SOURCE: “Lost and Found,” in “Aucassin et Nicolette”: The Poetry of Gender and Growing up in the French Middle Ages, Peter Lang, 1999, pp. 129-33.

In the following essay, Pensom maintains that the poem emphasizes the concept of “recognition” as a unifying theme in the adventures of the perpetually-separated Aucassin and Nicolette.

Aucassin has now returned To his city of Biaucaire, Holding the lands of his domain As uncontested sovereign. He swears by God's almighty power That Nicolete is more to him Than all his kith and all his kin, If he were suddenly to die. ‘My dear sweetheart of the bright face, I don’t know where to look for you. Never was kingdom made by God, Whether on land or upon sea, That, had I hope of finding you, I would not search!’ 

Now we will leave off talking of Aucassin and return to Nicolete.

The ship...