They sailed till they came beneath the city of Carthage. And when Nicolette saw the walls of the castle, and the country, she recognised that it was there she had been brought up and carried captive as a little child; yet she was not such a little child but that she knew well that she had been daughter to the king of Carthage, and that she had been brought up in the city. _Here they sing_. Nicolette, the wise, the brave, Won to land from off the wave; Sees the wharves, the city walls, And the palaces and halls; Then she cries, "Ah! woe is me! Ah, woe worth my high degree! King's daughter of Carthagen, To the Amiral akin! Here me holds a salvage horde! Aucassin, my gentle lord, Wise and worshipful and free, Your sweet love constraineth me, Calleth me and troubleth me! Grant me God the Heavenly Yet to hold you in embrace, And that you should kiss my face And my mouth and all my cheer, My liege lord dear!" _Here they speak and tell the story_. When the king of Carthage heard Nicolette speak thus, he threw his arms round her neck. "Fair sweet friend," said he, "tell me who you are! Be not afraid of me!" "Sir," said she, "I am daughter to the king of Carthage, and was carried captive as a little child, full fifteen years ago." When they heard her speak thus, they knew well that she said truly; and they made very great rejoicing over her, and brought her to the palace with great honour, as a king's daughter. A lord they wished to give her, a king of Paynim; but she had no care to wed. And when she had been there full three days or four, she considered with herself by what device she might go to seek Aucassin. She procured a viol and learned to play on it; till one day they wished to marry her to a king, a rich Paynim. Then she stole away in the night, and came to the seaport, and harboured her at the house of a poor woman on the seashore. And she took a herb, and smeared her head and face with it, so that she was all black and stained. And she got a coat made, and cloak and shirt and breeches, and attired herself in minstrel guise; and she took her viol, and went to a mariner, and so dealt with him that he took her in his ship. They set their sail, and sailed over the high sea till they arrived at the land of Provence. And Nicolette went forth, and took her viol, and went playing through the country, till she came to the Castle of Beaucaire, where Aucassin was. _Here they sing_.