my father did repair。 Then will sally forth to war； Then
will drive my foes afar From my countrie！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When Aucassin heard the King speak on this wise； he took all the
sheets that covered him； and threw them all abroad about the chamber。
Then saw he behind him a cudgel； and caught it into his hand； and turned；
and took the King； and beat him till he was well… nigh dead。
〃Ha！ fair sir；〃 quoth the King； 〃what would you with me？ Art thou
beside thyself； that beatest me in mine own house？〃
〃By God's heart；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃thou ill son of an ill wench； I will
slay thee if thou swear not that never shall any man in all thy land lie in of
child henceforth for ever。〃
So he did that oath； and when he had done it；
〃Sir；〃 said Aucassin； 〃bring me now where thy wife is with the host。〃
〃Sir； with good will；〃 quoth the King。
He mounted his horse； and Aucassin gat on his own； and Nicolete
abode in the Queen's chamber。 Anon rode Aucassin and the King even
till they came to that place where the Queen was； and lo！ men were
warring with baked apples； and with eggs； and with fresh cheeses； and
Aucassin began to look on them； and made great marvel。
Here one singeth：
Aucassin his horse doth stay； From the saddle watched the fray； All
the stour and fierce array； Right fresh cheeses carried they； Apples baked；
and mushrooms grey； Whoso splasheth most the ford He is master called
and lord。 Aucassin doth gaze awhile； Then began to laugh and smile And
made game。
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Aucassin and Nicolete
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When Aucassin beheld these marvels； he came to the King； and said；
〃Sir； be these thine enemies？〃
〃Yea； Sir；〃 quoth the King。
〃And will ye that I should avenge you of them？〃
〃Yea；〃 quoth he； 〃with all my heart。〃
Then Aucassin put hand to sword； and hurled among them； and began
to smite to the right hand and the left； and slew many of them。 And when
the King saw that he slew them； he caught at his bridle and said；
〃Ha！ fair sir； slay them not in such wise。〃
〃How；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃will ye not that I should avenge you of
them？〃
〃Sir；〃 quoth the King； 〃overmuch already hast thou avenged me。 It is
nowise our custom to slay each other。〃
Anon turned they and fled。 Then the King and Aucassin betook them
again to the castle of Torelore； and the folk of that land counselled the
King to put Aucassin forth； and keep Nicolete for his son's wife； for that
she seemed a lady high of lineage。 And Nicolete heard them； and had no
joy of it； so began to say：
Here singeth one：
Thus she spake the bright of brow： 〃Lord of Torelore and king； Thy
folk deem me a light thing； When my love doth me embrace； Fair he find