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Aucassin and Nicolete · early 13th century

Section 5 (sung)

by Anonymous (Old French) c. 1100

Translated by Andrew Lang (1887)


Here singeth one:

Nicolete as ye heard tell
Prisoned is within a cell
That is painted wondrously
With colours of a far countrie,
And the window of marble wrought,
There the maiden stood in thought,
With straight brows and yellow hair
Never saw ye fairer fair!
On the wood she gazed below,
And she saw the roses blow,
Heard the birds sing loud and low,
Therefore spoke she wofully:
"Ah me, wherefore do I lie
Here in prison wrongfully:
Aucassin, my love, my knight,
Am I not thy heart's delight,
Thou that lovest me aright!
'Tis for thee that I must dwell
In the vaulted chamber cell,
Hard beset and all alone!
By our Lady Mary's Son
Here no longer will I wonn,
If I may flee!

MLA

Anonymous (Old French). Aucassin and Nicolete, Section 5 (sung). Translated by Andrew Lang. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/work/aucassin-nicolete-lang/4/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Old French). Aucassin and Nicolete, Section 5 (sung). Translated by Andrew Lang. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/work/aucassin-nicolete-lang/4/.

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