idelity, builds a rustic tower. When he is released
from prison, Aucassin hears from shepherd lads of Nicolette's
hiding-place, and seeks her bower. The lovers, united, resolve to leave
the country. They take ship and are driven to the kingdom of Torelore,
whose queen they find in child-bed, while the king is with the army.
After a three years' stay in Torelore they are captured by Saracen
pirates and separated. Contrary winds blow Aucassin's boat to Beaucaire,
where he succeeds to Garin's estate, while Nicolette is carried to
Carthage. The sight of the city reminds her that she is the daughter of
its king, and a royal marriage is planned for her. But she avoids this
by assuming a minstrel's garb, and setting sail for Beaucaire. There,
before Aucassin, she sings of her own adventures, and in due time makes
herself known to him. Now in one last strain our story-teller celebrates
the lovers' meeting, concluding with--

"Our song-story comes to an end,
I know no more to tell."

And thus he takes leave of the gentle and courageous maiden.

The whole account of these trials and reunions does not occupy over
forty pages of the original French, which has been best edited by H.
Suchier at Paderborn (second edition, 1881). In 1878, A. Bida published,
with illustrations, a modern French version of the story at Paris,
accompanied by the original text and a preface by Gaston Paris. This
version was translated into English by A. Rodney Macdonough under the
title of 'The Lovers of Provence: Aucassin and Nicolette' (New York,
1880). Additional illustrations by American artists found place in this
edition. F.W. Bourdillon has published the original text and an English
version, together with an exhaustive introduction, bibliography, notes,
and glossary (London, 1887), and, later in the same year, Andrew Lang
wrote out another translation, accompanied by an introduction and notes:
'Aucassin and Nicolette' (London). The extracts given below are from
Lang's version, with occasional slight alterations.

[Illustration: Signature: F.M. WARREN]

'TIS OF AUCASSIN AND NICOLETTE

Who would list to the good lay,
Gladness of the captive gray?
'Tis how two young lovers met,
Aucassin and Nicolette;
Of the pains the lover bore,
And the perils he outwore,
For the goodness and the grace
Of his love, so fair of face.

Sweet the song, the story sweet,
There is no man hearkens i