THE SONG-STORY OF AUCASSIN AND NICOLETE

She was bathed and rested, then she sought out those herbals that know all manner of enchantments and properties of herbs. With them, she made an ointment and washed herself with it, and her flesh became whiter than it was ever before.

She dressed herself nobly in clothes that became her right well, so beautiful she was that she seemed rather an angel than a human being. She went to the palace where Aucassin was, and when he saw her, he recognized her not. “Fair sir,” said she, “know ye not me? I am Nicolete that have so much loved ye, and ye me, and for the proving of ye, have I crossed sea and land, and have come to find you.” Aucassin was so astonished, he could hardly believe it was she, but she recounted to him so many tokens of love that passed between them both, that he knew verily she spoke the truth. Then was his joy so great that it seemed to him he had nothing till now.

Aucassin married Nicolete, and she was baptized. They made a great feast and lived together long in joy and solace, in wealth and honor, as they desired. Thus Aucassin wedded Nicolete, who had been stolen away from him so long and so far, wherefore he had suffered many sorrows and much travail. But now all their past misfortune was turned to joy and happiness, and they lived henceforth in great delight and felicity, and in the love of each other, till the end of their days.