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！
curls that were so fair； Them doth in his bosom bear； Then he wept； even
as of old； All for his love！
Then say they； speak they； tell they the Tale：
When Aucassin heard Nicolete say that she would pass into a far
country； he was all in wrath。
18
… Page 19…
Aucassin and Nicolete
〃Fair sweet friend；〃 quoth he； 〃thou shalt not go； for then wouldst thou
be my death。 And the first man that saw thee and had the might withal；
would take thee straightway into his bed to be his leman。 And once thou
camest into a man's bed； and that bed not mine； wit ye well that I would
not tarry till I had found a knife to pierce my heart and slay myself。 Nay；
verily； wait so long I would not： but would hurl myself on it so soon as I
could find a wall； or a black stone； thereon would I dash my head so
mightily； that the eyes would start； and my brain burst。 Rather would I
die even such a death； than know thou hadst lain in a man's bed； and that
bed not mine。〃
〃Aucassin；〃 she said； 〃I trow thou lovest me not as much as thou
sayest； but I love thee more than thou lovest me。〃
〃Ah； fair sweet friend；〃 said Aucassin； 〃it may not be that thou
shouldst love me even as I love thee。 Woman may not love man as man
loves woman； for a woman's love lies in the glance of her eye； and the bud
of her breast； and her foot's tip…toe； but the love of man is in his heart
planted； whence it can never issue forth and pass away。〃
Now while Aucassin and Nicolete held this parley together； the town's
guards came down a street； with swords drawn beneath their cloaks； for
the Count Garin had charged them that if they could take her they should
slay her。 But the sentinel that was on the tower saw them coming； and
heard them speaking of Nicolete as they went； and threatening to slay her。
〃God！〃 quoth he； 〃this were great pity to slay so fair a maid！ Right
great charity it were if I could say aught to her； and they perceive it not；
and she should be on her guard against them； for if they slay her； then
were Aucassin； my damoiseau； dead； and that were great pity。〃
Here one singeth：
Valiant was the sentinel； Courteous； kind； and practised well； So a
song did sing and tell Of the peril that befell。 〃Maiden fair that lingerest
here； Gentle maid of merry cheer； Hair of gold； and eyes as clear As the
water in a mere； Thou； meseems； hast spoken word To thy lover and thy
lord； That would die for thee； his dear； Now beware the ill accord； Of the
cloaked men of the sword； These have sworn and keep their word； They
will put thee to the sword Save thou take heed！〃
19
… Page 20…
Aucassin and Nicolete
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
〃Ha！〃 quoth Nicolete； 〃be the soul of thy father and the soul of thy
mother in the rest of Paradise； so fairly and so courteously hast thou
spoken me！ Please God； I will be right ware of them； God keep me out
of their hands。〃
So she shrank under her mantle into the shadow of the pillar till they
had passed by； and then took she farewell of Aucassin； and so fared till she
came unto the castle wall。 Now that wall was wasted and broken； and
some deal mended； so she clomb thereon till she came between wall and
fosse； and so looked down； and saw that the fosse was deep and steep；
whereat she was sore adread。
〃Ah God；〃 saith she； 〃sweet Saviour！ If I let myself fall hence； I shall
break my neck； and if here I abide； to…morrow they will take me and burn
me in a fire。 Yet liefer would I perish here than that to…morrow the folk
should stare on me for a gazing…stock。〃
Then she crossed herself； and so let herself slip into the fosse； and
when she had come to the bottom； her fair feet； and fair hands that had not
custom thereof； were bruised and frayed； and the blood springing from a
dozen places； yet felt she no pain nor hurt； by reason of the great dread
wherein she went。 But if she were in cumber to win there； in worse was
she to win out。 But she deemed that there to abide was of none avail； and
she found a pike sharpened； that they of the city had thrown out to keep
the hold。 Therewith made she one stepping place after another； till； with
much travail； she climbed the wall。 Now the forest lay within two
crossbow shots； and the forest was of thirty leagues this way and that。
Therein also were wild beasts； and beasts serpentine； and she feared that if
she entered there they would slay her。 But anon she deemed that if men
found her there they would hale her back into the town to burn her。
Here one singeth：
Nicolete； the fair of face； Climbed upon the coping stone； There made
she lament and moan Calling on our Lord alone For his mercy and his
grace。
〃Father； king of Majesty； Listen； for I nothing know Where to flee or
whither go。 If within the wood I fare； Lo； the wolves will slay me there；
20
… Page 21…
Aucassin and Nicolete
Boars and lions terrible； Many in the wild wood dwell； But if I abide the
day； Surely worse will come of it； Surely will the fire be lit That shall burn
my body away； Jesus； lord of Majesty； Better seemeth it to me； That within
the wood I fare； Though the wolves devour me there Than within the town
to go； Ne'er be it so！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
Nicolete made great moan； as ye have heard； then commended she
herself to God； and anon fared till she came unto the forest。 But to go
deep in it she dared not； by reason of the wild beasts； and beasts serpentine。
Anon crept she into a little thicket； where sleep came upon her； and she
slept till prime next day； when the shepherds issued forth from the town
and drove their bestial between wood and water。 Anon came they all into
one place by a fair fountain which was on the fringe of the forest； thereby
spread they a mantle； and thereon set bread。 So while they were eating；
Nicolete wakened； with the sound of the singing birds； and the shepherds；
and she went unto them； saying； 〃Fair boys； our Lord keep you！〃
〃God bless th