gold, nay, nor for five hundred, nor for any ransom.”

   Then looked they on her, and saw her so fair that they were all astonied.

   “Will I tell him thereof?” quoth he that had more words to his tongue than the rest; “foul fall him who speaks of the thing or tells him the tidings. These are but visions ye tell of, for there is no beast so great in this forest, stag, nor lion, nor boar, that one of his limbs is worth more than two deniers, or three at the most, and ye speak of such great ransom. Foul fall him that believes your word, and him that telleth Aucassin. Ye be a Fairy, and we have none liking for your company, nay, hold on your road.”

   “Nay, fair boys,” quoth she, “nay, ye will do my bidding. For this beast is so mighty of medicine that thereby will Aucassin be healed of his torment. And lo! I have five sols in my purse, take them, and tell him: for within three days must he come hunting it hither, and if within three days he find it not, never will he be healed of his torment.”

   “My faith,” quoth he, “the money will we take, and if he come hither we will tell him, but seek him we will not.”

   “In God’s name,” quoth she; and so took farewell of the shepherds, and went her way.

    Here singeth one

   :

     Nicolete the bright of brow

     From the shepherds doth she pass

     All below the blossomed bough

     Where an ancient way there was,

     Overgrown and choked with grass,

     Till she found the cross-roads where

     Seven paths do all way fare,

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