NOTE.--The originals of these narratives are to be found in Romania; in the _Fabliaux et Contes des Poètes François_, edited by Barbazan et Méon; in two volumes of the _Nouvelles Françoises en prose_, edited by Moland and D'Héricault; and in _Les Miracles de la Sainte Vierge_, by Gautier de Coinci.
THE STORY OF KING CONSTANT, THE EMPEROR 39
THE STORY OF KING FLORUS AND OF THE FAIR JEHANE 91
OF THE COVETOUS MAN AND OF THE ENVIOUS MAN 129
OF A JEW WHO TOOK AS SURETY THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY 133
OF THE KNIGHT WHO PRAYED WHILST OUR LADY TOURNEYED IN HIS STEAD 195
Who will deign to hear the song Solace of a captive's wrong, Telling how two children met, Aucassin and Nicolette; How by grievous pains distraught, Noble deeds the varlet wrought For his love, and her bright face! Sweet my rhyme, and full of grace, Fair my tale, and debonair. He who lists--though full of care, Sore astonied, much amazed, All cast down, by men mispraised, Sick in body, sick in soul, Hearing shall be glad and whole, So sweet the tale.
How the Count Bougars of Valence made war on Count Garin of Beaucaire, war so great, so wonderful, and so mortal, that never dawned the day but that he was at the gates and walls and barriers of the town, with a hundred knights and ten thousand men-at-arms, on foot and on horse. So he burned the Count's land, and spoiled his heritage, and dealt death to his men. The Count Garin of Beaucaire was full of years, and frail; he had long outworn his day. He had no heir, neither son nor daughter, save one only varlet, and he was such as I will tell you. Aucassin was the name of the lad. Fair he was, and pleasant to look upon, tall and shapely of body in every whit of him. His hair was golden, and curled in little rings about his head; he had grey and dancing eyes, a clear, oval face, a nose high and comely, and he was so gracious in all good graces that nought in him was found to blame, but good alone. But Love, that high prince, so utterly had cast him down, that he cared not to become knight, neither to bear arms, nor to tilt at tourneys, nor yet to do aught that it became his name to do.
His father and his mother spake him thus--
"Son, don now thy mail, mount thy horse, keep thy land, and render aid to thy men. Should they see thee amongst them the better will the men-at-arms defend their bodies and their substance, thy fief and mine."