t,
No man living 'neath the sun,
So outwearied, so fordone,
Sick and woeful, worn and sad,
But is healed, but is glad,
'Tis so sweet.

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

How the Count Bougart of Valence made war on Count Garin of
Beaucaire,--war so great, so marvelous, 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 of Beaucaire 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-gray 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 was he overtaken of
Love, who is a great master, that he would not, of his will, be a
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 thine 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," answered Aucassin, "what are you saying now? Never
may God give me aught of my desire, if I be a knight, or
mount my horse, or face stour and battle wherein knights
smite and are smitten again, unless thou give me Nicolette,
my true love, that I love so well."

"Son," said the father, "this may not be. Let Nicolette go. A
slave girl is she, out of a strange land, and the viscount of
this town bought her of the Saracens, and carried her hither,
and hath reared her and had her christened, and made her his
god-daughter, and one day will find a young man for her, to
win her bread honorably. Herein hast thou naught to make nor
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 shall
have her."

"Faith! my father,"