She had an old woman for her only companion, with enough bread and meat and wine, and everything else that they needed to keep them alive.
Then he fastened and concealed the door, so that no one could go in; and he left no other opening but the window, which was very narrow, and opened on the garden.
| [Now they sing it.] |
| Nicolette was put in prison; And a vaulted room Wonderfully built and painted Was her prison home. The pretty maiden came To the marble window-frame: Her hair was light, Her eyes were bright, And her face was a charming face to see. No; never had a knight a maid With such a charming face to see. She looked into the garden close, And there she saw the open rose, Heard the thrushes sing and twitter,— And she sang in accent bitter,— "Oh! why am I a captive here? Why locked up in cruel walls? Aucassin, my sweetheart dear, Whom my heart its master calls, I have been your sweetheart for this livelong year: That is why I've come To this vaulted room; But by God, the son of Mary, no! I will not be captured so, If only I can break away, and go." |
[Now they speak it, and talk it, and tell it.] |
So Nicolette was put in prison, as you have just heard; and soon a cry and noise ran through the country that she was lost. Some said that she had run away; others said that the Count Garin de Beaucaire had killed her.
All in despair at the joy which this news seemed to cause to some people, Aucassin went to find the viscount of the town.
"Lord Viscount," he asked him, "what have you done with Nicolette, my sweetest love, the thing in all the world which I love best?
"You have stolen her!
"Be sure, Viscount, that, if I die of this, the blame shall fall on you.
"For surely it is you who tear away my life in tearing away my darling Nicolette!"
"Fair sir," answered the viscount, "do let this Nicolette alone, for she is not worthy of you. She is a slave whom I have bought with my deniers; and she must serve as a wife to a young fellow of her own state, to a poor man, and not to a lord like you, who ought to marry none but a king's daughter, or at least a count's daughter.