So he set his hand in the other’s.

   “Now givest thou me thy word,” saith Aucassin, “that never whiles thou art living man wilt thou avail to do my father dishonour, or harm him in body, or in goods, but do it thou wilt?”

   “Sir, in God’s name,” saith he, “mock me not, but put me to my ransom; ye cannot ask of me gold nor silver, horses nor palfreys,

    vair

   nor

    gris

   , hawks nor hounds, but I will give you them.”

   “What?” quoth Aucassin. “Ha, knowest thou not it was I that took thee?”

   “Yea, sir,” quoth the Count Bougars.

   “God help me never, but I will make thy head fly from thy shoulders, if thou makest not troth,” said Aucassin.

   “In God’s name,” said he, “I make what promise thou wilt.”

   So they did the oath, and Aucassin let mount him on a horse, and took another and so led him back till he was all in safety.

   Here one singeth:

     When the Count Garin doth know

     That his child would ne’er forego

     Love of her that loved him so,

     Nicolete, the bright of brow,

     In a dungeon deep below

     Childe Aucassin did he throw.

     Even there the Childe must dwell

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