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clipping her； and so rode they at adventure。
Here one singeth：
Aucassin the frank； the fair；
Aucassin of the yellow hair；
Gentle knight； and true lover；
From the forest doth he fare；
Holds his love before him there；
Kissing cheek； and chin； and eyes；
But she spake in sober wise；
〃Aucassin； true love and fair；
To what land do we repair？〃
Sweet my love； I take no care；
Thou art with me everywhere！
So they pass the woods and downs；
Pass the villages and towns；
Hills and dales and open land；
Came at dawn to the sea sand；
Lighted down upon the strand；
Beside the sea。
Then say they； speak they； tell they the Tale：
Aucassin lighted down and his love； as ye have heard sing。 He held
his horse by the bridle； and his lady by the hands； so went they
along the sea shore； and on the sea they saw a ship； and he called
unto the sailors； and they came to him。 Then held he such speech
with them； that he and his lady were brought aboard that ship； and
when they were on the high sea； behold a mighty wind and tyrannous
arose； marvellous and great； and drave them from land to land； till
they came unto a strange country； and won the haven of the castle of
Torelore。 Then asked they what this land might be； and men told
them that it was the country of the King of Torelore。 Then he asked
what manner of man was he； and was there war afoot； and men said；
〃Yea； and mighty！〃
Therewith took he farewell of the merchants； and they commended him
to God。 Anon Aucassin mounted his horse； with his sword girt； and
his lady before him； and rode at adventure till he was come to the
castle。 Then asked he where the King was； and they said that he was
in childbed。
〃Then where is his wife？〃
And they told him she was with the host； and had led with her all
the force of that country。
Now when Aucassin heard that saying； he made great marvel； and came
into the castle； and lighted down； he and his lady； and his lady
held his horse。 Right so went he up into the castle； with his sword
girt； and fared hither and thither till he came to the chamber where
the King was lying。
Here one singeth：
Aucassin the courteous knight
To the chamber went forthright；
To the bed with linen dight
Even where the King was laid。
There he stood by him and said：
〃Fool； what mak'st thou here abed？〃
Quoth the King： 〃I am brought to bed
Of a fair son； and anon
When my month is over and gone；
And my healing fairly done；
To the Minster will I fare
And will do my churching there；
As my father did repair。
Then will sally forth to war；
Then will drive my foes afar
From my countrie！〃
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When Aucassin 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 God's heart；〃 quoth Aucassin； 〃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 Aucassin； 〃bring me now where thy wife is with the
host。〃
〃Sir； with good will；〃 quoth the King。
He mounted his horse； and Aucassin gat on his own； and Nicolete
abode in the Queen's chamber。 Anon rode Aucassin 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 Aucassin began to look on them； and made great marvel。
Here one singeth：
Aucassin 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。
Aucassin doth gaze awhile；
Then began to laugh and smile
And made game。
Then speak they； say they； tell they the Tale：
When Aucassin 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 Aucassin 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 Aucassin； 〃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 Aucassin betook them
again to the castle of Torelore； and the folk of that land
counselled the King to put Aucassin 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：
Aucassin 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 Aucassin； and bound Aucassin hand and foot； and cast
him into one ship； and Nicolete into another。 Then rose there a
mighty wind over sea； and scattered the ships。 Now that ship
wherein was Aucassin； 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 Aucassin； and they knew him again。
So when they of Biaucaire saw their damoiseau； they made great joy
of him； for Aucassin 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； Aucassin 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 hi