“Ha!” said Aucassin, waking out of his dream.  “Ha, my God!  My Saviour!  If they hang me, I shall never see my sweet love Nicolette again!”

Striking out in a great passion, he made a havoc about him, like a boar that turns at bay on the hounds in a forest.  Ten knights he struck down, and seven he wounded.  Then, spying Count Bougars, that had come to see him hanged, he lashed at his helm, and stunned him, and took him prisoner to Beaucaire.

“Father,” he said, “here is Count Bougars.  The war is ended.  Now let me see Nicolette.”

“I will not,” said his father.  “That is my last word in this matter.  So help me, God.”

“Count Bougars,” said Aucassin, “you are my prisoner.  I will have a pledge from you; give me your hand.”  Count Bougars gave his hand.  “Pledge me,” said Aucassin, “that if I set you free, you will do my father all the hurt and damage and shame you can; for he is a liar.”

“In God’s name,” said Count Bougars, “put me to ransom and take all my wealth; but do not mock me!”

“Are you my prisoner?” said Aucassin.

“Yes,” said Count Bougars.

“Then, so help me, God,” said Aucassin, “I will now send your head from your shoulders unless I have that pledge!”

Thereupon Count Bougars pledged him, and Aucassin set him free.  Then Aucassin went to the captain that was godfather to Nicolette.  “What have you done with my sweet lady?” he asked.

“You will never again see Nicolette, my fair lord,” said the captain.  “What would you gain if you took the Saracen maid to bed?  Your soul would go to hell.  You would never win to heaven!”

“And what of that?” said Aucassin.  “Who is it that win to heaven?  Old priests, and cripples that grovel and pray at altars, and tattered beggars that die of cold and hunger.  These only go to heaven, and I do not want their company.  So I will go to hell.  For there go all good scholars and the brave knights that died in wars, and sweet ladies that had many lovers, and harpers, and minstrels, and great kings.  Give me but my Nicolette, and gladly I will keep them company.”

II.—­Love’s Song in a Dungeon

Aucassin returned very sorrowfully to the castle, and there his father put him into a dungeon.

    Aucassin is cast and bound
    In a dungeon underground;
    Never does the sunlight fall
    Shining on his prison wall;
    Only one faint ray of it
    Glimmers down a narrow slit. 
    But does Aucassin forget
    His sweet lady, Nicolette? 
    Listen!  He is singing there,
    And his song is all of her: 
    “Though for love of thee I die
    In this dungeon where I lie,
    Wonder of the world, I will
    Worship thee and praise thee still! 
    By the beauty of thy face,
    By the joy of thy embrace,
    By the rapture of thy kiss,
    And thy body’s sweetnesses,
    Miracle of loveliness,