Husband they would her award,
Felon king of heathenesse.
Nicolette cares not for this,
For she loves a lording lad,
Aucassin to name he had.
By God and His name she vows
Never lord will she espouse,
If she have not her true love
She's so fain of."

_Here they speak and tell the story_.

When Aucassin heard Nicolette speak thus, he was very glad, and he took
her on one side, and asked her,

"Fair sweet comrade," said Aucassin, "know you ought of this Nicolette,
of whom you have sung?"

"Sir, yes! I know of her as the noblest creature and the gentlest and
wisest that ever was born. And she is daughter to the king of Carthage,
who took her when Aucassin was taken, and carried her to the city of
Carthage, when he knew surely that she was his daughter, and made very
great rejoicing over her. And every day they wish to give her for lord
one of the highest kings in all Spain. But she would rather let herself
be hanged or drowned than she would take any of them, were he ever so
rich."

"Ah, fair sweet comrade," said the Count Aucassin, "if you would go back
to that land, and would tell her to come and speak to me, I would give
you of my wealth as much as you should dare ask or take. Know, moreover,
that for the love of her I will take no wife, were she of ever so high
degree, but I wait for her; nor will I ever have any wife save her. And
had I known where to find her I should not now have to seek her."

"Sir," said she, "if you would do this, I would go to seek her, for your
sake, and for hers, whom I love much."

He sware to her; and then he bade give her twenty pounds. And as she
took leave of him, he fell weeping for the sweetness of Nicolette. And
when she saw him weeping,

"Sir," said she, "be not afraid! Since within a little while I will
bring her to you in this town, so that you shall see her."

And when Aucassin heard it he was very glad. And she took leave of him,
and went into the town to the house of the Viscountess; for the Viscount
her godfather was dead. She harboured her there; and spoke with her till
she confessed her affair to her, and the Viscountess recognised her, and
knew surely that it was Nicolette, and that she had brought her up. And
she made her be washed and bathed, and sojourn there a full eight days.
And she took a plant which was called Celandine and anointed herself with
it, and she was as beautiful as she had ever been at any time. And she
clad herself in rich s