Aucassin and Nicolette | Page 8

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 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