And the king and Aucassin rode till they came
where the queen was; and they found it a battle of crab-apples roasted,
and eggs, and fresh cheeses. And Aucassin began to gaze at them, and he
wondered very hard.

_Here they sing_.

Aucassin has stayed him so,
Elbow-propped on saddle-bow,
And began a-gazing at
This tremendous pitched combat.
They had brought with them thereto
Store of cheeses enow new,
Wild crab-apples roasted through,
And of great field-mushrooms too.
He who best disturbs the fords
Is proclaimed the chief of lords.
Aucassin, the gallant knight,
'Gan a-gazing at the sight,
And fell a-laughing.

_Here they speak and tell the story_.

When Aucassin saw this strange thing, he came to the king and accosted
him:

"Sir," said Aucassin, "are these your enemies?"

"Yes, sir," said the king.

"And would you that I should avenge you of them?"

"Yes," said he, "willingly."

And Aucassin put his hand to his sword, and dashed in among them, and
began to strike to right and to left, and killed many of them. And when
the king saw that he was killing them he took him by the bridle, and
said,

"Ah, fair sir! Do not kill them so!"

"How?" said Aucassin. "Do you not wish that I should avenge you?"

"Sir," said the king, "you have done it overmuch. It is not our custom
to kill one another."

The other side turned to flight; and the king and Aucassin returned to
the Castle of Torelore. And the people of the country bade the king
drive Aucassin out of his land, and keep Nicolette for his son, since she
seemed in sooth a lady of high degree. And when Nicolette heard it she
was not well-pleased; and she began to say,

_Here they sing_.

"King of Torelore!" she said,
Nicolette the lovely maid,
"Fool I seem in your folk's sight!
When my sweet friend clips me tight,
Smooth and soft for his delight,
Then am I at such a school,
Ball nor dance nor gay carole,
Harp nor viol nor cithole,
Nor the pleasures of _nimpole_, {66}
Were ought beside it!"

_Here they speak and tell the story_.

Aucassin was at the Castle of Torelore, and Nicolette his love, in great
content and in great delight, for he had with him Nicolette, his sweet
friend whom he loved so well. While he was in such content and in such
delight, a fleet of Saracens came by sea and attacked the castle and took
it by storm. They took the stuff, and led away men-captives and women-
captives. They took Nicolette and Aucassin, a