And when Aucassin heard it he was very glad. And she took leave of him, and went into the town to the house of the Viscountess; for the Viscount her godfather was dead. She harboured her there; and spoke with her till she confessed her affair to her, and the Viscountess recognised her, and knew surely that it was Nicolette, and that she had brought her up. And she made her be washed and bathed, and sojourn there a full eight days. And she took a plant which was called Celandine and anointed herself with it, and she was as beautiful as she had ever been at any time. And she clad herself in rich silk stuffs, of which the lady had good store, and she sat her down in the room on a quilted coverlet of cloth-of-silk, and called the lady, and told her to go for Aucassin her friend. And she did so. And when she came to the palace she found Aucassin weeping and lamenting for Nicolette his love, because she tarried so long. And the lady accosted him and said: "Aucassin, now make no more lament, but come away with me, and I will show you the thing in the world you love best, for it is Nicolette, your sweet friend, who from far land is come to seek you." And Aucassin was glad. _Here they sing_. Now when Aucassin did hear Of his bright-of-favour fere, That she had arrived the shore, Glad was he, he ne'er was more. With the dame he went his way, Till the house made stop nor stay. To the chamber went they in Where sat Nicolette within. When she saw her lover there, Glad she was, so was she ne'er. Towards him to her feet leapt she. Aucassin, when he did see, Both his arms to her he holds, Gently to his bosom folds, Kisses her on eyes and face. So they left him the night's space, Till the morrow's morning-tide Aucassin took her to bride, Made her Lady of Beaucaire. Many days they then did fare, And their pleasure did enjoy. Now has Aucassin his joy, Nicolette too the same way. Here endeth our song-and-say; I know no further. PRINTED BY TURNBULL AND SPEARS, EDINBURGH Footnotes: {39} The device of the warder is to give his warning in the guise of an _Aubade_, as if he were merely singing for his own amusement. The _Aubade_, or Watch-song, was a favourite lyrical form in Southern France. It was originally a dialogue between the lover, the lady, and the watchman who played sentinel, and warned them that the Dawn was coming. {48} This piece of verse is remarkable for the evident intention of playfulness in it. All the lines end in a diminutive termination, and all the proper names also; Esmeret, Martinet, Fruelin, Johanet, Aubriet, Aucassinet. It seemed impossible to preserve this playfulness in any direct way, without sacrifice of literal rendering and without changing the proper names. I have tried to give a little of it by the use of dissyllabic rhymes. {57} Three lines are torn away in the original MS.