So speak they, say they, tell they The Tale.

When Nicolette heard Aucassin, she came to him, for she was not far away.  She passed within the lodge, and threw her arms about his neck, clipped him 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 heed 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 them on the hurt with a strip of her smock, and he was all healed.

NICOLETTE SAILS TO CARTHAGE

When all they of the court heard her speak thus, that she was daughter to the king of Carthage, they knew well that she spake truly; so made they great joy of her, and led her to the castle with great honor, as a 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 device she might seek far Aucassin.  Then she got her a viol, and learned to play on it; till they would have married her one day to a rich king of Paynim, and she stole forth by night, and came to the seaport, 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 had a coat, and mantle, and smock, and breeches made, and attired herself as if she had been a minstrel.  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 Nicolette went forth and took the viol, and went playing through all the country, even till she came to the castle of Beaucaire, where Aucassin was.

Here singeth one:—­

          At Beaucaire below the tower
          Sat Aucassin 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 Nicolette the fair,
          And the dainty face of her
          He had loved so many years. 
          Then was he in dule and tears! 
          Even then came Nicolette;
          On the stair a foot she set,
          And she drew the viol bow
          O’er the strings and chanted so:—­
          “Listen, lords and knights, to me,