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！
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 finds
me； in good case； Then am I in such derray； Neither harp； nor lyre； nor lay；
Dance nor game； nor rebeck play Were so sweet。〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Aucassin dwelt in the castle of Torelore； in great ease and great delight；
for that he had with him Nicolete his sweet love； whom he loved so well。
Now while he was in such pleasure and such delight； came a troop of
Saracens by sea； and laid siege to the castle and took it by main strength。
Anon took they the substance that was therein and carried off the men and
maidens captives。 They seized Nicolete and Aucassin； and bound
Aucassin hand and foot； and cast him into one ship； and Nicolete into
another。 Then rose there a mighty wind over sea； and scattered the ships。
Now that ship wherein was Aucassin； went wandering on the sea； till it
30
… Page 31…
Aucassin and Nicolete
came to the castle of Biaucaire； and the folk of the country ran together to
wreck her； and there found they Aucassin； and they knew him again。 So
when they of Biaucaire saw their damoiseau； they made great joy of him；
for Aucassin had dwelt full three years in the castle of Torelore； and his
father and mother were dead。 So the people took him to the castle of
Biaucaire； and there were they all his men。 And he held the land in peace。
Here singeth one：
Lo ye； Aucassin hath gone To Biaucaire that is his own； Dwelleth
there in joy and ease And the kingdom is at peace。 Swears he by the
Majesty Of our Lord that is most high； Rather would he they should die
All his kin and parentry； So that Nicolete were nigh。 〃Ah sweet love； and
fair of brow； I know not where to seek thee now； God made never that
countrie； Not by land； and not by sea； Where I would not search for thee；
If that might be！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Now leave we Aucassin； and speak we of Nicolete。 The ship wherein
she was cast pertained to the King of Carthage； and he was her father； and
she had twelve brothers； all princes or kings。 When they beheld Nicolete；
how fair she was； they did her great worship； and made much joy of her；
and many times asked her who she was； for surely seemed she a lady of
noble line and high parentry。 But she might not tell them of her lineage；
for she was but a child when men stole her away。 So sailed they till they
won the City of Carthage； and when Nicolete saw the walls of the castle；
and the country…side； she knew that there had she been nourished and
thence stolen away； being but a child。 Yet was she not so young a child
but that well she knew she had been daughter of the King of Carthage； and
of her nurture in that city。
Here singeth one：
Nicolete the good and true To the land hath come anew； Sees the
palaces and walls； And the houses and the halls！ Then she spake and said；
〃Alas！ That of birth so great I was； Cousin of the Amiral And the very
child of him Carthage counts King of Paynim； Wild folk hold me here
withal； Nay Aucassin； love of thee Gentle knight； and true； and free； Burns
and wastes the heart of me。 Ah God grant it of his grace； That thou hold
31
… Page 32…
Aucassin and Nicolete
me； and embrace； That thou kiss me on the face Love and lord！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When the King of Carthage heard Nicolete speak in this wise； he cast
his arms about her neck。
〃Fair sweet love；〃 saith he； 〃tell me who thou art； and be not adread of
me。〃
〃Sir；〃 said she； 〃I am daughter to the King of Carthage； and was taken；
being then a little child； it is now fifteen years gone。〃
When all they of the court heard her speak thus； they knew well that
she spake sooth： so made they great joy of her； and led her to the castle
in great honour； as the King's daughter。 And they would have given her
to her lord a King of Paynim； but she had no mind to marry。 There dwelt
she three days or four。 And she considered by what means she might
seek for Aucassin。 Then she got her a viol； and learned to play on it； till
they would have married her on a day to a great King of Paynim； and she
stole forth by night； and came to the sea…port； and dwelt with a poor
woman thereby。 Then took she a certain herb； and therewith smeared her
head and her face； till she was all brown and stained。 And she let make
coat； and mantle； and smock； and hose； and attired herself as if she had
been a harper。 So took she the viol and went to a mariner； and so wrought
on him that he took her aboard his vessel。 Then hoisted they sail； and
fared on the high seas even till they came to the land of Provence。 And
Nicolete went forth and took the viol； and went playing through all that
country； even till she came to the castle of Biaucaire； where Aucassin lay。
Here singeth one：
At Biaucaire below the tower Sat Aucassin； on an hour； Heard the
bird； and watched the flower； With his barons him beside； Then came on
him in that tide； The sweet influence of love And the memory thereof；
Thought of Nicolete the fair； And the dainty face of her He had loved so
many years； Then was he in dule and tears！ Even then came Nicolete On
the stair a foot she set； And she drew the viol bow Through the strings and
chanted so； 〃Listen； lords and knights； to me； Lords of high or low degree；
To my story list will ye All of Aucassin and her That was Nicolete the fair？
And their love was long to tell Deep woods through he sought her well；
32
… Page 33…
Aucassin and Nicolete
Paynims took them on a day In Torelore and bound they lay。 Of Aucassin
nought know we； But fair Nicolete the free Now in Carthage doth she
dwell； There her father loves her well； Who is king of that countrie。 Her a
husband hath he found； Paynim lord that serves Mahound！ Ne'er with him
the maid will go； For she loves a damoiseau； Aucassin； that ye may know；
Swears to God that never mo With a lover will she go Save with him she
loveth so In long desire。〃
So speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When Aucassin heard Nicolete speak in this wise； he was right joyful；
and drew her on one side； and spoke； saying：
〃Sweet fair friend； know ye nothing of this Nicolete； of whom ye have
thus sung？〃
〃Yea； Sir； I know her for the noblest creature； and the most gentle； and
the best that ever was born on ground。 She is daughter to the King of
Carthage that took her there where Aucassin was taken； and brought her
into the city of Carthage； till he knew that verily she was his own daughter；
whereon he made right great mirth。 Anon wished he to give her for her
lord one of the greatest kings of all Spain； but she would rather let herself
be hanged or burned； than take any lord； how great soever。〃
〃Ha！ fair sweet friend；〃 quoth the Count Aucassin； 〃if thou wilt go into
that land again； and bid her come and speak to me； I will give thee of my
substance； more than thou wouldst dare to ask or take。 And know ye； that
for the sake of her； I have no will to take a wife； howsoever high her
lineage。 So wait I for her； and never will I have a wife； but her only。
And if I knew where to find her； no need would I have to seek her。〃
〃Sir；〃 quoth she； 〃if ye promise me that； I will go in quest of her for
your sake； and for hers； that I love much。〃
So he sware to her； and anon let give her twenty livres； and she
departed from him； and he wept for the sweetness of Nicolete。 And when
she saw him weeping； she said：
〃Sir； trouble not thyself so much withal。 For in a little while shall I
have brought her into this city； and ye shall see her。〃
When Aucassin heard that； he was right glad thereof。