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The grassgrown paths are trod of none Where through the woods they
went astray； The spider's traceries are spun Across the darkling forest way；
There come no Knights that ride to slay； No Pilgrims through the grasses
wet； No shepherd lads that sang their say With Aucassin and Nicolete。
'Twas here by Nicolete begun Her lodge of boughs and blossoms gay；
'Scaped from the cell of marble dun 'Twas here the lover found the Fay； O
lovers fond； O foolish play！ How hard we find it to forget； Who fain
would dwell with them as they； With Aucassin and Nicolete。
ENVOY。
Prince； 'tis a melancholy lay！ For Youth； for Life we both regret： How
fair they seem； how far away； With Aucassin and Nicolete。
A。 L。
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Aucassin and Nicolete
BALLADE OF NICOLETE
All bathed in pearl and amber light She rose to fling the lattice wide；
And leaned into the fragrant night； Where brown birds sang of summertide；
（'Twas Love's own voice that called and cried） 〃Ah； Sweet！〃 she said； 〃I'll
seek thee yet； Though thorniest pathways should betide The fair white feet
of Nicolete。〃
They slept； who would have stayed her flight； （Full fain were they the
maid had died！） She dropped adown her prison's height On strands of
linen featly tied。 And so she passed the garden…side With loose…leaved
roses sweetly set； And dainty daisies； dark beside The fair white feet of
Nicolete！
Her lover lay in evil plight （So many lovers yet abide！） I would my
tongue could praise aright Her name； that should be glorified。 Those
lovers now； whom foes divide A little weep；and soon forget。 How far
from these faint lovers glide The fair white feet of Nicolete。
ENVOY。
My Princess； doff thy frozen pride； Nor scorn to pay Love's golden
debt； Through his dim woodland take for guide The fair white feet of
Nicolete。
GRAHAM R。 TOMSON
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Aucassin and Nicolete
THE SONG…STORY OF
AUCASSIN AND NICOLETE
'Tis of Aucassin and Nicolete。
Who would list to the good lay Gladness of the captive grey？ 'Tis
how two young lovers met； Aucassin and Nicolete； Of the pains the lover
bore And the sorrows he outwore； For the goodness and the grace； Of his
love； so fair of face。
Sweet the song； the story sweet； There is no man hearkens it； No man
living 'neath the sun； So outwearied； so foredone； Sick and woful； worn
and sad； But is healed； but is glad 'Tis so sweet。
So say they； speak they； tell they the Tale：
How the Count Bougars de Valence made war on Count Garin de
Biaucaire； war so great； and so marvellous； and so mortal that never a day
dawned but alway he was there； by the gates and walls； and barriers of the
town with a hundred knights； and ten thousand men at arms； horsemen and
footmen： so burned he the Count's land； and spoiled his country； and
slew his men。 Now the Count Garin de Biaucaire was old and frail； and
his good days were gone over。 No heir had he； neither son nor daughter；
save one young man only； such an one as I shall tell you。 Aucassin was
the name of the damoiseau： fair was he； goodly； and great； and featly
fashioned of his body； and limbs。 His hair was yellow； in little curls； his
eyes blue and laughing； his face beautiful and shapely； his nose high and
well set； and so richly seen was he in all things good； that in him was none
evil at all。 But so suddenly overtaken was he of Love； who is a great
master； that he would not； of his will； be dubbed knight； nor take arms； nor
follow tourneys； nor do whatsoever him beseemed。 Therefore his father
and mother said to him；
〃Son； go take thine arms； mount thy horse； and hold thy land； and help
thy men； for if they see thee among them； more stoutly will they keep in
battle their lives； and lands； and thine； and mine。〃
〃Father；〃 said Aucassin； 〃I marvel that you will be speaking。 Never
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Aucassin and Nicolete
may God give me aught of my desire if I be made knight； or mount my
horse； or face stour and battle wherein knights smite and are smitten again；
unless thou give me Nicolete； my true love； that I love so well。〃
〃Son；〃 said the father； 〃this may not be。 Let Nicolete go； a slave girl
she is； out of a strange land； and the captain of this town bought her of the
Saracens； and carried her hither； and hath reared her and let christen the
maid； and took her for his daughter in God； and one day will find a young
man for her； to win her bread honourably。 Herein hast thou naught to
make or mend； but if a wife thou wilt have； I will give thee the daughter of
a King； or a Count。 There is no man so rich in France； but if thou desire
his daughter； thou shalt have her。〃
〃Faith！ my father；〃 said Aucassin； 〃tell me where is the place so high
in all the world； that Nicolete； my sweet lady and love； would not grace it
well？ If she were Empress of Constantinople or of Germany； or Queen
of France or England； it were little enough for her； so gentle is she and
courteous； and debonaire； and compact of all good qualities。〃
Here singeth one：
Aucassin was of Biaucaire Of a goodly castle there； But from
Nicolete the fair None might win his heart away Though his father； many a
day； And his mother said him nay； 〃Ha！ fond child； what wouldest thou？
Nicolete is glad enow！ Was from Carthage cast away； Paynims sold her on
a day！ Wouldst thou win a lady fair Choose a maid of high degree Such an
one is meet for thee。〃 〃Nay of these I have no care； Nicolete is debonaire；
Her body sweet and the face of her Take my heart as in a snare； Loyal love
is but her share That is so sweet。〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When the Count Garin de Biaucaire knew that he would avail not to
withdraw Aucassin his son from the love of Nicolete； he went to the
Captain of the city； who was his man； and spake to him； saying：
〃Sir Count； away with Nicolete thy daughter in God； cursed be the
land whence she was brought into this country； for by reason of her do I
lose Aucassin； that will neither be dubbed kn