He mounted his horse, and Aucassin gat on his own, and Nicolete abode in the Queen’s chamber. Anon rode Aucassin and the King even till they came to that place where the Queen was, and lo! men were warring with baked apples, and with eggs, and with fresh cheeses, and Aucassin began to look on them, and made great marvel.
Here one singeth:
Aucassin his horse doth stay,
From the saddle watched the fray,
All the stour and fierce array;
Right fresh cheeses carried they,
Apples baked, and mushrooms grey,
Whoso splasheth most the ford
He is master called and lord.
Aucassin doth gaze awhile,
Then began to laugh and smile
And made game.
Then speak they, say they, tell they the Tale:
When Aucassin beheld these marvels, he came to the King, and said, “Sir, be these thine enemies?”
“Yea, Sir,” quoth the King.
“And will ye that I should avenge you of them?”
“Yea,” quoth he, “with all my heart.”
Then Aucassin put hand to sword, and hurled among them, and began to smite to the right hand and the left, and slew many of them. And when the King saw that he slew them, he caught at his bridle and said,
“Ha! fair sir, slay them not in such wise.”