aucassin and nicolete-第5章

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Aucassin　will　do。　　And　the　cry　and　the　bruit　went　abroad　through　all

the　country　and　all　the　land；　that　Nicolete　was　lost。　　Some　told

that　she　had　fled；　and　some　that　the　Count　Garin　had　let　slay　her。

Whosoever　had　joy　thereof；　no　joy　had　Aucassin。　　And　the　Count

Garin；　his　father；　had　taken　him　out　of　prison；　and　had　sent　for　the

knights　of　that　land；　and　the　ladies；　and　let　make　a　right　great

feast；　for　the　comforting　of　Aucassin　his　son。　　Now　at　the　high　time

of　the　feast；　was　Aucassin　leaning　from　a　gallery；　all　woful　and

discomforted。　　Whatsoever　men　might　devise　of　mirth；　Aucassin　had　no

joy　thereof；　nor　no　desire；　for　he　saw　not　her　that　he　loved。　　Then

a　knight　looked　on　him；　and　came　to　him；　and　said：



〃Aucassin；　of　that　sickness　of　thine　have　I　been　sick；　and　good

counsel　will　I　give　thee；　if　thou　wilt　hearken　to　me〃



〃Sir；〃　said　Aucassin；　〃gramercy；　good　counsel　would　I　fain　hear。〃



〃Mount　thy　horse；〃　quoth　he；　〃and　go　take　thy　pastime　in　yonder

forest；　there　wilt　thou　see　the　good　flowers　and　grass；　and　hear　the

sweet　birds　sing。　　Perchance　thou　shalt　hear　some　word；　whereby　thou

shalt　be　the　better。〃



〃Sir；〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃gramercy；　that　will　I　do。〃



He　passed　out　of　the　hall；　and　went　down　the　stairs；　and　came　to　the

stable　where　his　horse　was。　　He　let　saddle　and　bridle　him；　and

mounted；　and　rode　forth　from　the　castle；　and　wandered　till　he　came

to　the　forest；　so　rode　till　he　came　to　the　fountain　and　found　the

shepherds　at　point　of　noon。　　And　they　had　a　mantle　stretched　on　the

grass；　and　were　eating　bread；　and　making　great　joy。





Here　one　singeth：





There　were　gathered　shepherds　all；

Martin；　Esmeric；　and　Hal；

Aubrey；　Robin；　great　and　small。

Saith　the　one；　〃Good　fellows　all；

God　keep　Aucassin　the　fair；

And　the　maid　with　yellow　hair；

Bright　of　brow　and　eyes　of　vair。

She　that　gave　us　gold　to　ware。

Cakes　therewith　to　buy　ye　know；

Goodly　knives　and　sheaths　also。

Flutes　to　play；　and　pipes　to　blow；

May　God　him　heal！〃





Here　speak　they；　say　they；　tell　they　the　Tale：



When　Aucassin　heard　the　shepherds；　anon　he　bethought　him　of

Nicolete；　his　sweet　lady　he　loved　so　well；　and　he　deemed　that　she

had　passed　thereby；　then　set　he　spurs　to　his　horse；　and　so　came　to

the　shepherds。



〃Fair　boys；　God　be　with　you。〃



〃God　bless　you；〃　quoth　he　that　had　more　words　to　his　tongue　than　the

rest。



〃Fair　boys；〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃say　the　song　again　that　anon　ye　sang。〃



〃Say　it　we　will　not；〃　quoth　he　that　had　more　words　to　his　tongue

than　the　rest；　〃foul　fall　him　who　will　sing　it　again　for　you；　fair

sir！〃



〃Fair　boys；〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃know　ye　me　not？〃



〃Yea；　we　know　well　that　you　are　Aucassin；　out　damoiseau；　natheless

we　be　not　your　men；　but　the　Count's。〃



〃Fair　boys；　yet　sing　it　again；　I　pray　you。〃



〃Hearken！　by　the　Holy　Heart；〃　quoth　he；　〃wherefore　should　I　sing　for

you；　if　it　likes　me　not？　　Lo；　there　is　no　such　rich　man　in　this

country；　saving　the　body　of　Garin　the　Count；　that　dare　drive　forth

my　oxen；　or　my　cows；　or　my　sheep；　if　he　finds　them　in　his　fields；　or

his　corn；　lest　he　lose　his　eyes　for　it；　and　wherefore　should　I　sing

for　you；　if　it　likes　me　not？〃



〃God　be　your　aid；　fair　boys；　sing　it　ye　will；　and　take　ye　these　ten

sols　I　have　here　in　a　purse。〃



〃Sir；　the　money　will　we　take；　but　never　a　note　will　I　sing；　for　I

have　given　my　oath；　but　I　will　tell　thee　a　plain　tale；　if　thou

wilt。〃



〃By　God；〃　saith　Aucassin；　〃I　love　a　plain　tale　better　than　naught。〃



〃Sir；　we　were　in　this　place；　a　little　time　agone；　between　prime　and

tierce；　and　were　eating　our　bread　by　this　fountain；　even　as　now　we

do；　and　a　maid　came　past；　the　fairest　thing　in　the　world；　whereby　we

deemed　that　she　should　be　a　fay；　and　all　the　wood　shone　round　about

her。　　Anon　she　gave　us　of　that　she　had；　whereby　we　made　covenant

with　her；　that　if　ye　came　hither　we　would　bid　you　hunt　in　this

forest；　wherein　is　such　a　beast　that；　an　ye　might　take　him；　ye　would

not　give　one　limb　of　him　for　five　hundred　marks　of　silver；　nor　for

no　ransom；　for　this　beast　is　so　mighty　of　medicine；　that；　an　ye

could　take　him；　ye　should　be　healed　of　your　torment；　and　within

three　days　must　ye　take　him；　and　if　ye　take　him　not　then；　never　will

ye　look　on　him。　　So　chase　ye　the　beast；　an　ye　will；　or　an　ye　will

let　be；　for　my　promise　have　I　kept　with　her。〃



〃Fair　boys；〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃ye　have　said　enough。　　God　grant　me　to

find　this　quarry。〃





Here　one　singeth。





Aucassin　when　he　had　heard；

Sore　within　his　heart　was　stirred；

Left　the　shepherds　on　that　word；

Far　into　the　forest　spurred

Rode　into　the　wood；　and　fleet

Fled　his　horse　through　paths　of　it；

Three　words　spake　he　of　his　sweet；

〃Nicolete　the　fair；　the　dear；

'Tis　for　thee　I　follow　here

Track　of　boar；　nor　slot　of　deer；

But　thy　sweet　body　and　eyes　so　clear；

All　thy　mirth　and　merry　cheer；

That　my　very　heart　have　slain；

So　please　God　to　me　maintain

I　shall　see　my　love　again；

Sweet　sister；　friend！〃





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



Aucassin　fared　through　the　forest　from　path　to　path　after　Nicolete；

and　his　horse　bare　him　furiously。　　Think　ye　not　that　the　thorns　him

spared；　nor　the　briars；　nay；　not　so；　but　tare　his　raiment；　that

scarce　a　knot　might　be　tied　with　the　soundest　part　thereof；　and　the

blood　sprang　from　his　arms；　and　flanks；　and　legs；　in　forty　places；

or　thirty；　so　that　behind　the　Childe　men　might　follow　on　the　track

of　his　blood　in　the　grass。　　But　so　much　he　went　in　thoughts　of

Nicolete；　his　lady　sweet；　that　he　felt　no　pain　nor　torment；　and　all

the　day　hurled　through　the　forest　in　this　fashion　nor　heard　no　word

of　her。　　And　when　he　saw　Vespers　draw　nigh；　he　began　to　weep　for

that　he　found　her　not。　　All　down　an　old　road；　and　grassgrown　he

fared；　when　anon；　looking　along　the　way　before　him；　he　saw　such　an

one　as　I　shall　tell　you。　　Tall　was　he；　and　great　of　growth；　laidly

and　marvellous　to　look　upon：　　his　head　huge；　and　black　as　charcoal；

and　more　than　the　breadth　of　a　hand　between　his　two　eyes；　and　great

cheeks；　and　a　big　nose　and　broad；　big　nostrils　and　ugly；　and　thick

lips　redder　than　a　collop；　and　great　teeth　yellow　and　ugly；　and　he

was　shod　with　hosen　and　shoon　of　bull's　hide；　bound　with　cords　of

bark　over　the　knee；　and　all　about　him　a　great　cloak　twy…fold；　and　he

leaned　on　a　grievous　cudgel；　and　Aucassin　came　unto　him；　and　was

afraid　when　he　beheld　him。



〃Fair　brother；　God　aid　thee。〃



〃God　bless　you；〃　quoth　he。



〃As　God　he　helpeth　thee；　what　makest　thou　here？〃



〃What　is　that　to　thee？〃



〃Nay；　naught；　naught；〃　saith　Aucassin；　〃I　ask　but　out　of　courtesy。〃



〃But　for　whom　weepest　thou；〃　quoth　he；　〃and　makest　such　heavy

lament？　　Certes；　were　I　as　rich　a　man　as　thou；　the　whole　world

should　not　make　me　weep。〃



〃Ha！　know　ye　me？〃　saith　Aucassin。



〃Yea；　I　know　well　that　ye　be　Aucassin；　the　son　of　the　Count；　and　if

ye　tell　me　for　why　ye　weep；　then　will　I　tell　you　what　I　make　here。〃



〃Certes；〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃I　will　tell　you　right　gladly。　　Hither

came　I　this　morning　to　hunt　in　this　forest；　and　with　me　a　white

hound；　the　fairest　in　the　world；　him　have　I　lost；　and　for　him　I

weep。〃



〃By　the　Heart　our　Lord　bare　in　his　breast；〃　quoth　he；　〃are　ye

weeping　for　a　stinking　hound？　　Foul　fall　him　that　holds　thee　high

henceforth！　for　there　is　no　such　rich　man　in　the　land；　but　if　thy

father　asked　it　of　him；　he　would　give　thee　ten；　or　fifteen；　or

twenty；　and　be　the　gladder　for　it。　　But　I　have　cause　to　weep　and

make　dole。〃



〃Wherefore　so；　brother？〃



〃Sir；　I　will　tell　thee。　　I　was　hireling　to　a　rich　vilain；　and　drove

his　plough；　four　oxen　had　he。　　But　three　days　since　came　on　me　great

misadventure；　whereby　I　lost　the　best　of　mine　oxen；　Roger；　the　best

of　my　team。　　Him　go　I　seeking；　and　have　neither　eaten　nor　drunken

these　three　days；　nor　may　I　go　to　the　town；　lest　they　cast　me　into

prison；　seeing　that　I　have　not　wherewithal　to　pay。　　Out　of　all　the

wealth　of　the　world　have　I　no　more　than　ye　see　on　my　body。　　A　poor

mother　bare　me；　that　had　no　more　but　one　wretched　bed；　this　have

they　taken　from　under　her；　and　she　lies　in　the　very　straw。　　This

ails　me　more　than　mine　own　case；　for　wealth　comes　and　goes；　if　now　I

have　lost；　another　tide　will　I　gain；　and　will　pay　for　mine　ox　whenas

I　may；　never　for　that　will　I　weep。　　But　you　weep　for　a　stinking

hound。　　Foul　fall　whoso　thinks　well　of　thee！〃



〃Certes　thou　art　a　good　comforter；　brother；　blessed　be　thou！　　And　of

what　price　was　thine　ox？〃



〃Sir；　they　ask　me　twenty　sols　for　him；　whereof　I　cannot　abate　one

doit。〃



〃Nay；　then；〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃take　these　twenty　sols　I　have　in　my

purse；　and　pay　for　thine　ox。〃



〃Sir；〃　saith　he；　〃gramercy。　　And　God　give　thee　to　find　that　thou

seekest。〃



So　they　parted　each　from　other；　and　Aucassin　rode　on：　　the　night　was

fair　and　still；　and　so　long　he　went　that　he　came　to　the　lodge　of

boughs；　that　Nicolete　had　builded　and　woven　within　and　without；　over

and　under；　with　flowers；　and　it　was　the　fairest　lodge　that　might　be

seen。　　When　Aucassin　was　ware　of　it；　he　stopped　suddenly；　and　the

light　of　the　moon　fell　therein。



〃God！〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃here　was　Nicolete；　my　sweet　lady；　and　this

lodge　builded　she　with　her　fair　hands。　　For　the　sweetness　of　it；　and

for　love　of　her；　will　I　alight；　and　rest　here　this　night　long。〃



He　drew　forth　his　foot　from　the　stirrup　to　alight；　and　the　steed　was

great　and　tall。　　He　dreamed　so　much　on　Nicolete　his　right　sweet

lady；　that　he　slipped　on　a　stone；　and　drave　his　shoulder　out　of　his

place。　　Then　knew　he　that　he　was　hurt　sore；　natheless　he　bore　him

with　what　force　he　might；　and　fastened　with　the　other　hand　the

mare's　son　to　a　thorn。　　Then　turned　he　on　his　side；　and　crept

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