nd with this she
made steps one above the other, and with much difficulty climbed up till
she reached the top.

Now hard by was the forest, within two bowshots. It stretched full
thirty leagues in length and in breadth, and had wild beasts in it and
snaky things. She was afraid that if she went into it, these would kill
her; and on the other hand she bethought her that if she were found there
she would be taken back to the town to be burned.

_Here they sing_.

Nicolette, that bright-faced may,
Up the moat had won her way,
And to waymenting did fall,
And on Jesu's name 'gan call:

"Father, King of Majesty!
Now I wot not which way fly.
Should I to the greenwood hie,
There the wolves will me devour,
And the lions and wild boar,
Whereof yonder is great store.
Should I wait the daylight clear,
So that they should find me here,
Lighted will the fire bin
That my body shall burn in.
But, O God of Majesty!
I had liefer yet fairly
That the wolves should me devour,
And the lions and wild boar,
Than into the city fare!
I'll not go there."

_Here they speak and tell the story_.

Nicolette made great lamentation, as you have heard. She commended
herself to God, and went on till she came into the forest. She durst not
go deep into it, for the wild beasts and the snaky things; and she crept
into a thick bush, and sleep fell on her. She slept till the morrow at
high Prime, when the herdboys came out of the town, and drove their
beasts between the wood and the river. They drew aside to a very
beautiful spring which was at the edge of the forest, and spread out a
cloak and put their bread on it. While they were eating, Nicolette awoke
at the cry of the birds and of the herdboys, and she sprang towards them.

"Fair children!" said she, "may the Lord help you!"

"May God bless you!" said the one who was more ready of speech than the
others.

"Fair children," said she, "know you Aucassin, the son of the Count
Warren of Beaucaire?"

"Yes, we know him well."

"So God help you, fair children," said she, "tell him that there is a
beast in this forest, and that he come to hunt it. And if he can catch
it he would not give one limb of it for a hundred marks of gold, no, not
for five hundred, nor for any wealth."

And they gazed at her, and when they saw her so beautiful they were all
amazed.

"What, I tell him?" said he who was more ready of speech than the others.
"Sorrow be his whoever speak of it or whoeve