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another； and made a rope as long as she could； and tied it to the pillar of the window； and let herself down into the garden； and she took her dress in one hand before and in the other behind； and tucked it up； because of the dew which she saw thick on the grass； and she went away down in the garden。
Her hair was golden and in little curls； and her eyes blue…gray and laughing； and… her face oval； and her nose high and well set； and her lips vermeil； so as is no rose nor cherry in summertime； and her teeth white and small； and her bosom was firm； and heaved her dress as if it had been two walnuts； and atween the sides she was so slender that you could have clasped her in your two hands； and the daisy blossoms which she broke off with the toes of her feet； which lay fallen over on the bend of her foot； were right black against her feet and her legs； so very white was the maiden。
She came to the postern door； and unfastened it； and went out through the streets of Beaucaire； keeping in the shadow； for the moon shone very bright； and she went on till she came to the tower where her lover was。 The tower was shored up here and there； and she crouched down by one of the pillars； and wrapped herself in her mantle； and she thrust her head into a chink in the tower； which was old and ruinous； and heard Aucassin within weeping and making great ado； and lamenting for his sweet friend whom he loved so much。 And when she had listened enough to him she began to speak。
After telling each their love； Nicolette was obliged to flee。 She went to a great forest and talked with the herd…boys。
Sec。 19。 Nicolette； bright…favored maid； To the herds her farewell bade； And her journey straight addressed Right amid the green forest； Down a path of olden day； Till she reached an open way Where seven roads fork； that go out Through the region round about。 Then the thought within her grew； She will try her lover true； If he love her as he said： She took many a lily head； With the bushy kermes…oak shoot； And of leafy boughs to boot； And a bower so fair made she； Daintier I did never see！ By the ruth of heaven she sware； Should Aucassin come by there； And not rest a little space； For her love's sake' in that place； He should ne'er her lover be； Nor his love she。
Aucassin escapes； comes to the forest； finds his lover； and they agree to go away together。
Sec。 27 Aucassin； the fair； the blond； Gentle knight and lover fond； Rode from out the thick forest； In his arms his love was pressed； On the saddlebow before； And he kissed her o'er and o'er； Eyes and brows and lips and chin。 Then to him did she begin；
〃Aucassin； fair lover sweet； To what country shall we fleet？ 〃Sweet my love； what should I know？ Little care I where we go； In the greenwood or away； So I am with thee alway。〃 Hill and vale they fleeted by； Town and fortress fenced high； Till they eame at dawn of day Where the sea before them lay； There they lighted on the sand； Beside the strand。
They have many adventures and are again separated。 Nicolette is earried to Carthage。 She finally escapes and makes her way in disguise to Beaucaire where Aucassin was。
Sec。 39。 Aucassin was at Beaucaire 'Neath the tower a morning fair。 On a stair he sat without； With his brave lords round about： Saw the leaves and flowers spring； Heard the song…birds carolling； Of his love he thought anew； Nicolette the maiden true； Whom he loved so long a day； Then his tears and sighs had way。 When； behold before the stair； Nicolette herself stood there； Lifted viol； lifted bow； Then she told her story so： 〃Listen； lordlings brave； to me； Ye that low or lofty be！ Liketh you to hear a stave； All of Aucassin the brave； And of Nicolette the true？ Long they loved and long did rue； Till into the deep forest After her he went in quest。 From the tower of Torelore Them one day the Paynim bore； And of him I know no more。 But true…hearted Nicolette Is in Carthage castle yet； To her sire so dear is she； Who is king of that countrie。 Fain they would to her award Felon king to be her lord。 Nicolette will no Paynim； For she loves a lording slim； Aucassin the name of him。 By the holy name she vows That no lord will she espouse； Save she have her love once moe She longs for so！〃
She is at last revealed to him； and all ends happily。
Sec。 41。 Now when Aucassin did hear Of his own bright favored fere； That she had arrived his shore； Glad he was as ne'er before。 Forth with that fair dame he made Nor until the hostel stayed。 Quickly to the room they win； Where sat Nicolette within。 When she saw her love once more； Glad she was as ne'er before。 Up she sprang upon her feet； And went forward him to meet。 Soon as Aucassin beheld； Both his arms to her he held； Gently took her to his breast； All her face and eyes caressed。 Long they lingered side by side； And the next day by noontide Aucassin her lord became； Of Beaucaire he made her Dame。 After lived they many days； And in pleasure went their ways。 Now has Aucassin his bliss； Likewise Nicolette ywis。 Ends our song and story so； No more I know。
DIDACTIC LITERATURE。
France produced； along with its heroic poetry； its romances； tales； and lyrics； much serious and allegorical work。 This was in the shape of homilies； didatic poems； and long allegories touching manners and morals。 Of these last the most famous and important is 〃The Romance of the Rose〃。 It was the most popular book of the Middle Ages in France。 It was begun by William of Lorris about 1240； the first draft extending to 4670 lines。 Some forty years later； Jean de Meung； or Clapinel； wrote a continuation extending the poem to 22；817 lines。 The general story is of a visit to a garden of delights； on the outside of which are all unlovely things。 Within the garden the personages and action are allegories of the art of love。 Here are Leisure； Enjoyment； Courtesy； the God of Love himself； love in the form of a beautiful Rose； Gracious Reception； Guardianship； Coyness； and Reason。 Our extracts are taken from the translation into English attributedit now seems with great probabilityto Chaucer。
NOTE。These extracts from Chaucer's translation are not re…translated nor adapted。 Chaucer's words are retained in every case。 Their spelling is modernized。 In those cases in which they needed for the rhythm； certain inflectional endings； e； en； es； are retained and are printed in parentheses。 The reader has only to remember that he must pronounce every syllable needed to make the lines rhythmical。 In only four cases has the rhyme been affected by the changed spelling。 For defense of this modern spelling of Chaucer； the reader is referred to Lounsbury's 〃Studies in Chaucer；〃 Vol。 III。； pp。 264…279。
Ll。 49…91。 That it was May me thought（e） tho＇1＇ It is five year or more ago； That it was May； thus dreamed me； In time of love and jollity。 That all thing 'ginneth waxen gay； For there is neither busk nor hay＇2＇ In May； that it nill＇3＇ shrouded been And ＇4＇ it with new（e） leaves wrene＇5＇ These wood（e）s eek recover green； That dry in winter been to seen；＇6＇ And the earth waxeth proud withal For sweet dews that on it fall。 And the poor estate forget In which that winter had it set。 And then becometh the ground so proud； That it will have