I shall be taken to-morrow and burned in a
fire. Nay, I had liefer die here than be made a show to-morrow for all
the folk to stare at!"
She crossed herself, and let herself slip down into the ditch. And when
she came to the bottom, her fair feet and her fair hands, untaught that
ought could hurt them, were bruised and torn, and the blood flowed in
full a dozen places. Nevertheless she felt neither hurt nor pain for her
great dread. And if she were troubled as to the getting in, she was far
more troubled as to the getting out. But she bethought her that it was no
good to linger there; and she found a sharpened stake which had been
thrown by those within in the defence of the castle; and with this she
made steps one above the other, and with much difficulty climbed up
till she reached the top.
Now hard by was the forest, within two bowshots. It stretched full
thirty leagues in length and in breadth, and had wild beasts in it and
snaky things. She was afraid that if she went into it, these would kill
her; and on the other hand she bethought her that if she were found
there she would be taken back to the town to be burned.
_Here they sing_.
Nicolette, that bright-faced may,
Up the moat had won her way,
And to waymenting did fall,
And on Jesu's name 'gan call:
"Father, King of Majesty!
Now I wot not which way fly.
Should I
to the greenwood hie,
There the wolves will me devour,
And the
lions and wild boar,
Whereof yonder is great store.
Should I wait
the daylight clear,
So that they should find me here,
Lighted will
the fire bin
That my body shall burn in.
But, O God of Majesty!
I
had liefer yet fairly
That the wolves should me devour,
And the
lions and wild boar,
Than into the city fare!
I'll not go there."
_Here they speak and tell the story_.
Nicolette made great lamentation, as you have heard. She commended
herself to God, and went on till she came into the forest. She durst not
go deep into it, for the wild beasts and the snaky things; and she crept
into a thick bush, and sleep fell on her. She slept till the morrow at high
Prime, when the herdboys came out of the town, and drove their beasts
between the wood and the river. They drew aside to a very beautiful
spring which was at the edge of the forest, and spread out a cloak and
put their bread on it. While they were eating, Nicolette awoke at the cry
of the birds and of the herdboys, and she sprang towards them.
"Fair children!" said she, "may the Lord help you!"
"May God bless you!" said the one who was more ready of speech than
the others.
"Fair children," said she, "know you Aucassin, the son of the Count
Warren of Beaucaire?"
"Yes, we know him well."
"So God help you, fair children," said she, "tell him that there is a beast
in this forest, and that he come to hunt it. And if he can catch it he
would not give one limb of it for a hundred marks of gold, no, not for
five hundred, nor for any wealth."
And they gazed at her, and when they saw her so beautiful they were all
amazed.
"What, I tell him?" said he who was more ready of speech than the
others. "Sorrow be his whoever speak of it or whoever tell him! 'Tis
fantasy that you say, since there is not so costly a beast in this forest,
neither stag nor lion nor wild boar, one of whose limbs were worth
more than two pence, or three at the most; and you speak of so great
wealth! Foul sorrow be his who believe you, or whoever tell him! You
are a fay, and we have no care for your company. So keep on your
way!"
"Ah, fair children!" said she, "this will you do! The beast has such a
medicine that Aucassin will be cured of his hurt. And I have here five
sous in my purse; take them, so you tell him! Aye, and within three
days must he hunt it, and, if in three days he find it not, never more will
he be cured of his hurt!"
"I' faith!" said he, "the pence will we take; and if he come here we will
tell him, but we will never go to seek him."
"I' God's name!" said she.
Then she took leave of the herdboys, and went her way.
_Here they sing_.
Nicolette, that bright-faced may,
From the herdboys went her way,
And her journeying addressed
Through the leafy thick forest,
Down
a path of olden day,
Till she came to a highway,
Where do seven
roads
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