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 ...

[Campsall MS. leaf 42, back.]

[The tagd f, g, k, t, of the MS. are not printed in this 3rd book.]

(1)

O Blysful light of whiche þe bemes clere. [ 1] Adorneth al þe þridde heuene faire. O sonnes lyef .o. Ioues doughter dere. Plesaunce of loue .o. goodly debonaire. [ 4] In gentil hertes ay redy to repaire. O verray cause of hele and of gladnesse. I-heried be þi myght and þin goodnesse. [ 7]

(2)

In heuene and helle in erthe and salte se. [leaf 43] [ 8] Is felt þi myght of þat I wole descerne. As / man / bryd / beste / fissħ / herbe and grene tre. The feld in tymes with vapour eterne. [ 11] God loueth and to loue wol nough werne. And in þis word no lyues creature. with-outen loue is worth or may endure. [ 14]

(3)

Ye Ioues first to þilke effectes glade. [ 15] Thorugh whiche þat þinges lyuen alle and be. Comeueden and amoreux hem made. On mortal þyng and as yow lyst ay ye. [ 18] Yeue hym in loue ese or aduersite. And in a þousand formes doun hem sente. For loue in erþe / and whom yow lyste he hente. [ 21]

(4)

Ye fierse Mars apeysen of his Iire. [ 22] And as yow lyste ye maken hertes digne. Algates hem þat ye wole sette a fyre. Thei dreden shame and vices þei resigne. [ 25] Ye do hem corteys be fresch and benigne. And hye or lowe after a wyght entendeth. The Ioyes þat he hath youre myght it sendeth. [ 28]

(5)

Ye holden regne and hous in vnite. [ 29] Ye sothfast cause of frendship ben also. Ye knowe al þilke couered qualite. Of þing which þat folk on wondren so. [ 32] whan þey kan not constreue how it may Io. She loueth hym or whi he loueth here. As whi þis fissh and nought þat cometh to were. [ 35]

(6)

Ye folk a lawe han set in vniuersite. [ 36] And þis knowe I by hem þat loueres be. That who-so stryueth with yow hath þe worse. Now lady bryght for þi benignite. [ 39] At reuerence of hem þat seruen þe. whos clerk I am so techeþ me deuyse. Som Ioye of þat is felt in þis seruyce. [ 42]

(7)

Ye in my nakede herte sentement. [leaf 43, back] [ 43] Inhelde and do me shewe of thi swetnesse. Caliope thi voys be now present. For now is nede sestow not my destresse. [ 46] How I mot telle a-non right þe gladnesse. Of Troylus to Venus heriynge. To which who nede hath god hym brynge. [ 49]

Explicit prohemium. Tercii libri.

Incipit liber Tercius.

(8)

LAy al þis mene while Troylus. [ 50] Recordynge his lesson in þis manere. Mafey þought he þus wole I sey and þus. Thus wole I pleyne vn-to my lady dere. [ 53] That word is good and þis shal be my chere. This nyl I not foryeten in no wyse. God leue hym werke as he gan deuyse. [ 56]

(9)

And lord so his herte gan to quappe. [ 57] Herynge here come and short for to syke. And Pandarus þat lad here by þe lappe. Com ner and gan at þe curtyn pyke. [ 60] And seyde god do bote on alle syke. Se who is here yow comen to visite. Lo here is she þat is youre deth to wyte. [ 63]

(10)

Ther-with it semed as he wepte almost. [ 64] A.ha. quod Troylus so rufully. wher me be wo .o. myghty god yow wost. who is al þere I se nought trewely. [ 67] Sire quod Criseyde it is Pandare and .I. Ye swete herte allas I may nought ryse. To knele and do yow honour in som wyse. [ 70]

(11)

And dressede hym vpward and she right tho. [ 71] Gan boþe here hondes softe vpon hym leye. O for þe loue of god do ye not so. To me quod she I what is þis to seye. [ 74] Sire come am I to yow for causes tweye. First yow to þonke and of youre mercy eke. Continuaunce I wolde yow beseche. [ 77]

(12)

This Troilus þat herde his lady preye. [ 78] Of lordship hym wax neyþer quyk ne ded. Ne myght a word for shame to it seye. Al þough men sholde smyte of his hed. [ 81] But lord so he wex sodeynlyche red. And sire his lesson þat wende konne. To preyen hire is þurgh his wit y-ronne. [ 84]

(13)

Cryseyde al þis aspiede wel y-nowgh. [ 85] For she was wys and louede hym neuere þe lasse. Al nere he malapert or made it towgh. Or was to bold to synge a fol a masse. [ 88] But whan his shame gan somwhat to passe. His resones as I may my rymes holde. I yow wole telle as techen bokes olde. [ 91]

(14)

An chaunged voys right for his verrey drede. [ 92] which voys ek quooke and þer-to his manere. Goodly abayst / and now his hewes rede. Now pale vn-to Criseyde his lady dere. [ 95] with look doun cast and humble yolden chere. Lo þe alderfirst word that hym asterte. was twyes mercy mercy swete herte. [ 98]

(15)

And stynte a whily and whan ho myghte out brynge. [ 99] The nexte word was god wot þat I haue. As feythfully as [I] haue had konnynge. Ben yowres also god my sowle saue. [ 102] And shal til þat I woful wyght be graue. And þough I dar ne kan vn-to yow pleyne. Iwys I suffre nought þe lasse peyne. [ 105]

(16)

Thus muche as now .o. wommanlyche wyf. [ 106] I may out brynge and yf þis yow displese. That shal I wreke vpon myn owne lyf. Right sone I trowe and don youre herte an ese. [ 109] If with my deth youre herte may apese. But syn þat ye han herd me som what seye. Now recche I neuere how sone þat I deye. [ 112]

(17)

Ther-with his manly sorwe to by-holde. [ 113] It myght han mad an herte of ston for to rewe. And Pandare wep as he to watre wolde. And poked euere his nece newe and newe. [ 116] And seyde wo bygon ben hertes trewe. For loue of god make of þis þyng an ende. Or sle vs boþe at ones er þat ye wende. [ 119]

(18)

I what quod she by god and by my trowþe. [ 120] I not nought what ye wille þat I shal seye. I what quod he þat ye han on hym routhe. For goddes loue and doth hym nought to deye. [ 123] Now þanne þus / quod she / I wolde hym preye. To telle me þe fyn on his entente. Yet wyst I neuere wel what þat he mente. [ 126]

(19)

What þat I mene .o. swete herte dere. [ 127] Quod Troylus .o. goodly fresshe fre. That with þe stremes of youre eyen clere. Ye wolde som tyme frendly on me se. [ 130] And þanne agreen þat I may ben he. with-oute brauncħ of vyce yn ony wyse. In trowþe alwey to don yow my seruyse. [[Yow for to serue / lyke as ye wyl deuyse.—Caxton.]] [ 133]

(20)

As to my lady right and chief resort. [ 134] With al my wit and al my deligence. And to han right as yow lyst comfort. Vnder yowre yerde egal to myn offence. [ 137] As deth If þat I breke youre defende. And þat ye digne me so muche honoure. Me to comaunden ought yn ony owre. [ 140]

(21)

And I to ben yowre verray humble trewe. [leaf 45] [ 141] Secret. and yn myn paynes pacient. And euere mo desire fresshly newe. To seruen and ben ay I-lyke diligent. [ 144] And with good herte al holly youre talent. Receyuen wel how sore þat me smerte. Lo þis mene I myn owene swete herte. [ 147]

(22)

Quod Pandarus lo here an hard request. [ 148] A resonable lady for to werne. Now Nece myn by natal Ioues feste. were .I. a god ye sholde sterue as yerne. [ 151] That heren wel þat þis man wole no þyng yerne. But youre honour / and sen hym almost sterue. And ben so loth to suffren hym yow serue. [ 154]

(23)

With þat she gan hire eyen on hym caste. [ 155] Ful esyly and ful debonairly. Auysyng here and hied not to faste. with neuere a word but seyde hym softely. [ 158] Myn honour sauf I wol wel trewely. But yn swych forme as he can now deuyse. Receyuen hym fully to my seruyce. [ 161]

(24)

By-sechyng hym for goddes loue þat he. [ 162] wolde in honour of trouþe and gentilesse. As I wel mene eke mene wel to me. And myn honour with wit and besynesse. [ 165] Ay kepe. and yf I may don hym gladnesse. From hens-forth I-wys I nyl not feyne. Now beth al hol no lengere ye ne pleyne. [ 168]

(25)

But naþelees this warne .I. yow quod she. [ 169] A kynges sone al-þough ye be I-wys. Ye shul nomore haue soueraynte. Of me in loue þan right in þat cas is. [ 172] Ne I nyl forbere yf þat ye don a-mys. To wrathen yow / and whil þat ye me serue. Cherycen yow right after ye deserue. [ 175]

(26)

And shortly my dere herte and al my knyght. [lf 45, bk] [ 176] Beth glad and draweth yow to lustynesse. And I shal trewely with al my myght. Youre bittre tornen al to swetnesse. [ 179] If .I. be she þat may now do gladnesse. For euery wo ye shal recouere a blysse. And hym in armes toke and gan hym kysse. [ 182]

(27)

Fil Pandarus on knees and vp his eyen. [ 183] To heuene þrew and held hise hondes hye. Inmortal god quod he þat mayst nought dyen. Cupide I mene of þis mayst glorifie. [ 186] And Venus þow mayst make melodie. with-outen hond me semeth þat in þe towne. For this merueyle I here eche belle sowne. [ 189]

(28)

But ho no more now of þis matere. [ 190] For-whi þis folk wole comen vp anoon. That han þe lettre red / lo I hem here. But I coniure þe Criseyde and on. [ 193] And two þow Troylus whan þow mayst gon. That at myn hows ye ben at myn warnynge. For I ful wel shal shape youre comynge. [ 196]

(29)

And eseth þere youre hertes right y-nough. [ 197] And lat se which of yow shal bere þe belle. To speke of loue a-right / þer-with he lough. For þere haue ye a layser for to telle. [ 200] Quod Troylus how longe shal y dwelle. Er þis be don. quod he whan þou mayst ryse. This þing shal be right as I yow deuyse. [ 203]

(30)

With þat Eleyne and also Deiphebus. [ 204] Tho comen vpward right at þe steyres ende. And lord so þanne gan grone Troylus. His broþer and his suster for to blynde. [ 207] Quod Pandarus it is tyme þat we wende. Tak nece myn youre leue at alle þre. And late hem speke and cometh forth with me. [ 210]

(31)

She toke here leue at hem ful þryftyly. [leaf 46] [ 211] As she wel koude and þey here reuerence. Vn-to þe fulle here deden hardely. And wonder wel spaken in here absence. [ 214] Of here in preysyng of here excellence. Hire gouernaunce hire wit and here manere. Commendeden it Ioye was to here. [ 217]

(32)

Now late here wende vn to here owne place. [ 218] And torne we to Troylus a-yen. That gan ful lyghtly of the lettre passe. That Deiphebus hadde yn þe gardeyn seyn. [ 221] And of Eleyne and hym he wolde fayn Delyuered ben and seyde þat hym lyste. To slepe and after tales haue reste. [ 224]

(33)

Eleyne hym kyste and toke here leue blyue. [ 225] Deiphebus ek. and hom wente euery wyght. And Pandarus as faste as he may dryue. To Troylus þo com as lyne right. [ 228] And on a pailet al þat glade nyght. By Troylus he lay with mery chere. To tale / and wel was hem þei were y-fere. [ 231]

(34)

Whan euery wyght was voyded but þey two. [ 232] And alle þe dores were faste y-shette. To telle in short with-oute wordes mo. This Pandarus with-outen ony lette. [ 235] Vp ros and on his beddes side hym sette. And gan to speke in a sobre wyse. To Troylus as I shal yow deuyse. [ 238]

(35)

Myn alderleuest lord and broþer dere. [ 239] God wot and þow þat it sat me sore. when I þe saw so langwysshyng to yere. For loue of which þi wo wax alwey more. [ 242] That I with al my myght and al my lore. Haue euere sethen do my bysynesse. To brynge þe to Ioye out of distresse [ 245]

(36)

And haue it brought to swich plit as þow wost. [lf 46, bk] [ 246] So þat thorugh me þow stondest now in weye. To fare wel. I seye it for no bost. And wostow whi for shame it is to seye. [ 249] For þe haue I a game bygonne to pleye. whicħ þat I neuere don shal eft for oþer. Al-þough he were a þousand fold my broþer. [ 252]

(37)

That is to seye for þe am I becomen. [ 253] By-twene game and ernest swych a mene. As maken wommen vn-to men to comen. Al sey I nought þow wost wel what I mene. [ 256] For þe haue I my Nece of vices clene. So fully mad þi gentilesse triste. That al shal ben right as þi selue lyste. [ 259]

(38)

But god þat alle wot take I to wytnesse. [ 260] That neuere I þis for coueytise wroughte. But oonly for to a-brygge þat destresse. For which wel nygh þow deydest as me þoughte. [ 263] But gode broþer do now as þe oughte. For goddes loue. and kep hire out of blame. Syn þow art wys and saue alwey here name. [ 266]

(39)

For wel þow wost the name as yet of here. [ 267] A-mong þe peple. as who seyth alwed is. For þat man is vnbore dar I swere. That euere wyste she dide amys. [ 270] But wo is me þat I þat cause al þis. May þenken þat she is my Nece deere. And I here Em / and traytor eke y-fere. [ 273]

(40)

And were it wyst þat I þrough myn engyn. [ 274] Hadde in my nece I-put þis fantasye. To do þi lust and holly to be þyn. why al þe world vp-on it wolde crye. [ 277] And seye þat I þe worste trecherye. Dide yn þis cas þat euere was bygone. And she for-lost / and þow right nought wonne. [ 280]

(41)

Wher-fore er I ferther go a pas. [leaf 47] [ 281] Yet eft I þe by-seche and fully seye. That preuete go with vs in þis cas. That is to seye þat þow vs neuere wreye. [ 284] And be nought wroth þough I þe ofte preye. To holden secre swych an heigh matere. For skylful is / þow wost wel my preyere. [ 287]

(42)

And þenk what wo þer hath by-tyd er þis. [ 288] For makynge of auauntes as men rede. And what myschaunce in þis world yet is. Fro day to day right for þat wykkede dede. [ 291] For whiche þese wise clerkes þat ben dede. Han euere yet prouerbed to vs yonge. That firste vertu is to kepe tonge. [ 294]

(43)

And nere it that .I. wilne as now tabregge. [ 295] Diffusioun of speche .I. koude almost. A þousand olde storyes the alegge. Of wommen lost. þorugh fals and foles bost. [ 298] Prouerbes kanst þy selue y-nowe and wost. A-yens þat vice for to ben a labbe. Al seyde men soth as often as þe[y] gabbe. [ 301]

(44)

O tonge allas so often here byforn. [ 302] Hastow made many a lady bright of hewe. Seyd welawey þe day þat I was born. And manye a maydes sorwes for to newe. [ 305] And for þe more part al is vntrewe. That men of yelpe and it were brought to preue. Of kyng non auauntures is to leue. [ 308]

(45)

Auauntoure and a lyere al is on. [ 309] A[s] þus I pose a womman graunte me. Here loue and seyth þat oþer wole she non. And I am sworn to holde it secre. [ 312] And after .I. go telle two or þre. I.-wys .I. am a-vauntour at þe leste. And a lyere for I breke myn heste. [ 315]

(46) (Much alterd in Caxton.)

Now loke þanne yf þey be nought to blame. [leaf 47, back] [ 316] Swych maner folk what shal I clepe hem what. That hem auaunte of wommen and by name. That neuere yet byhight hem þis ne þat. [ 319] Ne knewe hem no more þan myn olde hat. No wonder is so god me sende hele. Though womman drede with vs men to dele. [ 322]

(47)

I sey þis not for no mystrust of yow. [ 323] Ne for no wyse men but for foles Nice. And for þe harm þat in þe world is now. As wel for foly ofte as for malice. [ 326] For wel wot I in wys folk þat vice. NO wommat [[t for n]] drat if she be wel a-vised. For wyse ben by foles [harm] chastised. [ 329]

(48)

But now to purpos leue broþer dere. [ 330] Haue al þis þing þat I haue seyd in mynde. And kep þe clos and be now of good chere. For at þi day þow shalt me trewe fynde. [ 333] I shal þi proces sette yn swych a kynde. And god to-forn þat it shal þe suffice. For it shal ben right as þow wolt deuyse. [ 336]

(49)

For wel I wot þow menest [wel] parde. [ 337] Therfore I dar þis fully vndertake. Thow wost eke what þi lady graunted þe. And day is set þi chartres vp to make. [ 340] Haue now good nyght I make no lengere wake. And byd for me syn þow art now yn blysse. That god me sende deth or soone lysse. [ 343]

(50)

Who myghte telle half þe Ioye and feste. [ 344] whiche þat þe sowle of Troylus þo felte. Herynge þe feyth of Pandarus byheste. His olde wo that made his sorwe swelte. [ 347] Gan tho for Ioye wasten and to-melte. And alle þe richesse of his sikes sore. At ones fledde he felte of hem no more. [ 350]

(51)

But right so [as] these holtes and these hayes. [ 351] That han in wynter ded ben and dreye. Reuesten hem in grene when þat may is. whan euery lusti lyketh best to pleye. [ 354] Right in þat selue wyse soth for to seye. wax sodeynlyche his herte ful of Ioye. That gladder was þere neuere man yn Troye. [ 357]

(52)

And gan his lok on Pandarus vp caste. [ 358] Ful sobrely and frendly for to se. And seyde frend yn April þe laste. As wel þow wost if it remembreþ þe. [ 361] How neigh the deth for wo þow founde me. And how þow dedest al þi bysynesse. To knowe of me þe cause of my distresse. [ 364]

(53)

Thow wost how longe .I. it for-bar to seye. [ 365] To þe þat art þe man þat I to best triste. And peril was it noon to þe by-wreye. That wyst I wel. but telle me yf þe lyste. [ 368] Sith I so loth was þat þi selfe it wyste. How dorst I mo tellen of þis matere. That quake now and no wyght may vs here. [ 371]

(54)

But natheles by þat god I þe swere. [ 372] That as hym lyst may al þis world gouuerne. And yf I lye Achilles with his spere. Myn herte cleue. al were my lyf eterne. [ 375] As I am mortal. yf I late or yerne. wolde it by-wreye. or dorste. or sholde konne. For al þe good þat god made vnder sonne. [ 378]

(55)

That raþer deye I wolde and determyne. [ 379] As þenketh me now stokked yn presoun. In wrecchednesse in filþe and yn vermine. Castif to cruel kyng Agamenoun. [ 382] And þis yn alle þe temples of þis town. Vpon þe goddes alle I wole þe swere. To morwe day. yf þat it lyketh here. [ 385]

(56)

And that thow hast so meche don for me. [ 386] That I ne may it neuere more deserue. This knowe I wel al myghte I now for þe. A thowsand tymes In a morwen sterue. [ 389] .I. kan no more but þat I þe wole serue. Right as þi [[kn corrected]] knaue whider so þow wende. For euere more vn to my lyues ende. [ 392]

(57)

But here with al myn herte I þe byseche. [ 393] That neuere in me þow deme swych folye. As I shal seyn me þowghte by þi speche That þis which þow me dost for companye. [ 396] I sholde wene it were a baudery. I am nought al [[mad has been written over "yf" in a later hand.]] yf I lewed be. It is not so þat wote I wel parde. [ 399]

(58)

But he þat goth for gold or for richesse. [ 400] On swych message calle hym what þe lyst. And þis þat þow dost calle it gentilesse. Compassioun and felawshipe and tryst. [ 403] Departe it so. for wyde where is wyst. How þat þere is dyuersite requered. By-twyxen þynges lyk as I haue lered. [ 406]

(59)

And þat þow knowe I þenke nought ne wene. [ 407] That þis seruise a shame be or Iape. I haue my faire suster Polixene. Cassandre Eleyne. or ony of þe frape. [ 410] Be she neuere so faire or wel I-shape. Tel which þow wylt of euerychone. To han for þyne and late me þanne allone. [ 413]

(60)

But syn þat thow hast don me þis seruyce. [ 414] My lyf to saue and for noon hope of mede. So for the loue of god þis grete emprise. Parforme it out. for now is most nede. [ 417] For hygh and low with-outen ony drede. I wole alwey þyne hestes alle kepe. Haue now good nyght and late vs boþe slepe. [ 420]

(61)

Thus held hym eche with oþer wel apayed. [leaf 49] [ 421] That al þe world ne myght it bet a-mende And on þe morwe whan þei were arayed. Eche to his owene nedes gan entende. [ 424] But Troylus þouhte as þe fyr he brende. For sharp desir of hope and of plesaunce. He not for-gat his gode gouernaunce. [ 427]

(62)

But in hym self wiþ manhod gan restreyne. [ 428] Eche rakel dede and eche vnbrydled chere. That alle þo þat lyuen soth to seyne. Ne sholde han wyst by word or by manere. [ 431] what þat he mente as towchyng þis matere. From euery wyght as fer as is þe clowde. He was so wel dissimulen he kowde. [ 434]

(63)

And al þe while whiche þat I yow deuyse. [ 435] This was hys lyf with al his fulle myght. By day he was in martes highe seruyse. This is to seyn. in armes as a knyght. [ 438] And for þe more part þe longe nyght. He lay and þoughte how þat he myght serue. His lady best he[re] þank for to deserue. [ 441]

(64)

Nyl I nought swere al-þough he lay softe. [ 442] That in his þought he nas sumwhat dishesed. Ne þat he tornede on his pylwes ofte. And wolde of þat hym myssed han ben [[The s has been partly rubd out]] sesed. [ 445] But yn swych cas men is nought alwey yplesed. For ought I wot no more þan was he. That kan I deme of possibilite. [ 448]

(65)

But certeyn is to purpos for to go. [ 449] That in þis while as wreten is in geste. He say his lady som tyme [and] also. She with hym spak whan þat she dorste and leste. [ 452] And by hire boþe auys as it was þe beste. Apoynteden ful warly in þis nede. So as þey dorste how þey wolden procede. [ 455]

(66)

But it was spoken in so short a wyse. [leaf 49, back] [ 456] In swych [awayt] alwey and in swych fere. Lest ony wyght dyuynen or deuyse. wolde of hem two. or to it leye an eere. [ 459] That al þis world. so lef to hem ne were. As þat Cupido wolde hem grace sende. To make of here speche a-ryght a[n] ende. [ 462]

(67) [Caxton leaves out St. 67-71. Harl. 12•••• (lf 24, bk) and 2932 (lf 59, bk) have em.]

But þilke lytel þat þey spake or wroughte. [ 463] His wyse gost tok ay of al swych hede. It semed here he wyste what she þoughte. with-outen word. so þat it was no nede. [ 466] To bidde hym ought to done or ought for-bede. For which she þoughte þat loue al come it late. Of alle Ioye hadde opned here þe yate. [ 469]

(68)

And shortly of þis proces for to pace. [ 470] So wel his werk and wordes he by-sette. That he so ful stod in his lady grace. That twenty þousand tymes or she lette. [ 473] She þonked god she euere with hym mette. So koude he hym gouerne in swych seruyce. That al þe world ne myght it bet deuyse. [ 476]

(69)

For whi she fond hym so dyscret in al. [ 477] So secret. and of swych obeysaunce. That wel she felte / he was to hire a wal. Of stel. and sheld from euery dysplesaunce. [ 480] That to ben in his good gouernaunce. So wys he was. she was no more a-fered. I mene as fer as oughte ben requered. [ 483]

(70)

And Pandarus to quyke alwey þe fyr. [ 484] was euere y-lyk prest and dyligent. To ese his frend was set al his desir. He shof ay on. he to and fro was sent. [ 487] He lettres bar whan Troylus was absent. That neuere man as in his frendes nede. Ne bar hym bet þan he with-outen drede. [ 490]

(71)

But now paraunter som man wene wolde. [leaf 50] [ 491] That euery word. or sonde. or lok. or chere. Of Troylus þat I rehersen sholde. In al þis while / vn-to his lady dere. [ 494] I trowe it were a long þing for to here. Or of what wyght þat stont in swych disioynte. Hise wordes alle or euery lok to poynte. [ 497]

(72)

For soþe I haue not herd it don er þis. [ 498] In storye noon ne noman here I wene. And þough I wold I koude not I-wys. For þere was som Epistel hem by-twene. [ 501] That wolde as seyth myn Auctor wel contene. Neigh half þis bok of which hym lyst not write. How sholde I þanne a lyne of it endite. [ 504]

(73)

But to þe grete effect þan sey I þus. [ 505] That stondyng in concord and in quiete. This ilke two Criseide and Troylus. As I haue told / and in þis tyme swete. [ 508] Saue only often myght þei not mete. Ne layser haue hire speches to fulfille. That it befel right as I shal yow telle. [ 511]

(74)

That Pandarus þat euere dide his myght. [ 512] Right for þe fyn þat I shal speke of here. And for to brynge to his hous som nyght. His faire Nece / and Troylus y-fere. [ 515] There as at leyser al þis heigh matere. Towchyng here loue were at þe fulle vp bounde. Hadde out of doute a tyme to it founde. [ 518]

(75)

For he with gret deliberacion. [ 519] Hadde euery þing þat here myghte auaylle. Forn-cast and put in execucion. And neiþer laft for cost ne for trauayle. [ 522] Come yf hem lest hem sholde no þing fayle. And for to ben in ought espied þere. That wyst he wel an inpossible were. [ 525]

(76)

Dredles it clere was in the wynd. [leaf 50, back] [ 526] From euery pye and euery lette game. Now al is wel for al þe world is blynd. In þis matere boþe fremed and tame. [ 529] This tymber is al redy vp to frame. Vs lakketh nought but þat we weten wolde. A certeyn houre in whiche she comen sholde. [ 532]

(77)

And Troylus þat al þis puruyaunce. [ 533] Knew at þe fulle and waytede on it ay. Hadde here-vp-on ek made gret ordenaunce And founde his cause. and þer-to his aray. [ 536] Yf þat he were myssed nyght or day. Ther while he was abowte þis seruyse. That he was gon to don his sacrifice. [ 539]

(78)

And most at swych a temple a-lone wake. [ 540] Answered of appollo for to be. And first to sen þe holy laurer quake. Er þat Apollo spak out of þe tre. [ 543] To telle hym next whan grekes sholden fle. And for[thi] lette hym no man god forbede. But prey Apollo helpen in þis nede. [ 546]

(79)

Now is þere but litel more for to done. [ 547] But Pandare vp and shortely for to seyne. Right soone vpon þe chaungyng of þe moone. whan lyghtles is þe world a nyght or tweyne. [ 550] And þat þe walkene shop hym for to reyne. He straught a morwe vn-to his nece wente. Ye han wel herd þe fyn of his entente. [ 553]

(80)

Whanne he was come he gan a-noon to pleye. [ 554] As he was woned and of hym self to Iape. And fynally he swor and gan here seye. By þis and þat she shold hym not escape. [ 557] Ne lengere don hym after here to gape. But certeynly she moste by here leue. Come soupen in his hous with hym at eue. [ 560]

(81)

At whiche she lough and gan here faste excuse. [ 561] And seyde. it rayneth. lo how shal I gon. Lat be quod he / stond not þus to muse. This mot be don ye shal be þere a-noon. [ 564] So at þe laste her-of þey felle at oon. Or elles softe he swor here in here ere. He nolde neuere come þere she were. [ 567]

(82)

Soone after þis to hym she gan to rowne. [ 568] And asked hym yf Troylus were there. He swor here nay for he was out of towne. And seyde Nece I pose þat he were. [ 571] Yow dorste haue neuere the more fere. For raþere þan men myght hem þere aspie. Me were leuere a þousand fold to dye. [ 574]

(83)

Nought lyst myn Auctor fully to declare. [ 575] what þat she þought whan þat he seyde so. That Troylus was out of town y-fare. As yf he seyde þere soth or no. [ 578] But þat with-outen a-wayte with hym to go. She graunted hym sith he hire þat bisoughte. And as his Nece obeyed as here oughte. [ 581]

(84)

But natheles yet gan she hym byseche. [ 582] Al þough with hym to gon it was no fere. For to be war of gosylyche peple speche. That dremen þynges whiche þat neuere were. [ 585] And wel auyse hym whom he brought there. And seyde hym Em. syn I most on yow triste. Loke al be wel and do now as yow lyste. [ 588]

(85)

He swor yis by stokkes and by stones. [ 589] And by þe goddes þat in heuene dwelle. Or elles were hym leuere soule and bones. with pluto kyng as depe ben yn helle. [ 592] As Tantalus what sholde I more telle. whan al was wel he ros and toke his leue. And she vn-to þe souper com whan it was eue. [ 595]

(86)

With a certayn of here owene men. [leaf 51, back] [ 596] And with here faire Nece Antigone. And oþere of here wommen nyne or ten. But who was glad now. who as trowe ye. [ 599] But Troylus þat stod / and myght it se. Thurgh out a lytel wyndowe in a stuwe. Ther he by-shet syn mydnyght was [in] mewe. [ 602]

(87)

Wnwist of euery wight but of Pandare. [ 603] But to þe poynt. now whanne she was y-come. with alle Ioye and alle frendes fare. Here Em a-noon in armes hath here nome. [ 606] And after to þe souper alle and some. whan tyme was ful softe þey hym sette. God wot þer was no deynte for to fette. [ 609]

(88)

And after souper gonnen þey to ryse. [ 610] At ese wel with hertes fressh and glade. And wel was hym that koude best auyse. To like here. or laughen þat here made. [ 613] He song. she pleyde. he told tales of wade. But at þe laste as euery þing hath ende. She tok here leue. and nedes she wolde wende. [ 616]

(89)

But .o. Fortune executrice of wyerdes. [.i. destine.] [ 617] O. Influences of þise heuenes hye. Soth is þat vnder god ye ben oure hierdes. Though to vs besteȝ ben the causes wrie. [ 620] This mene I for she gan homward hye. But execut was al byside here leue. At the goddes wyl. for which she moste bleue. [ 623]

(90)

The bente mone with hire hornes pale. [ 624] Saturne and Ioue in Cancro Ioyned were. That swych a rayn from heuene gan a-vale. That euery maner womman þat was þere. [ 627] Hadde of þat smoky reyn a verray fere. At which pandare þo lough and seyde þenne. Now were a tyme a lady to go henne. [ 630]

(91)

But goode Nece yf I myght euere plese. [leaf 52] [ 631] Yow any þing þanne prey [I] yow quod he. To don myn herte as now so gret an ese. As for to dwelle here al þis nyght with me. [ 634] For-whi þis is yovre owene hous parde. For be my trouthe I sey it for no game. To wende now it were to me a shame. [ 637]

(92)

Criseyde whiche þat kowde as muche good. [ 638] As half a world tok [[tok corrected]] hede of his preyere. And syn it ron. and al was on a flode. She þoughte as good chep may I dwelle here. [ 641] And graunte gladly with a frendes chere. And haue a þank as grucche and þanne a-byde. For hom to gon it may nought wel be-tyde. [ 644]

(93)

I wole quod she myn vncle lef and drede. [ 645] Syn þat yow lyst it skile is to be so. I am right glad with yow to dwellen here. I seyde but a game I wolde go. [ 648] I-wys graunt mercy Nece quod he þo. were it a game or no soth for to telle. Now am I glad syn þat yow lyst to dwelle. [ 651]

(94)

Thus al is wel. but þo by-gan a-right. [ 652] The newe Ioye and al þe feste a-gayn. But Pandarus yf goodly hadde he myght. He wolde han hyed here to bedde fayn. [ 655] And seyde lord þis is an huge rayn. This were a weder for to slepen Inne. And þat I rede vs soone to by-gynne. [ 658]

(95)

And Nece wot ye where I wol yow leye. [ 659] For þat we shul not lyggen fer a-sonder. And for ye neiþer shullen dar I seye. Heren noyse of reynes nor of þondre. [ 662] By god right in my lite closet yonder. And I wole in þat oþer hous allone. Be wardeyn of youre wommen euerychone. [ 665]

(96)

And in þis myddel chaumbre þat ye se. [ 666] Shul youre wommen slepen wel and softe. And þere I seyde shal youre selue be. And yf ye liggen wel to nyght come ofte. [ 669] And careth not what weder is on lofte. The wyn a-non and whan so þat yow leste. So go we slepe .I. trowe it be þe beste. [[Than is it tyme / for to go to reste.—Caxton, & Harl. 1239.]] [ 672]

(97)

Ther nys no more but here after soone. [ 673] The voyde dronke / and trauers drawe anoon. Gan euery wight þat hadde nought to done. More in þat place out of þat chaumber gon. [ 676] And euere mo so sternelych it ron. And blew þer-with so wonderlyche loude. That wel neigh no man heren oþer koude. [ 679]

(98)

Tho Pandarus here Em right as hym oughte. [ 680] with women swych as were hire most a-boute. Ful glad vn-to hire beddes syde here broughte. And toke his leue. and gan ful lowe lowte. [ 683] And seyde here in þis closet dore with-oute. Right ouer-thwart youre wommen lyggen alle. That whom yow lyste of hem ye may here calle. [ 686]

(99)

So whanne þat she was yn þe closet leyd. [ 687] And alle here wommen forth by ordenaunce. A bedde weren. þere as I haue seyd. There was no more to speken nor to traunce. [ 690] But boden go to bedde with myschaunce. If ony wight was sterynge ony where. And late hem slepe þat abedde were. [ 693]

(100)

But Pandarus þat wel koude eche a del. [ 694] The olde daunce. and euery poynt þer-Inne. whan þat he sey þat al þyng was wel. He þought he wolde on his werk bygynne. [ 697] And gan þe stewe dore al soft vn-pynne. And stille as ston with-outen lenger lette. By Troylus a-down right he hym sette. [ 700]

(101)

And shortly to the poynt ryght for to gon. [leaf 53] [ 701] Of alle þis werk he told hym word and ende. And seyde make þe redy ryght a-noon. Thow shalt in-to heuene blysse wende. [ 704] Now blysful Venus þow me grace sende. Quod Troylus. for neuere yet no nede. Hadde I er now. ne haluendel þe drede. [ 707]

(102)

Quod Pandarus ne drede þe neuere a del. [ 708] For it shal ben right as þow wylt desire. So thriue I this nyght shal I make it wel. Or casten al þe Growel in þe fyre. [ 711] Yit blisful Venus þis nyght þow me enspire. Quod Troylus. as wys as .I. þe serue. And euere bet and bet shal til I sterue. [ 714]

(103)

An yf I hadde .o. Venus ful of murþe. [ 715] Aspectes badde. of mars or of Saturne. Or þow Combest or let were my byrþe. Thi fader prey al þilke harme disturne. [ 718] Of grace and þat I glad a-yen may turne. For loue of hym þow louedest yn þe shawe. I mene Adoon þat with þe bor was slawe. [ 721]

(104)

Ioue ek for þe loue of faire Europe. [ 722] The whiche in forme of bole a-way þow fette. Now help .o. Mars thow with þi blody cope. For loue of Cipres þow me nought ne lette. [ 725] O phebus þenk whan dane here seluen shette. Vnder þe bark / and laurer wax for-drede. Yet for here loue .o. help now at þis nede. [ 728]

(105)

Mercurye for þe loue of hierse ek. [ 729] For whiche Pallas was with Aglawros wroth. Now help and ek diane I þe by-sek. That þis viage be not to þe loth. [ 732] O fatal sustren / which er ony cloþ. Me shapen was. my destene me sponne. So help to þis werk þat is by-gonne. [ 735]

(106)

Quod Pandarus thow wrecched mouses herte. [leaf 53, back] [ 736] Art þow a-garst. so þat she wole þe byte. whi do on þis furred cloke a-boue þi sherte. And folewe me for I wol han þe wyte. [ 739] But dyde and late me go by-fore a lyte. And with þat word he gan vn-do a trappe. And Troylus he brought In by þe lappe. [ 742]

(107)

The sterne wynd so lowde gan to route. [ 743] That no wight oþer noyse myghte here. And þey þat lay at þe dore with-oute. Ful sikerly þei slepten al I-fere. [ 746] And Pandarus with a ful sobre chere. Goth to þe dore anoon wit-owten lette. There as þey laye. and softely it shette. [ 749]

(108)

And as he come a-yenward preuely. [ 750] His Nece a-wook and asked who goth þere. My dere Nece quod he it am .I. Ne wondreth not / ne haueth of it no fere. [ 753] And ner he com and seyde here yn here ere. No word for loue of god I yow byseche. Lat no wight rysen and heren of oure speche. [ 756]

(109)

What which weye be ye comen benedicite. [ 757] Quod she and how vnwyst of vs alle. Here at þis secre trappe dore quod he. Quod þo Criseyde lat me som wyght calle. [ 760] I god forbede that it sholde falle. Quod þo Pandarus þat ye swych foly wroughte. They myght deme þyng þey neuere þoughte. [ 763]

(110)

It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake. [ 764] Ne yeue a wyght a cause to deuyne. Youre wommen slepen alle I vnder-take. So þat for hem the hous men myghte myne. [ 767] And slepen wolen til þe sonne shyne. And whanne my tale al brought is to an ende. Vnwist right as I cam so wole I wende. [ 770]

(111)

Now Nece myn ye shul wel vnderstonde. [leaf 54] [ 771] Quod he so as ye wommen demen alle. That for to holde in loue a man in honde. And hym here lef and dere herte calle. [ 774] And maken hym an howue a-boue a calle. I mene as loue an oþer in þis mene while. She doth hire self a shame and hym [a] gyle. [ 777]

(112)

Now wherby þat I telle yow al þis. [ 778] Ye wot your self as wel as ony wyght. How þat youre loue þat fully graunted is. To Troylus þe worþieste knyght. [ 781] On of þis world and þer-to trouþe plyght. That but it were on hym a-long ye nolde. Hym neuere falsen / while ye lyuen sholde. [ 784]

(113)

Now stant it þus þat sith I fro yow wente. [ 785] This Troylus right platly for to seyn. Is þurgh a goter by a preuy wente. In-to my chaumbre come in al þis reyn. [ 788] Vnwyst of euery manere wyght certeyn. Saue of my self as wysly haue I Ioye. And by þat feith I shal Pryam of Troye. [ 791]

(114)

And he is come in swich peyne and distresse. [ 792] That but he be al fully wod by þis. He sodeynly mot falle in-to wodnesse. But yf god helpe / and cause whi is þis. [ 795] He seyth hym told is of a frend of his How þat ye louen sholde on þat hatte Horaste. For sorwe of whiche þis nyght shalt ben his laste. [ 798]

(115)

Criseyde which þat alle þese þynges herde. [ 799] Gan sodeynly aboute her herte colde. And with a syk ful sorwfully answerede. Allas I wende who-so tales tolle. [ 802] My dere herte wolde me not holde. So lyghtly fals / allas conseytes. wronge. what harm þey don. for now lyue I to longe. [ 805]

(116)

Horaste allas and falsen Troylus. [leaf 54, back] [ 806] I knowe hym not god helpe me so quod she. Allas what wykked spirit told hym þus. Now certes Em to more yf I hym se. [ 809] I shal þer-of as fully excuse me. As euere dide womman yf he lyke. And with þat word she gan ful sore syke. [ 812]

(117)

O quod she so worldly selynesse. [ 813] which clerkes callen fals felicite. y-medled is with many a bitternesse. Ful angwysshous. than is god wot quod she. [ 816] Condicioun of veyn prosperite. For oþer Ioyes comen nough y-fere. Or elles no wight hath hem alwey here. [ 819]

(118)

O brotel wele of mannes Ioye vnstable. [ 820] with what wyght so þow be or how þow pleye. Ouþer he wot þat þow Ioye art muable. Other he wot it not. it mot ben on of tweye. [ 823] Now yf he wot it not how may he seye. That he hath verray Ioye and selynesse. That is of ignoraunce ay in derknesse. [ 826]

(119)

Now yf he wot þat Ioye is transitorie. [ 827] As euery Ioye of worldly thyng mot fle. Than euery tyme he hath in memorie. The drede of lesyng maketh hym þat he. [ 830] May in no parfit selynesse be. And yf to lese his Ioye he set a myte. Than semeth it þat Ioye is worth but lyte. [ 833]

(120)

Wherfore I wol deffyne in þis manere. [ 834] That trewely for ought I kan espie. Ther is no verray wele in þis world here. But .o. þow wykked serpent Ialousye. [ 837] Thow mysbeleued and enuyous folye. whi hastow mad Troylus to me vntriste. That neuere yet agylte hym þat I wyste. [ 840]

(121)

Quod Pandarus thus fallen is þis cas. [leaf 55] [ 841] whi vncle myn quod she who told yow þis. whi doth myn dere herte þus allas. Ye wote ye nece myn quod he what is. [ 844] I hope al shal be wel þat is amys. For ye may quenche al þis yf þat yow leste. And doth right so. for I holde it þe beste. [ 847]

(122)

So shal I do to morwe y-wys quod she. [ 848] And god to-forn. so þat it shal suffise. To morwe allas. þat were a fayre quod he. Nay nay it may not stonden yn þis wyse. [ 851] For Nece myn þus writen clerkes wyse. That peril is with drecchyng yn I-drawe. Nay swych a-bodes be nought worth an hawe. [ 854]

(123)

Nece al þing hath tyme I dar a-vowe. [ 855] For whan a chaumber a-fyr is or an halle. More nede is it sodeynly to rescowe. Than to dispute and axe a-monges alle. [ 858] How þis candele in þe straw is falle. A benedicite for al among þat fare. The harm is don. and fare wel feld-fare. [ 861]

(124)

And Nece myn take it not [a]gref. [ 862] If þat ye suffre hym al nyght in þis wo. God help me so ye hadde hym neuere lef. That dar I seyn. now þere is but we two. [ 865] But wel I wot þat ye wole not do so. Ye ben to wys to do so gret folye. To putte his lyf al nyght in Iupartie. [ 868]

(125)

Hadde ye hym neuere lef by god I wene. [ 869] I hadde neuere þing so lief quod she. Now by my þryft quod he þat shal be sene. For syn ye make þis ensample of me. [ 872] If I al nyght wolde hym in sorwe se. For al þe tresour yn þe town of Troye. I bidde god I neuere mot haue Ioye. [ 875]

(126)

Now loke þanne yf ye þat ben his loue. [leaf 55, back] [ 876] Shul putte al nyght his lyf in Iupartie. For þing of nought now by þat god a-boue. Nought only þis delay cometh of folye. [ 879] But of malis. if þat I shal nought lye. what platly and ye suffre hym in distresse. Ye neyþer bounte don ne gentilesse. [ 882]

(127)

Quod þo Criseyde wole ye don o þing. [ 883] And ye þerwith shal styte al his disese. Haue here and bereth hym þis blewe rynge. For þere is no þing myght hym bettre plese. [ 886] Saue I my self. ne bettre his herte a-pese. And sey my dere herte þat his sorwe. Is causeles þat shal ben sene to morwe. [ 889]

(128)

A ryng quod he. ye haselwodes shaken. [ 890] Ye Nece myne þat ryng moste han a ston. Þat myhte a dede man a-lyue maken. And swych a ryng I trowe þat ye haue non. [ 893] Discrecioun out of youre hed is gon. That fele I now quod he and þat is rouþe. O tyme y-lost wel maystow cursen slouþe. [ 896]

(129)

Wot ye not wel þat noble and heigh corage. [ 897] Ne sorweth not ne stenteth ek for lyte. But yf a fol were in a Ialous rage. I nold not sette at his sorwe a myte. [ 900] But feffe hym with a fewe wordes white. A-nother day whan þat I myght hym fynde. But þis þing stont al in a noþer kynde. [ 903]

(130)

This is so gentil and so tender of herte. [ 904] That with his deth he wole his sorwes wreke. For trusteth wel how sore þat hym smerte. He wole to yow no Ialouse wordes speke. [ 907] And for-þi nece er þat his herte breke. To speke youre self to him. of þis matere. For with o word ye may his herte stere. [ 910]

(131)

Now haue I told what peril he is Inne. [leaf 56] [ 911] And his comyng vnwyst is to euery wyght. Ne parde harm may þere be non ne synne. I wol my self be with yow al þis nyght. [ 914] Ye knowe ek how it is youre owne knyght. And þat by right ye moste vpon hym triste. And I at prest to fecche hym whan yow lyste. [ 917]

(132)

This accident so petous was to here. [ 918] And ek so lyk a soth at pryme face. And Troylus hire knyght to hire so dere. His preue comyng and þe siker place. [ 921] That þough þat she dide hym as þanne a grace. Considered alle þinges as þey stode. No wonder is. syn she dide al for gode. [ 924]

(133)

Cryseyde answered as wysly god at reste. [ 925] My sowle brynge. as me is for hym wo. And Em y-wys fayn wolde I do þe beste. Yf þat I hadde grace for to do so. [ 928] But wheþer þat ye dwelle or for hym go. I am til god me bettre mynde sende. A [[first, At]] dulcarnon right at my wittes ende. [ 931]

(134)

Quod Pandarus ye Nece wol ye here. [ 932] Dulcarnon called is flemyng of wrecches. It semeth hard for wrecches wol not lere. For verray slouþe and oþere wilful tacches. [ 935] This seyd by hym þat is not worth two facches. But ye ben wys and þat we han on honde. Nis neiþer hard ne skylful to withstonde. [ 938]

(135)

Thanne Em quod she doth her-of as yow lyst. [ 939] But er he come I wil vp first aryse. And for þe loue of god syn al my trist. Is on yow two. and ye ben boþe wyse. [ 942] So wyrcheth now in so discret a wyse. That I honour may haue and he plesaunce. For I am here al yn youre gouernaunce. [ 945]

(136)

That is wel seyd quod he my nece dere. [leaf 56, back] [ 946] That thryft on þat wyse gentil herte. But liggeth stille. and taketh hym ryght here. It nedeth not no ferþere for hym sterte. [ 949] And eche of yow ese oþeres sorwes smerte. For loue of god. and Venus I þe herye. For soone hope I we shulle ben alle merye. [ 952]

(137) [[Not in Harl. 1239.]]

This Troylus ful sone on knes hym sette. [ 953] Ful sobrely ryght by here beddes hede. And yn his beste wyse his lady grette. But lord so she wax sodeynlych red. [ 956] Ne þough men sholden smyten of here hed. She kowde nought a word a-ryght out brynge. So sodeynly. for his sodeyn comynge. [ 959]

(138)

But Pandarus þat so wel koude fele. [ 960] In euery thyng to pleye a-noon by-gan. And seyde Nece se how this lord kan knele. Now for youre trouþe seth þis gentil man. [ 963] And with þat word he for a quysshon ran. And seyde kneleth now whil þat yow lyste. There god youre hertes brynge soone at reste. [ 966]

(139)

Kan I not seyn. for she bad hym not ryse. [ 967] If sorwe it put out of here remembraunce. Or elles yf she toke it in þe wyse. Of duete. as for his obseruaunce. [ 970] But wel fynde I she dide hym þis plesaunce. That she hym kyste al-þough she siked sore. And bad hym sytte a-down with-owten more. [ 973]

(140)

Quod Pandarus now wol ye wel by-gynne. [ 974] Now doth hym sitte now gode Nece dere. Vpon youre beddes side þere with-Inne. That eche of yow þe bet may oþer here. [ 977] And with þat word he drow hym to þe fyre. And tok a lyght and fond his contenaunce. As for to loken vp-on an old romaunce. [ 980]

(141)

Criseyde that was Troylus lady right. [leaf 57] [ 981] And cler stod on a ground of sykernesse. Al þoughte she here seruaunt and hire knyghte. Ne sholde of right noon vntrouþe in here gesse. [ 984] Yet naþeles considered his distresse. And þat loue is in cause of swych folye. Thus to hym spak she of his Ielousye. [ 987]

(142)

Lo herte myn as wolde þe excellence. [ 988] Of loue. a-yeyns þe which þat no man may. Ne oughte ek goudly make resistence. And ek by-cause I felte wel and say. [ 991] Youre grete trouþe and seruyse euery day. And þat yowre herte al myn was soth to seyne. This drof me first to rewe vp-on yowre peyne. [ 994]

(143)

And youre goodnesse haue I founden alwey yet. [ 995] Of whiche my dere herte and al my knyght. I þonke it yow as fer as I haue wit. Al kan I nought as muche as it were right. [ 998] And I emforthe my konnynge and my myght. Haue and ay shal how sore þat me smerte. Ben to yow trewe. and hol with al myn herte. [ 1001]

(144)

And dredles þat shal be founde at preue. [ 1002] But herte myn what al þis is to seyn. Shal wel be told so þat ye yow not greue. Though I to yow right on yow self compleyne. [ 1005] For þer-with mene I fynally þe peyne. That halt youre herte and myn in heuynesse. Fully to slen and euery wrong redresse. [ 1008]

(145)

My goode loue [[loue, corrected]] not I for whi ne how. [ 1009] That Ialousye. allas. þat wikkede wyuere. Thus causeles is cropen in-to yow. The harm of which I wolde fayn delyuere. [ 1012] Allas þat he al hool or of hym slyuere. Shuld haue his refuyt in so digne a place. Ther Ioue soone oute of youre herte hym race. [ 1015]

(146)

But .o. þow Ioue .o. Auctor of nature. [leaf 57, back] [ 1016] Is þis an honour to þi deite. That folk vngiltyf. suffren here Iniure. And who þat gyltyf is al quyt goth he. [ 1019] O were it leful þat I pleyne of þe. That vndeserued suffrest Ialousie. And þat I wolde on þe pleyne and crye. [ 1022]

(147)

Ek al my wo is þis þat folk now vsen. [ 1023] To seyn right þus. ye Ialousye is loue. And wolde a busshel venym al excusen. For þat o greyn of loue is on it shoue. [ 1026] But þat wot heighe god þat sit a-boue. If it be liker loue / or hate or grame. And after þat it oughte to bere his name. [ 1029]

(148)

But certeyn is som manere Ialousye. [ 1030] Is excusable more þan som I-wys. And whaune cause is & somme swych fantasye. with pite so wel repressed is. [ 1033] That it vnneþe doth or seyth amys. But goodly drynketh vp al his distresse. And þat excuse I for þe gentilesse. [ 1036]

(149)

And some so ful of furye is and despit. [ 1037] That it sourmounteth his repressioun. But herte myn ye be not in þat plyt. That þanke I god for whiche yowr [[r later]] [ 1040] I wol not calle it but illusioun. Of habundaunce of loue and bysy cure. That doth youre herte þis dishese endure. [ 1043]

(150)

Of which I am right sory but not wroth. [ 1044] But for my deuoir and youre hertes reste. wher so yow lyste by ordal or by oth. By sort or in what wyse so yow lyste. [ 1047] For loue of god lat preue it for þe beste. And yf þat I be gyltyf do me deye. Allas what myght I more do or seye. [ 1050]

(151)

With that a fewe bryghte terys newe. [leaf 58] [ 1051] Out of here eyen fille and þus she seyde. Now god þow wost in þought ne dede vntrewe. To Troylus was neuere yet Criseyde. [ 1054] With þat here hed in to þe bed down she leyde. And with the shete it wreygh and sighed sore. And held here pes / not o word spak she more. [ 1057]

(152)

But now help god to quenchen al þis sorwe. [ 1058] So hope I þat he shal for he best may. For I haue seyn of ful mysty morwe. Folwen ful ofte a merye someres day. [ 1061] And after wynter folweth grene may. Men sen alday and reden ek in storyes. That after sharpe shoures ben victories. [ 1064]

(153)

This Troylus whan he here wordes herde. [[Caxton leaves out St. 153-160. Harl. 1239 (leaf 29, bk), & 2392 (leaf 71, back) have em.]] [ 1065] Haue ye no care hym lyst not to slepe. For it þoughte hym no strokes of yerde. To here or sen Criseyde his lady wepe. [ 1068] But wel he felte a-boute his herte crepe. For euery teer which þat Criseyde a-sterte. The crampe of deth to streyne hym by þe herte. [ 1071]

(154)

And in his mynde he gan þe tyme a-curse. [ 1072] That he cam þere / and þat he was born. For now is wykke I-turned vn-to worse. And al þe labour he hath don by-forn. [ 1075] He wend it lost he þoughte he nas but lorn. O Pandarus þoughte he allas þi wyle. Serueth of nought so wel-awey þe while. [ 1078]

(155)

And þer-with-al he heng a-down þe hed. [ 1079] And fil on knes and sorwfully he sighte. what myght he seyn he felte he nas but ded. For wroth was she þat shulde his sorwes lyghte. [ 1082] But naþeles whanne þat he speken myghte. Than seyde he þus god wot þat of þis game. whan al is wyst / þan am I not to blame. [ 1085]

(156)

Ther-with þe sorwe so his herte shette. [leaf 56, back] [ 1086] That from his eighen fil þere not a tere. And euery spirit his vigour yn knette. So þey a-stoned & oppressed were. [ 1089] The felyng of his sorwe or of his fere. Or of ought elles. fled was out of towne. And doun he fel al sodeynly a swowne. [ 1092]

(157)

This was no litel sorwe for to se. [ 1093] For al was hust and Pandare vp as faste. O Nece pes or we be lost quod he. Buth nought [[t later]] a-gast. but certeyn at þe laste. [ 1096] For þis or þat. he hym in-to bedde caste. And seyde o thef is þis a mannes herte. And of he rente al / to his bare sherte. [ 1099]

(158)

And seyde Nece but ye helpe vs now. [ 1100] Allas yowre owne Troylus is lorn. I-wys so wolde I and I wiste how. Ful fayn quod she allas þat I was born. [ 1103] Ye Nece wole ye pulle out þe þorn. That stiketh in his herte quod Pandare. Sey al for-yeue and stynt is al þis fare. [ 1106]

(159)

Ye þat to me quod she ful leuere were. [ 1107] Than al þe good þe sonne a-boute goth. [[goth, much later]] And ther-with-al she swor hym in his ere. I-wis my dere herte I am nought wroth. [ 1110] Haue here my trouþe and many a noþer oth. Now spek to me. for it am I Cryseyde. But al for nought / yet myght he no a-breyde. [ 1113]

(160)

Therwith his pows and Pawmes of his hondes. [ 1114] They gan to frote. and wete his temples tweyne. And for delyueren hym from bittre bondes. She ofte hym kyste and shortly for to seyne. [ 1117] Hym to reuoken she dide al hire peyne. And at þe laste. he gan his breth to drawe. And of his swough sone after þat a-dawe. [ 1120]

(161)

And bet gan mynde and reson to hym take. [leaf 59] [ 1121] But wonder sore he was abayst I-wys. And with a syk whan he gan bet a-wake. He seyde o mercy god what þing is þis. [ 1124] whi do ye with yowre seluen þus a-mys. Quod þo Criseyde. is þis a mannes game. what Troylus wol ye do þus for shame. [ 1127]

(162)

And þer-with-al here arm ouer hym she leyde. [ 1128] And al for-yaf / and ofte tyme hym kyste. He þonked here. and to hyr spak and seyde. As fil to purpos for his hertes reste. [ 1131] And she to þat answered hym as hir lyste. And with hire goodly wordes hym disporte. She gan and ofte his sorwes to comforte. [ 1134]

(163)

Quod Pandarus for ought [[t later]] I kan espyen. [ 1135] This lyght nor I ne seruen here of nought. Lyght is not good for syke folkes eyen. But for þe loue of god syn ye be brought. [ 1138] In þus good plit / lat now non heuy þought. Ben hangynge in þe hertes of yow tweye. And bar þe candele to þe chimeney. [ 1141]

(164)

Soone after þis þough it no nede were. [ 1142] whan she swych oþes as hire lyste deuyse. Hadde of hym take / here þought þo no fere. Ne cause ek non. to bidde hym þennes ryse. [ 1145] Yet lesse þing þan oþes may suffise. In many a cas. for euery wyght I gesse. That loueth wel meneth but gentilesse. [ 1148]

(165)

But in effect she wolde wite a-noon. [ 1149] Of what man / and ek where and also why. He Ielous was. syn þere was cause non. And ek þe signe. þat he tok it by. [ 1152] She bad hym þat to telle here bysily. Or elles certeyn she bar hym on honde. That þis was don of malys hir to fonde. [ 1155]

(166)

With-outen more shortly for to seyne. [leaf 59, back] [ 1156] He moste obeye vn-to his lady heste. And for þe lasse harm he moste feyne. He seyde here whanne she was at swych a feste. [ 1159] She myght on hym han loked at þe leste. Not I not what al dere y-now a rysshe. As he þat nedes moste a cause fysshe. [ 1162]

(167)

And she answered swete al were it so. [ 1163] what harm was þat syn I noon yuel mene. For by þat god þat bought vs boþe two. In alle þynge is myn entente clene. [ 1166] Swych argumentz ne ben not worth a bene. wol ye the chyldyssh Ialousye contrefete. Now were worthy þat ye were y-bete. [ 1169]

(168)

Tho Troylus gan sorwfully to syke. [ 1170] Lest she be wroth hym þoughte his herte deyde. And seyde allas vpon my sorwes syke. Haue mercy swete herte myn Cryseyde. [ 1173] And yf þat in þo wordes þat I seyde. Be ony wrong I wol no more trespace. Do what yow lyst I am al in youre grace. [ 1176]

(169)

And she answered of gilt mysericorde. [ 1177] That is to seyn þat I for-yeue al þis. And euere more on þis nyght yow recorde. And beth wel war ye do no more amys. [ 1180] Nay dere herte myn quod he I-wys. And now quod she þat I haue do yow smerte. For-yeue it me myn owene swete herte. [ 1183]

(170)

This Troilus with blysse of þat supprised. [ 1184] Put al in goddes hond as he þat mente. No þyng but wel / and sodeynly a-vysed. He here in armes faste to hym hente. [ 1187] And Pandarus with a ful good entente. Leyd hym to slepe. and seyde yf ye ben wyse. Swowneth not now lest more folk a-ryse. [ 1190]

(171)

What myght or may þe sely larke seye. [leaf 60] [ 1191] whan þat þe sparhauk hath it in his fote. I kan no more but of þis ilke tweye. To whom þis tale / sour be or sot. [ 1194] Though þat I tarye a yer som tyme I mot. After myn Auctor tellen here gladnesse. As wel as I haue told here heuynesse. [ 1197]

(172)

Criseyde which þat felte here þus I-take. [ 1198] As writen clerkes in here bokes olde. Right as an Aspes lef she gan to quake. whan she hym felte here in armes folde. [ 1201] But Troylus al hool of cares colde. Gan þanken the blysful goddes seuene. Thus sondry peynes bryngen folk to heuene. [ 1204]

(173)

This Troylus yn armes gan here streyne. [ 1205] And seyde o swete as euere mot I gon. Now be ye kaught. now is þere but we tweyne. Now yeldeth yow for oþer bote is noon. [ 1208] To þat Criseyde answered þus a-noon. Ne hadde I er now my swete herte dere. Ben yolden y-wys I were now not here. [ 1211]

(174)

O soth is seyd that heled for to be. [ 1212] As of a feuere. or oþere gret syknesse. Men moste drynke as men may often se. Ful bittre drynk. and for to han gladnesse. [ 1215] Men drynken often peyne / and gret distresse. I mene it here as for þis auenture. That þourgh a peyne is founden al his cure. [ 1218]

(175)

And now swetnesse semeth þe more swet. [ 1219] That bitternesse assayed was by-forn. For out of wo in blysse now þey flete. Non swych þey felten sith þat þey were born. [ 1222] Now is þis bet þan boþe two be lorn. For loue of god take euery womman hede. To werken þus / yf it come to þe nede. [ 1225]

(176)

Criseyde al quyt from euery drede and tene. [lf 60, bk] [ 1226] As she þat Iust cause hadde hym to tryste. Made hym swych feste / it Ioye was to sene. whan she his trowþe and clene entent wyste. [ 1229] And as a-bowte a tre with many a twyste. Bytrent and wryþe the soote wode bynde. Gan eche of hem in armes oþer wynde. [ 1232]

(177)

And as þe newe a-baysshed Nyghtyngale. [ 1233] That stynteth first whan she gynneth to synge. whan þat she hereth any herde tale. Or in þe hegges ony wight sterynge. [ 1236] And after syker doth here voys out rynge. Right so Criseyd whan here drede stynte. Opened here herte and told hym here entente. [ 1239]

(178)

And right as he þat seth his deth is shapen. [ 1240] And deye mot in out þat he may gysse. And sodeynly rescous doth hym escapen. And from his deth is brought yn sykernesse. [ 1243] For alle þis word yn swych present gladnesse. was Troylus and hath his lady swete. with worse hap god lat vs neuere mete. [ 1246]

(179)

Here armes smale he[r] streyght[e] bak and softe. [ 1247] Her sydes longe. fleysshly smoþe and white. He gan to stroke and good thryft bad ful ofte. Here snowyssh þrote. here brestes rounde and lyte. [ 1250] Thus yn this [heuene] he gan hym delyte. And þer with al a þowsand tyme here kyste. That what to done for Ioye vnneþe he wyste. [ 1253]

(180)

Thanne seyde he þus .o. loue .o. charite. [ 1254] Thi moder ek Citherea the swete. After þi self next heried be she. Venus mene I þe wel willy planete. [ 1257] And next þe Imeneus .I. the grete. For neuere man was to yow goddes holde. As I which ye han brought fro cares colde. [ 1260]

(181)

Benyngne loue thow holy bond of thynges. [leaf 61] [ 1261] who-so wole grace / and lyst þe nought honouren. Lo his desir wole fle with-outen wynges. For nodestow of bounte hem socouren. [ 1264] That seruen best and most alwey labouren. Yet were al lost þat dar I wel seye certes. But yf þi grace passed oure desertes. [ 1267]

(182)

And for þow me þat lest kowde deserue. [ 1268] Of hem þat nombred be to þi grace. Hast holpen þere I lykly was to sterue. And me bistowed in so heygh a place. [ 1271] That þilke boundes may no blysse passe. I kan no more but laude and reuerence. Be to þy bounte and þin excellence. [ 1274]

(183)

And þer-with-al Criseyde a-noon he kyste. [ 1275] Of which certeyn she felte no dishese. And þus seyde he / now wolde god I wyste. Myn herte swete. how I yow myghte plese. [ 1278] what man quod he was euere þus at ese. As I on whiche þe faireste and þe beste. That euere I say deyneth here herte reste. [ 1281]

(184)

Here may men se þat mercy passeth ryght. [ 1282] The experience of þat is felt in me. That am vnworthi to so swete a wyght. But herte myn of youre benyngnite. [ 1285] So þenk þowgh þat I vnworthi be. Yet mot I nede amenden in som wyse. Right þourgh þe of vertu of yowre heyghe seruyce. [ 1288]

(185)

And for þe loue of god my lady dere. [ 1289] Syn god hath wrought me for þat I shal yow serue. As þus I mene þat ye wole be my stere. To do me lyue yf þat yow lyste or sterue. [ 1292] So techeth me how þat I ma[y] deserue. Youre þank. so þurgh myn ignoraunce. Ne do no þing þat yow be displesaunce. [ 1295]

(186)

But certes fresshe wommanliche wyf. [leaf 61, back] [ 1296] This dar I seye / þat trouthe and diligence. That shal ye fynde in me al my lyfe. Ne I wole certeyn breken youre defence. [ 1299] And yf I do present or in absence. For loue of god lat sle me wiþ þe dede. If þat it lyke-to youre womanhede. [ 1302]

(187)

I-wys quod she myn owne hertes lyst. [ 1303] My ground of ese. and al myn herte dere. Graunt mercy / for on þat is al my trist. But late vs falle a-wey fro þis matere. [ 1306] For it suffisith þis þat seyd is here. And at o word with-outen repentaunce. wel-come my knyght / my pes / my suffisaunce. [ 1309]

(188)

Of here delyt. or Ioyes / oon þe leste. [ 1310] were impossible to my wyt to seye. But Iuggeth ye þat han ben at þe feste. Of swych gladnesse yf þat hem lyste pleye. [ 1313] I kan no more / but þus [þese] ilke tweye. That nyght be-twexen dred and sikernesse. Felten in loue þe grete worthynesse. [ 1316]

(189)

O blysful nyght of hem so longe y-sought. [ 1317] How bliþe vn-to hem boþe þow were. why ne hadde I swych on with my soule y-bought. Ye or þe leeste Ioye þat was þere. [ 1320] A-wey þow fowle daunder and þow fere. And lat hem in þis heuene blyssyd dwelle. That is so heygh þat al ne kan I telle. [ 1323]

(190) [[St. 190-1 are made 201-2 in Harl. MS. 1239 & Caxton's text. Harl. 2392 (lf 75, bk) & Addit. 12,044 (lf 59, bk) have em here.]]

But soth is þough I kan not telle al. [ 1324] As kan myn Auctor of his excellence. Yet haue I seyd and god to-forn and shal. In euery þyng al hoolly his sentence. [ 1327] And yf þat I at loues reuerence. Haue ony word In eched for þe beste. Doth þer-with-al right as yow seluen leste. [ 1330]

(191)

For myne wordes here and euery part. [leaf 62] [ 1331] I speke hem alle vnder correccioun. Of yow þat felyng han in loues art. And putte it al yn youre discrecioun. [ 1334] To encrese or maken dyminucioun. Of my langage and þat I yow by-seche. But now to purpos of my raþer speche. [ 1337]

(192)

Thise ilke two þat ben in armes laft. [ 1338] So loth to hem a sondry go-ne [it] were. That eche from oþer wenden ben by-raft. Or elles lo þis was here most fere. [ 1341] That al þis þyng but nyce dremes nere. For which ful ofte eche of hem seyde o swete. Clippe ich yow þus or elles I it mete. [ 1344]

(193)

A lord so he gan gladly on here se. [ 1345] That neuere his lok ne blente from here face. And seyde o dere herte may it be. That it be soth / þat ye ben in þis place. [ 1348] Ye herte myn. god þank I of his grace. Quod þo Criseyde and þer-with-al hym kyste. That where his spirit was for Ioye he nyste. [ 1351]

(194)

This Troylus ful ofte here eighen two. [ 1352] Gan for to kysse and seyde o eyen clere. It were ye þat wroughte me swych wo. Ye humble nettes of my lady dere. [ 1355] Though þere be mercy wreten yn youre chere. God wot þe text ful hard is soth to fynde. How koude ye with-outen bond me bynde. [ 1358]

(195)

Therwith he gan here faste in armes take. [ 1359] And wel an hundred tymes gan he syke. Nought swych sorwful sykes as men make. For wo / or elles whanne þat folk ben syke. [ 1362] But esy sykes swyche as ben to lyke. That shewed his affeccion with-Inne. Of swiche sikes koude he nought blynne. [ 1365]

(196)

Sone after þis they speke of sondry thynges. [lf 62, bk] [ 1366] As fil to purpos of þis auenture. And pleyinge entrechaungeden here rynges. Of which I kan nough tellen no scripture. [ 1369] But wel I wot a broche gold of asure. In whiche a ruby set was lyk an herte. Criseyde hym yaf and stak it on his sherte. [ 1372]

(197)

Lord trowe ye a coueytous or a wrecche. [ 1373] That blameth loue and holt of it despit. That of þe pens þat he kan moke & kecche. was euere yet y-yeue hym swych delyt. [ 1376] As ys in loue in oo poynt in som plyt. Nay douteles. for also god me saue. So parfit Ioye may no nygard haue. [ 1379]

(198)

They wole sey yis but lord so þat þey lye. [ 1380] Tho bysy wrecches ful of wo and drede. They callen loue a woodnesse or folye. But it shal falle hem as I shal yow rede. [ 1383] They shul for-go þe white and eke þe rede. And leue in wo þere god yeue hem myschaunce. And euery louere yn his trouþe auaunce. [ 1386]

(199)

As wolde god þat wrecches þat dispise. [ 1387] Seruyse of loue hadde eerys al so longe. As hadde Myda ful of Coueytise. And þer-to drenken hadde as hoot and stronge. [ 1390] As Crassus dide for his affectis wronge. To techen hem þat þey ben in þe vice. And loueres nought / al-þough þey holde hem nyce. [ 1393]

(200)

This ilke two of whom þat I yow seye. [ 1394] whan þat here hertes wel assured were. Tho gonne þei to speke and to pleye. And ek reherce how and whanne and where. [ 1397] They knewe hym first and euery wo and feere. That passed was / but al swych heuynesse. I þanke it god was tourned to gladnesse. [ 1400]

(201)

And euere more whan þat hem fille to speke. [leaf 63] [ 1401] Of ony þing of swych a tyme a-gon. with kyssyng alle þat tale sholde breke. And fallen in a newe Ioye a-noon. [ 1404] And dede al here myght syn þey were oon. For to recoueren blysse and ben at ese. And passed woo with Ioye countrepeyse. [ 1407]

(202)

Reson wil not þat I speke of shep. [[for slepe] [ 1408] For it accordeth nough to my matere. God wot þey toke of þat ful lytel kepe. But lest þis nyght that was to hem so dere. [ 1411] Ne sholde in veyn escape in no manere. It was byset in Ioye and bysynesse. Of al þat sowneth in-to gentilesse. [ 1414]

(203)

But whanne þe kok comune Astrologer. [ 1415] Gan on his brest to bete and after to crowe. And lucifer þe dayes messager. Gan for to ryse / and out here bemys þrow. [ 1418] And afterward ros to hym þat kowde it know. Fortuna maior þat anoon Criseyde. with herte sore to Troylus þus seyde. [ 1421]

(204)

Myn hertes lyf my tryst and my plesaunce. [ 1422] That I was born allas what me is wo. That day of vs mot make desseueraunce. For tyme it is to ryse and hens to go. [ 1425] Or ellys I am lost for eueremo. O nyght allas whi nyltow ouer vs houe. As longe as whanne Almena lay by Ioue. [ 1428]

(205)

O blake nyght as folk in bokes rede. [ 1429] That shapen art by god þis world to hide. At certeyn tymes with þi derke wede. That vnder þat men myghte in reste abyde. [ 1432] wel oughte bestes pleyne. and folk þe chide. That þere as day with labour wolde vs breste. That þow þus flest. and deynest vs nought reste. [ 1435]

(206)

Thow dost allas to shortly thyn office. [leaf 65, back] [ 1436] Thow rakel nyght þere god makere of kynde. The for þyn hast and þyn vnkynde vice. So faste ay to oure hemy-spere bynde. [ 1439] That neuere more vnder þe ground þow wynde. For now for þow so hyest out of Troye. Haue I for-gon þus hastely my Ioye. [ 1442]

(207)

This Troylus þat with þo wordes felte. [ 1443] As þoughte hym tho. for pitous distresse. The blody teerys from his herte melte. As he þat neuere yet swych heuynesse. [ 1446] Assayed hadde out of so gret gladnesse. Gan þerwith-al Criseyde his lady dere. In armes streyne and seyde in þis manere. [ 1449]

(208)

O crueel day accusour of þe Ioye. [ 1450] That nyght and loue han stole and faste y-wryen. A-cursed be þi comyng in-to Troye. For euery bore hath oon of þi bryght eyen. [ 1453] Enuyous day what lyst þe so to spyen. what hastow lost why sekestow þis place. Ther god þi lyght so quenche for his grace. [ 1456]

(209)

Allas what han þese loueres þe agilt. [ 1457] Dispitous day thyn be þe pyne of helle. For many a louere hastow shent and wilt. Thi pouryng In wol no where late hem dwelle. [ 1460] what proferestow thi light here for to selle. Go selle it hem þat smale selys grauen. we wol þe nought. vs nedeth no day hauen. [ 1463]

(210)

And ek þe sonne Tytan gan he to chyde. [ 1464] And seyde o fol wel may men þe dispise. That hast þe Dawyng al nyght by þi syde. And suffrest here so soone vp fro þe ryse. [ 1467] For to disesen loueres yn þis wyse. what hold youre bed þer þow and ek þi morwe. I bidde god so yeue yow boþe sorwe. [ 1470]

(211)

Ther-with ful sore he sight and þus he seyde. [leaf 64] [ 1471] My lady right. and of my wele or wo. The welle and rote .o. goodly myn Criseyde. And shal I ryse allas and shal I go. [ 1474] Now fele I þat myn herte mot a two. For how sholde I an hour my lyf saue. Syn þat with yow is al þe lyf I haue. [ 1477]

(212)

What shal I don / for certes I not how. [ 1478] Ne whanne allas I shal þe tyme se. That yn þis plit I may be eft with yow. And of my lyf god wot how þat shal be. [ 1481] Syn þat desir ryght now so brenneth me. That I am ded a-noon but I retorne. How shold I longe allas fro yow soiourne. [ 1484]

(213)

But naþeles myn owene lady bryght. [ 1485] were it so þat I wist outrely. That I youre humble seruaunt & youre knyght. were in youre herte set so fermely. [ 1488] As ye in myn þe whiche þyng trewely. Me leuere were þan þese wordes tweyne. Yet sholde I bet endure al my peyne. [ 1491]

(214)

To þat Cryseyde answered right a-noon. [ 1492] And with a syk she seyde .o. herte dere. The game y-wys so ferforth now is gon. That first shal Phebus falle fro his spere. [ 1495] And euery Egle ben þe dowues fere, And euery roche out of his place sterte. Er Tro[i]les out of Criseydes herte. [ 1498]

(215)

Ȝe be so depe In-with myn herte graue. [ 1499] That þough I wold it turne out of my þought. As wysly verray god my soule saue. To dyen in þe peyne I kowde nowght. [ 1502] And for þe loue of god þat vs hath wrought. Lat yn youre brayn noon oþer fantasye. So crepe / þat it cause me to dye. [ 1505]

(216)

An þat ye me wolde han as faste in mynde. [lf 64, bk] [ 1506] As I haue yow. þat wold I yow by-seche. And yf I wyste sothly / þat to fynde. God myght not a poynt my Ioyes eche. [ 1509] But herte myn with-oute more speche. Beth to me trewe or elles were it routhe. For I am þyn by god and by my trouthe. [ 1512]

(217)

Beth glad for-þi and lyue in sykernesse. [ 1513] Thus seyde I neuere er þis ne shal to mo. And yf to yow it were a gret gladnesse. To turne a-yen soone afte[r] þat ye go. [ 1516] As fayn wolde I as ye it were so. As wysly god myn herte brynge at reste. And hym in armes toke and ofte keste. [ 1519]

(218)

Agayns his wil syn it mot nedes be. [ 1520] This Troylus vp ros and faste hym cledde. And in his armes tok his lady fre. An hundred tyme. and on his wey hym spedde. [ 1523] And with swych wordes as his herte bledde. He seyde farewel myn herte and dere swete. There god vs graunte sound and soone to mete. [ 1526]

(219)

To which no word for sorwe she answerede. [ 1527] So sore gan his partyng here destreyne. And Troylus vn-to his palays ferde. As wo-by-gon as she was soth to seyne. [ 1530] So hard hym wrong of sharp desir þe peyne. For to ben eft þere he was in plesaunce. That it may neuere out of his remembraunce. [ 1533]

(220)

Retorned to his Real Palais soone. [ 1534] He softe in to his bedde gan for to slynke. To slepe longe as he was woned to done. But al for nought he may wel lygge and wynke. [ 1537] But slep ne may þere in his herte synke. Thenkynge how she for whom desir hym brende. A þousand fold was worth more þan he wende. [ 1540]

(221)

And in his þought gan vp and dounto wynde. [leaf 65] [ 1541] Hise wordes alle and euery contenaunce. And fermely impressen yn hire mynde. The leste poynt þat to hym was plesaunce. [ 1544] And verraylyche of þilke remembraunce. Desir al new hym brende. and lust to brede. Gan more þan erst. and yet toke he noon hede. [ 1547]

(222)

Criseyde also right in þe same wyse. [ 1548] Of Troylus gan in here herte shette. His worthinesse. his lust / his dedes wyse. His gentilesse. and how she with hym mette. [ 1551] Thonkynge loue he so wel here by-sette. Desiryng eft to haue here herte dere. In swych a plyt she dorst make hym chere. [ 1554]

(223)

Pandare a morwe which þat comen was. [ 1555] Vn-to his Nece and gan hire fayre grete. Seyde. al þis nyght so reynede it allas. That al my drede is þat ye my Nece swete. [ 1558] Han litel layser had to shepe [[for slepe]] and mete. Al nyght quod he hath reyn so do me wake. That som of vs I trowe here hedes ake. [ 1561]

(224)

And ner he come and seyde how stont it now. [ 1562] This murye morwe nece how kan ye fare. Criseyde answerede neuere þe bet [for] yow. Fox þat ye ben. god yeue youre herte care. [ 1565] God helpe me so ye causes al þis fare, Trow I quod she. for alle youre wordes whyte. who-so seth yow knoweth yow ful lite. [ 1568]

(225)

With þat she gan here face for to wrye. [ 1569] with þe shete and wax for shame al red. And Pandarus gan vnder for to prye. And seyde Nece yf þat I shal ben ded. [ 1572] Here haue a swerd and smyte of myn hede. with that his arm al sodeynly he þriste. Vnder here nekke and at þe laste here keste. [ 1575]

(226)

I passe al þat which chargeth nought to seye. [lf 65, bk] [ 1576] what god for-yaf his deth an she al so. For-yaf and with here vncle gan for to pleye. For oþer cause was þer noon but so. [ 1579] But of þis þing right to þe effect to go. whan tyme was hom til here hous she wente. And Pandarus hath fully his entente. [ 1582]

(227)

Now torne we a-yen to Troylus. [ 1583] That resteles ful longe a bedde lay. And preuely sente after Pandarus. To hym to come in al þe haste he may. [ 1586] He come a-noon nought onys seyde he nay. And Troylus ful sobrely he grette. And doun vpon his beddes syde hym sette. [ 1589]

(228)

This Troylus with al þe affeccioun. [ 1590] Of frendes loue þat herte may deuyse. To Pandarus on knees fil a-down. And er þat he wolde out of þe place a-ryse. [ 1593] He gan hym þonken in his beste wyse. A hondred sithe / and gan þe tyme blysse. That he was born / to brynge hym fro distresse. [ 1596]

(229)

He seyde .o. frend of frendes the alderbeste. [ 1597] That euere was / þe soþe for to telle. Thow hast in heuene y-brought my soule at reste. Fro Flegiton the fery flood of helle. [ 1600] That þough I myght a þousand tymes selle. Vpon a day my lyf in þy seruise. It myght nought a mot in þat suffise. [ 1603]

(230)

The Sonne whiche þat al þe worlde may se. [ 1604] Saw neuere yet my lyf þat dar I leye. So Inly feyr / and goodly as is she. whos I am al / and shal til þat I deye. [ 1607] And þat I þus am heres dar I seye. That þanked be the heigh worthynesse. Of loue. and ek þy kynde bysynesse. [ 1610]

(231)

Thus hastow me no lytel thyng y-yeue. [leaf 66] [ 1611] For which to the obliged be for ay. My lyf / and why / for þorugh þyn help I leue. For elles ded hadde I be many a day. [ 1614] And with þat word doun in his bed he lay. And Pandarus ful sobrely hym herde. Til al was seyd / and þanne he hym answerde. [ 1617]

(232)

My dere frend yf I haue don for þe. [ 1618] In ony cas god wot it is me lief. And am as glad as man may of it be. God help me so. but tak it not a grief. [ 1621] That I shal seyn be war of of myschief.. That þere as þow now brought art in to blysse. That þow þi self ne cause it nought to mysse. [ 1624]

(233)

For of Fortunes sharp aduersite. [[l. 1-4, Boethius, and Dante]] [ 1625] The worste kynde of Infortune is þis. A man to haue be in prosperite. And it remembren whan it passed is. [ 1628] Thow art wys ynowh for-þi do nought amys. Be not to Rakel þough þou sitte warme. For if þow be certeyn it wol þe harme. [ 1631]

(234)

Thow art at ese and holde þe wel þer-Inne. [ 1632] For also seur as red is euery fir. As gret a craft is kep wel as wynne. Bridle alwey wel þi speche and þi desir. [ 1635] For worldly Ioye halt not but by a wir. That preueth wel it brest alday so ofte. For-IIi nede is to werke wiþ it softe. [ 1638]

(235)

Quod Troylus I hope and god to-forn. [ 1639] My dere frend / þat I shal so me bere. That in my gilt þer shal no þing be lorn. Ne I nyl not rakle as for to greuen here. [ 1642] It nedeth not þis matere ofte tere. For wistow myn herte wel Pandare. God wot of þis þow woldest litel care. [ 1645]

(236)

Tho gan he telle hym of his glade nyght. [leaf 66, back] [ 1646] And where-of first his herte dredde & how. And seyde frend as I am trewe knyght. And by þat feyth I shal to god and yow. [ 1649] I hadde it neuere half so hote as now. And ay þe more þat desir me biteth. To loue here best / þe more it me delyteth [ 1652]

(237)

I not my self not wisly what it is. [ 1653] But now I fele a newe qualite. Ye al a noþer er I dede er þis. Pandare answerede and seyde þus þat he. [ 1656] That onys may in heuene blysse be. He feleth oþer weyes dar I leye. Than þilke tyme he first herd of it seye. [ 1659]

(238)

This is o word for al þis Troylus. [ 1660] was neuere ful to speke of þis matere, And for to preyse vn-to Pandarus. The bounte of his right lady dere. [ 1663] And Pandarus to þanke and maken clere. This tale ay was span newe to bygynne. Til þat þe nyght departed hem a-twynne. [ 1666]

(239)

Soone after þis for þat fortune it wolde. [ 1667] I-comen was þe blysful tyme swete. That Troylus was warned þat he shulde. Ther he was erst Criseyde his lady mete. [ 1670] For which he felt his herte in Ioye flete. And feythfully gan alle þe goddes herye. And lat se now yf þat he kan be merye. [ 1673]

(240)

And holden was þe forme and al þe wyse. [ 1674] Of here comynge. and of his also. As it was erst whych nedeth nought deuyse. But playnly to þe effect right for to go. [ 1677] In Ioye and seurte Pandarus hem two. A-bedde brought whan þat hem boþe leste. And þei ben in quyete and yn reste. [ 1680]

(241)

Nought nedeþ it to yow syn þey ben met. [leaf 67] [ 1681] To aske at me yf þat þey blyþe were. For yf it erst was wel þo was it bet. A þousand fold þis nedeþ not enquere. [ 1684] A gon was euery sorwe and euery fere. And boþe y-wys þey hadde and so þey wende. As muche Ioye as herte may complende. [ 1687]

(242)

This is no litel þyng of for to seye. [ 1688] This passeth euery wyt for to deuyse. For eche of hem gan oþeres lust obeye. Felicite which þat þese clerkes wyse. [ 1691] Commenden so. ne may not here suffice. This Ioye may not y-wrete ben with Inke. This passeth al þat herte may by-þenke. [ 1694]

(243)

But cruel day so wel-awey þe stounde. [ 1695] Gan for to a-proche as þey by synes knewe. For which hem þoughte felen dethes wounde. So wo was hem þat changen gan here hewe. [ 1698] And day þey gonnen to dispise al newe. Callyng it traytous enuyous and worse. And bitterly þe dayes light þey curse. [ 1701]

(244)

Quod Troylus now am I war. [ 1702] That Piros and þo swyfte stedes þre. which þat drawen forth þe sonnes char. Han gon som by-path in despit of me. [ 1705] That makeþ it so soone day to be. And for þe sonne hym hasteth þus to ryse. Ne shal I neuere don here sacrifice. [ 1708]

(245)

But nedes day departe moste hem soone. [ 1709] And whanne here speche don was and here chere. They twynne a-noon as þey were woned to done. And setten tyme of metyng eft y-fere. [ 1712] And many a nyght þey wrought yn þis manere. And þus Fortune a tyme ladde In Ioye. Criseyde and ek þis kynges sone of Troye. [ 1715]

(246)

In suffisaunce In blisse and in syngynges. [leaf 67, back] [ 1716] This Troylus gan al his lyf to lede. He spendeth Iusteth maketh festeynynges. He yeueth frely ofte. and chaungeth wede. [ 1719] And held hym aboute alwey out of drede. A world of folk. as kam hym wel of kynde. The fresshest and þe beste he koude fynde. [ 1722]

(247)

Þat swych a voys was of hym and [a] steuene. [ 1723] Thorugh-out þe world of honour and largesse. That it rong vp in-to þe yate of heuene. And as in loue he was yn swych gladnesse. [ 1726] That in his herte he demede as I gesse. That þere nys louere in þis world at ese. So wel as he and þus gan loue hym plese. [ 1729]

(248)

The goodlihede or beaute which þat kynde. [ 1730] In ony oþer lady hadde y-set. Kan not þe mountaunce of a knot vnbynde. A-boute his herte of al Criseydes net. [ 1733] He was so narwe y-maked and y-knet. That it vndon on any manere syde. That nyl not ben for ought þat may be-tide. [ 1736]

(249)

And by þe hond ful ofte he wolde take. [ 1737] This Pandarus and in-to gardeyn lede. And swych a feste and swych a proces make. Hym of Criseyde / and of here womanhede. [ 1740] And of here beaute / þat with-outen drede. It was an heuene his wordes for to here. And þanne he wolde synge in þis manere. [ 1743]

(250) (Troilus's Song of Love, 1; adapted from Boethius.)

Loue þat of erþe and se hath gouernaunce. [ 1744] Loue þat his heste hath in heuene hye. Love þat with an holsom alliaunce. Halt peples Ioyned as hem lyst hym gye. [ 1747] Loue þat knetteth lawe of companye. And couples doth in vertu for to dwelle. Bynd þis a-cord / þat I haue told and telle. [ 1750]

(251) (Troilus's Song. 2.)

That þat þe world with feyth which þat is stable. [lf 68] [ 1751] Dyuerseth so his stoundes concordynge. That elementes þat ben so discordable. Holden a bond perpetuely durynge. [ 1754] That Phebus mot his rosy day forth brynge. And þat þe mone hath lordship ouer þe nyghtes. Al þis doth loue. ay heryed be his myghtes. [ 1757]

(252) (Troilus's Song. 3.)

That þat þe se þat gredy is to flowen. [ 1758] Constreyne to a certeyn ende so. His flodes þat freshly þey ne growen. To drenchen erthe / and al for euere mo. [ 1761] And yf þat loue ought late his bridel go. Al þat now loueth a-sonder sholde lepe. And al were lost þat loue halt now to hepe. [ 1764]

(253) (Troilus's Song. 4.)

So wolde god þat Auctor is of kynde. [ 1765] That with his bond / loue of his vertu liste. To cerchen hertes alle and faste bynde. That from his bond no wight þe weye out wyste. [ 1768] And hertes colde hem wolde I þat he it wyste. To make hem loue. and þat hem lest ay rewe. On hertes sore / and kep hem þat ben trewe. [ 1771]

(254)

In alle nedes for þe townes werre. [ 1772] He was and ay þe firste in armes dight. And certaynly but if þat bokes erre. Saue Ector most y-drad of ony wight. [ 1775] And þis encres of hardinesse & myght. Cam hym of loue. his ladyes þank to wynne. That altered his spirit so with-Inne. [ 1778]

(255) [[Caxton puts st. 255 after 259. Herl. 1239 has it here.]]

In tyme of trewe. on haukynge wolde ryde. [ 1779] Or elles hunten. bore. beere. or lyoun. The smale bestes leet he gon by syde. And whan þat he com rydynge in to town. [ 1782] Ful ofte his lady from hire wyndow down. As frescħ as fawkon cometh out of muwe. Ful redy was hym goodly to saluwe. [ 1785]

(256)

And most of loue and vertu was his speche. [lf 68, bk] [ 1786] And in despit hadde alle wrecchednesse. And douteles no nede was hym byseche. To honouren hem þat hadde worthynesse. [ 1789] And esen hem þat weren in distresse. And glad was he yf any wyght wel ferde. That louere was. whan he it wyste or herde. [ 1792]

(257)

For soth to seyn he lost held euery wyght. [ 1793] But yf he were in loues heyghe seruyse. I. mene folk þat oughte it ben of right. And ouer al þis so wel koude he deuyse. [ 1796] Of sentement. and in so vnkow wyse. Al his aray. þat euery louere þoughte. That al was wel what-so he seyde or wroughte. [ 1799]

(258)

And þough þat he be come of blod royal. [ 1800] Lyst hym of pride at no wyght for to chase. Benygne he was to ech yn general. For which he gat hym þank in euery place. [ 1803] Thus wold loue y-heryed be his grace. That Pride / enuye / Ire / and auaryce. He gan to fle. and euery oþer vice. [ 1806]

(259)

Thow lady bryght þe doughter to Dyone. [ 1807] Thy blynde and wynged sone ek daun Cupide. Ye sustren nyne ek þat by Elycone. I. hil parnaso lysten for to a-byde. [ 1810] That ye þus fer han deyned me to gyde. I kan no more but syn þat ye wol wende. Ye heryed ben for ay with-outen ende. [ 1813]

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Thourgh yow haue I seyd fully in my song. [ 1814] Theffect and Ioye of Troylus seruyce. Al be þat þere was som dishese a-mong. As to myn Auctor listeþ to deuyse. [ 1817] My þridde book now ende Ich in þis wys. And Troylus in lust and in quiete. Is with Criseyde his owne herte swete. [ 1820]

[End of Book III.]