She walked along for some time by the edge of the wood, frightened to death, starting at the slightest sound, and then going forward again with the utmost care. She walked this way and that, till she was so tired that she could walk no longer, and she lay down on a smooth bed of grass, and went to sleep; and there she slept till morning.
Early in the morning some shepherds passed by, on their way towards the town, as they were driving their sheep and herds to feed between the woods and the river. Now there was a fresh fountain near the place where Nicolette was lying; and it happened that the shepherds came to the fountain, and spread a cloak on the grass, and put their bread upon it, and sat down there for their simple breakfast.
While they were eating it, Nicolette was wakened by their talk, and by the song of the birds who were twittering in the branches.
She went to the shepherds, and spoke to the youngest of them, and said,—
"Pretty boy, may our Lady Mary take care of you!"
"May God bless you!" replied this young shepherd, whose speech came easier to him than the others.
"Pretty boy," said Nicolette, "do you know Aucassin, the son of Count Garin, of Beaucaire?"
"Oh, yes! we know him."
"As you would have God bless you, pretty boy, tell him that there is a strange wild beast in this wood; and that he ought to come out to hunt for her; and that, if he takes her, he would not give one of her limbs,—no, not for a hundred marks of gold, nor for five hundred marks, nor for all the gold that can be told."
As she said this, the shepherds were looking at Nicolette, and were wondering at her beauty.