at full speed, sword in hand. The Count Bougars de Valence heard say they were about hanging Aucassin, his enemy, so he came into that place, and Aucassin was ware of him, and gat his sword into his hand, and lashed at his helm with such a stroke that he drave it down on his head, and he being stunned, fell grovelling. And Aucassin laid hands on him, and caught him by the

    nasal

   of his helmet, and gave him to his father.

   “Father,” quoth Aucassin, “lo here is your mortal foe, who hath so warred on you with all malengin. Full twenty years did this war endure, and might not be ended by man.”

   “Fair son,” said his father, “thy feats of youth shouldst thou do, and not seek after folly.”

   “Father,” saith Aucassin, “sermon me no sermons, but fulfil my covenant.”

   “Ha! what covenant, fair son?”

   “What, father, hast thou forgotten it? By mine own head, whosoever forgets, will I not forget it, so much it hath me at heart. Didst thou not covenant with me when I took up arms, and went into the stour, that if God brought me back safe and sound, thou wouldst let me see Nicolete, my sweet lady, even so long that I may have of her two words or three, and one kiss? So didst thou covenant, and my mind is that thou keep thy word.”

   “I!” quoth the father, “God forsake me when I keep this covenant! Nay, if she were here, I would let burn her in the fire, and thyself shouldst be sore adread.”

   “Is this thy last word?” quoth Aucassin.

   “So help me God,” quoth his father, “yea!”

   “Certes,” quoth Aucassin, “this is a sorry thing meseems, when a man of thine age lies!”

   “Count of Valence,” quoth Aucassin, “I took thee?”

   “In sooth, Sir, didst thou,” saith the Count.

   “Give me thy hand,” saith Aucassin.

   “Sir, with good will.”

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