“Fair children!” said she, “may the Lord help you!”
“May God bless you!” said the one who was more ready of speech than the others.
“Fair children,” said she, “know you Aucassin, the son of the Count Warren of Beaucaire?”
“Yes, we know him well.”
“So God help you, fair children,” said she, “tell him that there is a beast in this forest, and that he come to hunt it. And if he can catch it he would not give one limb of it for a hundred marks of gold, no, not for five hundred, nor for any wealth.”
And they gazed at her, and when they saw her so beautiful they were all amazed.
“What, I tell him?” said he who was more ready of speech than the others. “Sorrow be
his whoever speak of it or whoever tell him! ’Tis fantasy that you say, since there is not so costly a beast in this forest, neither stag nor lion nor wild boar, one of whose limbs were worth more than two pence, or three at the most; and you speak of so great wealth! Foul sorrow be his who believe you, or whoever tell him! You are a fay, and we have no care for your company. So keep on your way!”
“Ah, fair children!” said she, “this will you do! The beast has such a medicine that Aucassin will be cured of his hurt. And I have here five sous in my purse; take them, so you tell him! Aye, and within three days must he hunt it, and, if in three days he find it not, never more will he be cured of his hurt!”
“I’ faith!” said he, “the pence will we take; and if he come here we will tell him, but we will never go to seek him.”