"What is that, dear boy?"
"It is this. I will take my arms, I will mount my horse, and I will do my duty bravely, on condition that, if God bring me out of the battle unhurt, you will let me see my darling sweetheart, Nicolette, and embrace her. There shall be time to say two or three words to her, and to kiss her once."
"I grant it willingly," said the father; and he went away.
| [Now they sing it.] |
| Not diamonds bright, or heaps of gold Would give to you such bliss As blessed this boy when he was told The way to earn a kiss. They quickly brought him arms of steel, His helmet and his crest; Upon his head the helmet laced; And then a double hauberk braced Across his breast. He springs upon his charger white; And when he glances on his feet His greaves are tight and silver bright: His darling dear he thinks upon; He spurs his war-horse fleet, And rushes straight before him down To the fight. |
[Here they speak it, and talk it, and tell it.] |
Aucassin was armed, then, as you have heard.
How bright his shield, as it hung from his neck! how well his helmet fitted his head! and how his sword clanged, hanging upon his thigh!
The young man was tall, strong, handsome, and well armed. His horse was swift; and he was soon at the castle-gate.
Now, do not go and think that he was thinking the least in the world of capturing oxen or cows or goats! No, nor of giving mortal blows to the knights or the other soldiers of Count Bougars de Valence!
Oh, no, not he! He had something else in his head and in his heart; for he was thinking of Nicolette, his darling sweetheart. So he even forgot to hold up his reins; and his horse, as soon as he once felt the spurs, carried him in full mêlée into the very middle of his enemies.
They were overjoyed at such luck. They surrounded him, and seized his lance and his shield, and, as they led him away prisoner, began to ask each other with what death they would make him die.