Aucassin and Nicolette

XXVIII

Spoken: Story and Dialogue

Aucassin dismounted in the company of his friend, as you have heard; he took his horse by the bridle and his friend by the hand. They started to walk along the shore.

Aucassin saw a ship pass, upon which he saw merchants sailing near the shore. They signaled to the merchants, and the merchants came to them. The merchants allowed them to pay for passage on the ship. On the high sea, a storm came up, violent, frightening, that pushed them from land to land, so well that they reached a foreign country and went to the port of Castle Torelore. They asked what country this was: they were told that it was the King of Torelore's country; then Aucassin asked what kind of man he was and if he had been to war: he was told:

"Yes, he is supporting a terrible war."

He took leave of the merchants, who blessed him. He mounted his horse, sword at his side, his friend in front of him, and rode to the castle. Inquiring about the king, he was told that he was in bed: he had just become a father.

"So where is his wife, then?"

He was told that she was at war, at the head of the entire country. This news stupefied Aucassin, who went toward the palace where he dismounted with his friend. While she held the horse, he went up to the palace, sword at his side, and he walked to the room where the king was lying down.