After three or four days, she thought of the way by which she could gain some news of Aucassin. The only way she could think of was to learn to play the violin; and one day, when they wanted to marry her to a rich pagan prince, she ran away, and came to the harbor, where she lodged with a poor old woman who lived there. Then she took a certain herb, and squeezed the juice out of it; and with this juice she stained her pretty face from top to bottom, so that all of a sudden it became quite black. Then she made herself a tunic, a mantle, shirt, and breeches, and so disguised herself as a minstrel; took her violin, and went to a sailor, who, with some hesitation, agreed to take her into his ship. The sails were already set; and so swiftly did the ship sail here and there through the high sea, that she arrived at the country of Provence; and there Nicolette landed with her violin. Once on land, the gentle girl began wandering through the country, playing her violin as she went from this place to that, until she came to the Castle of Beaucaire, where was Aucassin. [_Now they sing it._] Aucassin is sitting there At his castle at Beaucaire; All his barons brave surround him, Sweet the flowers and birds around him: But he is in despair. For Aucassin cannot forget His charming Nicolette, His darling fair. While he sighs, the girl has found him; For she stands upon the stair, Deftly tunes her viol-strings, And to the prince and barons sings:-- "Wise and loyal knights, Hear my little lay: How Nicolette and Aucassin were kept so far apart, While he loved her, as she loved him, with all his heart, As you do not love every day. "One day the pagans made her slave In the tower of Torelore. Where was Aucassin the brave? I do not know his story. But Nicolette, of whom I sing, Is in Carthage bound, Where she has her father found, And where he reigns as king. He would give the maiden over To wed in pomp a pagan lover. But Nicolette says, No! She loves a damoiseau, Named Aucassin, and so She will wed no pagan hound, She waits alone till she has found Him whom she loves." [_Now they tell it, and speak it, and talk it._] When Aucassin heard Nicolette sing this, he was full of joy. He led her on one side, and said,-- "My good fellow, do you know anything more of this Nicolette, whose story you have been singing to us?"