| [Now they sing it.] |
| Aucassin, of noble blood, By the battling armies stood, And wondered at the sight; For men-at-arms were seen Keeping up the fight: With eggs they threw, with all their might, Apples raw and cheeses green! And the soldier who with these Most disturbed the fountain bright, He was deemed the bravest knight. Aucassin, of noble blood, Watched this battle where he stood, And laughed outright. |
[Now they tell it, and speak it, and talk it.] |
Aucassin went to the king, and said to him, "Are these your enemies, sir?"
"Yes," replied the king.
"Do you wish to have me avenge you?"
"Indeed I do!"
Then Aucassin drew his sword, plunged into the thick of the fight, and cut and thrust from right to left; so that in almost no time he had killed a great number.
"My dear sir," cried the king, seizing Aucassin's horse by the bridle, "do not kill them in this way!"
"How else can I avenge you?" said Aucassin.
"Sir, you do too much. It is not our custom to kill each other in this fashion: all that we do is to put the enemy to flight."
Then they returned to the Castle of Torelore, where the people of the country advised the king to drive Aucassin out of his land, and to keep this pretty girl Nicolette for his wife; for she seemed to them a lady of high degree.