"Thank you, sir!" said Aucassin; "for indeed I am greatly in need of good advice and cure." Then the knight said, "Mount your horse, and go into the woods yonder. The sight of the plains, the sweet odor of the plants, and the songs of the little birds will all comfort you, believe me." "Thank you, indeed, sir!" said Aucassin. "I will gladly do so." So he went out from the hall at once, and went down the steps, hurried to the stable, and put saddle and bridle on one of his horses, which was waiting there. He put his foot in the stirrup, sprang upon the noble beast, and rode out from the castle walls. Once outside, he remembered the advice which the knight had given to him, and went straight to the woods. Here he soon met the shepherds seated on the grass around the spring, eating their bread with great joy; for it was now noon. [_Now they sing it._] All the shepherd-boys had met, Esmeret and Martinet, Johannot and Fruclinet, Aubuget and Robecon. By the spring they sat; and one With the sweetest voice began, "God bless Master Aucassin, And the girl so fair and bright, With teeth so white, and eyes so gray, Who to us this blessed day The money brought, With which we bought Cakes to eat, and pipes to play, Flutes and horns and whittles good, And heavy mauls to cleave the wood. May God cure him! May God cure her! This is what I say." [_Now they tell it, and say it, and talk it._] When Aucassin heard the shepherds singing this, he thought in a moment that his sweetheart Nicolette, his well-beloved, had passed that way. To make sure of this, he hastened to them. "God bless you, my fine boys!" he cried. "God care for you!" replied he whose speech came easiest to him. "My good boys," said Aucassin, "sing me the song again which you were singing just now." "No, my fine lord, we will not sing it again; and cursed be he who shall sing it to you!" "My fine fellows, do you not know me?" "We know you very well, sir: we know that you are Aucassin, our young gentleman. But we are not your men; we are the count's men." "I beg you to do what I ask you." "Why should I sing for you, if I do not choose to sing? It is very true that the Count of Garin is the richest man in all this country; but if he found one of my oxen or cows or sheep, in his grazing-lands or in his grain, he would make their eyes fly out. Why should I sing for you, then, if I choose to hold my tongue?" "May God bless you, my boys!" said Aucassin again. "See, here are ten sols which I have found in my pocket. Take them, and sing to me again the song I heard you sing just now." "Sir," said the shepherd, "I will take your money; but I will not sing to you, because I have sworn that I will not. I will do what I can; and I will tell it to you, if you please." "_Pardieu!_" cried Aucassin, "I had rather hear your story than hear nothing."