“My faith,” quoth he, “the money will we take, and if he come hither we will tell him, but seek him we will not.”

“In God’s name,” quoth she; and so took farewell of the shepherds, and went her way.

Here singeth one: 

   Nicolete the bright of brow
   From the shepherds doth she pass
   All below the blossomed bough
   Where an ancient way there was,
   Overgrown and choked with grass,
   Till she found the cross-roads where
   Seven paths do all way fare,
   Then she deemeth she will try,
   Should her lover pass thereby,
   If he love her loyally. 
   So she gathered white lilies,
   Oak-leaf, that in green wood is,
   Leaves of many a branch I wis,
   Therewith built a lodge of green,
   Goodlier was never seen,
   Swore by God who may not lie,
   “If my love the lodge should spy,
   He will rest awhile thereby
   If he love me loyally.” 
   Thus his faith she deemed to try,
   “Or I love him not, not I,
      Nor he loves me!”

Then speak they, say they, tell they the Tale: 

Nicolete built her lodge of boughs, as ye have heard, right fair and feteously, and wove it well, within and without, of flowers and leaves.  So lay she hard by the lodge in a deep coppice to know what Aucassin will do.  And the cry and the bruit went abroad through all the country and all the land, that Nicolete was lost.  Some told that she had fled, and some that the Count Garin had let slay her.  Whosoever had joy thereof, no joy had Aucassin.  And the Count Garin, his father, had taken him out of prison, and had sent for the knights of that land, and the ladies, and let make a right great feast, for the comforting of Aucassin his son.  Now at the high time of the feast, was Aucassin leaning from a gallery, all woful and discomforted.  Whatsoever men might devise of mirth, Aucassin had no joy thereof, nor no desire, for he saw not her that he loved.  Then a knight looked on him, and came to him, and said: 

“Aucassin, of that sickness of thine have I been sick, and good counsel will I give thee, if thou wilt hearken to me—­”

“Sir,” said Aucassin, “gramercy, good counsel would I fain hear.”

“Mount thy horse,” quoth he, “and go take thy pastime in yonder forest, there wilt thou see the good flowers and grass, and hear the sweet birds sing.  Perchance thou shalt hear some word, whereby thou shalt be the better.”

“Sir,” quoth Aucassin, “gramercy, that will I do.”

He passed out of the hall, and went down the stairs, and came to the stable where his horse was.  He let saddle and bridle him, and mounted, and rode forth from the castle, and wandered till he came to the forest, so rode till he came to the fountain and found the shepherds at point of noon.  And they had a mantle stretched on the grass, and were eating bread, and making great joy.

Here one singeth: