diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:04:00 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:04:00 -0700 |
| commit | a0b430b5c594fe1db9436033279f28f749755cab (patch) | |
| tree | d466a5d7448b94103d068ae2c7d3999f2635935d /23227-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '23227-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 23227-h/23227-h.htm | 1959 |
1 files changed, 1959 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/23227-h/23227-h.htm b/23227-h/23227-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e67e58 --- /dev/null +++ b/23227-h/23227-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1959 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" /> +<title>Aucassin and Nicolette</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + P.headingsummary { margin-left: 5%;} + H1, H2 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + H3, H4, H5 { + text-align: left; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + table { border-collapse: collapse; } + td { vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid black;} + td p { margin: 0.2em; } + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: gray;} + + .citation {vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h2> +<a href="#startoftext">Aucassin and Nicolette, by Anonymous</a> +</h2> +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Aucassin and Nicolette, by Anonymous, +Translated by Francis William Bourdillon + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Aucassin and Nicolette + translated from the Old French + + +Author: Anonymous + + + +Release Date: October 28, 2007 [eBook #23227] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUCASSIN AND NICOLETTE*** +</pre> +<p><a name="startoftext"></a></p> +<p>Transcribed from the 1908 Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner +& Co. edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org</p> +<h2>AUCASSIN AND NICOLETTE</h2> +<p style="text-align: center">TRANSLATED FROM THE OLD FRENCH</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">by</span><br /> +FRANCIS WILLIAM BOURDILLON</p> +<p style="text-align: center">LONDON<br /> +<span class="smcap">kegan paul</span>, <span +class="smcap">trench</span>, <span class="smcap">trübner +& co. ltd.</span></p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">dryden +house</span>, <span class="smcap">gerrard street</span>, <span +class="smcap">w.</span><br /> +1908</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><!-- page 6--><a +name="page6"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 6</span><i>All rights +reserved</i></p> +<h2><!-- page 7--><a name="page7"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +7</span>INTRODUCTION</h2> +<p>The story of Love, that simple theme with variations <i>ad +libitum</i>, <i>ad infinitum</i>, is never old, never stale, +never out-of-date. And as we sometimes seek rest from the +brilliant audacities and complex passions of Wagner or +Tschaikowsky in the tender simplicity of some ancient English +air, so we occasionally turn with relief from the wit and insight +and subtlety of our modern novelists to the old uncomplicated +tales of faerie or romance, and find them after all more moving, +more tender, even more real, than all the laboured realism of +these photographic days. And here before us is of all +pretty love-stories perhaps the prettiest. Idyllic as +Daphnis and Chloe, romantic as Romeo and Juliet, tender as +Undine, remote as Cupid and Psyche, yet with perpetual <!-- page +8--><a name="page8"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 8</span>touches +of actual life, and words that raise pictures; and lightened all +through with a dainty playfulness, as if Ariel himself had +hovered near all the time of its writing, and Puck now and again +shot a whisper of suggestion.</p> +<p>Yet it is only of late years that the charm of this story has +been truly appreciated. Composed probably in Northern +France, about the close of the twelfth century,—the time of +our own Angevin kings and the most brilliant period of Old-French +literature,—it has survived only in a single manuscript of +later date, where it is found hidden among a number of tales in +verse less pleasing in subject and far less delightful in +form. There it had lain unknown till discovered by M. de +Sainte-Palaye, and printed by him in modernised French in 1752, +one hundred and fifty years ago. There is no space here to +follow its fortunes since. Even after this revival it was +not till more than one hundred years later that it began to +attain to any wide recognition. And in England this +recognition <!-- page 9--><a name="page9"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 9</span>has been mainly due to Mr +Pater’s delightful essay in his early work “Studies +in the History of the Renaissance.” Since the +publication of this book in 1873, the story of Aucassin and +Nicolette has had an ever-growing train of admirers both in +England and America, and various translations have appeared on +both sides of the Atlantic. It has also been translated +into several other European languages, besides versions in modern +French.</p> +<p>The story, so far as the simple old-world plot is concerned, +is very probably not the original invention of whoever gave it +this particular form, any more than were the plots of +Shakespeare’s plays of his own devising. It seems +likely that in origin it is Arabian or Moorish, and its +birthplace not Provence but Spain. Possibly it sprung, as +so much of the best poetry and story has sprung, from the +touching of two races, and the part friction part fusion of two +religions, in this case of the Moor and the Christian. +There was in 1019 a Moorish king of Cordova named Alcazin. +Turn this name <!-- page 10--><a name="page10"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 10</span>into French and we have +Aucassin. And to reverse the rôles of Christian and +heathen is a very usual device for a story-teller transplanting a +story from another country to his own. Though the scene is +nominally laid in Provence there are a good many signs of a +Spanish origin in the places mentioned. By Carthage is +meant, not the city of Dido, but Carthagena; and thus the husband +devised for Nicolette is “one of the greatest kings in all +Spain.” Valence again might originally have been not +the Valence on the Rhone, but Valence le grand, or +Valentia. And it is curious to observe that Beaucaire is +closely connected with Tarascon—a bridge across the Rhone +unites them—and that this latter name nearly resembles +Tarragona, a place which in other French romances is actually +called Terrascoigne. The shipwreck which in the story takes +place, impossibly, at Beaucaire, may have originally happened, +quite naturally, at Tarragona. Even the nonsense-name, +Torelore, might easily have had its rise in Torello. Again, +though it has been shown that all modern <!-- page 11--><a +name="page11"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 11</span>reports of +the <i>Couvade</i> as existing in Biscay have been founded only +on the ancient assertion of Strabo, it is still remarkable that +it is in this part of Europe alone that the custom has ever been +found.</p> +<p>If the composer of Aucassin derived his story from such a +source, it is easy to see also whence he got the idea of the +special form he has given it; for a narrative in prose mingled +with interludes of verse, though strange to European literature, +is common in Arabian.</p> +<p>And yet, whatever his sources or his models, one feels that +his debt to them is trifling compared to the worth of his own +work. All that he describes he has seen with his own eyes; +and all that he tells, be it borrowed or invented, is quickened +and heightened and made immortal by his own touch upon it.</p> +<p>All who can should read this story in its own +language—the simple easy-flowing Old-French, with its +infantile syntax, and naïve but effective <!-- page 12--><a +name="page12"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 12</span>efforts at +distinction and what we now call style. There are various +editions of the old French text; but the two easiest to get and +also to read are that of Professor Suchier, and my own. +Those in search of learning will always turn to Germany, and +Suchier is a very learned man. But I can honestly advise +all English readers to get my edition (Macmillan, 1897) in which +the text is given as pure as I could draw it from the fountain +head, the original MS. at Paris; where the music to the verse +sections will be found printed in its proper notation; and which +contains also a literal translation, full notes, and a +glossary.</p> +<p>The present translation varies a good deal from that I printed +with the Old-French text. I have to some extent relaxed the +restrictions I imposed on myself there, and have given freer +turns, even verging occasionally on paraphrase, to bring out the +full meaning, which it is often possible to miss in the original, +especially in the very condensed style of the <!-- page 13--><a +name="page13"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 13</span>verses. +These changes will, I hope, make this version easy and pleasant +to read even by those who have no leisure or no inclination to +attempt the study of the Old-French itself.</p> +<h2><!-- page 15--><a name="page15"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +15</span>AUCASSIN & NICOLETTE</h2> +<h3>’TIS OF AUCASSIN AND OF NICOLETTE</h3> +<p>Who would list a pleasant lay,<br /> +Pastime of the old and grey?<br /> +Of two lovers, children yet,<br /> +Aucassin and Nicolette;<br /> +Of the sorrows he went through,<br /> +Of the great things he did do,<br /> +All for his bright favoured may.<br /> +Sweet the song is, fair the say,<br /> +Full of art and full of grace.<br /> +There is none in such ill case,<br /> +Sad with sorrow, waste with care,<br /> +Sick with sadness, if he hear,<br /> +But shall in the hearing be<br /> +Whole again and glad with glee,<br /> + So sweet the story.</p> +<p><!-- page 16--><a name="page16"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +16</span><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>How Bulgarius Count of Valence made war upon Warren Count of +Beaucaire. And this war was so great, so marvellous, and so +mortal, that not a day dawned but there he was before the city, +at the gates, at the walls, at the fences, with knights a hundred +and men-at-arms ten thousand on foot and on horse; and he burned +his land, laid waste his country, and slew his liegemen. +Warren, Count of Beaucaire, was an old man and feeble, who had +overlived his term. He had none to succeed him, neither son +nor daughter, save one only boy; and what he was like, I will +tell you. Aucassin was the young lord’s name, and a +pretty lad he was. He had golden hair in little curls, and +laughing blue eyes, a face fair of colour and fine of curve, and +a proud shapely nose. Aye, so endued was he with good +conditions that there was none bad in him, but good only. +But so overcome was he of Love, who masters all, that he refused +knighthood, abjured arms, shunned the tourney, and left undone +all his devoir.</p> +<p>His father and his mother would say to him: “Son! come, +take thine arms and to horse! <!-- page 17--><a +name="page17"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 17</span>Fight for thy +land and succour thy liegemen! If they see thee in the +midst of them, they will fight the better for their lives and +their havings and for thy land and mine!”</p> +<p>“Father,” said Aucassin, “to what purpose is +this oration? Never God give me ought that I ask of Him, if +I take knighthood or mount horse, if I face fight or battlefield +to smite knight or be myself smitten, if you give me not +Nicolette, my sweet friend whom I love so well!”</p> +<p>“My son,” said his father, “it cannot +be. Have done with Nicolette! She is a slave-girl, +carried captive from a foreign land. The Viscount of this +place bought her of the heathen, and brought her here. He +held her at the font, and christened her, and stood godfather to +her. Some day he will give her a young fellow to win bread +for her in wedlock. What is this to you? If you want +a wife, I will give you a king’s daughter or a +count’s. There is never so rich a man in France but +you shall have his daughter, if you want her.”</p> +<p>“Alack, father!” said Aucassin. “Where +now is honour on earth so high, which Nicolette my sweet friend +would not grace if it were hers? Were she Empress of +Constantinople <!-- page 18--><a name="page18"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 18</span>or of Germany, were she Queen of +France or of England, there were but little in it, so noble is +she and gracious and debonair and endued with all good +conditions.”</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin was of Beaucaire;<br /> +His was the fine castle there;<br /> +But on slender Nicolette<br /> +Past man’s moving is he set,<br /> +Whom his father doth refuse;<br /> +Menace did his mother use:</p> +<p>“Out upon thee, foolish boy!<br /> +Nicolette is but a toy,<br /> +Castaway from Carthagen,<br /> +Bought a slave of heathen men.<br /> +If for marrying thou be,<br /> +Take a wife of high degree!”</p> +<p>“Mother, I will none but her.<br /> +Hath she not the gentle air,<br /> +Grace of limb, and beauty bright?<br /> +I am snared in her delight.<br /> +If I love her ’tis but meet,<br /> + So passing sweet!”</p> +<p><!-- page 19--><a name="page19"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +19</span><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>When Warren Count of Beaucaire perceived that Aucassin his son +was not to be moved from his love of Nicolette, he betook him to +the Viscount of the place, who was his liegeman; and addressed +him thus:</p> +<p>“Sir Viscount, come, rid me of Nicolette your +god-daughter! A curse on the land whence ever she was +fetched to this country! Now Aucassin is lost to me, and +all because of her. He refuses knighthood and leaves undone +all his devoir. Rest assured that if I can get hold of her +I will burn her in a fire; and for yourself too you may fear the +worst.”</p> +<p>“Sir,” said the Viscount, “’tis grief +to me that he go to her, or come to her, or speak to her. I +had bought her with my poor pieces. I had held her at the +font, and christened her, and stood god-father to her; and I +would have given her a young fellow to win bread for her in +wedlock. What is this to Aucassin your son? But +seeing your will is so and your good pleasure, I will send her to +such a land and to such a country that he shall never set eyes on +her more.”</p> +<p><!-- page 20--><a name="page20"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +20</span>“See you do so!” said Count Warren. +“Else it might go ill with you.”</p> +<p>Thus they parted. Now the Viscount was a very rich man, +and had a fine palace with a garden before it. He had +Nicolette put in a room there, on an upper storey, with an old +woman for company; and he had bread put there, and meat and wine +and all they needed. Then he had the door locked, so that +there was no way to get in or out. Only there was a window +of no great size which looked on the garden and gave them a +little fresh air.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Nicolette is prisoner,<br /> +In a vaulted bed-chamber,<br /> +Strange of pattern and design,<br /> +Richly painted, rarely fine.<br /> +At the window-sill of stone<br /> +Leaned the maiden sad and lone.<br /> +Yellow was her shining hair,<br /> +And her eyebrow pencilled rare,<br /> +Face fine-curved and colour fair:<br /> +Never saw you lovelier.<br /> +<!-- page 21--><a name="page21"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +21</span>Gazed she o’er the garden-ground,<br /> +Saw the opening roses round,<br /> +Heard the birds sing merrily;<br /> +Then she made her orphan cry:</p> +<p>“Woe’s me! what a wretch am I!<br /> +Caged and captive, why, ah why?<br /> +Aucassin, young lord, prithee,<br /> +Your sweetheart, am I not she?<br /> +Ay, methinks you hate not me.<br /> +For your sake I’m prisoner,<br /> +In this vaulted bed-chamber,<br /> +Where my life’s a weary one.<br /> +But by God, sweet Mary’s son,<br /> +Long herein I will not stay,<br /> + Can I find way!”</p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>Nicolette was in prison, as you have harkened and heard, in +the chamber. The cry and the noise ran through all the land +and through all the country that Nicolette was lost. There +are some say she is fled abroad out of the land. Other some +that Warren, Count of Beaucaire, has had her done to death. +Rejoice who might, Aucassin was not well pleased. But he +went <!-- page 22--><a name="page22"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +22</span>straightway to the Viscount of the place, and thus +addressed him:</p> +<p>“Sir Viscount, what have you done with Nicolette, my +very sweet friend, the thing that I love best in all the +world? Have you stolen and taken her from me? Rest +assured that if I die of this thing, my blood will be required of +you; and very justly, when you have gone and killed me with your +two hands. For you have stolen from me the thing that I +love best in all the world.”</p> +<p>“Fair sir,” said the Viscount, “now let +be! Nicolette is a slave-girl whom I fetched from a foreign +land and bought for money of the heathen. I held her at the +font, and christened her and stood godfather to her, and have +brought her up. One of these days I would have given her a +young fellow to win bread for her in wedlock. What is this +to you? Take you some king’s daughter or some +count’s. Moreover, what were you profited, think you, +had you made her your concubine, or taken her to live with +you? Mighty little had you got by that, seeing that your +soul would be in Hell for ever and ever, for to Paradise you +would never win!”</p> +<p>“Paradise? What have I to do there? I seek +not to win Paradise, so I have Nicolette <!-- page 23--><a +name="page23"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 23</span>my sweet +friend whom I love so well. For none go to Paradise but +I’ll tell you who. Your old priests and your old +cripples, and the halt and maimed, who are down on their knees +day and night, before altars and in old crypts; these also that +wear mangy old cloaks, or go in rags and tatters, shivering and +shoeless and showing their sores, and who die of hunger and want +and cold and misery. Such are they who go to Paradise; and +what have I to do with them? Hell is the place for +me. For to Hell go the fine churchmen, and the fine +knights, killed in the tourney or in some grand war, the brave +soldiers and the gallant gentlemen. With them will I +go. There go also the fair gracious ladies who have lovers +two or three beside their lord. There go the gold and the +silver, the sables and ermines. There go the harpers and +the minstrels and the kings of the earth. With them will I +go, so I have Nicolette my most sweet friend with me.”</p> +<p>“I’ faith,” said the Viscount, +“’tis but vain to speak of it; you will see her no +more. Aye, were you to get speech of her and it came to +your father’s ears, he would burn both her and me in a +fire; and for yourself too you might fear the worst.”</p> +<p><!-- page 24--><a name="page24"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +24</span>“This is sore news to me,” said +Aucassin. And he departed from the Viscount, sorrowful.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin has turned once more<br /> +In wanhope and sorrow sore<br /> +For his love-friend bright of face.<br /> +None can help his evil case,<br /> +None a word of counsel say.<br /> +To the palace went his way;<br /> +Step by step he climbed the stair;<br /> +Entered in a chamber there.<br /> +Then he ’gan to weep alone,<br /> +And most dismally to groan,<br /> +And his lady to bemoan.</p> +<p>“Nicolette, ah, gracious air!<br /> +Coming, going, ever fair!<br /> +In thy talk and in thy toying,<br /> +In thy jest and in thy joying,<br /> +In thy kissing, in thy coying.<br /> +I am sore distressed for thee.<br /> +Such a woe has come on me<br /> +That I trow not to win free,<br /> + Sweet sister friend!”</p> +<p><!-- page 25--><a name="page25"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +25</span><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>At the same time that Aucassin was in the chamber, bemoaning +Nicolette his friend, Bulgarius Count of Valence, who had his war +to maintain, forgat it not; but he had summoned his men, foot and +horse, and advanced to assault the castle. And the cry went +up and the noise; and the knights and men-at-arms girt on their +armour, and hastened to the gates and walls to defend the castle; +while the townsfolk mounted the parapets and hurled bolts and +sharpened stakes. At the time when the assault was fast and +furious, Warren Count of Beaucaire came into the chamber where +Aucassin was weeping and bemoaning Nicolette his most sweet +friend whom he loved so well.</p> +<p>“Ah, my son!” said he. “Wretch that +thou art and unhappy, to see assault made on this thy +castle—none better nor more strong! Know, moreover, +that if thou lose it thou losest thine inheritance! Come +now, my son, take thine arms and to horse! Fight for thy +land, and succour thy liegemen, and get thee to the field! +Though thou strike never a man nor be thyself <!-- page 26--><a +name="page26"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 26</span>stricken, if +they but see thee among them they will make a better fight for +their lives and their havings, and for thy land and mine. +So tall art thou and so strong, ’tis no great thing to do; +and it is thy devoir.”</p> +<p>“Father,” said Aucassin, “to what purpose is +this oration? Never God give me ought that I ask of him, if +I take knighthood or mount horse or go to the fighting to smite +knight or be myself smitten, if you give me not Nicolette, my +sweet friend, whom I love so well!”</p> +<p>“Son,” said his father, “that cannot +be. Rather would I suffer loss of all my inheritance, aye, +of all I have, than that thou shouldst have her to woman or to +wife!”</p> +<p>And he turned to go. And when Aucassin saw him +departing, he called him back.</p> +<p>“Father,” said Aucassin, “come hither, and I +will make a fair covenant with you!”</p> +<p>“Aye, and what covenant, fair son?”</p> +<p>“I will take arms and go to the fighting on such +condition, that, if God bring me again safe and sound, you will +give me leave to see Nicolette my sweet friend for such time as I +may speak two words to her or three, and once only kiss +her.”</p> +<p>“I consent,” said his father.</p> +<p><!-- page 27--><a name="page27"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +27</span>So he made agreement with him, and Aucassin was +well-pleased.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin heard of the kiss<br /> +On returning to be his.<br /> +Hundred thousand marks pure gold<br /> +Him had made less blithe and bold.<br /> +Arms he called for, rich and rare;<br /> +They made ready for his wear.<br /> +Hauberk donned he, double-lined;<br /> +Helmet on his head did bind;<br /> +Girt his sword with hilt pure gold;<br /> +Mounted on his charger bold;<br /> +Spear and buckler then he took;<br /> +At his two feet cast a look,<br /> +In the stirrups trod they trim;<br /> +Wondrous proud he carried him.<br /> +His sweet friend—he thought on her,<br /> +To his charger clapped the spur;<br /> +Forth he springs full mettlesome;<br /> +Straightway to the gate they come<br /> + That led to battle.</p> +<p><!-- page 28--><a name="page28"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +28</span><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin was arrayed and mounted on his horse, as you have +harkened and heard. Lord! how well it became him—the +shield on his neck and the helm on his head and the sword-belt on +his left hip! And the boy was tall and strong and comely +and slim and well-grown; and the horse he bestrode was fleet of +foot and high of mettle, and the boy had put him through the gate +cleverly. Now don’t you suppose that his thoughts +would have been set on taking spoil of oxen or cows or goats? +that he would have struck at some knight or been stricken in +turn? Not a whit! it never once occurred to him. But +his thought was so set upon Nicolette, his sweet friend, that he +forgot the reins and all he had to do. And his horse, +feeling the spur, dashed with him through the press, and charged +right into the thick of the enemy, who laid hands on him on all +sides, and made him prisoner. They took from him shield and +lance, and led him captive then and there. They were +already questioning one with another as to what manner of death +they should put him to; and when Aucassin heard it,</p> +<p><!-- page 29--><a name="page29"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +29</span>“Ah, gracious Heaven!” he said, “and +are these my mortal foes who hale me here and are presently about +to cut off my head? And once I have my head cut off, +nevermore shall I speak to Nicolette my sweet friend whom I love +so well. Nay, I have yet a good sword, and under me a good +steed untired. An I defend me not now for her sake, +ne’er help her God if ever again she love me!”</p> +<p>The boy was tall and strong, and the horse beneath him was +eager. He put his hand to his sword and began to strike to +right and to left, slashing helmet and nose-guard, fist and +wrist, and making havoc all around him as the boar does when the +dogs set on him in the forest; so that he overthrew ten of their +knights and wounded seven; and charged then and there out of the +press, and rode back full gallop, sword in hand.</p> +<p>Bulgarius, Count of Valence, heard say that they were about to +hang Aucassin his enemy, and came that way. Aucassin failed +not to espy him; and gripping his sword, he smote him through the +helmet so that he clave it to the skull. He was so stunned +that he fell to earth; and Aucassin put out his hand and took him +prisoner, and led him off by the nose-guard <!-- page 30--><a +name="page30"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 30</span>of his +helmet, and delivered him to his father.</p> +<p>“Father,” said Aucassin, “see here is your +enemy who has made war on you so long and done you hurt so +great. Twenty years has this war lasted, and never a man to +put an end to it.”</p> +<p>“Fair son,” said his father, “well were it +you should do deeds like this, and not gape at folly!”</p> +<p>“Father,” said Aucassin, “read me no +lectures, but keep me my covenant!”</p> +<p>“Bah! what covenant, fair son?”</p> +<p>“Alack, father, have you forgotten it? By the head +of me, forget it who may, I do not mean to forget it. +Rather have I laid it much to heart. Did you not make this +covenant with me, that if I took arms and went out to the +fighting, and if God brought me back safe and sound, you would +let me see Nicolette my sweet friend for such time as I might +speak two words to her or three, and once only kiss her? +This covenant you made with me, and this covenant I will have you +keep with me!”</p> +<p>“What, I?” said his father. +“Ne’er help me Heaven if I keep this covenant with +you! and were she here now I would burn her in a <!-- page +31--><a name="page31"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 31</span>fire; +and for yourself too you might fear the worst.”</p> +<p>“Is this the whole conclusion?” said Aucassin.</p> +<p>“Aye,” said his father, “so help me +Heaven!”</p> +<p>“I’ faith,” said Aucassin, “then I am +very sorry that a man of your age should be a liar.—Count +of Valence, you are my prisoner.”</p> +<p>“Sir, it is even so,” said the Count.</p> +<p>“Give me your hand!” said Aucassin.</p> +<p>“Sir, right willingly.”</p> +<p>He put his hand in his.</p> +<p>“This you pledge me,” said Aucassin, “that +never in all your days to be shall it be in your power to do +shame to my father or to do hurt to him or his, and you not do +it!”</p> +<p>“Sir,” said he, “for God’s sake, mock +me not, but set me a ransom! You can ask me nothing, gold +or silver, war-horses or palfreys, sables or ermines, hounds or +hawks, that I will not give you.”</p> +<p>“How now?” said Aucassin. “Wot you not +that you are my prisoner?”</p> +<p>“Aye, sir,” said the Count Bulgarius.</p> +<p>“Ne’er help me Heaven,” said Aucassin, <!-- +page 32--><a name="page32"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +32</span>“save you give me this pledge, if I send not your +head a-flying!”</p> +<p>“I’ God’s name,” said he, “I +give you what pledge you please!”</p> +<p>He gave the pledge; and Aucassin set him on a horse, and +himself mounted another, and conducted him till he was in +safety.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>When Count Warren saw indeed<br /> +That he never will succeed<br /> +Aucassin his son to get<br /> +From bright-favoured Nicolette,<br /> +In a pris’n he had him set,<br /> +In a dungeon hid from day,<br /> +Builded all of marble grey.<br /> +Now when Aucassin came there<br /> +Sad he was—so was he ne’er.<br /> +Loud lamenting he fell on,<br /> +Thus as you shall hear anon.</p> +<p>“Flow’r o’ the lily, Nicolette!<br /> +Bright-faced sweetheart, Nicolette!<br /> +Sweet as cluster of the vine,<br /> +Sweet as meed in maselyn.<br /> +<!-- page 33--><a name="page33"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +33</span>This I saw some yesterday,<br /> +How a pilgrim on his way—<br /> +Limousin his land was—lay<br /> +Fevered on a bed within.<br /> +Grievous had his sickness been,<br /> +Great the fever he was in.<br /> +By his bedside Nicolette<br /> +Passing, lifted skirts and let—<br /> +’Neath the pretty ermine frock,<br /> +’Neath the snowy linen smock—<br /> +Just a dainty ankle show.<br /> +Lo, the sick was healed, and lo,<br /> +Found him whole as ne’er before.<br /> +From his bed he rose once more,<br /> +And to his own land did flit,<br /> +Safe and sound, whole ever whit.</p> +<p>Flow’r o’ the lily, Nicolette!<br /> +Coming, going, ever pleasing,<br /> +In thy talk and in thy teasing,<br /> +In thy jest and in thy joying,<br /> +In thy kisses, in thy coying!<br /> +There is none could hate thee, dear!<br /> +Yet for thy sake am I here,<br /> +In this dungeon hid from day,<br /> +Where I cry Ah, well-a-way!<br /> +Now to die behoveth me,<br /> + Sweet friend, for thee!”</p> +<p><!-- page 34--><a name="page34"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +34</span><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin was put in prison, as you have listened and heard, +and Nicolette was elsewhere in the chamber. ’Twas the +summer time, the month of May, when the days are warm and long +and bright, and the nights still and cloudless. Nicolette +lay one night in her bed, and saw the moon shine bright through a +window, and heard the nightingale sing in the garden; and she +remembered Aucassin her friend, whom she loved so well. +Then she fell a-thinking of Warren Count of Beaucaire, and how he +hated her to death; and she thought within herself that she would +abide there no longer; since if she were betrayed and Count +Warren knew of her, he would put her to an evil death. She +perceived that the old woman who was with her slept. And +she arose and clad her in a goodly gown that she had of +cloth-of-silk; and she took bedclothes and towels, and tied one +to other and made a rope as long as she could, and made it fast +to the window-shaft; and so got down into the garden. Then +she took her dress in one hand before, and in the other behind, +and girded herself, because of the dew <!-- page 35--><a +name="page35"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 35</span>she saw heavy +on the grass, and went her way down the garden. She had +golden hair in little curls, and laughing blue eyes, and a face +finely curved, and a proud shapely nose, and lips more red than +cherry or rose in summertime, and small white teeth, and little +breasts that swelled beneath her clothes like two nuts of a +walnut-tree. And her waist was so fine that your two hands +could have girdled her; and the daisy-flowers snapped by her +toes, and lying on the arch of her foot, were fairly black beside +her feet and ankles, so very white the girl was.</p> +<p>She came to the postern, and unfastened it, and went out +through the streets of Beaucaire, keeping to the shadow, for the +moon shone very bright; and she went on till she came to the +tower where her friend was. The tower had cracks in it here +and there, and she crouched against one of the piers, and wrapped +herself in her mantle, and thrust her head into a chink in the +tower, which was old and ancient, and heard Aucassin within +weeping and making very great sorrow, and lamenting for his sweet +friend whom he loved so much. And when she had listened +enough to him she began to speak.</p> +<p><!-- page 36--><a name="page36"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +36</span><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Nicolette the bright of face<br /> +Leaned her at the buttress-base,<br /> +Heard within her lover dear<br /> +Weeping and bewailing her;<br /> +Then she spake the thought in her:</p> +<p>“Aucassin, most gentle knight,<br /> +High-born lording, honoured wight,<br /> +What avails you to weep so?<br /> +What your wailing, what your woe?<br /> +I may ne’er your darling be,<br /> +For your father hateth me;<br /> +All your kin thereto agree.<br /> +For your sake I’ll pass the sea,<br /> +Get me to some far countrie.”</p> +<p>Tresses of her hair she clipped,<br /> +And within the tower slipped.<br /> +Aucassin, that lover true,<br /> +Took them and did honour due,<br /> +Fondly kissed them and caressed,<br /> +And bestowed them in his breast.<br /> +Then in tears anew he brake<br /> + For his love’s sake.</p> +<p><!-- page 37--><a name="page37"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +37</span><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>When Aucassin heard Nicolette say that she would depart into +another country, he felt nothing but anger.</p> +<p>“Fair sweet friend,” said he, “you shall not +depart, for then would you have killed me. The first man +that set eyes on you and could do so would straightway lay hands +on you and take you to be his concubine. And once you had +lived with any man but me, now dream not that I should wait to +find a knife wherewith to strike me to the heart and kill +me! Nay, verily, that were all too long to wait. +Rather would I fling me just so far as I might see a bit of wall, +or a grey stone; and against that would I dash my head so hard +that my eyes should start out and all my brains be +scattered. Yet even such a death would I die rather than +know you had lived with any man but me.”</p> +<p>“Ah!” said she, “I trow not that you love me +so well as you say; but I love you better than you do +me.”</p> +<p>“Alack!” said Aucassin, “fair sweet +friend! That were not possible that you should love me <!-- +page 38--><a name="page38"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +38</span>so well as I do you. Woman cannot love man so well +as man loves woman. For a woman’s love lies in her +eye, in bud of bosom or tip of toe. But a man’s love +is within him, rooted in his heart, whence it cannot go +forth.”</p> +<p>While Aucassin and Nicolette were talking together, the town +watch came down a street. They had their swords drawn under +their cloaks, for Count Warren had given them command that if +they could lay hands on her they should kill her. And the +watchman on the tower saw them coming, and heard that they were +talking of Nicolette and threatening to kill her.</p> +<p>“Great Heavens!” he said, “what pity it were +should they slay so fair a maid! ’Twere a mighty good +deed if I could tell her, in such wise that they perceived it +not, and she could be ware of them. For if they slay her, +then will Aucassin my young lord die; and that were great +pity.”</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Valiant was the watch on wall,<br /> +Kindly, quick of wit withal.<br /> +<!-- page 39--><a name="page39"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +39</span>He struck up a roundelay<br /> +Very seasonably gay.</p> +<p>“Maiden of the noble heart,<br /> +Winsome fair of form thou art;<br /> +Winsome is thy golden hair,<br /> +Blue thine eye and blithe thine air.<br /> +Well I see it by thy cheer,<br /> +Thou hast spoken with thy fere,<br /> +Who for thee lies dying here.<br /> +This I tell thee, thou give ear!<br /> +’Ware thee of the sudden foe!<br /> +Yonder seeking thee they go.<br /> +’Neath each cloak a sword I see;<br /> +Terribly they threaten thee.<br /> +Soon they’ll do thee some misdeed<br /> + Save thou take heed!” <a +name="citation39"></a><a href="#footnote39" +class="citation">[39]</a></p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>“Ah!” said Nicolette; “now may thy +father’s soul and thy mother’s be in blessed repose, +for <!-- page 40--><a name="page40"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +40</span>the grace and for the courtesy with which thou hast told +me! Please God I will guard me well from them, and may God +Himself be my guard!”</p> +<p>She wrapped her mantle about her in the shadow of the pier, +till they had passed. Then she took leave of Aucassin and +went her way till she came to the castle wall. There was a +breach in it which had been boarded up. On to this she +climbed, and so got over between the wall and the ditch; and +looking down she saw the ditch was very deep and the sides very +sheer, and she was sore afraid.</p> +<p>“Ah, gracious Heaven!” she said; “if I let +myself fall I shall break my neck; and if I abide here, I shall +be taken to-morrow and burned in a fire. Nay, I had liefer +die here than be made a show to-morrow for all the folk to stare +at!”</p> +<p>She crossed herself, and let herself slip down into the +ditch. And when she came to the bottom, her fair feet and +her fair hands, untaught that ought could hurt them, were bruised +and <!-- page 41--><a name="page41"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +41</span>torn, and the blood flowed in full a dozen places. +Nevertheless she felt neither hurt nor pain for her great +dread. And if she were troubled as to the getting in, she +was far more troubled as to the getting out. But she +bethought her that it was no good to linger there; and she found +a sharpened stake which had been thrown by those within in the +defence of the castle; and with this she made steps one above the +other, and with much difficulty climbed up till she reached the +top.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Nicolette, that bright-faced may,<br /> +Up the moat had won her way,<br /> +And to waymenting did fall,<br /> +And on Jesu’s name ’gan call:</p> +<p><!-- page 42--><a name="page42"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +42</span>“Father, King of Majesty!<br /> +Now I wot not which way fly.<br /> +Should I to the greenwood hie,<br /> +There the wolves will me devour,<br /> +And the lions and wild boar,<br /> +Whereof yonder is great store.<br /> +Should I wait the daylight clear,<br /> +So that they should find me here,<br /> +Lighted will the fire bin<br /> +That my body shall burn in.<br /> +But, O God of Majesty!<br /> +I had liefer yet fairly<br /> +That the wolves should me devour,<br /> +And the lions and wild boar,<br /> +Than into the city fare!<br /> + I’ll not go there.”</p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>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 <!-- page 43--><a +name="page43"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 43</span>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.</p> +<p>“Fair children!” said she, “may the Lord +help you!”</p> +<p>“May God bless you!” said the one who was more +ready of speech than the others.</p> +<p>“Fair children,” said she, “know you +Aucassin, the son of the Count Warren of Beaucaire?”</p> +<p>“Yes, we know him well.”</p> +<p>“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.”</p> +<p>And they gazed at her, and when they saw her so beautiful they +were all amazed.</p> +<p>“What, I tell him?” said he who was more ready of +speech than the others. “Sorrow be <!-- page 44--><a +name="page44"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 44</span>his whoever +speak of it or whoever tell him! ’Tis fantasy that +you say, since there is not so costly a beast in this forest, +neither stag nor lion nor wild boar, one of whose limbs were +worth more than two pence, or three at the most; and you speak of +so great wealth! Foul sorrow be his who believe you, or +whoever tell him! You are a fay, and we have no care for +your company. So keep on your way!”</p> +<p>“Ah, fair children!” said she, “this will +you do! The beast has such a medicine that Aucassin will be +cured of his hurt. And I have here five sous in my purse; +take them, so you tell him! Aye, and within three days must +he hunt it, and, if in three days he find it not, never more will +he be cured of his hurt!”</p> +<p>“I’ faith!” said he, “the pence will +we take; and if he come here we will tell him, but we will never +go to seek him.”</p> +<p>“I’ God’s name!” said she.</p> +<p>Then she took leave of the herdboys, and went her way.</p> +<p><!-- page 45--><a name="page45"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +45</span><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Nicolette, that bright-faced may,<br /> +From the herdboys went her way,<br /> +And her journeying addressed<br /> +Through the leafy thick forest,<br /> +Down a path of olden day,<br /> +Till she came to a highway,<br /> +Where do seven roads divide<br /> +Through the land to wander wide.<br /> +Then she fell bethinking her<br /> +She will try her true lover<br /> +If he love her as he sware.<br /> +Flow’rs o’ the lily gathered she,<br /> +Branches of the jarris-tree,<br /> +And green leaves abundantly.<br /> +And she built a bower of green;<br /> +Daintier was there never seen.<br /> +By the truth of Heaven she sware,<br /> +That should Aucassin come there,<br /> +And a little rest not take<br /> +In the bower for her sweet sake,<br /> +Ne’er shall he her lover be,<br /> + Nor his love she!</p> +<p><!-- page 46--><a name="page46"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +46</span><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>Nicolette had made the bower, as you have harkened and heard; +very pretty she made it and very dainty, and all bedecked within +and without with flowers and leaves. Then she laid her down +near to the bower in a thick bush, to see what Aucassin would +do.</p> +<p>And the cry and the noise went through all the land and +through all the country that Nicolette was lost. There are +some say that she is fled away; other some that the Count Warren +has had her done to death. Rejoice who might, Aucassin was +not well pleased. Count Warren his father bade take him out +of prison; and summoned the knights of the land, and the +damozels, and made a very rich feast, thinking to comfort +Aucassin his son. But while the feasting was at its height, +there was Aucassin leaned against a balcony, all sorrowful and +all downcast. Make merry who might, Aucassin had no taste +for it; since he saw nothing there of that he loved. A +knight looked upon him, and came to him, and accosted him:</p> +<p><!-- page 47--><a name="page47"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +47</span>“Aucassin,” said he, “of such sickness +as yours, I too have been sick. I will give you good +counsel, if you will trust me.”</p> +<p>“Sir,” said Aucassin, “gramercy! Good +counsel should I hold dear.”</p> +<p>“Mount on a horse,” said he, “and go by yon +forest side to divert you; there you will see the flowers and +green things, and hear the birds sing. Peradventure you +shall hear a word for which you shall be the better.”</p> +<p>“Sir,” said Aucassin, “gramercy! So +will I do.”</p> +<p>He stole from the hall, and descended the stairs, and came to +the stable where his horse was. He bade saddle and bridle +him; and setting foot in stirrup, he mounted and rode forth out +of the castle, and went on till he came to the forest. He +rode till he reached the spring, and came upon the herdboys at +the point of None. They had spread a cloak on the grass, +and were eating their bread and making very great merriment.</p> +<p><!-- page 48--><a name="page48"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +48</span><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Came the herds from every part in;<br /> +There was Esmé, there was Martin;<br /> +There was Fruelin and Johnny;<br /> +Aubrey boon, and Robin bonny.<br /> +Then to speech did one address him:<br /> +“Mates, young Aucassin, God bless him!<br /> +’Struth, it is a fine young fellow!<br /> +And the girl with hair so yellow,<br /> +With the body slim and slender,<br /> +Eyes so blue and bloom so tender!<br /> +She that gave us such a penny<br /> +As shall buy us sweetmeats many,<br /> +Hunting-knife and sheath of leather,<br /> +Flute and fife to play together,<br /> +Scrannel pipe and cudgel beechen.<br /> + I pray God leech him!” <a +name="citation48"></a><a href="#footnote48" +class="citation">[48]</a></p> +<p><!-- page 49--><a name="page49"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +49</span><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>When Aucassin heard the shepherd boys, he minded him of +Nicolette his most sweet friend whom he loved so well; and he +bethought him that she had been there. And he pricked his +horse with the spurs, and came to the shepherd boys.</p> +<p>“Fair children, may God help you!”</p> +<p>“May God bless you!” said he who was more ready of +speech than the others.</p> +<p>“Fair children,” said he, “say again the +song that you were saying just now!”</p> +<p>“We will not say it,” said he who was more ready +of speech than the others. “Sorrow be his who sings +it for you, fair sir!”</p> +<p>“Fair children,” said Aucassin, “do you not +know me?”</p> +<p>“Aye, we know well that you are Aucassin, our young +lord; but we are not your men, but the Count’s.”</p> +<p>“Fair children, you will do so, I pray you!”</p> +<p>“Hear, by gog’s heart!” said he. +“And why should I sing for you, an it suit me not? +When there is no man in this land so rich, <!-- page 50--><a +name="page50"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 50</span>saving Count +Warren’s self, who finding my oxen or my cows or my sheep +in his pastures or in his crops, would dare to chase them from +it, for fear of having his eyes put out. And why should I +sing for you, an it suit me not?”</p> +<p>“So God help you, fair children, you will do so! +And take ten sous which I have here in a purse!”</p> +<p>“Sir, the pence will we take, but I will not sing to +you, for I have sworn it. But I will tell it to you, if you +will.”</p> +<p>“I’ God’s name!” said Aucassin; +“I had liefer telling than nothing.”</p> +<p>“Sir, we were here just now, between Prime and Tierce, +and were eating our bread at this spring, even as we are doing +now. And a maiden came here, the most beautiful thing in +the world, so that we deemed it was a fay, and all the wood +lightened with her. And she gave us of what was hers, so +that we covenanted with her, if you came here, we would tell you +that you are to go a-hunting in this forest. There is a +beast there which, could you catch it, you would not give one of +its limbs for five hundred marks of silver, nor for any +wealth. For the beast has such a medicine that if you can +catch it <!-- page 51--><a name="page51"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 51</span>you will be cured of your hurt. +Aye, and within three days must you have caught it, and if you +have not caught it, never more will you see it. Now hunt it +an you will, or an you will leave it; for I have well acquitted +myself towards her.”</p> +<p>“Fair children,” said Aucassin, “enough have +you said; and God grant me to find it!”</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin has word for word<br /> +Of his lithe-limbed lady heard;<br /> +Deep they pierced him to the quick;<br /> +From the herds he parted quick,<br /> +Struck into the greenwood thick.<br /> +Quickly stepped his gallant steed,<br /> +Bore him fairly off full speed.<br /> +Then he spake, three words he said:<br /> +“Nicolette, O lithe-limbed maid!<br /> +For your sake I thrid the glade!<br /> +Stag nor boar I now pursue,<br /> +But the sleuth I track for you!<br /> +Your bright eyes and body lithe,<br /> +Your sweet words and laughter blithe,<br /> +<!-- page 52--><a name="page52"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +52</span>Wounded have my heart to death.<br /> +So God, the strong Father will,<br /> +I shall look upon you still,<br /> + Sister, sweet friend!”</p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin went through the forest this way and that way, and +his good steed carried him a great pace. Think not that the +briars and thorns spared him! Not a whit! Nay they +tore his clothes so, that ’twere hard work to have patched +them together again; and the blood flowed from his arms and his +sides and his legs in forty places or thirty; so that one could +have followed the boy by the trace of the blood that fell upon +the grass. But he thought so much on Nicolette, his sweet +friend, that he felt neither hurt nor pain. All day long he +rode through the forest, but so it was that he never heard news +of her. And, when he saw that evening drew on, he began to +weep because he found her not.</p> +<p>He was riding down an old grassy road, when he looked before +him in the way and saw a boy, <!-- page 53--><a +name="page53"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 53</span>and I will +tell you what he was like. He was tall of stature and +wonderful to see, so ugly and hideous. He had a monstrous +shock-head black as coal, and there was more than a full +palm-breadth between his two eyes; and he had great cheeks, and +an immense flat nose, with great wide nostrils, and thick lips +redder than a roast, and great ugly yellow teeth. He was +shod in leggings and shoes of ox-hide, laced with bast to above +the knee; and was wrapped in a cloak which seemed inside out +either way on, and was leaning on a great club. Aucassin +sprang to meet him, and was terrified at the nearer sight of +him.</p> +<p>“Fair brother, may God help you!”</p> +<p>“May God bless you!” said he.</p> +<p>“So God help you, what do you there?”</p> +<p>“What matters it to you?” said he.</p> +<p>“Nothing”; said Aucassin; “I ask not for any +ill reason.”</p> +<p>“But wherefore are you weeping,” said he, +“and making such sorrow? I’ faith, were I as +rich a man as you are, all the world would not make me +weep!”</p> +<p>“Bah! Do you know me?” said Aucassin.</p> +<p>“Aye. I know well that you are Aucassin the son of +the Count; and if you tell me wherefore <!-- page 54--><a +name="page54"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 54</span>you are +weeping I will tell you what I am doing here.”</p> +<p>“Certès,” said Aucassin, “I will tell +you right willingly. I came this morning to hunt in this +forest; and I had a white greyhound, the fairest in the world, +and I have lost it; ’tis for this I am weeping.”</p> +<p>“Hear him!” said he, “by the blessed heart! +and you wept for a stinking dog! Sorrow be his who ever +again hold you in account! Why there is no man in this land +so rich, of whom if your father asked ten, or fifteen, or twenty, +he would not give them only too willingly, and be only too +glad. Nay, ’tis I should weep and make +sorrow.”</p> +<p>“And wherefore you, brother?”</p> +<p>“Sir, I will tell you. I was hireling to a rich +farmer, and drove his plough—four oxen there were. +Three days since a great misfortune befell me. I lost the +best of my oxen, Roget, the best of my team; and I have been in +search of it ever since. I have neither eaten nor drunk +these three days past; and I dare not go into the town, as they +would put me in prison, since I have not wherewith to pay for +it. Worldly goods have I none worth ought but what you see +on the body of me. I have a mother, poor <!-- page 55--><a +name="page55"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 55</span>woman, who +had nothing worth ought save one poor mattress, and this they +have dragged from under her back, so that she lies on the bare +straw; and for her I am troubled a deal more than for +myself. For wealth comes and goes; if I have lost now I +shall gain another time, and I shall pay for my ox when I can; +nor will I ever weep for an ox. And you wept for a dog of +the dunghill! Sorrow be his who ever again hold you in +account!”</p> +<p>“Certès, you are of good comfort, fair +brother! Bless you for it! And what was thine ox +worth?”</p> +<p>“Sir, it is twenty sous they ask me for it; I cannot +abate a single farthing.”</p> +<p>“Here,” said Aucassin, “take these twenty +which I have in my purse, and pay for thine ox!”</p> +<p>“Sir,” said he, “Gramercy! And may God +grant you to find that which you seek!”</p> +<p>He took leave of him; and Aucassin rode on. The night +was fine and still; and he went on till he came to the place +where the seven roads divide, and there before him he saw the +bower which Nicolette had made, bedecked within and without and +over and in front with flowers, and <!-- page 56--><a +name="page56"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 56</span>so pretty +that prettier could not be. When Aucassin perceived it, he +drew rein all in a moment; and the light of the moon smote within +it.</p> +<p>“Ah, Heaven!” said Aucassin, “here has +Nicolette been, my sweet friend; and this did she make with her +beautiful hands! For the sweetness of her, and for her +love, I will now alight here, and rest me there this night +through.”</p> +<p>He put his foot out of the stirrup to alight. His horse +was big and high; and he was thinking so much on Nicolette, his +most sweet friend, that he fell on a stone so hard that his +shoulder flew out of place. He felt that he was badly hurt; +but he bestirred him the best he could, and tied his horse up +with his other hand to a thorn; and he turned over on his side, +so that he got into the bower on his back. And he looked +through a chink in the bower, and saw the stars in the sky; and +he saw one there brighter than the rest, and he began to say:</p> +<p><!-- page 57--><a name="page57"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +57</span><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>“Little star, I see thee there,<br /> +That the moon draws close to her!<br /> +Nicolette is with thee there,<br /> +My love of the golden hair.<br /> +God, I trow, wants her in Heaven<br /> +To become the lamp of even.</p> +<p>. . . . .<br /> +. . . . .<br /> +. . . . . <a name="citation57"></a><a href="#footnote57" +class="citation">[57]</a></p> +<p>Whatsoe’er the fall might be,<br /> +Would I were aloft with thee!<br /> +Straitly I would kiss thee there.<br /> +Though a monarch’s son I were,<br /> +Yet would you befit me fair,<br /> + Sister, sweet friend!”</p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>When Nicolette heard Aucassin she came to him, for she was not +far off. She came into <!-- page 58--><a +name="page58"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 58</span>the bower, +and threw her arms round his neck, and kissed and caressed +him.</p> +<p>“Fair sweet friend, well be you met!”</p> +<p>“And you, fair sweet friend, be you the well +met!”</p> +<p>They kissed and caressed each other, and their joy was +beautiful.</p> +<p>“Ah, sweet friend!” said Aucassin, “I was +but now sore hurt in my shoulder; and now I feel neither hurt nor +pain since I have you!”</p> +<p>She felt about, and found that he had his shoulder out of +place. She plied it so with her white hands, and achieved +(as God willed, who loveth lovers) that it came again into +place. And then she took flowers and fresh grass and green +leaves, and bound them on with the lappet of her smock, and he +was quite healed.</p> +<p>“Aucassin,” said she, “fair sweet friend, +take counsel what you will do! If your father makes them +search this forest to-morrow, and they find me—whatever may +become of you, they will kill me!”</p> +<p>“Certès, fair sweet friend, I should be much +grieved at that! But, an I be able, they shall never have +hold of you!”</p> +<p><!-- page 59--><a name="page59"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +59</span>He mounted on his horse, and took his love in front of +him, kissing and caressing her; and they set out into the open +fields.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin, the boon, the blond,<br /> +High-born youth and lover fond,<br /> +Rode from out the deep forest;<br /> +In his arms his love he pressed,<br /> +’Fore him on the saddle-bow;<br /> +Kisses her on eyes and brow,<br /> +On her mouth and on her chin.<br /> +Then to him did she begin:</p> +<p>“Aucassin, fair lover sweet,<br /> +To what land are we to fleet?”</p> +<p>“Sweet my sweetheart, what know I?<br /> +Nought to me ’tis where we fly,<br /> +In greenwood or utter way,<br /> +So I am with you alway!”</p> +<p>So they pass by dale and down,<br /> +By the burgh and by the town,<br /> +<!-- page 60--><a name="page60"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +60</span>At daybreak the sea did reach,<br /> +And alighted on the beach<br /> + ’Longside the strand.</p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin had alighted, he and his love together, as you have +harkened and heard. He held his horse by the bridle and his +love by the hand, and they began to go along the shore; and they +went on till Aucassin descried some merchants who were in a ship +sailing near the shore. He 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:</p> +<p>“Yes, great war.”</p> +<p>He took leave of the merchants, and they <!-- page 61--><a +name="page61"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 61</span>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.</p> +<p>“And where then is his wife?”</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin the room ent’red,<br /> +He the courteous, the high-bred,<br /> +And went straight up to the bed,<br /> +On the which the king was laid.<br /> +Right in front of him he stayed,<br /> +And so spake, hear what he said:<br /> +<!-- page 62--><a name="page62"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +62</span>“Go to, fool! What dost thou +there?”<br /> +Quoth the king: “A son I bear.<br /> +Soon as is my month fulfilled,<br /> +And I am quite whole and healed,<br /> +Then shall I the mass go hear,<br /> +As my ancestor did ere,<br /> +And my great war to maintain<br /> +’Gainst mine enemies again.<br /> + I will not leave it!” <a +name="citation62"></a><a href="#footnote62" +class="citation">[62]</a></p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><!-- page 63--><a name="page63"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +63</span>“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?”</p> +<p>“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!”</p> +<p>He gave him his word; and when he had given it,</p> +<p>“Sir,” said Aucassin, “now take me where +your wife is with the army!”</p> +<p>“Sir, right willingly!” said the king.</p> +<p>He mounted a horse, and Aucassin mounted his; and Nicolette +remained in the queen’s chambers. 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.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin has stayed him so,<br /> +Elbow-propped on saddle-bow,<br /> +<!-- page 64--><a name="page64"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +64</span>And began a-gazing at<br /> +This tremendous pitched combat.<br /> +They had brought with them thereto<br /> +Store of cheeses enow new,<br /> +Wild crab-apples roasted through,<br /> +And of great field-mushrooms too.<br /> +He who best disturbs the fords<br /> +Is proclaimed the chief of lords.<br /> +Aucassin, the gallant knight,<br /> +’Gan a-gazing at the sight,<br /> + And fell a-laughing.</p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>When Aucassin saw this strange thing, he came to the king and +accosted him:</p> +<p>“Sir,” said Aucassin, “are these your +enemies?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” said the king.</p> +<p>“And would you that I should avenge you of +them?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said he, “willingly.”</p> +<p>And Aucassin put his hand to his sword, and dashed in among +them, and began to <!-- page 65--><a name="page65"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 65</span>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,</p> +<p>“Ah, fair sir! Do not kill them so!”</p> +<p>“How?” said Aucassin. “Do you not wish that +I should avenge you?”</p> +<p>“Sir,” said the king, “you have done it +overmuch. It is not our custom to kill one +another.”</p> +<p>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,</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>“King of Torelore!” she said,<br /> +Nicolette the lovely maid,<br /> +“Fool I seem in your folk’s sight!<br /> +When my sweet friend clips me tight,<br /> +<!-- page 66--><a name="page66"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +66</span>Smooth and soft for his delight,<br /> +Then am I at such a school,<br /> +Ball nor dance nor gay carole,<br /> +Harp nor viol nor cithole,<br /> +Nor the pleasures of <i>nimpole</i>, <a name="citation66"></a><a +href="#footnote66" class="citation">[66]</a><br /> + Were ought beside it!”</p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>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, and bound +Aucassin hand and foot and threw him into one <!-- page 67--><a +name="page67"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 67</span>ship, and +Nicolette into another. And there arose a storm at sea +which parted them. The ship in which Aucassin was went +drifting over the sea till it arrived at the Castle of +Beaucaire. And when the people of the country ran to the +wrecking of it, they found Aucassin, and recognised him. +When the men of Beaucaire saw their young lord, they made great +joy of him; for Aucassin had stayed at the Castle of Torelore +full three years, and his father and mother were dead. They +brought him to the Castle of Beaucaire, and all became his +liegemen. And he held his land in peace.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Aucassin did thus repair<br /> +To his city of Beaucaire;<br /> +All the kingdom and countrie<br /> +Held in great tranquillity.<br /> +Swore he by God’s majesty,<br /> +Sorer far is his regret<br /> +For bright-favoured Nicolette<br /> +<!-- page 68--><a name="page68"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +68</span>Than his kinsfolk every one,<br /> +Though they all were dead and gone.<br /> +“Sweet my sweetheart, bright of cheer,<br /> +You to seek I know not where!<br /> +Never God made that countrie,<br /> +Overland or oversea,<br /> +If I thought to light on thee,<br /> + I’d not fly thither!”</p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>Now we will leave Aucassin, and tell of Nicolette. The +ship in which Nicolette was, was the king of Carthage’s, +and he was her father, and she had twelve brothers, all princes +or kings. When they saw Nicolette so beautiful, they did +her very great honour, and made rejoicing over her; and much they +questioned of her who she was; for in sooth she seemed a very +noble lady and of high degree. But she could not tell them +who she was; for she had been carried captive as a little +child.</p> +<p>They sailed till they came beneath the city <!-- page 69--><a +name="page69"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 69</span>of +Carthage. And when Nicolette saw the walls of the castle, +and the country, she recognised that it was there she had been +brought up and carried captive as a little child; yet she was not +such a little child but that she knew well that she had been +daughter to the king of Carthage, and that she had been brought +up in the city.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Nicolette, the wise, the brave,<br /> +Won to land from off the wave;<br /> +Sees the wharves, the city walls,<br /> +And the palaces and halls;<br /> +Then she cries, “Ah! woe is me!<br /> +Ah, woe worth my high degree!<br /> +King’s daughter of Carthagen,<br /> +To the Amiral akin!<br /> +Here me holds a salvage horde!<br /> +Aucassin, my gentle lord,<br /> +Wise and worshipful and free,<br /> +Your sweet love constraineth me,<br /> +<!-- page 70--><a name="page70"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +70</span>Calleth me and troubleth me!<br /> +Grant me God the Heavenly<br /> +Yet to hold you in embrace,<br /> +And that you should kiss my face<br /> +And my mouth and all my cheer,<br /> + My liege lord dear!”</p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>When the king of Carthage heard Nicolette speak thus, he threw +his arms round her neck.</p> +<p>“Fair sweet friend,” said he, “tell me who +you are! Be not afraid of me!”</p> +<p>“Sir,” said she, “I am daughter to the king +of Carthage, and was carried captive as a little child, full +fifteen years ago.”</p> +<p>When they heard her speak thus, they knew well that she said +truly; and they made very great rejoicing over her, and brought +her to the palace with great honour, as a king’s +daughter. A lord they wished to give her, a king of Paynim; +but she had no care to wed. And when she had been there +full three days or four, <!-- page 71--><a +name="page71"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 71</span>she +considered with herself by what device she might go to seek +Aucassin. She procured a viol and learned to play on it; +till one day they wished to marry her to a king, a rich +Paynim. Then she stole away in the night, and came to the +seaport, and harboured her at the house of a poor woman on the +seashore.</p> +<p>And she took a herb, and smeared her head and face with it, so +that she was all black and stained. And she got a coat +made, and cloak and shirt and breeches, and attired herself in +minstrel guise; and she took her viol, and went to a mariner, and +so dealt with him that he took her in his ship. They set +their sail, and sailed over the high sea till they arrived at the +land of Provence. And Nicolette went forth, and took her +viol, and went playing through the country, till she came to the +Castle of Beaucaire, where Aucassin was.</p> +<p><!-- page 72--><a name="page72"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +72</span><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>At Beaucaire beneath the tower<br /> +Aucassin was one fair hour.<br /> +Here he sat him on a stair;<br /> +Round him his proud barons were;<br /> +Saw the flower and green herb spring,<br /> +Heard the song-bird sweetly sing;<br /> +Of his love he thought anew,<br /> +Nicolette the maiden true,<br /> +Whom he loved so long a day;<br /> +Then to tears and sighs gave way.<br /> +Look you, Nicolette below<br /> +Draws her viol, draws her bow;<br /> +Now she speaks, her tale tells so:<br /> +“List to me, proud lords arow,<br /> +Those aloft and those alow!<br /> +Would it please you hear a word<br /> +Of Aucassin, a proud lord,<br /> +And of Nicolette the bold?<br /> +Long their love did last and hold<br /> +Till he sought her in the wold.<br /> +Then, from Torelore’s stronghold,<br /> +They were haled by heathen horde.<br /> +Of Aucassin we’ve no word.<br /> +Nicolette the maiden bold<br /> +<!-- page 73--><a name="page73"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +73</span>Is at Carthage the stronghold,<br /> +Whom her father dear doth hold<br /> +Who of yonder land is lord.<br /> +Husband they would her award,<br /> +Felon king of heathenesse.<br /> +Nicolette cares not for this,<br /> +For she loves a lording lad,<br /> +Aucassin to name he had.<br /> +By God and His name she vows<br /> +Never lord will she espouse,<br /> +If she have not her true love<br /> + She’s so fain of.”</p> +<p><i>Here they speak and tell the story</i>.</p> +<p>When Aucassin heard Nicolette speak thus, he was very glad, +and he took her on one side, and asked her,</p> +<p>“Fair sweet comrade,” said Aucassin, “know +you ought of this Nicolette, of whom you have sung?”</p> +<p>“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 <!-- page 74--><a name="page74"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 74</span>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.”</p> +<p>“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.”</p> +<p>“Sir,” said she, “if you would do this, I +would go to seek her, for your sake, and for hers, whom I love +much.”</p> +<p>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,</p> +<p>“Sir,” said she, “be not afraid! Since +<!-- page 75--><a name="page75"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +75</span>within a little while I will bring her to you in this +town, so that you shall see her.”</p> +<p>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 silk 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:</p> +<p>“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 <!-- page 76--><a name="page76"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 76</span>Nicolette, your sweet friend, who +from far land is come to seek you.” And Aucassin was +glad.</p> +<p><i>Here they sing</i>.</p> +<p>Now when Aucassin did hear<br /> +Of his bright-of-favour fere,<br /> +That she had arrived the shore,<br /> +Glad was he, he ne’er was more.<br /> +With the dame he went his way,<br /> +Till the house made stop nor stay.<br /> +To the chamber went they in<br /> +Where sat Nicolette within.<br /> +When she saw her lover there,<br /> +Glad she was, so was she ne’er.<br /> +Towards him to her feet leapt she.<br /> +Aucassin, when he did see,<br /> +Both his arms to her he holds,<br /> +Gently to his bosom folds,<br /> +Kisses her on eyes and face.<br /> +So they left him the night’s space,<br /> +Till the morrow’s morning-tide<br /> +Aucassin took her to bride,<br /> +<!-- page 77--><a name="page77"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +77</span>Made her Lady of Beaucaire.<br /> +Many days they then did fare,<br /> +And their pleasure did enjoy.<br /> +Now has Aucassin his joy,<br /> +Nicolette too the same way.<br /> +Here endeth our song-and-say;<br /> + I know no further.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">printed +by</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">turnbull and spears</span>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">edinburgh</span></p> +<h2>Footnotes:</h2> +<p><a name="footnote39"></a><a href="#citation39" +class="footnote">[39]</a> The device of the warder is to +give his warning in the guise of an <i>Aubade</i>, as if he were +merely singing for his own amusement. The <i>Aubade</i>, 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.</p> +<p><a name="footnote48"></a><a href="#citation48" +class="footnote">[48]</a> 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.</p> +<p><a name="footnote57"></a><a href="#citation57" +class="footnote">[57]</a> Three lines are torn away in the +original MS.</p> +<p><a name="footnote62"></a><a href="#citation62" +class="footnote">[62]</a> 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 +convenient name of <i>Couvade</i>, though originally applied to +this custom by a mistake, has now become recognised, and it seems +best to retain it.</p> +<p><a name="footnote66"></a><a href="#citation66" +class="footnote">[66]</a> It is unknown what the game of +<i>Nimpole</i> or <i>Nypollete</i> was. But elsewhere it is +coupled with games played on a board, <i>jeux de tables</i>, as +if of the same nature as draughts or chess.</p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUCASSIN AND NICOLETTE***</p> +<pre> + + +***** This file should be named 23227-h.htm or 23227-h.zip****** + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/2/2/23227 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +</pre></body> +</html> |