Aucassin and Nicolete · early 13th century
Section 17 (sung)
Translated by Andrew Lang (1887)
Here one singeth:
Nicolete, the fair of face,
Climbed upon the coping stone,
There made she lament and moan
Calling on our Lord alone
For his mercy and his grace.
"Father, king of Majesty,
Listen, for I nothing know
Where to flee or whither go.
If within the wood I fare,
Lo, the wolves will slay me there,
Boars and lions terrible,
Many in the wild wood dwell,
But if I abide the day,
Surely worse will come of it,
Surely will the fire be lit
That shall burn my body away,
Jesus, lord of Majesty,
Better seemeth it to me,
That within the wood I fare,
Though the wolves devour me there
Than within the town to go,
Ne'er be it so!"
Cite this text
MLA
Anonymous (Old French). Aucassin and Nicolete, Section 17 (sung). Translated by Andrew Lang. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/work/aucassin-nicolete-lang/16/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Old French). Aucassin and Nicolete, Section 17 (sung). Translated by Andrew Lang. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/work/aucassin-nicolete-lang/16/.