ilk stuffs, of which the lady had good store, and
she sat her down in the room on a quilted coverlet of cloth-of-silk, and
called the lady, and told her to go for Aucassin her friend. And she did
so. And when she came to the palace she found Aucassin weeping and
lamenting for Nicolette his love, because she tarried so long. And the
lady accosted him and said:

"Aucassin, now make no more lament, but come away with me, and I will
show you the thing in the world you love best, for it is Nicolette, your
sweet friend, who from far land is come to seek you." And Aucassin was
glad.

_Here they sing_.

Now when Aucassin did hear
Of his bright-of-favour fere,
That she had arrived the shore,
Glad was he, he ne'er was more.
With the dame he went his way,
Till the house made stop nor stay.
To the chamber went they in
Where sat Nicolette within.
When she saw her lover there,
Glad she was, so was she ne'er.
Towards him to her feet leapt she.
Aucassin, when he did see,
Both his arms to her he holds,
Gently to his bosom folds,
Kisses her on eyes and face.
So they left him the night's space,
Till the morrow's morning-tide
Aucassin took her to bride,
Made her Lady of Beaucaire.
Many days they then did fare,
And their pleasure did enjoy.
Now has Aucassin his joy,
Nicolette too the same way.
Here endeth our song-and-say;
I know no further.

PRINTED BY
TURNBULL AND SPEARS,
EDINBURGH

Footnotes:

{39} The device of the warder is to give his warning in the guise of an
_Aubade_, as if he were merely singing for his own amusement. The
_Aubade_, or Watch-song, was a favourite lyrical form in Southern France.
It was originally a dialogue between the lover, the lady, and the
watchman who played sentinel, and warned them that the Dawn was coming.

{48} This piece of verse is remarkable for the evident intention of
playfulness in it. All the lines end in a diminutive termination, and
all the proper names also; Esmeret, Martinet, Fruelin, Johanet, Aubriet,
Aucassinet. It seemed impossible to preserve this playfulness in any
direct way, without sacrifice of literal rendering and without changing
the proper names. I have tried to give a little of it by the use of
dissyllabic rhymes.

{57} Three lines are torn away in the original MS.

{62} The custom of a husband taking to his bed when his wife has borne a
child is a curious superstition well-known to ethnologists and folk-lore
students. The convenie