e beckoned to
them and they came to him; and he dealt with them so that they took him
into their ship. And when they were on the high sea a storm arose, great
and wonderful, which carried them from land to land, till they arrived at
a foreign land, and entered the port of the castle of Torelore. Then
they asked what land it was; and they told them that it was the land of
the king of Torelore. Then he asked, Who was he, and was there war? And
they told him:

"Yes, great war."

He took leave of the merchants, and they commended him to God. He
mounted his horse, with his sword girt, and his love before him, and went
on till he came to the castle. He asked where the king was, and they
told him that he lay in child-bed.

"And where then is his wife?"

And they told him that she was with the army, and had taken thither all
the folk of the land. And when Aucassin heard it, he thought it a very
strange thing; and he came to the palace, and alighted, he and his love
together. And she held his horse, and he went up to the palace, with his
sword girt; and went on till he came to the room where the king lay a-
bed.

_Here they sing_.

Aucassin the room ent'red,
He the courteous, the high-bred,
And went straight up to the bed,
On the which the king was laid.
Right in front of him he stayed,
And so spake, hear what he said:
"Go to, fool! What dost thou there?"
Quoth the king: "A son I bear.
Soon as is my month fulfilled,
And I am quite whole and healed,
Then shall I the mass go hear,
As my ancestor did ere,
And my great war to maintain
'Gainst mine enemies again.
I will not leave it!" {62}

_Here they speak and tell the story_.

When Aucassin heard the king speak thus, he took all the clothes which
were on him, and flung them down the room. He saw behind him a stick. He
took it, and turned and struck him, and beat him so that he was like to
have killed him.

"Ah, fair sir!" said the king, "what is it you ask of me? Have you your
wits distraught, you who beat me in my own house?"

"By the heart of God," said Aucassin, "you whoreson knave, I will kill
you unless you give me your word that never more shall any man in your
land lie in child-bed!"

He gave him his word; and when he had given it,

"Sir," said Aucassin, "now take me where your wife is with the army!"

"Sir, right willingly!" said the king.

He mounted a horse, and Aucassin mounted his; and Nicolette remained in
the queen's chambers.