Aucassin and Nicolette

V

Sung

Nicole is imprisoned,
In a vaulted room,
Skillfully conceived
and ornamented with marvelous paintings.
At the marble window
the young lady leaned against:
her hair is blond,
her eyebrows well-shaped,
her face glowing and fine:
you've never seen a girl so beautiful.
She looked at the garden:
when she saw the rose in full bloom
and the birds who cried,
she complained then of her unhappiness:
"Alas! miserable captive that I am!
Why am I a prisoner?
Aucassin, my young lord,
yes, I am your friend,
and you, you don't hate me!
It's for you that I am a prisoner
in this vaulted room,
where I see abominable days;
but, by Jesus son of Mary,
I won't stay here long,
if I could accomplish my design."