The people of that country ran to the harbor; and when they recognized Aucassin, they were very happy, for he had been away for three years, and his father and mother were dead. They took him in triumph to the Castle of Beaucaire, and acknowledged him as their lord and master in place of the Count Garin. He took possession of his lands in peace. [_Now they sing it._] Aucassin did repair To his town of Beaucaire, And well governed kingdom and city. How glad would he be, If he only could see His own Nicolette so pretty! "Dear child of sweet face, How I wish that I knew To what sort of place I must go to find you! There is no land or sea God has made here below, Where to look after thee I would not gladly go." [_Now they tell it, they speak it, and talk it._] We will leave Aucassin there, that we may tell about Nicolette. The ship on which she had been taken away was that of the King of Carthage and his twelve brothers, who were princes and kings like himself. When they saw how beautiful Nicolette was, they did her great honor, and asked who she was; for she seemed to them a noble lady of high degree. But she could give them no account of herself, having been carried from home when she was a very little girl. Soon they came to Carthage. As soon as they saw the walls of the castle, and all the country round about, Nicolette recollected that it was here that she had been nursed, and had grown up, and that it was here where she had been taken as a slave; for she had not been so young but she remembered perfectly well that she had been daughter of the King of Carthage. [_Now they sing it._] The wise Nicolette Walks up on the shores, And she does not forget The castles and towers. At first, the grand sight Filled the child with delight, Then she sighed, "Well-a-day! What would Aucassin say, My own darling knight, If he knew that the pirates, that terrible day, The Princess of Carthage had carried away? "Dear boy, thy heart's love Brings me sorrow and pain; May the good God above Let me see thee again! Come, fold me in thine own embrace, Kiss my lips, and kiss my eyes, Kiss again your sweetheart's face!" So his princess sadly cries To her lord and lover. When Nicolette sang this, the King of Carthage heard her. "My dear child," he cried, throwing his arms around her neck, "tell me who you are, I beg you! Do not be afraid of me." "Sir," replied Nicolette, "I am the daughter of the King of Carthage, from whom I was stolen fifteen years ago." It was easy for the king and his brothers to see that what Nicolette said was true. So they took her to the palace, and made a great _fête_ for her, as was fitting for the daughter of a king. They wished to give her for a wife to a king of the pagans; but she refused. She said she did not yet wish to marry.