Aucassin and Nicolete Part 5

Then speak they, say they, tell they the Tale:

When Auca.s.sin heard the King speak on this wise, he took all the sheets that covered him, and threw them all abroad about the chamber. Then saw he behind him a cudgel, and caught it into his hand, and turned, and took the King, and beat him till he was well-nigh dead.

"Ha! fair sir," quoth the King, "what would you with me? Art thou beside thyself, that beatest me in mine own house?"

"By G.o.d's heart," quoth Auca.s.sin, "thou ill son of an ill wench, I will slay thee if thou swear not that never shall any man in all thy land lie in of child henceforth for ever."

So he did that oath, and when he had done it,

"Sir," said Auca.s.sin, "bring me now where thy wife is with the host."

"Sir, with good will," quoth the King.

He mounted his horse, and Auca.s.sin gat on his own, and Nicolete abode in the Queen's chamber. Anon rode Auca.s.sin and the King even till they came to that place where the Queen was, and lo! men were warring with baked apples, and with eggs, and with fresh cheeses, and Auca.s.sin began to look on them, and made great marvel.

_Here one singeth_:

Auca.s.sin his horse doth stay, From the saddle watched the fray, All the stour and fierce array; Right fresh cheeses carried they, Apples baked, and mushrooms grey, Whoso splasheth most the ford He is master called and lord.

Auca.s.sin doth gaze awhile, Then began to laugh and smile And made game.

Then speak they, say they, tell they the Tale:

When Auca.s.sin beheld these marvels, he came to the King, and said, "Sir, be these thine enemies?"

"Yea, Sir," quoth the King.

"And will ye that I should avenge you of them?"

"Yea," quoth he, "with all my heart."

Then Auca.s.sin put hand to sword, and hurled among them, and began to smite to the right hand and the left, and slew many of them. And when the King saw that he slew them, he caught at his bridle and said,

"Ha! fair sir, slay them not in such wise."

"How," quoth Auca.s.sin, "will ye not that I should avenge you of them?"

"Sir," quoth the King, "overmuch already hast thou avenged me. It is nowise our custom to slay each other."

Anon turned they and fled. Then the King and Auca.s.sin betook them again to the castle of Torelore, and the folk of that land counselled the King to put Auca.s.sin forth, and keep Nicolete for his son's wife, for that she seemed a lady high of lineage. And Nicolete heard them, and had no joy of it, so began to say:

_Here singeth one_:

Thus she spake the bright of brow: "Lord of Torelore and king, Thy folk deem me a light thing, When my love doth me embrace, Fair he finds me, in good case, Then am I in such derray, Neither harp, nor lyre, nor lay, Dance nor game, nor rebeck play Were so sweet."

Then speak they, say they, tell they the Tale:

Auca.s.sin dwelt in the castle of Torelore, in great ease and great delight, for that he had with him Nicolete his sweet love, whom he loved so well. Now while he was in such pleasure and such delight, came a troop of Saracens by sea, and laid siege to the castle and took it by main strength. Anon took they the substance that was therein and carried off the men and maidens captives. They seized Nicolete and Auca.s.sin, and bound Auca.s.sin hand and foot, and cast him into one s.h.i.+p, and Nicolete into another. Then rose there a mighty wind over sea, and scattered the s.h.i.+ps. Now that s.h.i.+p wherein was Auca.s.sin, went wandering on the sea, till it came to the castle of Biaucaire, and the folk of the country ran together to wreck her, and there found they Auca.s.sin, and they knew him again. So when they of Biaucaire saw their damoiseau, they made great joy of him, for Auca.s.sin had dwelt full three years in the castle of Torelore, and his father and mother were dead. So the people took him to the castle of Biaucaire, and there were they all his men. And he held the land in peace.

_Here singeth one_:

Lo ye, Auca.s.sin hath gone To Biaucaire that is his own, Dwelleth there in joy and ease And the kingdom is at peace.

Swears he by the Majesty Of our Lord that is most high, Rather would he they should die All his kin and parentry, So that Nicolete were nigh.

"Ah sweet love, and fair of brow, I know not where to seek thee now, G.o.d made never that countrie, Not by land, and not by sea, Where I would not search for thee, If that might be!"

Then speak they, say they, tell they the Tale:

Now leave we Auca.s.sin, and speak we of Nicolete. The s.h.i.+p wherein she was cast pertained to the King of Carthage, and he was her father, and she had twelve brothers, all princes or kings. When they beheld Nicolete, how fair she was, they did her great wors.h.i.+p, and made much joy of her, and many times asked her who she was, for surely seemed she a lady of n.o.ble line and high parentry. But she might not tell them of her lineage, for she was but a child when men stole her away. So sailed they till they won the City of Carthage, and when Nicolete saw the walls of the castle, and the country-side, she knew that there had she been nourished and thence stolen away, being but a child. Yet was she not so young a child but that well she knew she had been daughter of the King of Carthage; and of her nurture in that city.

_Here singeth one_:

Nicolete the good and true To the land hath come anew, Sees the palaces and walls, And the houses and the halls!

Then she spake and said, "Alas!

That of birth so great I was, Cousin of the Amiral And the very child of him Carthage counts King of Paynim, Wild folk hold me here withal; Nay Auca.s.sin, love of thee Gentle knight, and true, and free, Burns and wastes the heart of me.

Ah G.o.d grant it of his grace, That thou hold me, and embrace, That thou kiss me on the face Love and lord!"

Then speak they, say they, tell they the Tale:

When the King of Carthage heard Nicolete speak in this wise, he cast his arms about her neck.

"Fair sweet love," saith he, "tell me who thou art, and be not adread of me."

"Sir," said she, "I am daughter to the King of Carthage, and was taken, being then a little child, it is now fifteen years gone."

When all they of the court heard her speak thus, they knew well that she spake sooth: so made they great joy of her, and led her to the castle in great honour, as the King's daughter. And they would have given her to her lord a King of Paynim, but she had no mind to marry. There dwelt she three days or four. And she considered by what means she might seek for Auca.s.sin. Then she got her a viol, and learned to play on it, till they would have married her on a day to a great King of Paynim, and she stole forth by night, and came to the sea-port, and dwelt with a poor woman thereby. Then took she a certain herb, and therewith smeared her head and her face, till she was all brown and stained. And she let make coat, and mantle, and smock, and hose, and attired herself as if she had been a harper. So took she the viol and went to a mariner, and so wrought on him that he took her aboard his vessel. Then hoisted they sail, and fared on the high seas even till they came to the land of Provence. And Nicolete went forth and took the viol, and went playing through all that country, even till she came to the castle of Biaucaire, where Auca.s.sin lay.

_Here singeth one_:

At Biaucaire below the tower Sat Auca.s.sin, on an hour, Heard the bird, and watched the flower, With his barons him beside, Then came on him in that tide, The sweet influence of love And the memory thereof; Thought of Nicolete the fair, And the dainty face of her He had loved so many years, Then was he in dule and tears!

Even then came Nicolete On the stair a foot she set, And she drew the viol bow Through the strings and chanted so; "Listen, lords and knights, to me, Lords of high or low degree, To my story list will ye All of Auca.s.sin and her That was Nicolete the fair?

And their love was long to tell Deep woods through he sought her well, Paynims took them on a day In Torelore and bound they lay.

Of Auca.s.sin nought know we, But fair Nicolete the free Now in Carthage doth she dwell, There her father loves her well, Who is king of that countrie.

Her a husband hath he found, Paynim lord that serves Mahound!

Ne'er with him the maid will go, For she loves a damoiseau, Auca.s.sin, that ye may know, Swears to G.o.d that never mo With a lover will she go Save with him she loveth so In long desire."

So speak they, say they, tell they the Tale:

When Auca.s.sin heard Nicolete speak in this wise, he was right joyful, and drew her on one side, and spoke, saying:

"Sweet fair friend, know ye nothing of this Nicolete, of whom ye have thus sung?"

"Yea, Sir, I know her for the n.o.blest creature, and the most gentle, and the best that ever was born on ground. She is daughter to the King of Carthage that took her there where Auca.s.sin was taken, and brought her into the city of Carthage, till he knew that verily she was his own daughter, whereon he made right great mirth. Anon wished he to give her for her lord one of the greatest kings of all Spain, but she would rather let herself be hanged or burned, than take any lord, how great soever."

"Ha! fair sweet friend," quoth the Count Auca.s.sin, "if thou wilt go into that land again, and bid her come and speak to me, I will give thee of my substance, more than thou wouldst dare to ask or take. And know ye, that for the sake of her, I have no will to take a wife, howsoever high her lineage. So wait I for her, and never will I have a wife, but her only.

And if I knew where to find her, no need would I have to seek her."

"Sir," quoth she, "if ye promise me that, I will go in quest of her for your sake, and for hers, that I love much."

So he sware to her, and anon let give her twenty livres, and she departed from him, and he wept for the sweetness of Nicolete. And when she saw him weeping, she said: