Aucassin the Franc, the fair,
Aucassin of yellow hair,
Gentle knight, and true lover,
From the forest doth he fare,
Holds his love before him there,
Kissing cheek, and chin, and eyes;
But she spake in sober wise,
"Aucassin, true love and fair,
To what land do we repair?"
"Sweet my love, I take no care,
Thou art with me everywhere!"
So they pass the woods and downs,
Pass the villages and towns,
Hills and dales and open land,
Came at dawn to the sea sand,
Lighted down upon the strand,
Beside the sea.

Thus the lovers travel all night, reach the sea-shore at dawn, and
wander along it, arms twined around each other, while their weary
steed follows them with drooped head.

At sunrise a vessel nears the shore, upon which they embark to get out
of reach of the wrath of the Count of Biaucaire. The vessel, however,
is soon overtaken by a terrible tempest, which, after tossing it about
for seven days, drives it into the harbor of Torelore. This is the
mediaeval "topsy-turvy land," for on entering the castle Aucassin
learns that the king is lying abed, because a son has been born to
him, while the queen is at the head of the army fighting! This state
of affairs so incenses Aucassin, that armed with a big stick he enters