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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；
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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。 And she
departed from him； and went into the city to the house of the Captain's
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Aucassin and Nicolete
wife； for the Captain her father in God was dead。 So she dwelt there； and
told all her tale； and the Captain's wife knew her； and knew well that she
was Nicolete that she herself had nourished。 Then she let wash and bathe
her； and there rested she eight full days。 Then took she an herb that was
named Eyebright and anointed herself therewith； and was as fair as ever
she had been all the days of her life。 Then she clothed herself in rich
robes of silk whereof the lady had great store； and then sat herself in the
chamber on a silken coverlet； and called the lady and bade her go and
bring Aucassin her love； and she did even so。 And when she came to the
Palace she found Aucassin weeping； and making lament for Nicolete his
love； for that she delayed so long。 And the lady spake unto him and said：
〃Aucassin； sorrow no more； but come thou on with me； and I will
shew thee the thing in the world that thou lovest best； even Nicolete thy
dear love； who from far lands hath come to seek of thee。〃 And Aucassin
was right glad。
Here singeth one：
When Aucassin heareth now That his lady bright of brow Dwelleth in
his own countrie； Never man was glad as he。 To her castle doth he hie
With the lady speedily； Passeth to the chamber high； Findeth Nicolete
thereby。 Of her true love found again Never maid was half so fain。 Straight
she leaped upon her feet： When his love he saw at last； Arms about her did
he cast； Kissed her often； kissed her sweet Kissed her lips and brows and
eyes。 Thus all night do they devise； Even till the morning white。 Then
Aucassin wedded her； Made her Lady of Biaucaire。 Many years abode
they there； Many years in shade or sun； In great gladness and delight Ne'er
hath Aucassin regret Nor his lady Nicolete。 Now my story all is done； Said
and sung！
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NOTES
〃THE BLENDING〃of alternate prose and verse〃is not unknown
in various countries。〃 Thus in Dr。 Steere's Swahili Tales （London； 1870）；
p。 vii。 we read： 〃It is a constant characteristic of popular native tales to
have a sort of burden； which all join in singing。 Frequently the skeleton of
the story seems to be contained in these snatches of singing； which the
story…teller connects by an extemporized account of the intervening
history 。