When the Count Garin de Beaucaire saw that he could not drag Nicolette out from the heart of Aucassin, he went to find the viscount, who was his vassal; and he said to him,-- "Sir Viscount, we must get rid of your god-child Nicolette. "Cursed be the country where she was born! for she is the reason why I am losing my Aucassin, who ought to be a knight, and who refuses to do what he ought to do. "If I can catch her, I will burn her at the stake, and I will burn you too." "My lord," replied the viscount, "I am very sorry for what has happened; but it is no fault of mine. "I bought Nicolette with my money; I trained her; I had her baptized; and she is my god-child. "I wanted to marry her to a fine young man of mine, who would gladly have earned her bread for her, which is more than your son Aucassin could do. "But, since your wish and your pleasure are what they are, I will send this god-child of mine away to such a land, in such a country, that Aucassin shall never set his eyes upon her again." "See that you do so!" cried the Count Garin to the viscount, "or great misfortunes will come to you." So saying, he left his vassal. Now the viscount had a noble palace, of high walls, surrounded by a thickly planted garden. He put Nicolette into one of the rooms of this palace, in the very highest story. She had an old woman for her only companion, with enough bread and meat and wine, and everything else that they needed to keep them alive. Then he fastened and concealed the door, so that no one could go in; and he left no other opening but the window, which was very narrow, and opened on the garden. [_Now they sing it._] Nicolette was put in prison; And a vaulted room Wonderfully built and painted Was her prison home. The pretty maiden came To the marble window-frame: Her hair was light, Her eyes were bright, And her face was a charming face to see. No; never had a knight a maid With such a charming face to see. She looked into the garden close, And there she saw the open rose, Heard the thrushes sing and twitter,-- And she sang in accent bitter,-- "Oh! why am I a captive here? Why locked up in cruel walls? Aucassin, my sweetheart dear, Whom my heart its master calls, I have been your sweetheart for this livelong year: That is why I've come To this vaulted room; But by God, the son of Mary, no! I will not be captured so, If only I can break away, and go." [_Now they speak it, and talk it, and tell it._] So Nicolette was put in prison, as you have just heard; and soon a cry and noise ran through the country that she was lost. Some said that she had run away; others said that the Count Garin de Beaucaire had killed her. All in despair at the joy which this news seemed to cause to some people, Aucassin went to find the viscount of the town.