Here one singeth:
There were gathered shepherds all,
Martin, Esmeric, and Hal,
Aubrey, Robin, great and small.
Saith the one, “Good fellows all,
God keep Aucassin the fair,
And the maid with yellow hair,
Bright of brow and eyes of vair.
She that gave us gold to ware.
Cakes therewith to buy ye know,
Goodly knives and sheaths also.
Flutes to play, and pipes to blow,
May God him heal!”
Here speak they, say they, tell they the Tale:
When Aucassin heard the shepherds, anon he bethought him of Nicolete, his sweet lady he loved so well, and he deemed that she had passed thereby; then set he spurs to his horse, and so came to the shepherds.
“Fair boys, God be with you.”
“God bless you,” quoth he that had more words to his tongue than the rest.
“Fair boys,” quoth Aucassin, “say the song again that anon ye sang.”
“Say it we will not,” quoth he that had more words to his tongue than the rest, “foul fall him who will sing it again for you, fair sir!”
“Fair boys,” quoth Aucassin, “know ye me not?”
“Yea, we know well that you are Aucassin, out damoiseau, natheless we be not your men, but the Count’s.”