Page:Aucassin and Nicolette (Bourdillon).pdf/65

Rh commended him to God. He mounted his horse, with his sword girt, and his love before him, and went on till he came to the castle. He asked where the king was, and they told him that he lay in child-bed.

"And where then is his wife?"

And they told him that she was with the army, and had taken thither all the folk of the land. And when Aucassin heard it, he thought it a very strange thing; and he came to the palace, and alighted, he and his love together. And she held his horse, and he went up to the palace, with his sword girt; and went on till he came to the room whenre the king lay a-bed.

Here they sing.

the room ent'red, He the courteous, the high-bred, And went straight up to the bed, On the which the king was laid. Right in front of him he stayed, And so spake, hear what he said: