A parallel-text print of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde from the Campsall ms. of Mr. Bacon Frank, copied for Henry V. when Prince of Wales, the Harleian ms. 2280 in the British museum, and the Cambridge university library ms. Gg. 4. 27. Put forth by Frederick J. Furnivall ...

[Harl. MS. 2280, Brit. Mus., ab. 1410-25, vellum, leaf 1.]

[The þ & y are of the same form, tho printed þ & y here.]

(1) (Proem)

THe double sorowe of troilus to tellen [ 1] Þat was þe kynge Priamus sone of Troye In louynge how hise auentures fellen Fro wo to wele and after out of Ioye [ 4] My purpos is er þat I parte fro ye Thesphone thow help me for tendite This woful vers þat wepen as I write [ 7]

(2) (Invocation)

¶ To the clepe I thow goddesse of torment [ 8] Thow cruel furye sorowynge euer in peyne Help me þat am þe sorowful Instrument That helpeþ louers as I kan to pleyne [ 11] For wel sit it þe sothe for to seyne A woful wyght to han a drery feere And to a sorwful tale a sory chere [ 14]

(3)

¶ For I þat god of loues seruaunt serue [ 15] Ne dar to loue for myn vnliklynesse Preyen for speed al sholde I þer-fore sterue So fer I am from his helpe in derkenesse [ 18] But natheles if þis may done gladnesse Un to any louere and his cause a-vaylle Haue he my þonk and myn by þis trauaille [ 21]

(4)

¶ But ye louers þat oathen in gladdenesse [ 22] If any drope of pite in ȝow be Remembreth ȝow on passed heuynesse Þat ȝe han felt and on þe aduersite [ 25] Of oþer folk and thenketh how þat ȝe Han felt þat loue dorste ȝow displeese Or ȝe han wonne hym wiþ to grete an ese [ 28]

(5)

¶ And preyeth for hem þat ben in þe cas [ 29] Of Troilus as may after heere Þat Loue hem brynge in heuene to solas And ek for me preyeth to god so deere [ 32] Þat I haue mygth to shew in som manere Swich peyne and wo as loues folk endure In troilus vnsely auenture [ 35]

(6)

¶ And byddeþ ek for hem þat ben despeyred [ 36] In loue þat neuere nyl recouered be And ek for hem þat falsly ben a-peyred Þorwgh wikked tonges. be it he or sche [ 39] Þus byddeþ god for his benignite So graunte hem sone out of þis world to passe Þat ben despeyred out [of] loues grace [ 42]

(7)

¶ And byddeþ ek for hem þat ben at ese [leaf 1, back] [ 43] Þat god hem graunte ay goode perseueraunce And sende hem myght hire loueres for to plese Þat it to loue be worschip and plesaunce [ 46] For so hope I best my soule to auaunce To preye for hem þat loues scruauntes be And write hire wo and lyue in cherite [ 49]

(8)

¶ And for to haue of hem compassyoun [ 50] As þough I were hire owne broþer deere Now herkeneth with a goode entencioun For now wol I gone streght to my matere [ 53] In þe whiche ȝe may double sorwes here of troilus in louynge of Criseyde And how þat she for-soke him or sche deyed [ 56]

(9) (Story)

¶ It is wele wist how þat þe grekes stronge [ 57] In armes with a thousand shippes wente To troye wardes and þe cite longe asseȝeden nygh ten yer er theye stente [ 60] And in diuerse wise and oon entente Þe rauysynge to wreken of Eleyne By paris doun they wroughten al hir peyne [ 63]

(10)

¶ Now fel it so þat in þe town þer was [ 64] Dwellynge a lord of grete autorite A grete deuyn þat cleped was calkas Þat in science so expert was þat he [ 67] Knew wele þat troye sholde destroyed be By answer of his god þat hyghte þus Daun phebus or appollo delphicus [ 70]

(11)

¶ So when þis calkas knew by calkulynge [ 71] And ek by answer of þis appollo Þat grekes sholden swiche a peple brynge Þorwgh whiche þat Troye most ben fordo [ 74] He cast o non out of þe town to go For wel west he by soȝt þat troye sholde Destroyed ben. ȝe wold who so nolde [ 77]

(12)

¶ For which for to departen softely [ 78] Took purpos ful þis for-knowynge wyse And to þe grekes oost ful pryuely he stal a non / and þei in curtas wyse [ 81] Hym deden bothen worschipp and seruyse In truste þat hee hath knowynge him to rede In euery peril which þat is to drede [ 84]

(13)

¶ Þe noyse up rose when it was first aspied [leaf 2] [ 85] Þorwgh al þe town and generally was spoken Þat calkas traitor fals fled was and allied with hem of grece and casten to ben wroken [ 88] on him þat falsly hadde his faith so broken and sayden þat he and alle his kyn at oones Ben worþi for to brennen alle fel and bones [ 91]

(14)

¶ Now had calkas left in þis mischaunce [ 92] Alle vnwiste of þis fals and wikked dede His douȝter which þat was in grete penaunce For of hir lyf sche was ful sore in drede [ 95] As sche þat nyst what was best to rede For boþe a wydew was sche and allone of any frend to whom sche dorst hir mone [ 98]

(15)

¶ Criseyde was þis lady name al riȝth [ 99] As to my doom in alle troyes cite was non so fayre for-passynge euery wyght So aungellyke was hir natif beaute [ 102] Þat lyke a thynge in-mortal semed sche As doth an heuenyssh parfit creature Þat down war sent in scornyng of nature [ 105]

(16)

¶ Þis lady whiche alday þat herd at ere [ 106] Hire faderes chame his falsenesse and tresoun wel neȝgh out of hire witt for sorw and fere In widewes habit large of samyt broune [ 109] On knees sche fel by-forne ector a-doune with pitous vois and tenderly wepynge his mercy bad hire seluen excusynge. [ 112]

(17)

¶ Nowe was þis ector pitous of nature [ 113] And sauȝgh þat che was sorowfully bygone And þat sche was so fayre a creature Of his godenesse he gladded hire anone [ 116] And sayde lat ȝoure faderes tresoun gone forth with mischaunce and ȝourself in Ioye Dwellyt with us whil ȝow goode list in troye [ 119]

(18)

¶ And alle þe honour þat men may don ȝow haue [ 120] as fer forth as ȝour fader dwelled here Ȝe schal han and ȝour body schal men saue as fer as may ouȝght enquere or here [ 123] And sche him þankked with ful humble chere And ofter wald and it hadde ben his wille And toke hyre leue and hoom and held hir stille [ 126]

(19)

¶ And in hire house sche abode with swhich meyne [lf 2, bk] [ 127] As til hire honour neded was to holde And whil sche was dwellynge in þat cite Kepte hire astate / and boþe of ȝonge and olde [ 130] Ful wel by-loued / and wel men of hire tolde But wheþer þat sche children hadde or non I rede it noȝgh þer-fore I latt it gone [ 133]

(20)

¶ Þe thynges fellen as þai don of werre [ 134] Bitwixen hem of Troye and grekes ofte For somday boughten þai of troye it dere And eft þe grekes founden no þinge softe [ 137] Þe folk of troye and þus fortune on loft And vnder eft gan hem to whielen bothe Aftir hire cours / ay whil þat þai were wroþe [ 140]

(21)

¶ But how þis town com to destruccioun [ 141] Ne falleþ noȝth to purpos me to telle For it were a longe discrecioun Fro my matere // and ȝow to longe to dwelle [ 144] But þe troyan geestes as þei felle In Omer or in dares or in dite who-so þat kan may rede hem as þai write [ 147]

(22)

¶ But though þat grekes hem of troye shetten [ 148] And hire cite be-seged alle a-boute Hire old vsage wold þai noȝth letten As for to honour hire goddes ful deuoute [ 151] But aldermost in honour out of doute Þey had a relyk heet palladioun Þat was hire trist a-bouen euerichoun [ 154]

(23)

¶ And so byfel whan comen was þ^e tyme [ 155] Of aperil whan cloþed is þe mede With new grene of lusty veer þe prime And swote smellen floures white and rede [ 158] In sondry wises schewed as I rede Þe folke of troye hire obseruaunces olde Palladyons fest for to holde [ 161]

(24)

¶ And to þ^e tomple in alle hire godely best wise [ 162] In general þer wente many a wyȝt To herken of palladyoun þe seruise And namely so mony a lusti knyght [ 165] So many a lady fresshe and mayden bryght Ful wele araied boþe most meyne and leste Yo boþe for þ^e seson and þe feeste [ 168]

(25)

¶ Among þise oþer folke was crisayda [leaf 4] [ 169] In wydewes habit blak but naþeles Right as oure furste lettre is nowe an a In beaute firste so stoode sche makeles [ 172] Hire goodely lokkyng / gladde al the prees Was neuere þat seyn thyng / to ben preysed derre Nor vnder cloude blake so bright a sterre [ 175]

(26)

¶ As was criseyde as folk seyde euerychon [ 176] Þat hire by-helden in hire blak wede And þat scho stood ful low and stille allone Byhynden oþer folk in litel brede [ 179] And neȝgh þe dore ay vnder chames drede Symple of a-tyre and debonar of cheere wyth ful asseured lokynge and manere [ 182]

(27)

¶ Þis troylus as he was wont to gyde [ 183] Hire ȝonge knyghtes led hem vp and down In þilke large temple on euery syde Byholdynge ay þe ladys of þe town [ 186] Now here now þare for no deuocioun Hadde he to non / to reuen him his reste But gan to preyse and lakken whom him leste [ 189]

(28)

¶ And in his walk ful fast he gan to wayten [ 190] If knyght or swyer of his compaynye Gan for to sigh or lete his eyen baten On any woman þat he koude aspye [ 193] He wolden smyle and holden it folye And seye him þus god wote sche slepeþ softe For loue of þe whan þow turnest ful oft [ 196]

(29)

¶ I haue herd telle pardieux of ȝour lyuynge [ 197] Ye louers and ȝoure obseruaunces And which a labour folk han in wynnynge of loue / and in þe kepynge whiche doutaunces [ 200] And when ȝour preye is lost wo and penaunces O verrey fooles nice and blynde be ȝe Þer is not oon kan war by oþer be [ 203]

(30)

¶ And wiþ þat worde he gan cast vp þe browe [ 204] Ascaunces lo / is þis nouȝt wysely spoken At whiche þe god of loue gan loken rowe Riȝght for despit / and shope for to ben wroken [ 207] He kydde onon his bow nas not broken For sodenly he hitte him atte fulle And þat as proude a pakoc can he pulle [ 210]

(31)

¶ O blynde world O blynd entencioun [ 211] How often falleþ alle þe effecte contrarie Of surquidrye and foule presumpcioun For kaught is pryde and kaught is debonaire [ 214] Þis troylus is clomben on þe starre And litel weneþ þat he schall descenden But alday fayleth þinge þat fooles wenden [ 217]

(32)

¶ As proude bayard gynneþ for to skyppe [ 218] out of þe wey / so prikeþ him his corne Til he a lassch haue of þe longe whippe Þan thynkeþ he thoȝgh I praunce al by-forne [ 221] First in þe trayse ful fat and new shorne Ȝet am I but an hors and horses lawe I mote endure and with my feers drawe [ 224]

(33)

¶ So ferd it by þis fiers and proude knyght [ 225] Thought he a worþi kynges sonne were And wende no þinge had had swiche myȝt a-ȝeynis his wille þat schold his hert stiere [ 228] Þat wiþ a look his wax a feere Þat he þat now was moost in pride aboue wax sodeynly most subgit vnto loue [ 231]

(34)

¶ For-þe ensaumple taketh of þis man [ 232] Ye wise proude and worþi folkes alle To scornen loue whiche þat so soon kan Þe fredom of ȝoure hertes to him þralle [ 235] For euere it was and euere it schal be-falle Þat loue is he þat alle þinge may bynde For may no man fordon þe lawe of kynde [ 238]

(35)

¶ Þat þis be sothe haþ proued and doþ ȝett [ 239] For þis trowe I ȝe knowen alle or some Men reden þat folk han gretter witte Þan þei þat haþ ben most wiþ loue ynome [ 242] And strengest folk ben þer-wiþ ouer-come Þe worthiest and þe grettest of degree Þis was and is and ȝett men schal it see [ 245]

(36)

¶ And trewliche it sitt wele to be so [ 246] For alderwysest han þar-wiþ ben plesed And þai þat han ben aldermost in wo with loue han ben conforted most and esed [ 249] And oft it haþ þe cruel herte apesed And worþi folk made worþier of name And causeth most to dreden vice and chame [ 252]

(37)

¶ And sith it may not godely ben with-stonde [leaf 4] [ 253] And is a þinge so vertuous in kynde Refuseth not to loue for to ben bonde Syn as him seluen liste he may ȝow bynde [ 256] Þe ȝerde is bet þat bowen wole and wynde Þan þat þat brest / and þer-for I ȝow rede To folowen him þat so wele kan ȝow lede [ 259]

(38)

¶ But for to tellen forthe in speciale [ 260] Of þis kynges sone of which I told And leten oþer þinge collateral Of hym þenke .I. my tale for to holde [ 263] Boþe of his Ioie and of his cares colde And alle his werk as towchynge þis matere For I it gan .I wol þer-to refeere [ 266]

(39)

¶ with-Inne þ^e temple he wente him forth pleyinge [ 267] Þis Troylus of euery wyght a-boute On þis lady and now on þat lokynge where-so sche were of towne or of with-oute [ 270] And vp-on cas bifel þat þorwȝ a route His eyghe percede and so depe it wente Til on criseyde it smoot and þer it stente [ 273]

(40)

¶ And sodeynly he wex þer-with astoned [ 274] And gan hire bet biholde in thrifry wise O mercye god thoughte he where hastow woned Þat ert so fair and goodely to deuyse [ 277] Þer-with his hert gan to sprede and ryse And soft syghed lest men myght him here And caughte aȝeyn his firste playinge chere [ 280]

(41)

¶ Sche nas not with þe leste of hire stature [ 281] But alle hire lymes so wele answerynge weren to womanhode þat creature Was neuer lesse mannyssh in semynge [ 284] And ek þe poure wyse of hire menynge Schewed wele þat men myght in hire gesse Honor estate / and womanly noblesse [ 287]

(42)

¶ To troylus right wonder wele with alle [ 288] gan for to like / hire menynge and hire chere whiche somdele deignous was for sche lete falle Hire loke a lite a side / in swiche manere [ 291] ascaunces what may I nat stonden here And after þat hire lokynge gan sche lyghte Þat neuer thoughte hym seen so goode a sighte [ 294]

(43)

¶ And of hire loke in him þer gan to quyken [lf 4, bk] [ 295] So grete desire and swhiche affeccioun Þer in his hertes botme gan to stiken Of his fixe and depe impressioun [ 298] And thought he arst hadde poured up and donn He was þo gladde his hornes in to shrynke Vnnethes wiste he how to loke or wynke [ 301]

(44)

¶ Loo he þat lete hym seluen so konnynge [ 302] And scorned hym þat loues peynes dryen was ful vnwar þat loue hadde his dwellynge with-inne þe subtile stremes of hir eyen [ 305] Þat so-deynly hym thoughte he felt deyen Ryght with hire loke þe spirit in his herte Blissed be loue þat þus kan folk conuerte [ 308]

(45)

¶ Sche þis in blake likynge to troylus [ 309] Ouer alle þinge he stode for to beholde Ne his desire ne wher-for he stode þus He neyther chere made ne worde tolde [ 312] But fram a-fer his manere for to hold On oþer þinge his loke som tyme he caste And oft on hire while þat seruise laste [ 315]

(46)

¶ And after þis nat fulliche alle awhaped [ 316] Out of þe temple alle esiliche he wente Repentynge him þat he hadde euer I-iaped Of loues folke lest fully the descente [ 319] Of scorne / fille on hym self but what he mente lest it were wiste on any maner syde His wo he gan dissimilen and hyde [ 322]

(47)

¶ when he was fro þe temple þus departed [ 323] He streght anon vn-to his paleys torneth Right with hire loke þorwh schoten and þorwh darted Al feyneþ he in lust þat he soiorneth [ 326] And al his chere and speche al so he borneth And ay of loues seruantes euery while Him self to wrie at hem he gan to smile [ 329]

(48)

¶ And seyde lorde so ye lyue al in leste [ 330] Ye louers / for þe konnyngest of ȝow Þat serueþ most ententifliche and best Him tit als often harme þer-of as prowe [ 333] Ȝour hire is quyt aȝeyn ye god wote howe Nought wel for wel but scorn for gode seruise In feithe ȝowr ordre is ruled in gode wyse. [ 336]

(49)

¶ In non certeyn ben alle ȝoure obseruaunces [leaf 5] [ 337] But it a sely fewe poyntes be Ne no þinge asketh so grete attendaunces As doþ your lay and þat know alle ȝe [ 340] But þat is not þe werste as mote I the But tolde I ȝow þe werste poynt I leeue Al seyde I soth ȝe wolden at me greue [ 343]

(50)

¶ But take þis þat ȝe loueres oft eschewe [ 344] Or elles don of goode entencioun Ful oft þi lady wol it misconstrewe And deme it harme in hyr opinioun [ 347] And ȝit if sche for oþer encheson Be wroth / þan schal þow haue a groyn onon lord wele is hym / þat may be of ȝow one [ 350]

(51)

¶ But for al þis when he sey his tyme [ 351] He held his pees non oþer boote him gayned For loue bigan his feþeres so to lyme That wel vnnethe vn-til his folk he fayned [ 354] Þat other besye nedes him destrayned For wo was him þat what to don he nyste But bad his folk to gon wher þat hem liste [ 357]

(52)

¶ And when þat he in chaumber was allon [ 358] He down vp-on his beddes feet him sette And first he gan to syke and eft to grone And thoughte ay on hire so wiþ-outen lette [ 361] Þat as he satt and woke his spirit mette Þat he here saugh and temple and al þ^e wyse Right of hire loke and gan it new a-uise [ 364]

(53)

¶ Þus gan he make a mirour of his mynde [ 365] In whiche he saughȝ alle holly hire figure And þat he wel kouth in his hert fynde It was to him ryght a goode auenture [ 368] To loue swhich oon and if he dydde his cure To seruen hire ȝet myȝt he falle in grace Or elles for oon of hir seruauntes pace [ 371]

(54)

¶ Ymaginynge þat trauaille nor grame [ 372] Ne myȝt for so goodely one be lorne As she ne him for his desire no shame Al were it wiste but in pris and vp borne [ 375] of alle louers wele more þan byforne Þus argumentede he in hijs gynnynge Ful vnauised of his wo comynge [ 378]

(55)

¶ Þus toke he purpos loues craft to suwe [leaf 5, back] [ 379] And thought he wold wyrkyn prively First to hiden his desire in muwe From euery wyght yborne alle outrely [ 382] But he myght aught recouered be þerby Rememberynge him þat loue to wyde yblowe Ȝelt better fruyt thouge swete sede be sawe [ 385]

(56)

¶ And ouer al þis ȝet muchel more he þouȝt [ 386] what for to speke and what to holden Inne And what artu hire to loue he soughte And on a songe a-non ryght to bigynne [ 389] And gan loude on his sorwe for to wynne For wiþ goode hope he gan fully assente Cryseyde for to loue and nought repent [ 392]

(57)

¶ And of his songe nought only þe sentence [ 393] As write myn autour called lollius But pleynly saue oure tonges difference I dar wel seyn in alle þat troylus [ 396] Seyde in his songe loo euery word right þus As I sal seyn and whoso liste it here Lo next þis vers he may it fynde here [ 399]

(58) (From Petrarch.) // cantus troili

¶ If no loue is o god what fele I so [ 400] And if loue is what þinge and whiche is he If loue be gode from whennes comþ my wo If it be wykke a wonder thynketh me [ 403] whenne euery torment and aduersite Þat cometh of him may to me sauory thynke For ay thirst I þe more þat iche it drynke [ 406]

(59) (From Petrarch.)

¶ And if þat at myn owne lust I brenne [ 407] From whennes cometh my wailynge and my pleynte If harme agree me I where-to pleyne I thenne I noot / ne why vnworþi þat I feynte [ 410] O quyk deth o swete harme so queynte How may of þe in me swhiche quantite But if þat I consente þat it be [ 413]

(60) (From Petrarch.)

¶ And if that I consente I wrongefully [ 414] Compleyne Iwhis þus possed to and fro Al stierlees with-Inne aboot am I Amyd þe see betwexen wendes two [ 417] Þat in contrarie standen euer mo Allas what is þis wonder maladye For hote of cold for cold of hete I dye [ 420]

(End of Troilus's Song from Petrarch's 88th Sonnet.)

(61)

¶ And to þe god of loue þus seyde he [leaf 6] [ 421] with pitous uois o lord now ȝours is Mi spirit whiche auȝght ȝours be Ȝow þanke I lord þat haue me brought to þis [ 424] But wheþer goddesse or womman Iwys She be I not / which þat ȝe do me serue But as hire man I wol ay lyue and sterue [ 427]

(62)

¶ Ȝe stonden in hire eyen miȝtyly [ 428] As in a place vn-to ȝour vertu digne wher-for lord If my seruise or I. May liken ȝow so beth to me benigne [ 431] For myn estate roial here I resigne In to hire hond and with ful humble chere By-come hire man as to my lady dere [ 434]

(63)

¶ In hym ne deyned sparen blode roial [ 435] Þe fir of loue / ye wher-fro god me blisse Ne him for-bar in no degre for al His vertue or his excellent prowesse [ 438] But held hym as his þralle low in destresse And brinde hym so in sondry wyse ay newe Þat sexty tyme a day he lost his hewe [ 441]

(64)

¶ So muchel day by day his owne þouȝt [ 442] For lust to hire be-gan quiken and encresse Þat euery oþer charge he sett at nouȝt For-þi ful oft his hote fir to cesse [ 445] To sene hire goodely loke he gan to preesse For þar-by to ben esed wele he wende And ay þe ner he was þe more he brende [ 448]

(65)

¶ For ay the ner þe fir þe hatter is [ 449] Þis trowe I knoweth al þis companye But were he fer or nere .I. dar seye þis By nyght or day for wisdom or for folye [ 452] His herte which þat is his brestis eye was on hire þat fairer was to sene Þan euere were elyne or polixene [ 455]

(66)

¶ Ek of þe day þer passed nouȝgth an houre [ 456] Þat to him self a þowsand tyme he seyde Goode godely to whom serue I laboure As I best kan now wold god cryseyde [ 459] Ȝe wolden on me rew er þat I dyede Mi deere herte allas myn hele and hewe And lif is lost but ȝe wol on me rewe [ 462]

(67)

¶ Alle oþer dredes weren from him fledde [leaf 6, back] [ 463] Bothe of thassege and his sauacioun Ne in his desire none other fownes bredde But argumentes to þis conclusion [ 466] Þat sche of him wolde han compassioun And he to ben hire man whil he may dure Lo here his lif and from þe deth his cure [ 469]

(68)

¶ Þe charppe showres fille of armes preue [ 470] Þat ector or his othere bretheren diden Ne made hym oonly þere-fore ones meue And þat was he wher-so men went or riden [ 473] Founde oon þe best and lengest tyme abiden Þer peril was and dide eke swiche trauaile In armes þat to thynke it was meruaille [ 476]

(69)

¶ But for none hate he to þe grekes hadde [ 477] Ne also for þe rescous of þe town Ne made him þus in armes for to madde But oonly lo for this conclusioun [ 480] To liken hire þe bette for his renoun Fro day to day in armes so he spedde That the grekes as þe deth him dredde [ 483]

(70)

¶ And fro þis forth þo reft hym loue his slepe [ 484] And made his mete his foo and ek his sorwe gan multiplye þat who-so toke kepe It shewed in his hewe boþe eue and morwe [ 487] Þer-for a title he gan him for to borwe of oþer sikenesse / lest men of him wende Þat þe hote fire of loue him brende [ 490]

(71)

¶ And seyd he hadde a feuyr and ferde amys [ 491] But howe it was certein kan I not seye If þat his lady vnderstode nat þis Or feyned hir she nyste on of þe tweye [ 494] But wele I rede þat by no maner weye Ne semed it þat she of him roughte Or of his peyne or what so euere he þoughte [ 497]

(72)

¶ But þan felt þis troilus swiche wo [ 498] Þat he was wel nyghe wode for ay his drede was þis þat sche som wyght hadde loued so Þat neuer of him she wold haue taken hede [ 501] For whiche him þought he felt his hert blede Ne of his wo ne dorst he nat by-gynne to tellen hire / for al þis world to wynne [ 504]

(73)

¶ But when he hadde a space from his care [leaf 7] [ 505] Þus to him self ful oft he gan to pleyne He sayd o fool now artow in þe sware Þat whilom Iapedest at loues peyne [ 508] Now artow hent now gnawe þin own cheyne Þow were ay wont eche louere reprehende Of þingh fro which þow kanst þe nat defende [ 511]

(74)

¶ what wol now euery louer seyn of þe [ 512] If þis be wiste / but euere in þin absence Laughen in scorne / and seyn loo þer goþe he Þat is man of so grete sapience [ 515] and held vs louers leest in reuerence Now thanked god he may gone in þe daunce of him þat loue liste fiebly for tauaunce [ 518]

(75)

¶ But o þow woful troilus god wolde [ 519] Seth þow most louen þorwȝ þi desteyne Þat þow by-sette were on swich on þat sholde know al þi wo al lakked hire pite [ 522] But also colde in loue Towardes þe Þi lady is / as froost in wynter mone And þow for-doon as snowe in fire is soone [ 525]

(76)

¶ God wold I were aryued in þe porte [ 526] of deth / to which my sorow wol me lede A lord to me it were a grete comfort Þan were I qwytte of langwysshynge in drede [ 529] For be myn hidde sorowe yblowe on brede I shal by-Iaped ben a þowsand tyme More þan þat fool / of whos folye men ryme [ 532]

(77)

But now help god and ye swete for whom [ 533] I pleyne / caught ye neuer wygth so fast O mercy dere hert and help me from Þe deth for I whil þat my lif may laste [ 536] Mor than my self wol loue ȝow to my laste And wiþ some freendly loke gladdeth me swete Þowhȝ neuere more þynge ȝe me byhete [ 539]

(78)

¶ Þis wordes and ful many a noþer to [ 540] He spak / and called euere in his compleynte hire name / for to tellen hire his wo Tyl neigh þat he in salte teris dreynte [ 543] Al was for noȝt she herd not his pleynte And when þat he bithought on þat folye A þousand folde his wo gan to multiplye [ 546]

(79)

¶ Biwayllynge in his chaumber þus allone [leaf 7, back] [ 547] A frende of his þat called was pandare come ones vnwar and herde hym grone And saye his freende in swich destresse and care [ 550] Allas quod he who causeth al þis fare O mercy god what vnhap may þis mene Han now þus soone grekes made ȝow leene [ 553]

(80)

¶ Or hastow som remors of conscience [ 554] And art now falle in some devocioun And waylest for þi synne and þin offence And hast for ferde caught attricioun [ 557] God saue hym þat biseged han oure town And so kan leye oure Iolyte on presse And brynge oure lusti folk to holynesse [ 560]

(81)

¶ Þise wordes seyde he for þe nones alle [ 561] Þat with swiche þinge he myght him angry maken And with an angre don his wo to falle as for þe tyme and his corage awaken [ 564] But wele he wyste as fer as tonges spaken Þer nas aman of gretter hardinesse Þan he ne more desired worþinesse. [ 567]

(82)

¶ what cas quod troylus or what auenture [ 568] Hath gided þe to sen me languyssinge Þat am refus of euery creature But for þe loue of god at my prayinge [ 571] go henne a-way for certys my deynge wol þe disese and I mote nedes deye Þer-for go wey þer is no more to seye [ 574]

(83)

¶ But if þow wene I be þus sik for drede [ 575] It is not so and þerfore scorne nought Þer is anoþer thynge I take of hede wel more þan aught þe grekes han y-wrogth [ 578] whiche cause is of my dethe for sorw and thought But þough þat I now telle it þe ne leste Be þow nought wroth I hidde it for þe beste [ 581]

(84)

¶ Þis Pandare þat neyghe malt for wo and routhe [ 582] Ful often seyd allas what may þis be Now frende quod he If euere loue or trouthe hath ben / or is bytwixen þe and me [ 585] Ne do þow neuere swiche a cruelte To hyden fro þi frende so grete a care wostow not wel þat it am I pandare [ 588]

(85)

¶ I wil parten with þe al þi peyne [leaf 8] [ 589] If it be so I do þe no comfort As it is frendes right soth for to seyne To entreparten wo as gladde desport [ 592] I haue and schal for trew or fals report In wronge and right I-loued þ^e al my lyue Hide nat þi wo fro me but telle it bilyue [ 595]

(86)

¶ Þan gan þis sorwful troilus to syke [ 596] And seyde him þus god leue it be my best To telle it þe for syth it may þe like Ȝet will I telle it though myn hert breste [ 599] And wele wote I þow mayst do me no reste But leste þow deme I tryste not to þe Now herke frende for þus it stonde with me [ 602]

(87)

¶ Loue aȝeins þe which who so defendeth [ 603] Him seluen most / him alderlest availleth wiþ dessespeir / so sorwfully me offendeth Þat streght vn-to þe deth myn herte sailleth [ 606] Þer-to desire so brennyngly me assaileth Þat to ben slayn it were a gretter Ioye To me / than kyng of grece be and troye [ 609]

(88)

¶ Suffiseth þis my ful frend Pandare [ 610] Þat I have seyde for now wostow my wo And for þe loue of god my cold care So hide it wele / I tolde it neuere to mo [ 613] For harmes myght folwen mo þan two If it were wiste / but be þow in gladnesse And lat me sterue vnknow of my destresse [ 616]

(89)

¶ How hastow þus vnkyndly and longe [ 617] Hidde þis fro me þow fool quod pandarus Paraunter þow myght after swiche oon longe Þat myn auys a-non may helpe vs [ 620] Þis were a wonder þinge quod troilus Þow coudest neuere in loue þi seluen wysse How deuel maystow brynge me to blysse [ 623]

(90)

¶ Ȝe Troilus herke now quod Pandare [ 624] though I be nyse / It happeth often so That oon þat excesse doth ful yuele fare By goode conseyl kan kepe his frende þer-fro [ 627] I haue my self ek seyen a blynde man go Þer as he fel þat coude loken wyde A fool may ek a wise man oft gyde [ 630]

(91)

¶ A wheston is no keruynge Instrument [leaf 8, back] [ 631] But ȝet it makeþ sharpe keruynge tolis And þer þow whost þat I haue aught myswent eshewe þow þat for swich þinge to þe scole is [ 634] Þus often wise men ben ware of folis If þow do so þi witte is wele bywared By is contrarye is euery þinge declared [ 637]

(92)

¶ For how myght euere swetenesse han ben knowe [ 638] To hym þat neuere tasted betternesse Ne noman may ben Inly glad I trowe Þat neuere was in sorwe or som destresse [ 641] Ek whit by blak by chame ek worþinesse Ech sett by oþer more for oþer semeþ As men may se and so þe wise it demeþ [ 644]

(93)

¶ Sith þus of two contraries is a loore [ 645] I that haue in love so oft asayde greuaunces / ought konne and wele þ^e more Conseyllen þe / of þat þow ert amayed [ 648] Ek þe ne aught not ben yuel apayed Þoughe I desire with þe for to bere Þin heuy charge it schal þe lesse dere [ 651]

(94)

¶ I wote wele þat it farth þus by me [ 652] as to þi broþer paris an hierdesse whiche þat cleped was oonone wroot in a compleynt of hire heuynesse [ 655] Ȝe sey þe lettre þat sche wroot I gesse Nay neuere ȝet Iwis quod troilus Now quod pandare herken it was þus [ 658]

(95) (Oenone's Letter to Paris. 1 st.)

¶ Ioebus þat þat first fond art of medcine [[MS I]] [ 659] quod she / and coude in euery wyghtes care Remede and rede by herbes she know fyne Ȝet to hym self his konnynge was ful bare [ 662] For loue had hym so bounden in a snare Al for þe doughter of þe kynge Amete Þat al his craft ne koude his sorwes beete [ 665]

(96)

¶ Right so fare I vnhappily for me [ 666] I loue oone beste / and þat me smerteþ soore And ȝet paraunter kan I reden þe And nat my selfe repreue me no more [ 669] I haue no cause I wote wele for to sore As doth an hauk that listeþ for to pleye But to þi help ȝet som-what kan I seye [ 672]

(97)

¶ And of o þyinge ryght siker maystow be [leaf 9] [ 673] Þat certein for to dyen in þe peyne Þat I shal neuer mo discoueren þe Ne by my trouþe I kepe nat restreyne [ 676] Þe fro þi loue / theigh þat it were Eleyne Þat is þi broþer wyf / if ich it wiste Be what she be / and loue hyre as þe liste [ 679]

(98)

¶ Þer-for as frend fulliche in me asseure [ 680] and tel me plat / what is thenchoeson And fynali cause / of wo þat ye endure For douteht no þinge myn entencion [ 683] Nys nat to ȝow of reprehencion To speke as now / for no þinge may bireue A man to loue / til þat hym list to loue [ 686]

(99)

¶ And witeth wel þat both two ben vices [ 687] Mystrusten alle / or ellis alle loue But wele I wote þe mene of it no vice is For for to trusten som wyght is a preue [ 690] of trouthe / and for-þi wold I fayne remeue Þi wronge conceyte / and do þe som wyght truste Þi wo to telle / and tel me if þe liste [ 693]

(100)

¶ Þe wise seith wo him þat is allon [ 694] For and he falle / he hath non helpe him to ryse And sith þow hast a felow tel þi moone For þis nis naught certeyne þe nexte wise [ 697] to wynnen loue / as techen vs þe wyse To walow and wepe / as Nyobe þe quene whos teerys ȝet in marbel ben yseene [ 700]

(101)

¶ Lat be þi wepynge and þi drerynesse [ 701] And lat vs listen wo with oþer speeche So may þi woful tyme seme lesse Delite not in wo / þi wo to seche [ 704] As doon þis fooles / þat hire sorw eche with sorowe / when þei han mysauenture And listen nougth to seche hem ooþer cure [ 707]

(102)

¶ Men seyn to wrecche is consolacion [ 708] to haue a noþer felaw in his peyne Þat ought wel ben oure opynyon For bothen þow and I of loue we pleyne [ 711] So ful of sorw am I soth for to seyne Þat certanly no more harde grace may sitte on me / for why þer is no space [ 714]

(103)

¶ If god wil þow art nought agast of me [leaf 9, back] [ 715] lest I wol of þi lady þe bigile Þow woste þi self / whom þat I loue pardee As I best kan / gon sithen longe while [ 718] And sith þow wost I do it for no wile and sith I am he þat þow tristest moost Tel me som-what syn al my wo þow woste [ 721]

(104)

¶ Ȝet troilus for al þis [no] worde sayde [ 722] But longe he lay / as stille as he dede were And after þis with sikynge he abreyde And to pandarus voice he lente his ere [ 725] And vp his eighen cast he þat in feere was pandarus / leste þat in frenesye He sholde falle / or ellis sone dye [ 728]

(105)

¶ And criede awake ful wondurliche and charpe [ 729] what slombrestow as in litargye Or artow like an asse to þe harpe That hereth sown whan men þe strenges plye [ 732] Bot in hys mynde of þat no melodye May synken hym to gladden for þat he So dul is of his bestialitee [ 735]

(106)

¶ And wiþ þat Pandare of his wordes stente [ 736] But Troilus ȝet hym nothynge answerde For why / to tellen nas not his entente To neuere no man / for whom þat he so ferde [ 739] For it is seyde / men makeþ of a ȝerde wiþ which þe maker is hym self ybeten In sondry manere / as þise wyse treten [ 742]

(107)

¶ And nameliche in his counseylle tellynge [ 743] Þat towcheth loue / þat oughte ben secree For of hym self it wol nought out sprynge But if þat it þe bette gouerned be [ 746] Ek som tyme it is a craft to seme flee Fro thynge / which in effect men hunte faste Al þis gan Troilus in his herte caste [ 749]

(108)

¶ But nathelees when he hadde herde hym crye [ 750] Awak / he gan to syken wonder sore And seyde frende / þoughe that I stil lye I am not deef / now pees and crye namoore [ 753] For I haue herde þi wordes and þi loore But suffre me my myschief to bywayle For þi prouerbes may me nought avaylle [ 756]

(109)

¶ Nor other cure kanstow none for me [leaf 10] [ 757] Eke I nyl not ben cured / I wol dye What know I. of þe quene Nyobe Lat be þin olde ensaumples I þe preye [ 760] No quod tho Pandarus þer-fore I seye Swiche is delit of fooles to be-wepe Hyre wo / but seken boote thei ne kepe [ 763]

(110)

¶ Now knowe I þat þer reson in þe failleth [ 764] But tel me / if I wyste what she were For whom þat the al þis misauenture ailleth Dorstestow þat I tolde in hyre ere [ 767] Þi wo / syth þow darst nought þi self for feere and hyre bysought on þe to han som routhe whi nay quod he by god and by my trouthe [ 770]

(111)

¶ What nat as bisily quod pandarus [ 771] As though myn owen lyfe lay on þis nede No certes brother quod þis Troilus and whi / for þat þow sholdest neuere spede [ 774] wostow þat wele / ȝe þat is out of drede quod troilus / for al þat euere ȝe konne She nyl to noon swhich wreche as I ben wonne [ 777]

(112)

¶ Quod pandarus allas what may þis be [ 778] Þat thow despired art þus causelees what lyueth nat þi lady bendistee How wostow so that þow art graceles [ 781] Swhiche yuel is nat alwey bootelees why put nat impossible þus þi cure Syth þinge to come / is oft in auenture [ 784]

(113)

¶ I graunte wel þat þow endurest wo [ 785] as sharpe / as doth tycius in holle Whos stomak fowles tyren euere mo Þat hyghten Volturis / as bokes telle [ 788] But I may noth endure þat þow dwelle In so vnskilful an opynyon Þat of þi wo is no curacion [ 791]

(114)

¶ But oones nyltow for þi coward herte [ 792] And for þin ire / and foolysh wilfulnesse For wantruste tellen of þi sorwes smerte Ne to þin own help / don besynesse [ 795] as muche / as speke a reson more or lesse But liste as he þat lest of nothynge recche what woman koude loue sweche a wriche [ 798]

(115)

¶ what may she demen oother of þi deeth [leaf 10, back] [ 799] If þow þus deye / and she noot whi it is But þat for feere / is ȝolden vp þi brethe For grekis han biseged vs Iwys [ 802] Lord which a thank þan shaltow han of þis Þus wol she seyn and alle þe town atonees Þe wreche is deed / the deuel haue his bones [ 805]

(116)

¶ Þow mayst allone here wepe and crye and knele [ 806] But loue a woman þat she wote it nought And she wol qwyte þat þow shalt not feele Vnknow vnkyst / and lost þat is vnsought [ 809] What many a man þat loue ful deere a-bought Twenty wynter þat his lady wyste Þat neuer ȝyt his lady mouth he kyste [ 812]

(117)

¶ What{punctel} scholde he ther-for fallen in dispayr [ 813] Or be recreaunte for his own tene Or sleen hym self al be his lady faire Nay nay / but euere in oone be fresch and grene [ 816] To serue and loue his deere hertes queene And thynke it is a guerdon hire to serue A þowsand folde / moore þan he kan deserue [ 819]

(118)

¶ Of þat worde took hede Troylus [ 820] And thought o-none what folye he was Inne And how þat sothe hym seyde pandarus Þat for to slen hym self myghte he nat wynne [ 823] But bothe doon vn-manhode and a synne And of his deth his lady nougth to wyte For of his wo god wote she knewe ful lyte [ 826]

(119)

¶ And with þat þought he gan ful soore syke [ 827] And seyd allas what is me beste to do To whom Pandare answered / if þe lyke Þe beste is þat þow telle me al þi wo [ 830] And have my trouhte but þow it fynde so I be þi boote / or þat it be ful longe To pieces do me draw / and sythen honge [ 833]

(120)

¶ Ȝe so þow seyst quod Troylus tho allas [ 834] But god woote it nought þe raþer so Ful harde were it to help in þis cas For wele fynde I þat fortune is my wo [ 837] Ne alle þe men þat ryden konne or go May of hyre cruel whiel þ^e harme wiþstonde For as hire luste she pleyeht with fre and bon̄de [ 840]

(121)

¶ Quod Pandarus / than blamestow fortune [leaf 11] [ 841] For þow art wrothe / ȝe now at arst I se wostow nat wel þat fortune is comune To euery maner wyght in some degre [ 844] And ȝet þow hast þis comfort lo parde Þat as hire Ioyes moten ouer gone So mote hire sorwes passen euerychone [ 847]

(122)

¶ For if hire whiel stynte any þinge to torne [ 848] Þanne cessed she fortune a-non to be Now sith hire whiel by no way may soiorne what wastow if hire mutabilite [ 851] Ryght as þi seluen list wol don by the Or þat she be nought fer fro þin helpynge Paraunter þow hast cause for to synge [ 854]

(123)

¶ And þer-for wostow what I þe be[se]che [ 855] Lat be þi wo / and tornynge to þe grounde For who so liste haue helynge of his leche To hym behoueth first vnwre his wonde [ 858] To Cerberus in helle ay be I bounde were it for my suster al þi sorwe By my wille / she sholde al be þin to morwe [ 861]

(124)

¶ Loke vp I seye / and telle me what she is [ 862] Anon þat I may gone aboute þi nede Know iche hire ought / for my loue telle me þis Þanne wolde I hopen the raþer for to spede [ 865] Þo gan þe veyne of troilus to blede For he was hit / and wex alle rede for chame A ha quod pandare / here bygynneth game [ 868]

(125)

¶ And with þat worde he gan hym for to schake [ 869] And seyde þeef / þow shalt hir name telle But þo gan sely Troylus for to quake As þough men sholde han led hym in-to helle [ 872] And seyde / allas of al my wo þe welle Þanne is my swote foo / called cryseyde And wel neygh with þat worde for feere he deyede [ 875]

(126)

¶ And whan þat pandare herde hyre name neuene [ 876] lord he was glad / and seyde frende so dere Now fare a right for Iouues name in heuene loue hath by-set þe welle / be of goode shere [ 879] For of good name and wisdom and manere She hath ynough / and ek of gentilesse If she be fayre / þow wost þi self I gesse [ 882]

(127)

¶ Ny neuere saugh / a moore bountevous [leaf 11, back] [ 883] of hyre estate / ne gladder / nor of speche A frenlyer na moore graciouse For to do wel / ne lasse hadde nede to seche [ 886] what for to don / and al þis bet to eche In honor to as fer as she may stretche A kynges herte semeth by hires a wreche [ 889]

(128)

¶ And also thynk / and þer-with gladde þe [ 890] Þat syth þi lady vertuouse is alle So folweth it þat þer is som pyte Amange alle þis oþer in general [ 893] And for-þi se þat thow in speciale Requere nought / þat is aȝanys hir name For vertue streccheth naught hym self to shame [ 896]

(129)

¶ But wele is me þat euer þat I was borne [ 897] Þat þow bisett art in so goode a place For by my trouth in loue I dorst haue sworne Þe sholde neuere han tyd þus fayre a grace [ 900] And wostow / for þow were wonte to chace At loue in scorne / and for despite him calle Seint ydiot lorde of þise fooles alle. [ 903]

(130)

¶ How often hastow made þi nyce Iapes [ 904] and seyde þat loues seruauntȝ euerichon Of nycete ben verrey goddes apes And some wold muche hire mete allone [ 907] Lyggynge a bedde / and make hem for to grone And some þow seydest hadde a blaunche feuere And preydest god he shold neuer keuere [ 910]

(131)

¶ And som of hem / took on hym for þe colde [ 911] More þan I-nough / so seydestow ful ofte And some han feyned ofte tyme and tolde How þat þei waken whan þei slepten softe [ 914] And þus þei wolde han brought hym self a-lofte And naþelees were vnder att laste Þus seydestow and Iaped fulfaste [ 917]

(132)

¶ Ȝet seydestow þat for þe moore part [ 918] Thyse louers wolden speke in general And þoughten þat was a syker art For faylinge for tassayen ouer alle [ 921] Now may Iape of þe if þat I shalle But naþeles þough þat I sholde deye Þat þow art noon of þo I dorst seye [ 924]

(133)

¶ Now beet thy breest / and sey to god of loue [leaf 12] [ 925] Þi grace lord for now I me repente If I misspake / for now my-self I loue Þus seye with al þin herte in goode entente [ 928] Quod Troylus a lorde I me consente And preye to þe my Iapes þow for-ȝiue And I schal neuer more whil I lyue [ 931]

(134)

¶ Þow seyst wele quod Pandarus / and now I hope [ 932] Þat þow þe goddes wrathe hast al apesed And sithen þow hast wepen many a drope And seyd swiche þinge where-with þi god is plesed [ 935] Now wold neuere god but þow were esed And thynke wele she of whom rist al þi wo Here after may þi comfort ben also [ 938]

(135)

¶ For þilke grounde þat bereth þe wedes wykke [ 939] Bereth eke þise holsom herbes / as ful oft Nexte þe foule netle rough and þikke Þe rose waxeth swote and smoþe and softe [ 942] And next þe valay is þe hille o lofte And nexte þe derke nyght þe glad morwe And also loye is next þe fyn of sorwe [ 945]

(136)

¶ Now looke þat a-tempree be þi brydel [ 946] And for þe beste ay suffre to þe tyde Or elles alle oure labour is on ydel He hasteth wele / þat wysly kan abyde [ 949] Be diligent and trewe and ay wele hyde Be lusti / fre / perseuere in þi seruyse. And al is wele / if þow wyrke in þis wise [ 952]

(137)

¶ But he þat departed is in euery place [ 953] Is no wher hool / as writen clerkes wyse what wonder is þough swiche an haue no grace Ek wostow how it fareth of som scruyse [ 956] As plaunte a tree or erb in sondry wyse And on þe morwe pulle it vp as bylyue No wonder is þough it may neuere þryue [ 959]

(138)

¶ And sith þat god of loue hath þ^e by-stowede [ 960] In place digne vn to þi worþ[y]nesse Stonde fast / for to goode port hastow rowede And of þi self for any heuynesse [ 963] Hope alwey wele / for but-if drerinesse Or ouer haste / our bothe laboure schende I hope of þis to maken a ful gode ende [ 966]

(139)

¶ And wostow why I am þe lesse a-fered [leaf 12, back] [ 967] Of þis mater wiþ my nece trete For þis haue .I. herde seyde of wyse lered was neuer man or woman þat bigete [ 970] Þat was vnapt to soueren loues hete Celestial / or elles loue of kynde For-þi som grace / I hope in hyre to fynde [ 973]

(140)

¶ And for to speke of hyre in special [ 974] Hyre beaute to be-thynken and hyre ȝouthe It sitt hyre nought to ben celestial As ȝet þough þat hir lyste bothe and kouthe [ 977] But trewly it sate hire wel ryght nought A worthy knyght to louen and cherice And but she do / I holde it for a vice [ 980]

(141)

¶ whar-for .I. am and wol ben ay redy [ 981] To peynne me to do ȝow þis seruyse For boþe ȝow to pleese thus hope I Here efterwarde / for ȝe ben bothe wyse [ 984] And konne it conseyle kepe in swiche a wyse Þat no man schal þe wyser of it be And so we may ben gladded alle þre [ 987]

(142)

¶ And by my trouthe I haue right now of þe [ 988] A good conceyte / in my wit as I gesse And what it is / I wol now þat þow se I thenke / sith that loue of his godenesse [ 991] Hath conuerted oute of wikkydnesse Þat þow shalt ben þe beste post I leeue of alle his lay and moost his foes to greue [ 994]

(143)

¶ Ensaumple whi / se now þise wyse clerkes [ 995] Þat erren aldermost a-ȝayn a lawe And ben conuerted from hire wikked werkes Þorwgh grace of god þat list hem to him drawe [ 998] Þan are þei folk þat han moost god in awe And strenghest feythed ben I vnderstonde And konne an erroure alderbeste withstonde [ 1001]

(144)

¶ When Troylus had herd pandare assented [ 1002] To ben his help in louynge of crisseyde weex of his wo / as who syth vntormented But hotter wex his loue and þus he seyde [ 1005] wiþ sobre chere al-þough his herte pleyde Now blisful Venus helpe ar þat I sterue Of þe Pandare I mowe som thanke deserue [ 1008]

(145)

¶ But dere frend how shal my wo be lesse [leaf 13] [ 1009] Til þis be don / and goode ek telle me þis how woltow seyn of me and my destresse leste she be wroth / this drede I moost I-wis [ 1012] Or nyl not here / or trowen howe it is Al þis drede I / and eke for þe manere Of þe hyre Em / she nyl no swich þinge here [ 1015]

(146)

¶ Quod Pandarus þow hast a ful grete care [ 1016] lest þat þe cherl may falle out of þe moone why lord I hate of þe þi nice fare why entremette of þat þou hast to doone [ 1019] For goddes loue I bydde þe a boone So lat malon / and it schal be þi beste why frend quod he / now do right as þe leste [ 1022]

(147)

¶ But herk Pandare o worde for I nolde [ 1023] Þat þow in me wendest so grete folye Þat to my lady I desyren scholde Þat towcheth harme or any vilanye [ 1026] For dredeles me ware leuere deye Þan she of me aught ellis vndirstode But þat þat myght sownen in-to goode [ 1029]

(148)

¶ To lough þis Pandare and anon answerde [ 1030] And I þi borugh / fy no wyght doþe but so I roughte naught þough þat she stode and herde How þat þow seyste but fare wel I wol go [ 1033] A dieu / be glad / go saue us bothe two Ȝif me þis labour and þis bysynesse And of my speede / be þin alle þat swettenesse [ 1036]

(149)

¶ Þo Troilus gan doun on knees to falle [ 1037] And Pandare in his armes hente faste And seyde / now fy on þe grekes alle Ȝet pardee god schal help us at þe laste [ 1040] And dredelees if þat my lif may laste And god to-forne / lo som of hem shal smerte And ȝet mathynketh þat þis a-vaunte may sterte [ 1043]

(150)

¶ Now Pandare I kanne no more seye [ 1044] But thow wys / þow wost / þow mayst / þow art alle My lyf / my deth / hool in þin honde I leye Helpe now quod he / ȝis by my trouthe I shal [ 1047] God ȝelde þe frend / and þis in special Quod Troilus þat þow me recomaunde To hire þat to þe deeth me may comaunde [ 1050]

(151)

¶ This pandarus tho desyrous to serue [leaf 13, back] [ 1051] His ful frend / þan seyd in þis manere Far wele / and thenk I wole þi thank deserue Haue here my trouthe / and þat þow schalt wele here [ 1054] And went his wey / þenkynge on þis matere And how he best myȝte hire beseche grace And fynde a tyme ther-to and a place [ 1057]

(152)

¶ For euery wyght þat hath an house to founde [ 1058] Ne renneth naught þe werk for to bygynne with rakel hond / but he wol byde a stounde And sende his hertes lyne out fro with-Inne [ 1061] Alderfirst his purpos for to wynne Al þis Pandare in his herte thoughte And caste his werk ful wysly ar he wroughte [ 1064]

(153)

¶ But troylus lay þo no langer down [ 1065] But vp a-none vp on his steede bay And in þe feelde he pleyde þo leoune wo was þat grek þat wiþ hym mette a day [ 1068] And in þe town his maner þo forth ay So goodely was / and gat hym so in grace That ech hym loued / that loked on his face [ 1071]

(154)

¶ For he by-come þe frendlyest wyght [ 1072] Þe genlyest / and ek þe moost free Þe thriftiest / and oone þe best knyght Þat in his tyme was or myghte be [ 1075] Dede ware his Iapes and his crueltee His hieghe porte / and his manere estraunge And ech of hem gan for a vertu chaunge [ 1078]

(155)

¶ Now lat vs stynte of Troylus a stounde [ 1079] Þat fareth lyk aman þat hurte is soore And is some deel of akynge of his wound Ylissed wel / but heeled no deel more [ 1082] And as an esy pacient þe loore Abit of hym / þat gothe aboute his cure And þus he dryeth forth his auenture [ 1085]

Explicit Liber Primus.