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Aucassin et Nicolette

Synopsis

Act 1

Aucassin and Nicolette are deeply in love but Aucassin's father, Count Garins, opposes their marriage because Nicolette's parentage is unknown. When his arch-enemy Count Bongars attacks his castle, Garins asks his son for help. Aucassin agrees on condition he is allowed to see Nicolette again. He fights and takes Bongars captive but his father refuses to fulfill his part of the bargain. When Aucassin angrily responds by freeing Bongars and encouraging him to keep fighting Garins, Garins has Aucassin sent to prison.

Act 2

Both Nicolette and Aucassin are in separate prison cells. She manages to escape using a rope ladder but is unable to reach Aucassin's window. The guards, Marcou and Bredau, are sympathetic to her plight and allow her to flee to the neighbouring forest. When Garins fails to track Nicolette down, he concludes she will die in the forest anyway and so there is no further point keeping Aucassin under lock and key. A shepherd brings Aucassin a secret message from Nicolette and he sets off for the forest to meet her. Bongars then arrives to make peace with Garins. He has discovered Nicolette is really his daughter and is anxious to find her.

Act 3

Nicolette is alone in the forest when the shepherd and then Aucassin arrive. Aucassin does not yet know the news about Nicolette's parentage and believes his father still opposes their marriage. Aucassin would rather die than abandon her though. Garins and the rest of his party find the lovers and surround them. Aucassin swears he will kill himself rather than surrender, but he is told the truth of Nicolette's birth and, with this misconception cleared up, the lovers are free to marry.

Richard Coeur-de-lion

Sedaine's sources