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,
Lords of high or low degree,
To my story list will ye
All of Aucassin and her
That was Nicolette the fair?
And their love was long to tell;
Deep woods through he sought her well:
Paynims took them on a day
In Torelore, and bound they lay.
Of Aucassin naught know we,
But fair Nicolette the free
Now in Carthage doth she dwell;
There her father loves her well,
Who is king of that countrie.
Her a husband hath he found,
Paynim lord that serves Mahound!
Ne'er with him the maid will go,
For she loves a damoiseau,
Aucassin, that ye may know,
Swears to God that never mo
With a lover will she go