Nicolette made great lamentation, as you have heard. She commended herself to God, and went on till she came into the forest. She durst not go deep into it, for the wild beasts and the snaky things; and she crept into a thick bush, and sleep fell on her. She slept till the morrow at high Prime, when the herdboys came out of the town, and drove their beasts between the wood and the river. They drew aside to a very beautiful spring which was at the edge of the forest, and spread out a cloak and put their bread on it. While they were eating, Nicolette awoke at the cry of the birds and of the herdboys, and she sprang towards them. "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." "I' God's name!" said she. Then she took leave of the herdboys, and went her way. _Here they sing_. Nicolette, that bright-faced may, From the herdboys went her way, And her journeying addressed Through the leafy thick forest, Down a path of olden day, Till she came to a highway, Where do seven roads divide Through the land to wander wide. Then she fell bethinking her She will try her true lover If he love her as he sware. Flow'rs o' the lily gathered she, Branches of the jarris-tree, And green leaves abundantly. And she built a bower of green; Daintier was there never seen. By the truth of Heaven she sware, That should Aucassin come there, And a little rest not take In the bower for her sweet sake, Ne'er shall he her lover be, Nor his love she! _Here they speak and tell the story_.