Aucassin and Nicolette | Page 9

divide
Through the land to wander wide.
Then she fell
bethinking her
She will try her true lover
If he love her as he sware.

Flow'rs o' the lily gathered she,
Branches of the jarris-tree,
And
green leaves abundantly.
And she built a bower of green;
Daintier
was there never seen.
By the truth of Heaven she sware,
That
should Aucassin come there,
And a little rest not take
In the bower
for her sweet sake,
Ne'er shall he her lover be,
Nor his love she!
_Here they speak and tell the story_.
Nicolette had made the bower, as you have harkened and heard; very
pretty she made it and very dainty, and all bedecked within and without
with flowers and leaves. Then she laid her down near to the bower in a
thick bush, to see what Aucassin would do.

And the cry and the noise went through all the land and through all the
country that Nicolette was lost. There are some say that she is fled
away; other some that the Count Warren has had her done to death.
Rejoice who might, Aucassin was not well pleased. Count Warren his
father bade take him out of prison; and summoned the knights of the
land, and the damozels, and made a very rich feast, thinking to comfort
Aucassin his son. But while the feasting was at its height, there was
Aucassin leaned against a balcony, all sorrowful and all downcast.
Make merry who might, Aucassin had no taste for it; since he saw
nothing there of that he loved. A knight looked upon him, and came to
him, and accosted him:
"Aucassin," said he, "of such sickness as yours, I too have been sick. I
will give you good counsel, if you will trust me."
"Sir," said Aucassin, "gramercy! Good counsel should I hold dear."
"Mount on a horse," said he, "and go by yon forest side to divert you;
there you will see the flowers and green things, and hear the birds sing.
Peradventure you shall hear a word for which you shall be the better."
"Sir," said Aucassin, "gramercy! So will I do."
He stole from the hall, and descended the stairs, and came to the stable
where his horse was. He bade saddle and bridle him; and setting foot in
stirrup, he mounted and rode forth out of the castle, and went on till he
came to the forest. He rode till he reached the spring, and came upon
the herdboys at the point of None. They had spread a cloak on the grass,
and were eating their bread and making very great merriment.
_Here they sing_.
Came the herds from every part in;
There was Esme, there was
Martin;
There was Fruelin and Johnny;
Aubrey boon, and Robin
bonny.
Then to speech did one address him:
"Mates, young
Aucassin, God bless him!
'Struth, it is a fine young fellow!
And the
girl with hair so yellow,
With the body slim and slender,
Eyes so

blue and bloom so tender!
She that gave us such a penny
As shall
buy us sweetmeats many,
Hunting-knife and sheath of leather,
Flute
and fife to play together,
Scrannel pipe and cudgel beechen.
I pray God leech him!" {48}
_Here they speak and tell the story_.
When Aucassin heard the shepherd boys, he minded him of Nicolette
his most sweet friend whom he loved so well; and he bethought him
that she had been there. And he pricked his horse with the spurs, and
came to the shepherd boys.
"Fair children, may God help you!"
"May God bless you!" said he who was more ready of speech than the
others.
"Fair children," said he, "say again the song that you were saying just
now!"
"We will not say it," said he who was more ready of speech than the
others. "Sorrow be his who sings it for you, fair sir!"
"Fair children," said Aucassin, "do you not know me?"
"Aye, we know well that you are Aucassin, our young lord; but we are
not your men, but the Count's."
"Fair children, you will do so, I pray you!"
"Hear, by gog's heart!" said he. "And why should I sing for you, an it
suit me not? When there is no man in this land so rich, saving Count
Warren's self, who finding my oxen or my cows or my sheep in his
pastures or in his crops, would dare to chase them from it, for fear of
having his eyes put out. And why should I sing for you, an it suit me
not?"

"So God help you, fair children, you will do so! And take ten sous
which I have here in a purse!"
"Sir, the pence will we take, but I will not sing to you, for I have sworn
it. But I will tell it to you, if you will."
"I' God's name!" said Aucassin; "I had liefer telling than nothing."
"Sir, we were here just now,