aucassin and nicolete-第2章
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a beauty shines about her。 Their mockery； their independence； may
make us consider again our ideas of early Feudalism。 Probably they
were in the service of townsmen； whose good town treated the Count
as no more than an equal of its corporate dignity。 The bower of
branches built by Nicolete is certainly one of the places where the
minstrel himself has rested and been pleased with his work。 One can
feel it still； the cool of that clear summer night； the sweet smell
of broken boughs； and trodden grass； and deep dew； and the shining
of the star that Aucassin deemed was the translated spirit of his
lady。 Romance has touched the book here with her magic； as she has
touched the lines where we read how Consuelo came by moonlight to
the Canon's garden and the white flowers。 The pleasure here is the
keener for contrast with the luckless hind whom Aucassin encountered
in the forest： the man who had lost his master's ox； the ungainly
man who wept； because his mother's bed had been taken from under her
to pay his debt。 This man was in that estate which Achilles； in
Hades； preferred above the kingship of the dead outworn。 He was
hind and hireling to a villein；
＇Greek text＇
It is an unexpected touch of pity for the people； and for other than
love…sorrows； in a poem intended for the great and courtly people of
chivalry。
At last the lovers meet； in the lodge of flowers beneath the stars。
Here the story should end； though one could ill spare the pretty
lecture the girl reads her lover as they ride at adventure； and the
picture of Nicolete； with her brown stain； and jogleor's attire； and
her viol； playing before Aucassin in his own castle of Biaucaire。
The burlesque interlude of the country of Torelore is like a page
out of Rabelais； stitched into the cante…fable by mistake。 At such
lands as Torelore Pantagruel and Panurge touched many a time in
their vague voyaging。 Nobody； perhaps； can care very much about
Nicolete's adventures in Carthage； and her recognition by her Paynim
kindred。 If the old captive had been a prisoner among the Saracens；
he was too indolent or incurious to make use of his knowledge。 He
hurries on to his journey's end；
〃Journeys end in lovers meeting。〃
So he finishes the tale。 What lives in it； what makes it live； is
the touch of poetry； of tender heart； of humorous resignation。 The
old captive says the story will gladden sad men：…
〃Nus hom n'est si esbahis；
tant dolans ni entrepris；
de grant mal amaladis；
se il l'oit； ne soit garis；
et de joie resbaudis；
tant par est douce。〃
This service it did for M。 Bida； the painter； as he tells us when he
translated Aucassin in 1870。 In dark and darkening days； patriai
tempore iniquo； we too have turned to Aucassin et Nicolete。 ｛5｝
BALLADE OF AUCASSIN
Where smooth the Southern waters run
Through rustling leagues of poplars gray；
Beneath a veiled soft Southern sun；
We wandered out of Yesterday；
Went Maying in that ancient May
Whose fallen flowers are fragrant yet；
And lingered by the fountain spray
With Aucassin and Nicolete。
The grassgrown paths are trod of none
Where through the woods they went astray；
The spider's traceries are spun
Across the darkling forest way；
There come no Knights that ride to slay；
No Pilgrims through the grasses wet；
No shepherd lads that sang their say
With Aucassin and Nicolete。
'Twas here by Nicolete begun
Her lodge of boughs and blossoms gay；
'Scaped from the cell of marble dun
'Twas here the lover found the Fay；
O lovers fond； O foolish play！
How hard we find it to forget；
Who fain would dwell with them as they；
With Aucassin and Nicolete。
ENVOY。
Prince； 'tis a melancholy lay！
For Youth； for Life we both regret：
How fair they seem； how far away；
With Aucassin and Nicolete。
A。 L。
BALLADE OF NICOLETE
All bathed in pearl and amber light
She rose to fling the lattice wide；
And leaned into the fragrant night；
Where brown birds sang of summertide；
（'Twas Love's own voice that called and cried）
〃Ah； Sweet！〃 she said； 〃I'll seek thee yet；
Though thorniest pathways should betide
The fair white feet of Nicolete。〃
They slept； who would have stayed her flight；
（Full fain were they the maid had died！）
She dropped adown her prison's height
On strands of linen featly tied。
And so she passed the garden…side
With loose…leaved roses sweetly set；
And dainty daisies； dark beside
The fair white feet of Nicolete！
Her lover lay in evil plight
（So many lovers yet abide！）
I would my tongue could praise aright
Her name； that should be glorified。
Those lovers now； whom foes divide
A little weep；and soon forget。
How far from these faint lovers glide
The fair white feet of Nicolete。
ENVOY。
My Princess； doff thy frozen pride；
Nor scorn to pay Love's golden debt；
Through his dim woodland take for guide
The fair white feet of Nicolete。
GRAHAM R。 TOMSON
THE SONG…STORY OF AUCASSIN AND NICOLETE
'Tis of Aucassin and Nicolete。
Who would list to the good lay
Gladness of the captive grey？
'Tis how two young lovers met；
Aucassin and Nicolete；
Of the pains the lover bore
And the sorrows he outwore；
For the goodness and the grace；
Of his love； so fair of face。
Sweet the song； the story sweet；
There is no man hearkens it；
No man living 'neath the sun；
So outwearied； so foredone；
Sick and woful； worn and sad；
But is healed； but is glad
'Tis so sweet。
So say they； speak they； tell they the Tale：
How the Count Bougars de Valence made war on Count Garin de
Biaucaire； war so great； and so marvellous； and so mortal that never
a day dawned but alway he was there； by the gates and walls； and
barriers of the town with a hundred knights； and ten thousand men at
arms； horsemen and footmen： so burned he the Count's land； and
spoiled his country； and slew his men。 Now the Count Garin de
Biaucaire was old and frail； and his good days were gone over。 No
heir had he； neither son nor daughter； save one young man only； such
an one as I shall tell you。 Aucassin was the name of the damoiseau：
fair was he； goodly； and great； and featly fashioned of his body；
and limbs。 His hair was yellow； in little curls； his eyes blue and
laughing； his face beautiful and shapely； his nose high and well
set； and so richly seen was he in all things good； that in him was
none evil at all。 But so suddenly overtaken was he of Love； who is
a great master； that he would not； of his will； be dubbed knight；
nor take arms； nor follow tourneys； nor do whatsoever him beseemed。
Therefore his father and mother said to him；
〃Son； go take thine arms； mount thy horse； and hold thy land； and
help thy men； for if they see thee among them； more stoutly will
they keep in battle their lives； and lands； and thine； and mine。〃
〃Father；〃 said Aucassin； 〃I marvel that you will be speaking。 Never
may God give me aught of my desire if I be made knight； or mount my
horse； or face stour and battle wherein knights smite and are
smitten again； unless thou give me Nicolete； my true love； that I
love so well。〃
〃Son；〃 said the father； 〃this may not be。 Let Nicolete go； a slave
girl she is； out of a strange land； and the captain of this town
bought her of the Saracens； and carried her hither； and hath reared
her and let christen the maid； and took her for his daughter in God；
and one day will find a young man for her； to win her bread
honourably。 Herein hast thou naught to make or mend； but if a wife
thou wilt have； I will give thee the daughter of a King； or a Count。
There is no man so rich in France； but if thou desire his daughter；
thou shalt have her。〃
〃Faith！ my father；〃 said Aucassin； 〃tell me where is the place so
high in all the world； that Nicolete； my swee
