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AUCASSIN AND NICOLETTE
39
He struck up a roundelay
Very seasonably gay.
"Maiden of the noble heart,
Winsome fair of form thou art;
Winsome is thy golden hair,
Blue thine eye and blithe thine air.
Well I see it by thy cheer,
Thou hast spoken with thy fere,
Who for thee lies dying here.
This I tell thee, thou give ear!
'Ware thee of the sudden foe!
Yonder seeking thee they go.
'Neath each cloak a sword I see;
Terribly they threaten thee.
Soon they'll do thee some misdeed
Save thou take heed!"[1]
Here they speak and tell the story.
"Ah!" said Nicolette; "now may thy father's soul and thy mother's be in blessed repose, for
- ↑ The device of the warder is to give his warning in the guise of an Aubade, as if he were singing for his own amusement. The Aubade or Watch-song, was a favourite lyrical form in Southern France. It
