till the morrow at high Prime, when the herd-boys came out of the town, and drove their beasts between the wood and the river. They drew aside to a very beautiful spring which was at edge of the forest, and spread out a cloak and put their bread on it. While they were eating, Nicolette awoke at the cry of the birds and of the herd-boys, and she sprang towards them.
"Fair children!" said she, "may the Lord help you!"
"May God bless you!" said the one who was more ready of speech than the others.
"Fair children," said she, "know you Aucassin, the son of the Count Warren of Beaucaire?"
"Yes, we know him well."
"So God help you, fair children," said she, "tell him that there is a beast in this forest, and that he come to hunt it. And if he can catch it he would not give one limb of it for a hundred marks of gold, no, not for five hundred, nor for any wealth."
And they gazed at her, and when they saw her so beautiful they were all amazed.
"What, I tell him?" said he who was more ready of speech than the others. "Sorrow be
