Aucassin and Nicolette | Page 2

has been shown that all modern reports of the
_Couvade_ as existing in Biscay have been founded only on the ancient
assertion of Strabo, it is still remarkable that it is in this part of Europe
alone that the custom has ever been found.
If the composer of Aucassin derived his story from such a source, it is
easy to see also whence he got the idea of the special form he has given
it; for a narrative in prose mingled with interludes of verse, though
strange to European literature, is common in Arabian.
And yet, whatever his sources or his models, one feels that his debt to
them is trifling compared to the worth of his own work. All that he

describes he has seen with his own eyes; and all that he tells, be it
borrowed or invented, is quickened and heightened and made immortal
by his own touch upon it.
All who can should read this story in its own language--the simple
easyflowing Old-French, with its infantile syntax, and naive but
effective efforts at distinction and what we now call style. There are
various editions of the old French text; but the two easiest to get and
also to read are that of Professor Suchier, and my own. Those in search
of learning will always turn to Germany, and Suchier is a very learned
man. But I can honestly advise all English readers to get my edition
(Macmillan, 1897) in which the text is given as pure as I could draw it
from the fountain head, the original MS. at Paris; where the music to
the verse sections will be found printed in its proper notation; and
which contains also a literal translation, full notes, and a glossary.
The present translation varies a good deal from that I printed with the
Old-French text. I have to some extent relaxed the restrictions I
imposed on myself there, and have given freer turns, even verging
occasionally on paraphrase, to bring out the full meaning, which it is
often possible to miss in the original, especially in the very condensed
style of the verses. These changes will, I hope, make this version easy
and pleasant to read even by those who have no leisure or no
inclination to attempt the study of the Old-French itself.
AUCASSIN & NICOLETTE
'TIS OF AUCASSIN AND OF NICOLETTE
Who would list a pleasant lay,
Pastime of the old and grey?
Of two
lovers, children yet,
Aucassin and Nicolette;
Of the sorrows he
went through,
Of the great things he did do,
All for his bright
favoured may.
Sweet the song is, fair the say,
Full of art and full of
grace.
There is none in such ill case,
Sad with sorrow, waste with
care,
Sick with sadness, if he hear,
But shall in the hearing be

Whole again and glad with glee,

So sweet the story.
_Here they speak and tell the story_.
How Bulgarius Count of Valence made war upon Warren Count of
Beaucaire. And this war was so great, so marvellous, and so mortal,
that not a day dawned but there he was before the city, at the gates, at
the walls, at the fences, with knights a hundred and men-at-arms ten
thousand on foot and on horse; and he burned his land, laid waste his
country, and slew his liegemen. Warren, Count of Beaucaire, was an
old man and feeble, who had overlived his term. He had none to
succeed him, neither son nor daughter, save one only boy; and what he
was like, I will tell you. Aucassin was the young lord's name, and a
pretty lad he was. He had golden hair in little curls, and laughing blue
eyes, a face fair of colour and fine of curve, and a proud shapely nose.
Aye, so endued was he with good conditions that there was none bad in
him, but good only. But so overcome was he of Love, who masters all,
that he refused knighthood, abjured arms, shunned the tourney, and left
undone all his devoir.
His father and his mother would say to him: "Son! come, take thine
arms and to horse! Fight for thy land and succour thy liegemen! If they
see thee in the midst of them, they will fight the better for their lives
and their havings and for thy land and mine!"
"Father," said Aucassin, "to what purpose is this oration? Never God
give me ought that I ask of Him, if I take knighthood or mount horse, if
I face fight or battlefield to smite knight or be myself smitten, if you
give me not Nicolette, my sweet friend whom I love so well!"
"My son," said his father, "it cannot be. Have done with Nicolette! She
is a slave-girl, carried captive from a foreign land. The Viscount of this
place bought her of the heathen, and brought