Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Book I

Stanzas 1 through 10

The double sorwe of Troilus to tellen, Line 1 That was the kyng Priamus sone of Troye, Line 2 In louynge how his auentures fellen Line 3 ffro wo to wele, and after out of ioie, Line 4 My purpos is, er that I parte fro ye. Line 5 Thesiphone, thow help me for tendite Line 6 Thise woful vers that wepen as I write. Line 7

To the clepe I, thow goddesse of torment, Line 8 Thow cruwel furie, sorwynge euere in peyne, Line 9 Help me that am the sorwful instrument Line 10 That helpeth loueres, as I kan, to pleyne; Line 11 ffor wel sit it, the sothe for to seyne, Line 12 A woful wight to han a drery feere, Line 13 And to a sorwful tale a sory chere. Line 14

ffor I, that god of loues seruantz serue, Line 15 Ne dar to loue, for myn vnliklynesse, Line 16 Preyen for speed, al sholde I ther-fore sterue, Line 17 So fer am I from his help in derknesse; Line 18 But natheles, if this may don gladnesse Line 19 To any louere and his cause auaille, Line 20 Haue he my thonk, and myn be this trauaille. Line 21

But ȝe loueres that bathen in gladnesse, Line 22 If any drope of pyte in ȝow be, Line 23 Remembreth ȝow on passed heuynesse Line 24 That ȝe han felt, and on the aduersite Line 25 Of othere folk, and thynketh how that ȝe Line 26 Han felt that loue dorste ȝow displese, Line 27 Or ȝe han wonne hym with to grete an ese. Line 28

And preieth for hem that ben in the cas Line 29 Of Troilus, as ȝe may after here, Line 30 That loue hem brynge in heuene to solas; Line 31 And ek for me preieth to god so dere Line 32 That I haue myght to shewe in som manere Line 33 Swich peyne and wo as loues folk endure, Line 34 In Troilus vnsely auenture. Line 35

And biddeth ek for hem that ben despeired Line 36 In loue that neuere nyl recouered be, Line 37 And ek for hem that falsly ben apeired Line 38 Thorugh wikked tonges, be it he or she; Line 39 Thus biddeth god, for his benignite, Line 40 So graunte hem soone owt of this world to pace, Line 41 That ben despeired out of loues grace. Line 42

And biddeth ek for hem that ben at ese. Line 43 That god hem graunte ay good perseueraunce, Line 44 And send hem myght hire ladies so to plese Line 45 That it to loue be worship and plesaunce; Line 46 ffor so hope I my sowle best auaunce, Line 47 To prey for hem that loues seruauntz be, Line 48 And write hire wo, and lyue in charite, Line 49

And for to haue of hem compassioun, Line 50 As though I were hire owne brother dere. Line 51 Now herkneth with a good entencioun, Line 52 ffor now wil I gon streght to my matere, Line 53 In which ȝe may the double sorwes here Line 54 Of Troilus in louynge of Criseyde, Line 55 And how that she forsook hym er she deyde. Line 56

Yt is wel wist how that the Grekes stronge Line 57 In armes with a thousand shippes wente Line 58 To Troiewardes, and the cite longe Line 59 Assegeden, neigh ten ȝer er they stente, Line 60 And in diuerse wise and oon entente, Line 61 The rauysshyng to wreken of Eleyne, Line 62 By Paris don, they wroughten al hir peyne. Line 63

Now fel it so that in the town ther was Line 64 Dwellynge a lord of gret auctorite. Line 65 A gret deuyn that clepid was Calkas, Line 66 That in science so expert was that he Line 67 Knew wel that Troie sholde destroied be, Line 68 By answere of his god that highte thus: Line 69 Daun Phebus or Appollo Delphicus. Line 70

Stanzas 11 through 20

So whan this Calkas knew by calkulynge, Line 71 And ek by answer of this Appollo. Line 72 That Grekes sholden swich a peple brynge Line 73 Thorugh which that Troie moste ben for-do, Line 74 He caste anon out of the town to go; Line 75 ffor wel wiste he by sort that Troye sholde Line 76 Destroyed ben -- ȝe, wolde who-so nolde. Line 77

ffor which forto departen softely Line 78 Took purpos ful this for-knowynge wise, Line 79 And to the Grekes oost ful pryuely Line 80 He stal anon; and they in curteys wise Line 81 Hym diden bothe worship and seruyce, Line 82 In trust that he hath konnynge hem to rede Line 83 In euery peril which that is to drede. Line 84

The noise vp ros whan it was first aspied Line 85 Thorugh al the town and generaly was spoken Line 86 That Calkas traitour fled was and allied Line 87 With hem of Grece, and casten to be wroken Line 88 On hym that falsly hadde his feith so broken, Line 89 And seyden he and al his kyn atones Line 90 Ben worthi for to brennen, felle and bones Line 91

Now hadde Calkas left in this meschaunce, Line 92 Al vnwist of this false and wikked dede, Line 93 His doughter, which that was in gret penaunce, Line 94 ffor of hire lif she was ful sore in drede, Line 95 As she that nyste what was best to rede; Line 96 ffor bothe a widewe was she and allone Line 97 Of any frend to whom she dorste hir mone. Line 98

Criseyde was this lady name al right -- Line 99 As to my doom in al Troies cite Line 100 Nas non so fair, for passynge euery wight Line 101 So aungelik was hir natif beaute Line 102 That lik a thing in-mortal semed she, Line 103 As doth an heuenyssh perfit creature Line 104 That down were sent in scornynge of nature. Line 105

This lady which that alday herd at ere Line 106 Hire fadres shame, his falsnesse and tresoun, Line 107 Wel neigh out of hir wit for sorwe and fere, Line 108 In widewes habet large of samyt broun, Line 109 On knees she fil biforn Ector adown Line 110 With pitous vois, and tendrely wepynge, Line 111 His mercy bad, hir seluen excusynge. Line 112

Now was this Ector pitous of nature, Line 113 And saugh that she was sorwfully bigon, Line 114 And that she was so faire a creature; Line 115 Of his goodnesse he gladede hire anon, Line 116 And seyde, "lat ȝoure fadres treson gon Line 117 fforth with meschaunce, and ȝe ȝoure self in ioie Line 118 Dwelleth with vs, whil ȝow good list, in Troie. Line 119

"And al thonour that men may don ȝow haue, Line 120 As ferforth as ȝoure fader dwelled here, Line 121 Ȝe shul haue, and ȝoure body shal men saue, Line 122 As fer as I may ought enquere or here." Line 123 And she hym thonked with ful humble chere, Line 124 And ofter wolde, and it hadde ben his wille. Line 125 And took hire leue, and hom, and held hir stille. Line 126

And in hire hous she abood with swich meyne Line 127 As til hire honour nede was to holde; Line 128 And whil she was dwellynge in that cite Line 129 Kepte hir estat, and both of ȝonge and olde Line 130 fful wel biloued, and wel men of hir tolde -- Line 131 But wheither that she children hadde or noon, Line 132 I rede it naught, ther-fore I late it goon. Line 133

The thynges fellen as they don of werre Line 134 Bitwixen hem of Troie and Grekes ofte; Line 135 ffor som day boughten they of Troie it derre, Line 136 And eft the Grekes founden no thing softe Line 137 The folk of Troie; and thus fortune on lofte Line 138 And vnder eft gan hem to whielen bothe Line 139 Aftir hir cours, ay whil that thei were wrothe. Line 140

Stanzas 21 through 30

But how this town com to destruccion Line 141 Ne falleth naught to purpos me to telle; Line 142 ffor it were here a long digression Line 143 ffro my matere and ȝow to long to dwelle; Line 144 But the Troian gestes as they felle, Line 145 In Omer or in Dares or in Dite, Line 146 Who-so that kan may rede hem as they write. Line 147

But though that Grekes hem of Troie shetten Line 148 And hir cite biseged al aboute, Line 149 Hire olde vsage nolde they nat letten, Line 150 As for to honour hir goddes ful deuoute; Line 151 But aldirmost in honour, out of doute, Line 152 Thei hadde a relik heet Palladion Line 153 That was hire trist abouen euerichon. Line 154

And so bifel whan comen was the tyme Line 155 Of Aperil, whan clothed is the mede Line 156 With newe grene, of lusty Veer the pryme, Line 157 And swote smellen floures white and rede, Line 158 In sondry wises shewed, as I rede, Line 159 The folk of Troie hire obseruaunces olde, Line 160 Palladiones feste forto holde. Line 161

And to the temple in al hir beste wise Line 162 In general ther wente many a wight Line 163 To herknen of Palladion the seruyce; Line 164 And namely, so many a lusty knyght, Line 165 So many a lady fressh and mayden bright, Line 166 fful wel arayed, both moeste, mene, and leste, Line 167 Ȝe, bothe for the seson and the feste. Line 168

Among thise othere folk was Criseyda, Line 169 In widewes habit blak, but natheles, Line 170 Right as oure firste lettre is now an A, Line 171 In beaute first so stood she makeles; Line 172 Hire goodly lokyng gladed al the prees. Line 173 Nas neuere ȝet seyn thyng to ben preysed derre, Line 174 Nor vnder cloude blak so bright a sterre, Line 175

As was Criseyde, as folk seyde euerichone, Line 176 That hir behelden in hir blake wede; Line 177 And ȝet she stood ful lowe and stille allone, Line 178 Byhynden other folk in litel brede, Line 179 And nei ȝ the dore, ay vndre shames drede, Line 180 Simple of atire and debonaire of chere, Line 181 With ful assured lokyng and manere. Line 182

This Troilus, as he was wont to gide Line 183 His ȝonge knyghtes, lad hem vp and down Line 184 In thilke large temple on euery side, Line 185 Byholding ay the ladies of the town, Line 186 Now here, now there, for no deuocioun Line 187 Hadde he to non to reuen hym his reste, Line 188 But gan to preise and lakken whom hym leste. Line 189

And in his walk ful faste he gan to wayten Line 190 If knyght or squyer of his compaignie Line 191 Gan forto syke or lete his eighen baiten Line 192 On any womman that he koude espye; Line 193 He wolde smyle and holden it folye, Line 194 And seye hym thus, "god woot, she slepeth softe Line 195 ffor loue of the, whan thow turnest ful ofte. Line 196

"I haue herd told, perdieux, of ȝoure lyuynge, Line 197 Ȝe loueres, and ȝoure lewed obseruaunces, Line 198 And which a labour folk han in wynnynge Line 199 Of loue, and in the kepyng which doutaunces; Line 200 And whan ȝoure prey is lost, woo and penaunces. Line 201 O veray fooles, nyce and blynde be ȝe; Line 202 Ther nys nat oon kan war by other be." Line 203

And with that word he gan caste vp the browe, Line 204 Ascaunces, "loo, is this naught wisely spoken?" Line 205 At which the god of loue gan loken rowe Line 206 Right for despit, and shop forto ben wroken: Line 207 He kidde anon his bowe nas naught broken, Line 208 ffor sodeynly he hitte hym atte fulle, Line 209 And ȝet as proude a pekok kan he pulle. Line 210

Stanzas 31 through 40

O blynde world, O blynde entencioun! Line 211 How often falleth al the effect contraire Line 212 Of surquidrie and foul presumpcioun! Line 213 ffor kaught is proud, and kau ȝt is debonaire: Line 214 This Troilus is clomben on the staire Line 215 And litel weneth that he moot descenden -- Line 216 But alday faileth thing that fooles wenden. Line 217

As proude Bayard gynneth forto skippe Line 218 Out of the weye, so pryketh him his corn, Line 219 Til he a lasshe haue of the longe whippe, Line 220 Than thynketh he, ""though I praunce al byforn Line 221 ffirst in the trays, ful fat and newe shorn, Line 222 Ȝet am I but an hors, and horses lawe Line 223 I moot endure, and with my feres drawe." Line 224

So ferde it by this fierse and proude knyght: Line 225 Though he a worthy kynges sone were, Line 226 And wende no thing hadde had swich myght Line 227 A ȝeyns his wille that shuld his herte stere, Line 228 Ȝet with a look his herte wax a-fere, Line 229 That he that now was moost in pride a-boue Line 230 Wax sodeynly moost subgit vnto loue. Line 231

fforthy ensample taketh of this man, Line 232 Ȝe wise, proude, and worthi folkes alle, Line 233 To scornen loue, which that so soone kan Line 234 The fredom of ȝoure hertes to him thralle -- Line 235 ffor euere it was and euere it shal byfalle Line 236 That loue is he that alle thing may bynde Line 237 ffor may no man fordon the lawe of kynde. Line 238

That this be soth, hath preued and doth ȝit; Line 239 ffor this trowe I ȝe knowen alle or some: Line 240 Men reden nat that folk han gretter wit Line 241 Than they that han be most with loue ynome; Line 242 And strengest folk bien ther-with ouerecome, Line 243 The worthiest and grettest of degree -- Line 244 This was, and is, and ȝet men shall it see. Line 245

And trewelich it sit wel to be so, Line 246 ffor alderwisest han ther-with ben plesed, Line 247 And they that han ben aldermost in wo Line 248 With loue han ben comforted moost and esed; Line 249 And ofte it hath the cruel herte apesed, Line 250 And worthi folk maad worthier of name, Line 251 And causeth moost to dreden vice and shame. Line 252

Now sith it may nat goodly ben with-stonde, Line 253 And is a thing so vertuouse in kynde, Line 254 Refuseth nat to loue forto ben bonde, Line 255 Syn as hym seluen liste he may ȝow bynde: Line 256 The ȝerde is bet that bowen wole and wynde Line 257 Than that that brest; and therfore I ȝow rede Line 258 To folowen hym that so wel kan ȝow lede. Line 259

But forto tellen forth in special Line 260 As of this kynges sone of which I tolde, Line 261 And leten other thing collateral, Line 262 Of hym thenke I my tale forth to holde, Line 263 Both of his ioie and of his cares colde; Line 264 And al his werk as touching this matere, Line 265 ffor I it gan, I wol therto refere. Line 266

With-inne the temple he wente hym forth pleyinge, Line 267 This Troilus, of euery wight aboute, Line 268 On this lady, and now on that, lokynge, Line 269 Where so she were of town or of with-oute; Line 270 And vp-on cas bifel that thorugh a route Line 271 His eye percede, and so depe it wente, Line 272 Til on Criseyde it smote, and ther it stente. Line 273

And sodeynly he wax ther-with astoned, Line 274 And gan hir bet biholde in thrifty wise. Line 275 "O mercy god," thoughte he, "wher hastow woned, Line 276 That art so feyre and goodly to deuise?" Line 277 Therwith his herte gan to sprede and rise, Line 278 And softe sighed, lest men myghte hym here, Line 279 And cau ȝt a ȝeyn his firste pleyinge chere. Line 280

Stanzas 41 through 50

She nas nat with the leste of hire statore, Line 281 But alle hir lymes so wel answerynge Line 282 Weren to wommanhode, that creature Line 283 Was neuere lasse mannyssh in semynge; Line 284 And ek the pure wise of hire meuynge Line 285 Shewed wel that men myght in hire gesse Line 286 Honour, estat, and wommanly noblesse. Line 287

To Troilus right wonder wel with alle Line 288 Gan forto like hire meuynge and hire chere, Line 289 Which somdel deignous was, for she let falle Line 290 Hire look a lite a-side in swich manere Line 291 Ascaunces, "what, may I nat stonden here?" Line 292 And after that hir lokynge gan she lighte. Line 293 That neuere thoughte hym seen so good a syghte. Line 294

And of hire look in him ther gan to quyken Line 295 So gret desire and swich affeccioun, Line 296 That in his hertes botme gan to stiken Line 297 Of hir his fixe and depe impressioun; Line 298 And though he erst hadde poured vp and down, Line 299 He was tho glad his hornes in-to shrinke; Line 300 Unnethes wiste he how to loke or wynke. Line 301

Lo, he that leet hym seluen so konnynge, Line 302 And scorned hem that loues peynes dryen, Line 303 Was ful vnwar that loue hadde his dwellynge Line 304 With-inne the subtile stremes of hire eyen; Line 305 That sodeynly hym thoughte he felte deyen, Line 306 Right with hire look, the spirit in his herte -- Line 307 Blissed be loue, that kan thus folk conuerte! Line 308

She, this in blak, likynge to Troilus Line 309 Ouer al thing, he stood forto biholde; Line 310 Ne his desire, ne wherfore he stood thus, Line 311 He neither chere made, ne worde tolde; Line 312 But from a-fer, his manere forto holde, Line 313 On other thing his look som tyme he caste, Line 314 And efte on hire, while that the seruyse laste. Line 315

And after this, nat fullich al awhaped, Line 316 Out of the temple al esilich he wente, Line 317 Repentynge hym that he hadde euere i-iaped Line 318 Of loues folk, lest fully the descente Line 319 Of scorn fille on hym self; but what he mente, Line 320 Lest it were wist on any manere syde, Line 321 His woo he gan dissimilen and hide. Line 322

Whan he was fro the temple thus departed, Line 323 He streght anon vnto his paleys torneth, Line 324 Hight with hire look thorugh-shoten and thorugh-darted, Line 325 Al feyneth he in lust that he soiourneth; Line 326 And al his chere and speche also he borneth, Line 327 And ay of loues seruantz euery while, Line 328 Hym self to wrey, at hem he gan to smyle. Line 329

And seyde, "lord, so ȝe lyue al in lest, Line 330 Ȝe loueres, for the konnyngeste of ȝow, Line 331 That serueth most ententiflich and best, Line 332 Hym tit as often harm ther-of as prow: Line 333 Ȝoure hire is quyt a ȝeyn, ȝe, god woot how, Line 334 Nought wel for wel, but scorn for good seruyse; Line 335 In feith, ȝoure ordre is ruled in good wise. Line 336

"In noun-certeyn ben alle ȝoure obseruaunces, Line 337 But it a sely fewe pointes be; Line 338 Ne no thing asketh so gret attendaunces Line 339 As doth ȝoure lay, and that knowe alle ȝe; Line 340 But that is nat the worste, as mote I the; Line 341 But tolde I ȝow the worste point, I leue, Line 342 Al seyde I soth, ȝe wolden at me greue. Line 343

"But take this: that ȝe loueres ofte eschuwe, Line 344 Or elles doon, of good entencioun, Line 345 fful ofte thi lady wol it mysconstruwe, Line 346 And deme it harm in hire oppynyoun; Line 347 And ȝet if she, for other enchesoun Line 348 Be wroth, than shaltow haue a groyne anon -- Line 349 Lord, wel is hym that may of ȝow ben oon!" Line 350

Stanzas 51 through 57

But for al this, whan that he say his tyme, Line 351 He held his pees, non other boote hym gayned; Line 352 ffor loue bigan his fetheres so to lyme, Line 353 That wel vnneth vn-til his folk he fayned Line 354 That other besy nedes hym destrayned; Line 355 ffor wo was hym, that what to doon he nyste, Line 356 But bad his folk to gon wher that hem liste. Line 357

And whan that he in chambre was allone, Line 358 He doun vp-on his beddes feet hym sette, Line 359 And first he gan to sike and eft to grone, Line 360 And thought ay on hire so with-outen lette, Line 361 That as he sat and wook, his spirit mette Line 362 That he hire sauȝ, and temple, and al the wise Line 363 Right of hire look, and gan it newe a-vise. Line 364

Thus gan he make a mirour of his mynde, Line 365 In which he saugh al holly hire figure; Line 366 And that he wel koude in his herte fynde, Line 367 It was to hym a right good auenture Line 368 To loue swich oon, and if he dede his cure Line 369 To seruen hir, ȝet myghte he falle in grace, Line 370 Or ellis for oon of hire seruantes pace. Line 371

Imagenynge that trauaille nor grame Line 372 Ne myghte for so goodly oon be lorn Line 373 As she, ne hym for his desire no shame, Line 374 Al were it wist, but in pris and vp born Line 375 Of alle louers wel more than biforn -- Line 376 Thus argumented he in his gynnynge, Line 377 fful vnauysed of his woo comynge. Line 378

Thus took he purpos loues craft to suwe, Line 379 And thoughte he wolde werken pryuely, Line 380 ffirst to hiden his desire in muwe Line 381 ffrom euery wight yborn, al outrely, Line 382 But he myghte ought recouered be therby, Line 383 Remembryng hym that loue to wide yblowe Line 384 Ȝelt bittre fruyt, though swete seed be sowe. Line 385

And ouere al this ȝet muchel more he thoughte Line 386 What forto speke and what to holden inne, Line 387 And what to arten hire to loue he soughte, Line 388 And on a song anon right to bygynne, Line 389 And gan loude on his sorwe forto wynne; Line 390 ffor with good hope he gan fully assente Line 391 Criseyde forto loue and nought repente. Line 392

And of his song naught only the sentence, Line 393 As writ myn auctour called Lollius, Line 394 But pleinly, saue oure tonges difference, Line 395 I dar wel seyn in al that Troilus Line 396 Seyde in his song, loo, euery word right thus Line 397 As I shal seyn; and who-so list it here, Line 398 Loo, next this vers he may it fynden here. Line 399

Canticus Troili

"If no loue is, O god, what fele I so? Line 400 And if loue is, what thing and which is he? Line 401 If loue be good, from whennes cometh my woo? Line 402 If it be wikke, a wonder thynketh me, Line 403 Whenne euery torment and aduersite Line 404 That cometh of hym may to me sauory thinke, Line 405 ffor ay thurst I the more that ich it drynke. Line 406

"And if that at myn owen lust I brenne, Line 407 ffrom whennes cometh may waillynge and my pleynte? Line 408 If harme a-gree me, wherto pleyne I thenne? Line 409 I noot, ne whi vn-wery that I feynte. Line 410 O quike deth, O swete harm so queynte, Line 411 How may of the in me swich quantite, Line 412 But if that I consente that it be? Line 413

"And if that I consente, I wrongfully Line 414 Compleyne, i-wis; thus possed to and fro, Line 415 Al sterelees with-inne a boot am I Line 416 Amydde the see, bitwixen wyndes two, Line 417 That inne contrarie stonden euere mo. Line 418 Allas, what is this wondre maladie? Line 419 ffor hete of cold, for cold of hete, I dye." Line 420

And to the god of loue thus seyde he Line 421 With pitous vois, "O lord, now ȝoures is Line 422 My spirit, which that oughte ȝoures be. Line 423 Ȝow thanke I, lord, that han me brought to this; Line 424 But wheither goddesse or womman, i-wis, Line 425 She be, I not, which that ȝe do me serue; Line 426 But as hire man I wol ay lyue and sterue. Line 427

"Ȝe stonden in hir eighen myghtily, Line 428 As in a place vnto ȝoure vertue digne; Line 429 Wherfore, lord, if my seruice or I Line 430 May liken ȝow, so beth to me benigne; Line 431 ffor myn estat roial I here resigne Line 432 In-to hire hond, and with ful humble chere Line 433 Bicome hir man, as to my lady dere." Line 434

Stanzas 63 through 70

In hym ne deyned spare blood roial Line 435 The fyre of loue -- the wherfro god me blesse -- Line 436 Ne him forbar in no degree for al Line 437 His vertue or his excellent prowesse, Line 438 But held hym as his thral lowe in destresse, Line 439 And brende hym so in soundry wise ay newe, Line 440 That sexti tyme a day he loste his hewe. Line 441

So muche, day by day, his owene thought Line 442 ffor lust to hire gan quiken and encresse, Line 443 That euery other charge he sette at nought; Line 444 fforthi ful ofte, his hote fire to cesse, Line 445 To sen hire goodly lok he gan to presse; Line 446 ffor ther-by to ben esed wel he wende, Line 447 And ay the ner he was, the more he brende. Line 448

ffor ay the ner the fire the hotter is -- Line 449 This, trowe I, knoweth al this compaignye; Line 450 But were he fer or ner, I dar sey this: Line 451 By nyght or day, for wisdom or folye, Line 452 His herte, which that is his brestes eye, Line 453 Was ay on hire, that fairer was to sene Line 454 Than euere were Eleyne or Polixene Line 455

Ek of the day ther passed nou ȝt an houre Line 456 That to hym self a thousand tyme he seyde, Line 457 "Good goodly, to whom serue I and laboure Line 458 As I best kan, now wolde god, Criseyde, Line 459 Ȝe wolden on me rewe, er that I deyde; Line 460 My dere herte, allas, myn hele and hewe Line 461 And lif is lost, but ȝe wol on me rewe." Line 462

Alle other dredes weren from him fledde, Line 463 Both of thassege and his sauacioun; Line 464 Nyn him desire noon other fownes bredde Line 465 But argumentes to his conclusioun, Line 466 That she of him wolde han compassioun, Line 467 And he to ben hire man while he may dure -- Line 468 Lo, here his lif, and from the deth his cure. Line 469

The sharpe shoures felle, of armes preue, Line 470 That Ector or his other brethren diden, Line 471 Ne made hym only therfore ones meue; Line 472 And ȝet was he, where so men wente or riden, Line 473 ffounde on the beste, and lengest tyme abiden Line 474 Ther peril was, and dide ek swich trauaille Line 475 In armes that to thenke it was merueille. Line 476

But for non hate he to the Grekes hadde, Line 477 Ne also for the rescous of the town, Line 478 Ne made hym thus in armes forto madde, Line 479 But only, lo, for this conclusioun: Line 480 To liken hire the bet for his renoun. Line 481 ffro day to day in armes so he spedde, Line 482 That the Grekes as the deth him dredde. Line 483

And fro this forth tho refte hym loue his slepe, Line 484 And made his mete his foo, and ek his sorwe Line 485 Gan multiplie, that, who-so tok kepe, Line 486 It shewed in his hewe both eue and morwe; Line 487 Therfor a title he gan him forto borwe Line 488 Of other siknesse, lest men of hym wende Line 489 That the hote fire of loue hym brende, Line 490

Stanzas 71 through 80

And seyde he hadde a feuere and ferd amys. Line 491 But how it was, serteyn, kan I nat seye, Line 492 If that his lady vnderstood nat this, Line 493 Or feynede hire she nyste, on of the tweye; Line 494 But wel I rede that by no manere weye Line 495 Ne semed it as that she of hym roughte, Line 496 Or of his peyne, or what so euere he thoughte. Line 497

But thanne felte this Troilus swich wo, Line 498 That he was wel neigh wood -- for ay his drede Line 499 Was this, that she som wight hadde loued so Line 500 That neuere of hym she wolde han taken hede, Line 501 ffor which hym thoughte he felte his herte blede, Line 502 Ne of his wo ne dorste he nat bygynne Line 503 To tellen hir, for al this world to wynne. Line 504

But whan he hadde a space from his care, Line 505 Thus to hym self ful ofte he gan to pleyne; Line 506 He seyde, "O fool, now artow in the snare, Line 507 That whilom iapedest at loues peyne; Line 508 Now artow hent, now gnaw thin owen cheyne; Line 509 Thow were ay wont eche louere reprehende Line 510 Of thing fro which thow kanst the nat defende. Line 511

"What wol now euery louere seyn of the Line 512 If this be wist, but euere in thin absence Line 513 Laughen in scorne and seyn, "loo, ther goth he Line 514 That is the man of so gret sapience, Line 515 That held vs loueres leest in reuerence. Line 516 Now, thanked be god, he may gon in the daunce Line 517 Of hem that loue list fiebli for to auaunce. Line 518

"But O thow woful Troilus, god wolde, Line 519 Sith thow most louen thorugh thi destine, Line 520 That thow be-set were on swich oon that sholde Line 521 Know al thi wo, al lakked hir pitee. Line 522 But also cold in loue towardes the Line 523 Thi lady is as frost in wynter moone, Line 524 And thow fordon as snow in fire is soone. Line 525

"God wold I were aryued in the porte Line 526 Of deth to which my sorwe wol me lede. Line 527 A, lord, to me it were a gret comforte -- Line 528 Than were I quyt of languisshyng in drede; Line 529 ffor be myn hidde sorwe i-blowe on brede, Line 530 I shal by-iaped ben a thousand tyme Line 531 More than that fol of whos folie men ryme. Line 532

But now help, god, and ȝe, swete, for whom Line 533 I pleyne, i-kaught, ȝe, neuere wight so faste -- Line 534 O mercy, dere herte, and help me from Line 535 The deth, for I, while that my lyf may laste, Line 536 More than my self wol loue ȝow to my laste; Line 537 And with som frendly lok gladeth me, swete, Line 538 Though neuere more thing ȝe me byheete." Line 539

Thise wordes, and ful many an other to, Line 540 He spak, and called euere in his compleynte Line 541 Hire name, forto tellen hire his wo, Line 542 Til nei ȝ that he in salte teres dreynte: Line 543 Al was for nought, she herde nat his pleynte. Line 544 And whan that he by-thought on that folie, Line 545 A thousand fold his wo gan multiplie. Line 546

By-wayling in his chambre thus allone, Line 547 A frend of his that called was Pandare Line 548 Com oones in vnwar and herd hym groone, Line 549 And say his frend in swich destresse and care: Line 550 "Allas," quod he, "who causeth al this fare? Line 551 O mercy, god, what vnhap may this meene? Line 552 Han now thus soone Grekes maad ȝow leene? Line 553

"Or hastow som remors of conscience, Line 554 And art now falle in som deuocioun, Line 555 And wailest for thi synne and thin offence, Line 556 And hast for ferde caught attricioun? Line 557 God saue hem that biseged han oure town, Line 558 That so kan leye oure iolite on presse, Line 559 And bringe oure lusty folk to holynesse!" Line 560

Stanzas 81 through 90

Thise wordes seyde he for the nones alle, Line 561 That with swich thing he myght hym angry maken, Line 562 And with an angre don his wo to falle, Line 563 As for the tyme, and his corage awaken; Line 564 But wel he wist, as fer as tonges spaken, Line 565 Ther nas a man of gretter hardinesse Line 566 Thanne he, ne more desired worthinesse. Line 567

"What cas," quod Troilus, "or what auenture Line 568 Hath gided the to sen me langwisshinge, Line 569 That am refus of euery creature? Line 570 But for the loue of god, at my preyinge, Line 571 Go hennes awey, for certes my deyinge Line 572 Wol the disese and I mot nedes deye; Line 573 Therfore go wey, ther is na more to seye. Line 574

"But if thow wene I be thus sik for drede, Line 575 It is naught so, and therfore scorne nou ȝt; Line 576 Ther is another thing I take of hede Line 577 Wel more than aught the Grekes han ȝet wrought, Line 578 Which cause is of my deth for sorowe and thought; Line 579 But though that I now telle it the ne leste, Line 580 Be thow nau ȝt wroth, I hide it for the beste." Line 581

This Pandare that neigh malt for wo and routhe Line 582 fful ofte seyde, "allas, what may this be? Line 583 Now frend," quod he, "if euere loue or trouthe Line 584 Hath ben, or is, bitwixen the and me, Line 585 Ne do thow neuere swich a crueltee Line 586 To hiden fro thi frend so gret a care. Line 587 Wostow nau ȝt wel that it am I, Pandare? Line 588

"I wol parten with the al thi peyne, Line 589 If it be so I do the no comfort, Line 590 As it is frendes right, soth forto seyne, Line 591 To entreparten wo as glad desport. Line 592 I haue and shal, for trewe or fals report, Line 593 In wronge and right i-loued the al my lyue: Line 594 Hid nat thi wo fro me but telle it blyue." Line 595

Than gan this sorwful Troylus to syke, Line 596 And seide hym thus, "god leue it be my beste Line 597 To telle it the, for sith it may the like, Line 598 Ȝet wol I telle it, though myn herte breste; Line 599 And wel woot I thow mayst do me no reste; Line 600 But lest thow deme I truste nat to the, Line 601 Now herke, frend, for thus it stant with me. Line 602

"Loue, aȝeins the which who-so defendeth Line 603 Hym seluen most, hym alderlest auaylleth, Line 604 With disespeyre so sorwfulli me offendeth, Line 605 That streight vn-to the deth myn herte sailleth; Line 606 Therto desire so brennyngly me assailleth, Line 607 That to ben slayn it were a gretter ioie Line 608 To me than kyng of Grece ben and Troye. Line 609

"Suffiseth this, my fulle frend Pandare, Line 610 That I haue seyd, for now wostow my wo; Line 611 And for the loue of god, my colde care Line 612 So hide it wel, I tolde it neuere to mo; Line 613 ffor harmes myghten folwen mo than two, Line 614 If it were wist; but be thow in gladnesse, Line 615 And lat me sterue, vnknowe, of my destresse." Line 616

"How hastow thus vnkyndely and longe Line 617 Hid this fro me, thow fol?" quod Pandarus; Line 618 "Peraunter thow myghte after swich oon longe Line 619 That myn auys anoon may helpen vs." Line 620 "This were a wonder thing," quod Troilus; Line 621 "Thow koudest neuere in loue thi seluen wisse; Line 622 How deuel maistow brynge me to blisse?', Line 623

"Ȝe, Troilus, now herke," quod Pandare; Line 624 "Though I be nyce, it happeth often so Line 625 That oon that excesse doth ful yuele fare Line 626 By good counseil kan kepe his frend ther-fro. Line 627 I haue my self ek seyn a blynd man goo Line 628 Ther as he fel that couthe loken wide; Line 629 A fool may ek a wis man ofte gide. Line 630

Stanzas 91 through 100

"A wheston is no keruyng instrument, Line 631 But ȝet it maketh sharppe keruyng tolis; Line 632 And there thow woost that I haue au ȝt myswent, Line 633 Eschuwe thow that, for swich thing to =e scole is; Line 634 Thus often wise men ben war by foolys. Line 635 If thow do so, thi wit is wel bewared; Line 636 By his contrarie is euery thyng declared. Line 637

"ffor how myghte euere swetnesse han ben knowe Line 638 To him that neuere tasted bitternesse? Line 639 Ne no man may ben inly glad, I trowe, Line 640 That neuere was in sorwe or som destresse; Line 641 Eke whit by blak, by shame ek worthinesse, Line 642 Ech set by other, more for other semeth, Line 643 As men may se, and so the wyse it demeth. Line 644

"Sith thus of two contraries is o lore, Line 645 I, that haue in loue so ofte assayed Line 646 Greuances, oughte konne, and wel the more, Line 647 Counseillen the of that thow art amayed; Line 648 And ek the ne aughte nat ben yuel appayed, Line 649 Though I desyre with the forto bere Line 650 Thyn heuy charge; it shal the lasse dere. Line 651

"I woot wel that it fareth thus by me Line 652 As to thi brother, Paris, an herdesse, Line 653 Which that i-cleped was Oenone, Line 654 Wrote in a compleynte of hir heuynesse; Line 655 Ȝee say the lettre that she wrote, I gesse?" Line 656 "Nay, neuere ȝet, ywys," quod Troilus. Line 657 "Now," quod Pandare, "herkne, it was thus: Line 658

"'Phebus, that first fond art of medicyne,' Line 659 Quod she, 'and couthe in euery wightes care Line 660 Remedye and rede by herbes he knew fyne, Line 661 Ȝet to hym self his konnyng was ful bare; Line 662 ffor loue hadde hym so bounden in a snare, Line 663 Al for the doughter of the kyng Amete, Line 664 That al his craft ne koude his sorwes bete.' Line 665

"Right so fare I, vnhappyly for me; Line 666 I loue one best, and that me smerteth sore; Line 667 And ȝet, peraunter, kan I reden the, Line 668 And nat my self -- repreue me na more. Line 669 I haue no cause, I woot wel, forto sore Line 670 As doth an hauk that listeth forto pleye; Line 671 But to thin help ȝet somwhat kan I seye. Line 672

"And of o thing right siker maistow be, Line 673 That certein, forto dyen in the peyne, Line 674 That I shal neuere mo discoueren the; Line 675 Ne, by my trouthe, I kepe nat restreyne Line 676 The fro thi loue, theigh that it were Eleyne Line 677 That is thi brother wif, if ich it wiste; Line 678 Be what she be, and loue hire as the liste. Line 679

"Therfore, as frend fullich in me assure, Line 680 And telle me plat now what is thenchesoun Line 681 And final cause of wo that ȝe endure; Line 682 ffor douteth no thyng, myn entencioun Line 683 Nis nat to ȝow of reprehencioun Line 684 To speke as now, for no wight may byreue Line 685 A man to loue, tyl that hym list to leue. Line 686

"And witteth wel that bothe two ben vices: Line 687 Mistrusten alle, or elles alle leue. Line 688 But wel I woot, the mene of it no vice is: Line 689 ffor for to trusten som wight is a preue Line 690 Of trouth, and forthi wolde I fayn remeue Line 691 Thi wronge conseyte and do the som wyght triste Line 692 Thi wo to telle; and tel me if the liste. Line 693

"The wise seith, "wo hym that is allone, Line 694 ffor, and he falle, he hath non helpe to ryse'; Line 695 And sith thow hast a felawe, tel thi mone; Line 696 ffor this nys naught, certein, the nexte wyse Line 697 To wynnen loue, as techen vs the wyse, Line 698 To walwe and wepe as Nyobe the queene, Line 699 Whos teres ȝet in marble ben yseene. Line 700

Stanzas 101 through 110

"Lat be thy wepyng and thi drerynesse, Line 701 And lat vs lissen wo with oother speche; Line 702 So may thy woful tyme seme lesse; Line 703 Delyte nat in wo thi wo to seche, Line 704 As don thise foles that hire sorwes eche Line 705 With sorwe, whan thei han mysauenture, Line 706 And listen naught to seche hem other cure. Line 707

"Men seyn, "to wrecche is consolacioun Line 708 To haue another felawe in hys peyne.' Line 709 That owghte wel ben oure opynyoun, Line 710 ffor bothe thow and I of loue we pleyne: Line 711 So ful of sorwe am I, soth forto seyne, Line 712 That certeinly namore harde grace Line 713 May sitte on me, for why ther is no space. Line 714

"If god wol, thow art nat agast of me, Line 715 Lest I wolde of thi lady the bygyle; Line 716 Thow woost thy self whom that I loue, parde, Line 717 As I best kan, gon sithen longe while; Line 718 And sith thow woost I do it for no wyle, Line 719 And seyst I am he that thow trustest mooste, Line 720 Telle me somwhat, syn al my wo thow wooste." Line 721

Ȝet Troilus for al this no worde seyde, Line 722 But longe he ley as stylle as he ded were; Line 723 And after this with sikynge he abreyde, Line 724 And to Pandarus vois he lente his ere, Line 725 And vp hise eighen caste he, that in feere Line 726 Was Pandarus lest that in frenesie Line 727 He sholde falle, or elles soone dye; Line 728

And cryde "awake," ful wonderlich and sharpe, Line 729 "What! slombrestow as in a litargie? Line 730 Or artow lik an asse to the harpe, Line 731 That hereth sown whan men the strynges plye, Line 732 But in his mynde of that no melodie Line 733 May sinken hym to gladen, for that he Line 734 So dul ys of his bestialite?" Line 735

And with that, Pandare of his wordes stente; Line 736 And Troilus ȝet hym no thyng answerde, Line 737 ffor why to tellen nas nat his entente Line 738 To neuere no man, for whom that he so ferde. Line 739 ffor it is seyd, "men maketh ofte a ȝerde Line 740 With which the maker is hym self ybeten Line 741 In sondry manere," as thise wyse treten; Line 742

And namelich in his counseil tellynge Line 743 That toucheth loue that oughte ben secree; Line 744 ffor of him self it wol ynough out sprynge, Line 745 But if that it the bet gouerned be; Line 746 Ek som tyme it is a craft to seme fle Line 747 ffro thyng whych in effect men hunte faste -- Line 748 Al this gan Troilus in his herte caste. Line 749

But natheles whan he hadde herd hym crye Line 750 "Awake," he gan to syken wonder soore, Line 751 And seyde, "frende, though that I stylle lye, Line 752 I am nat deef; now pees, and crye namore, Line 753 ffor I haue herd thi wordes and thi lore; Line 754 But suffre me my meschief to bywaille, Line 755 ffor thy prouerbes may me naught auaille. Line 756

Nor other cure kanstow non for me; Line 757 Ek I nyl nat ben cured, I wol deye. Line 758 What knowe I of the queene Nyobe? Line 759 Lat be thyne olde ensaumples, I the preye." Line 760 "No," quod tho Pandarus, "therfore I seye, Line 761 Swych is delit of foles to by-wepe Line 762 Hire wo, but seken bote they ne kepe. Line 763

"Now knowe I that ther reson in the failleth; Line 764 But telle me if I wiste what she were Line 765 ffor whom that the al this misaunter ailleth: Line 766 Dorste thow that I tolde in hire ere Line 767 Thi wo, sith thow darst naught thi self for feere, Line 768 And hire bysoughte on the to han som routhe?" Line 769 "Why nay," quod he, "by god and by my trouthe." Line 770

Stanzas 111 through 120

"What, nat as bisyly," quod Pandarus, Line 771 "As though myn owene lyf lay on this nede?" Line 772 "No, certes, brother," quod this Troilus. Line 773 "And whi?" -- "for that thow scholdest neuere spede." Line 774 "Wostow that wel?" -- " ȝe, that is out of drede," Line 775 Quod Troilus, "for al that euere ȝe konne, Line 776 She nyl to noon swich wrecche as I ben wonne." Line 777

Quod Pandarus, "allas, what may this be, Line 778 That thow dispeired art thus causeles? Line 779 What, lyueth nat thi lady, bendiste? Line 780 How wostow so that thow art graceles? Line 781 Swich yuel is nat alwey booteles. Line 782 Why, put nat impossible thus thi cure, Line 783 Syn thyng to come is oft in auenture. Line 784

"I graunte wel that thow endurest wo, Line 785 As sharp as doth he Ticius in helle, Line 786 Whos stomak foughles tiren euere moo Line 787 That hightyn volturis, as bokes telle. Line 788 But I may nat endure that thow dwelle Line 789 In so vnskilful an oppynyoun Line 790 That of thi wo is no curacioun. Line 791

"But oones nyltow, for thy coward herte, Line 792 And for thyn ire and folissh wilfulnesse, Line 793 ffor wantrust, tellen of thy sorwes smerte, Line 794 Ne to thyn owen help don bysynesse Line 795 As muche as speke a reson moore or lesse? Line 796 But list as he that lest of no thyng recche -- Line 797 What womman koude louen swich a wrecche? Line 798

"What may she demen oother of thy deeth, Line 799 If thow thus deye and she not why it is, Line 800 But that for feere is ȝolden vp thy breth Line 801 ffor Grekes han biseged vs, i-wys? Line 802 Lord, which a thonk than shaltow han of this! Line 803 Thus wol she seyn, and al the town attones, Line 804 "The wrecche is ded, the deuel haue his bones.' Line 805

"Thow mayst allone here wepe and crye and knele -- Line 806 But loue a womman that she woot it nought, Line 807 And she wol quyte it that thow shalt nat fele: Line 808 Unknow, vnkist, and lost, that is vnsought. Line 809 What! many a man hath loue ful deere ybought Line 810 Twenty wynter that his lady wiste, Line 811 That neuere ȝet his lady mouth he kiste. Line 812

"What sholde he ther-fore fallen in dispayre, Line 813 Or be recreant for his owne tene, Line 814 Or slen hym self, al be his lady faire? Line 815 Nay, nay, but euere in oon be fresshe and grene Line 816 To serue and loue his deere hertes queene, Line 817 And thynk it is a guerdon hire to serue Line 818 A thousand fold moore than he kan deserue." Line 819

And of that word took hede Troilus, Line 820 And thoughte a-non what folie he was inne, Line 821 And how that soth hym seyde Pandarus, Line 822 That forto slen hym self myght he nat wynne, Line 823 But bothe don vnmanhod and a synne, Line 824 And of his deth his lady naught to wite; Line 825 ffor of his wo, god woot, she knew ful lite. Line 826

And with that thought he gan ful sore syke, Line 827 And seyde, "allas, what is me best to do?" Line 828 To whom Pandare answered, "if the like, Line 829 The beste is that thow telle me al thi wo; Line 830 And haue my trouthe, but thow it fynde so Line 831 I be thy boote er that it be ful longe, Line 832 To pieces do me drawe and sithen honge." Line 833

"Ȝe, so thow seyst," quod Troilus tho, "allas, Line 834 But, god woot, it is naught the rather so. Line 835 fful hard were it to helpen in this cas, Line 836 ffor wel fynde I that fortune is my fo; Line 837 Ne al the men that riden konne or go Line 838 May of hire cruel whiel the harm withstonde; Line 839 ffor as hire list she pleyeth with free and bonde." Line 840

Stanzas 121 through 130

Quod Pandarus, "than blamestow fortune Line 841 ffor thow art wroth, ȝe, now at erst I see; Line 842 Woost thow nat wel that fortune is comune Line 843 To eueri manere wight in som degree? Line 844 And ȝet thow hast this comfort, lo, perde, Line 845 That as hire ioies moten ouergone, Line 846 So mote hire sorwes passen euerychone. Line 847

"ffor if hire whiel stynte any thyng to torne, Line 848 Than cessed she fortune anon to be. Line 849 Now sith hire whiel by no way may soiourne, Line 850 What woostow if hire mutabilite Line 851 Right as thy seluen list wol don by the, Line 852 Or that she be naught fer fro thyn helpynge? Line 853 Paraunter thow hast cause forto synge. Line 854

"And therfore wostow what I the biseche? Line 855 Lat be thy wo and tornyng to the grounde; Line 856 ffor who-so list haue helyng of his leche, Line 857 To hym byhoueth first vnwre his wownde. Line 858 To Cerberus in helle ay be I bownde, Line 859 Were it for my suster, al thy sorwe, Line 860 By my wil she sholde al be thyn to-morwe. Line 861

"Look vp, I seye, and telle me what she is Line 862 Anon, that I may gon aboute thy nede. Line 863 Knowe ich hire aught? for my loue, telle me this; Line 864 Thanne wolde I hopen rather for to spede." Line 865 Tho gan the veyne of Troilus to blede, Line 866 ffor he was hit and wax al reed for shame. Line 867 "A ha!" quod Pandare, "here bygynneth game." Line 868

And with that word he gan hym for to shake, Line 869 And seyde, "thef, thow shalt hyre name telle." Line 870 But tho gan sely Troilus for to quake, Line 871 As though men sholde han led hym in to helle, Line 872 And seyde, "allas, of al my wo the welle, Line 873 Thanne is my swete fo called Criseyde." Line 874 And wel neigh with the word for feere he deide. Line 875

And whann that Pandare herde hire name neuene, Line 876 Lord, he was glad, and seyde, "frende so deere, Line 877 Now fare aright, for Ioues name in heuene, Line 878 Loue hath byset the wel; be of good cheere, Line 879 ffor of good name and wisdom and manere Line 880 She hath ynough, and ek of gentilesse -- Line 881 If she be fayre, thow woost thy self, I gesse. Line 882

"Ny neuere saugh a more bountevous Line 883 Of hire estat, na gladder, ne of speche Line 884 A frendlyer, na more gracious Line 885 ffor to do wel, ne lasse hadde nede to seche Line 886 What for to don; and al this bet to eche, Line 887 In honour, to as fer as she may strecche, Line 888 A kynges herte semeth by hyrs a wrecche. Line 889

["And forthi loke of good comfort thow be; Line 890 ffor certeinly the ferste poynt is this Line 891 Of noble corage and wel ordeyne, Line 892 A man to haue pees with hym self, y-wis; Line 893 So oghtist thow, for nought but good it is Line 894 To loue wel, and in a worthy place; Line 895 The oughte not to clepe it hap but grace.] Line 896

"And also thynk, and ther-with glade the, Line 897 That sith thy lady vertuous is al, Line 898 So foloweth it that there is som pitee Line 899 Amonges alle thise other in general; Line 900 And forthi se that thow in special Line 901 Requere naught that is a ȝeyns hyre name, Line 902 ffor vertue streccheth naught hym self to shame. Line 903

"But wel is me that euere that I was borne, Line 904 That thow biset art in so good a place; Line 905 ffor by my trouthe, in loue I dorste haue sworne Line 906 The sholde neuere han tid thus fayre a grace; Line 907 And wostow why? for thow were wont to chace Line 908 At loue in scorn, and for despit hym calle Line 909 "Seynt Idiot, lord of thise foles alle.' Line 910

Stanzas 131 through 140

"How often hastow maad thi nyce iapes, Line 911 And seyd that loues seruantz euerichone Line 912 Of nycete ben verray goddes apes; Line 913 And some wolde mucche hire mete allone, Line 914 Liggyng abedde, and make hem for to grone; Line 915 And som, thow seydest, hadde a blaunche feuere, Line 916 And preydest god he sholde neuere keuere. Line 917

"And som of hem took on hem for the colde Line 918 More than ynough, so seydestow ful ofte; Line 919 And som han feyned ofte tyme, and tolde Line 920 How that they waken whan thei slepen softe; Line 921 And thus they wolde han brought hem self a-lofe, Line 922 And natheles were vnder at the laste -- Line 923 Thus seydestow, and iapedest ful faste. Line 924

"Ȝet seydestow that for the moore parte, Line 925 Thise loueres wolden speke in general, Line 926 And thoughten that it was a siker arte, Line 927 ffor faylyng for tassaien ouere al. Line 928 Now may I iape of the, if that I shal; Line 929 But natheles, though that I sholde deye, Line 930 That thow art non of tho, I dorste saye. Line 931

"Now bet thi brest and sey to god of loue Line 932 Thy grace, lord, for now I me repente Line 933 If I mysspak, for now my self I loue' -- Line 934 Thus sey with al thyn herte in good entente." Line 935 Quod Troilus, "a, lord, I me consente, Line 936 And preye to the my iapes thow for ȝiue, Line 937 And I shal neuere more whyle I liue." Line 938

"Thow seist wel," quod Pandare, "and now I hope Line 939 That thow the goddes wrathe hast al apesed; Line 940 And sithen thow hast wopen many a drope, Line 941 And seyd swych thyng wher-with thi god is plesed, Line 942 Now wolde neuere god but thow were esed; Line 943 And thynk wel, she of whom rist al thi wo Line 944 Here-after may thy comfort be also. Line 945

"ffor thilke grownde that bereth the wedes wikke Line 946 Bereth ek thise holsom herbes as ful ofte: Line 947 Next the foule netle, rough and thikke, Line 948 The rose waxeth swoote and smothe and softe; Line 949 And next the valeye is the hill o-lofte; Line 950 And next the derke nyght the glade morwe; Line 951 And also ioie is next the fyn of sorwe. Line 952

"Now loke that a-tempre be thi bridel, Line 953 And for the beste ay suffre to the tyde, Line 954 Or elles al oure laboure is on ydel; Line 955 He hasteth wel that wisely kan abyde. Line 956 Be diligent and trewe, and ay wel hide; Line 957 Be lusty, fre, perseuere in thy seruyse -- Line 958 And al is wel, if thow werke in this wyse. Line 959

"But he that parted is in eueri place Line 960 Is nowher hol, as writen clerkes wyse. Line 961 What wonder is though swich oon haue no grace? Line 962 Ek wostow how it fareth of som seruise, Line 963 As plaunte a tree or herbe in sondry wyse Line 964 And on the morwe pulle it vp as blyue, Line 965 No wonder is though it may neuere thryue. Line 966

"And sith that god of loue hath the bistowed Line 967 In place digne vnto thi worthinesse, Line 968 Stond faste, for to good port hastow rowed; Line 969 And of thi self, for any heuynesse, Line 970 Hope alwey wel; for but if drerinesse, Line 971 Or ouere-haste, oure bothe labour shende, Line 972 I hope of this to maken a good ende. Line 973

"And wostow why I am the lasse afered Line 974 Of this matere with my Nece trete? Line 975 ffor this haue I herd seyd of wyse lered, Line 976 'Was neuere man or womman ȝet bigete Line 977 That was vnapt to suffren loues hete, Line 978 Celestial, or elles loue of kynde.' Line 979 fforthy som grace I hope in hire to fynde. Line 980

Stanzas 141 through 150

"And for to speke of hire in specyal, Line 981 Hire beaute to bithynken and hire youthe, Line 982 It sit hire naught to ben celestial Line 983 As ȝet, though that hire liste bothe and kowthe; Line 984 But trewely, it sate hire wel right nowthe Line 985 A worthi knyght to louen and cherice -- Line 986 And but she do, I holde it for a vice. Line 987

"Wher-fore I am and wol ben ay redy Line 988 To peyne me to do ȝow this seruyse; Line 989 ffor bothe ȝow to plese thus hope I Line 990 Her-afterward; for ȝe ben bothe wyse, Line 991 And konne it counseil kepe in swych a wyse Line 992 That no man shal the wiser of it be -- Line 993 And so we may ben gladed alle thre. Line 994

"And, by my trouthe, I haue right now of the Line 995 A good conceyte in my wit, as I gesse, Line 996 And what it is, I wol now that thow se: Line 997 I thenke, sith that loue of his goodnesse Line 998 Hath the conuerted out of wikkednesse, Line 999 That thow shalt ben the beste post, I leue, Line 1000 Of al his lay, and moost his foos to greue. Line 1001

"Ensample why, se now thise wise clerkes, Line 1002 That erren aldermost a ȝeyn a lawe, Line 1003 And ben conuerted from hire wikked werkes Line 1004 Thorugh grace of god that list hem to hym drawe, Line 1005 Thanne arn they folk that han moost god in awe, Line 1006 And strengest feythed ben, I vndirstonde, Line 1007 And konne an errowre alderbest withstonde." Line 1008

Whan Troilus hadde herd Pandare assented Line 1009 To ben his help in louyng of Cryseyde, Line 1010 Weex of his wo, as who seith, vntormented, Line 1011 But hotter weex his loue and thus he seyde, Line 1012 With sobre chere, although his herte pleyde: Line 1013 "Now blisful Venus help, er that I sterue, Line 1014 Of the, Pandare, I mowe som thank deserue. Line 1015

"But deere frende, how shal my wo be lesse Line 1016 Til this be doon? and, good, ek telle me this: Line 1017 How wiltow seyn of me and my destresse, Line 1018 Lest she be wroth -- this drede I moost, ywys -- Line 1019 Or nyl nat here or trowen how it is? Line 1020 Al this drede I, and ek for the manere Line 1021 Of the, hire Em, she nyl no swich thyng here." Line 1022

Quod Pandarus, "thow hast a ful gret care Line 1023 Lest that the Cherl may falle out of the moone. Line 1024 Whi, lord, I hate of the thi nyce fare. Line 1025 Whi, entremete of that thow hast to doone! Line 1026 ffor goddes loue, I bidde the a boone: Line 1027 So lat malone, and it shal be thi beste." Line 1028 "Whi, frende," quod he, "now do right as the leste. Line 1029

"But herke, Pandare, o word, for I nolde Line 1030 That thow in me wendest so gret folie, Line 1031 That to my lady I desiren sholde Line 1032 That toucheth harm or any vilenye; Line 1033 ffor dredeles me were leuere dye Line 1034 Than she of me aught elles vnderstode Line 1035 But that that myghte sownen in-to goode." Line 1036

Tho lough this Pandare, and anon answerde, Line 1037 "And I thi borugh? fy, no wight doth but so; Line 1038 I roughte naught though that she stood and herde Line 1039 How that thow seist; but fare wel, I wol go. Line 1040 A-dieu, be glad, god spede vs bothe two! Line 1041 Ȝef me this labour and this bisynesse, Line 1042 And of my spede be thyn al that swetnesse." Line 1043

Tho Troilus gan doun on knees to falle, Line 1044 And Pandare in his armes hente faste, Line 1045 And seyde, "now, fy on the Grekes alle! Line 1046 Ȝet, parde, god shal helpe vs atte laste; Line 1047 And dredelees, if that my lyf may laste, Line 1048 And god to-forn, lo, som of hem shal smerte; Line 1049 And ȝet mathenketh that this auant masterte. Line 1050

Stanzas 151 through 156

"Now, Pandare, I kan namore seye, Line 1051 But thow wis, thow woost, thow maist, thow art al. Line 1052 Mi lif, my deth, hol in thyn honde I leye; Line 1053 Help now!" Quod he, " ȝis, by my trowthe, I shal." Line 1054 "God ȝelde the, frend, and this in special," Line 1055 Quod Troilus, "that thow me recomande Line 1056 To hire that to the deth me may comande." Line 1057

This Pandarus, tho desirous to serue Line 1058 His fulle frende, than seyde in this manere: Line 1059 "ffarwell, and thenk I wol thi thank deserue, Line 1060 Haue here my trowthe, and that thow shalt wel here," Line 1061 And went his wey thenkyng on this matere, Line 1062 And how he best myghte hire biseche of grace, Line 1063 And fynde a tyme therto and a place. Line 1064

ffor eueri wight that hath an hous to founde Line 1065 Ne renneth naught the werk for to bygynne Line 1066 With rakel hond, but he wol bide a stounde, Line 1067 And sende his hertes line out fro with-inne Line 1068 Aldirfirst his purpos forto wynne. Line 1069 Al this Pandare in his herte thoughte, Line 1070 And caste his werk ful wisely or he wroughte. Line 1071

But Troilus lay tho no lenger down, Line 1072 But vp anon vpon his stede bay, Line 1073 And in the feld he pleyde the leoun; Line 1074 Wo was that Grek that with hym mette a-day! Line 1075 And in the town his manere tho forth ay Line 1076 So goodly was, and gat hym so in grace, Line 1077 That ecch hym loued that loked on his face. Line 1078

ffor he bicom the frendlieste wight, Line 1079 The gentilest, and ek the mooste fre, Line 1080 The thriftiest, and oon the beste knyght, Line 1081 That in his tyme was or myghte be: Line 1082 Dede were his iapes and his cruelte, Line 1083 His heighe port and his manere estraunge, Line 1084 And ecch of tho gan for a vertue chaunge. Line 1085

Now lat vs stynte of Troilus a stounde, Line 1086 That fareth like a man that hurt is soore, Line 1087 And is som deel of akyngge of his wownde Line 1088 Y-lissed wel, but heeled no deel moore, Line 1089 And, as an esy pacyent, the loore Line 1090 Abit of hym that gooth aboute his cure; Line 1091 And thus he dryeth forth his auenture. Line 1092

Explicit liber primus.