backwise　into　the　lodge　of　boughs。　　And　he　looked　through　a　gap　in
  the　lodge　and　saw　the　stars　in　heaven；　and　one　that　was　brighter
  than　the　rest；　so　began　he　to　say：
  Here　one　singeth：
  〃Star；　that　I　from　far　behold；
  Star；　the　Moon　calls　to　her　fold；
  Nicolete　with　thee　doth　dwell；
  My　sweet　love　with　locks　of　gold；
  God　would　have　her　dwell　afar；
  Dwell　with　him　for　evening　star；
  Would　to　God；　whate'er　befell；
  Would　that　with　her　I　might　dwell。
  I　would　clip　her　close　and　strait；
  Nay；　were　I　of　much　estate；
  Some　king's　son　desirable；
  Worthy　she　to　be　my　mate；
  Me　to　kiss　and　clip　me　well；
  Sister；　sweet　friend！〃
  So　speak　they；　say　they；　tell　they　the　Tale：
  When　Nicolete　heard　Aucassin；　right　so　came　she　unto　him；　for　she
  was　not　far　away。　　She　passed　within　the　lodge；　and　threw　her　arms
  about　his　neck；　and　clipped　and　kissed　him。
  〃Fair　sweet　friend；　welcome　be　thou。〃
  〃And　thou；　fair　sweet　love；　be　thou　welcome。〃
  So　either　kissed　and　clipped　the　other；　and　fair　joy　was　them
  between。
  〃Ha！　sweet　love；〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃but　now　was　I　sore　hurt；　and　my
  shoulder　wried；　but　I　take　no　force　of　it；　nor　have　no　hurt
  therefrom　since　I　have　thee。〃
  Right　so　felt　she　his　shoulder　and　found　it　was　wried　from　its
  place。　　And　she　so　handled　it　with　her　white　hands；　and　so　wrought
  in　her　surgery；　that　by　God's　will　who　loveth　lovers；　it　went　back
  into　its　place。　　Then　took　she　flowers；　and　fresh　grass；　and　leaves
  green；　and　bound　these　herbs　on　the　hurt　with　a　strip　of　her　smock；
  and　he　was　all　healed。
  〃Aucassin；〃　saith　she；　〃fair　sweet　love；　take　counsel　what　thou　wilt
  do。　　If　thy　father　let　search　this　forest　to…morrow；　and　men　find　me
  here；　they　will　slay　me；　come　to　thee　what　will。〃
  〃Certes；　fair　sweet　love；　therefore　should　I　sorrow　heavily；　but；　an
  if　I　may；　never　shall　they　take　thee。〃
  Anon　gat　he　on　his　horse；　and　his　lady　before　him；　kissing　and
  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　his　k