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 ...

[Harleian MS. 2280, on leaf 56, back.]

[The few tagd f, g, k, t's of the MS. are not printed in this Book.]

(1) (Proem)

¶ But al to litel walawey þe while [ 1] Lasteth swich Ioy I-thonked be fortune Þat semeth trewest when she wol bigyle and kan to fooles so hire song entune [ 4] Þat she hem hente and blente traitour comune And when a wight is from hire whiel Ithrowe Than laugheth she and maketh hym þe mowe [ 7]

(2)

¶ From Troilus she gan hire brighte face [ 8] awey to wrythe and took of hym non hede But cast hym clene oute of his lady grace And on hire whiel she sette up diomede [ 11] For whiche myn herte right now gynneth to blede And now my penne allas with which I wryte Quaketh for drede of þat [I] most endite [ 14]

(3)

¶ For how Criseyde Troilus for-soke [ 15] Or at þe leeste how þat she was vnkynde Moot hennes forth ben matere of my book As wryten folk thorugh which it is mynde [ 18] Allas þat they sholde euere cause fynde To speke hire harme and if they on hire lye I-wis hem self shold han þe vylenye [ 21]

(4) (Invocation)

¶ O ȝe herynes nyghttes doughtren thre [leaf 57] [ 22] Þat endeles compleynen euere in pyne Megera alete / and ek thesiphone Thow cruel mars ek fader to quyryne [ 25] Þis ilke ferthe book me helpeth fyne So þat þe los of lyf and loue y-fere Of Troilus be fully shewed heere [ 28]

Explicit. tercius liber

Incipit quartus liber.

(5) (The Story)

Lyggynge in oost / as I haue seyde or þis [ 29] Þe grekes stronge a-boute Troye town Byfel / þat when þat phebus shynynge is Vp on the breste of herculis leoun [ 32] Þat Ector with ful many a bolde baroun Cast on a day with grekes for to fighte As he was wonte to greue hem what he myght [ 35]

(6)

¶ Not I how longe or short it was bitwene [ 36] Þis purpos / and þat day they fighten mente But on a day wel armed bryghte and shene Ector and many a worthi wight out wente [ 39] wit spere in honde and bigge bowes bente And in þe berde with-outen lenger lette Hire fomen in þe felde anon hem mette [ 42]

(7)

¶ Þe longe day with speres sharpe I-grounde [ 43] with arwes / dartes swerdes / maces felle They fighten and bryngen hors and man to grownde And with hire axes out þe braynes quelle [ 46] But in þe laste shoure soth for to telle Þe folk of Troie hem seluen so mysleden Þat with þe wors at nyght homward they fledden [ 49]

(8)

¶ At which day was taken antenor [ 50] Maugre Polidamas or monesteo Santippe sarpedon Polynestor Polite or ek þe Troian daun rupheo [ 53] And other lesse folk / as phebuseo So þat for harme þat day þe folk of Troie Dreden to lese a grete part of hire Ioye [ 56]

(9)

¶ Of Priamus was ȝeue a grek requeste [leaf 57, back] [ 57] A tyme of trew and þo they gonnen trete Hire prisoners to chaungen most and leste And for þe surplus ȝeuene sommes grete [ 60] Þis thynge a-non was with in euery strete Both in thessage and town and euery where And with þe firste it come to calkas ere [ 63]

(10)

¶ whan calkas knew þis tretis shold holde [ 64] In consistorie o-mange þe grekes soone He gan in thrynge forth with lordes olde And set hym there as he was wonte to done [ 67] And with a chaunged face hem bad a boone For loue of god to / don þat reuerence To stynte noyse and ȝeue hym audience [ 70]

(11)

¶ Than seyde he thus lo lordes myn ich was [ 71] Troian / as it is knowen of drede And if ȝow remembre I am kalkas / Þat alderfirste ȝaf confert to ȝoure nede [ 74] And tolde wel how þat ȝe shold spede For dredeles thorwgh ȝow shal in a stownde Ben Troie brente and betten down to grownde [ 77]

(12)

¶ And in what fere or in what manere wyse [ 78] Þis town shende and al ȝoure luste tacheue Ȝe han or this wel herde it me deuyse Þis knowe ȝe my lordes as I leue [i. credo] [ 81] And for þe grekes weren me so leue [i. cari] I com my self in my propre persone To teche in þis how ȝow was best to done [ 84]

(13)

¶ Hauynge to my tresour ne my rente [ 85] Right no resport / to respite of ȝour ese Þus al my goode I leste and to ȝow wente wynynge in þis ȝow lordes for to plese [ 88] But al þat los ne doth me no disese I vouche sauf / as wysly haue I Ioye For ȝow to leese alle þat I haue in Troye [ 91]

(14)

¶ Saue of a doughter that I lefte allas [ 92] Slepynge at home when out of Troie I sterte O sterne o cruel fader þat I was How myght I haue in þat so harde an herte [ 95] Allas I ne hadde brought hire in hire sherte For sorwe of which I wol nought lyue to morwe But if ȝe lordes rew vp-on my sorwe [ 98]

(15)

¶ For by þat cause I say no tyme or nowe [leaf 58] [ 99] Hire to deliuere ich holden haue my pees But now or neuere if it like ȝowe I may hire haue right soone douteles [ 102] O helpe and grace amonge al þis prees Rew up-on þis olde caytif in distresse Syn I thorwgh ȝow have al þis heuynesse [ 105]

(16)

¶ Ȝe haue now caught and fetered in prisoun [ 106] Troians I-nowe and If ȝoure willes be My childe with oon may han redempcion Now for þe loue of god and of bounte [ 109] Oon of so fele allas so ȝif hym me what nede were it this preyere for to werne Syn ȝe shul both han folk and town as ȝerne [ 112]

(17)

¶ On peril of my lif I shal nat lye [ 113] Appollo hath me told it feithfully, I haue ek founde by astronomye By sort and by augurye ek trewly [ 116] And dar wel seye the tyme is faste by Þat fir and flaumbe on al þe town shal sprede And þus shal Troie torne to asshen dede [ 119]

(18)

¶ For certeyn phebus and neptunus [[MS. neptimus]] bothe [ 120] Þat makkeden the walles of þe town Ben with þe folk of Troie alwey so wrothe Þat they wol brynge it to confusioun [ 123] Right in dispit of kynge lameadon By cause he nold payen hem here hire Þe town of Troie shal ben set on fyre [ 126]

(19)

¶ Tellynge his tale alway þis old greye [ 127] Humble in his speche and in his lokynge ek Þe salt teres from his eyen tweye Ful faste ronnen down by eyther cheeke [ 130] So longe he gan of socoure hem by-seke Þat for to hele hym of his sorwues soore They haue hym antenor with-outen more [ 133]

(20)

¶ But who was glad ynough but calkas þo [ 134] And of þis thynge ful soone his nedes layde On hem þat sholden for þe tretis go And hem for antenor ful oft preyde [ 137] To brynge hom kynge Tooas and cryseyde And whan Priam his saue garde sente Thembassadours to troie streught wente [ 140]

(21)

¶ The cause I-tolde of hire comynge the [leaf 56, back] [ 141] Priam þe kynge ful soone in general Let hire-vp-on his parlement to holde Of which theffect / rehercen ȝow I shal [ 144] Thembassatours ben answerde for fynal Theschaunge of prisoners and alle þis nede Hem lyketh wele and forth in they procede [ 147]

(22)

¶ This Troilus was present in þe place [ 148] whan axed was for antenor Criseyde For which ful soon chaungen gan his face as he þat with þo wordes wel neigh dyede [ 151] But natheles he no worde to hit seyde List men sholde his affeccion espye witht mannes herte he gan hys sorwes drye [ 154]

(23)

¶ And ful of angwisħ and of grisely drede [ 155] And what lordes wolde vn-to it seye And if they wolde graunte as god for-bede Theschaunge of hir þan thought he thynges tweye [ 158] First how to saue hire honour and what weye He myght best theschaunge of hire with-stonde Ful faste he caste how al thys myght stonde [ 161]

(24)

¶ Loue hym made al prest to don hyre bide [ 162] And rather dyen than she sholde go But reson seyde hym on þat other syde with-outen assente of hire ne do not so [ 165] leste for þi werke she wolde be þi fo And seyde þat thorwgh thy medlynge is Iblowe Ȝoure eyther loue þer it was erst vnknowe [ 168]

(25)

¶ For wich he gan deliberen for the beste [ 169] That though þe lordes wolde she wente He wolde lat hem graunte what hem liste And telle his lady firste what þat they mente [ 172] And whan þat she had seyde hym hire entente Ther-efter wolde he werken also blyue Theigh al þe world aȝeyn it wold stryue [ 175]

(26)

¶ Ector which þat wele þe grekes herde [ 176] For antenor how they wolde han Cryseyde Gan it with-stonde and sobrely answerde Sires she nys no prisoner he seyde [ 179] I not on ȝow who þis þat þis charge layde But on my part ȝe may eft sones hem telle we vsen here no wommen for to selle [ 182]

(27)

¶ The noyse of peple vp stirte thanne atones / [leaf 59] [ 183] As breme as blase of straw I-set on fyre For Infortune it wolde for the nones They sholden hire confusion desire [ 186] Ector quod they what gost may thow enspire Þis womman þus to shilde and don vs lese Daun antenor / a wrong wey now ȝe chese [ 189]

(28)

¶ Þat is so wis and eke so bolde baroun [ 190] And we han nede tolk as men may se He is ek on þe grettest of this town O Ector lat tho fantasyes be [ 193] O kynge priam quod they þus siggen we Þat al oure vois is to for-gon Criseyde And to delyueren antenor they preyde [ 196]

(29)

¶ O Iuuenal lorde trewe is thy sentence [ 197] Þat litel witen folk what is to ȝerne Þat they ne fynde in hire desire offence For cloude of errour ne lat hem disterne [ 200] what best is and lo here ensaumple as ȝerne Þis folk desiren now delyueraunce Of antenor þat brought hem to myschaunce [ 203]

(30)

¶ For he was after traitour to þe town [ 204] Of Troie allas they quite hym oute to rathe O nyce world / lo thy discrecioun Criseyde whiche þat neuere dide hem scathe [ 207] Shal now no longer in hire blisse bathe But antenor he shal com hom to towne And she shal out þus seyde here and howne [ 210]

(31)

¶ For whiche delibered was by parlemente [ 211] For antenor to ȝelden out Criseyde And pronounced by the president Al-theigh þat Ector nay ful oft preyde [ 214] And finaly what wight þat it with-seyde It was for nought it most ben and sholde For substaunce of þe parlement it wolde [ 217]

(32)

¶ Departed out of parlement echone [ 218] This Troilus with-outen wordes mo Vn-to his chaumbre spedde hym faste allone But if were aman of his or two [ 221] The whiche he bad out fast for to go By cause he wolde slepen as he seyde And hastely vp on his bed hym layde [ 224]

(33)

¶ And as in wynter leues ben byraft [leaf 59, back] [ 225] Eche efter other til þe tre be bare So þat þer nys but bark and braunche ylaft Lith Troilus byraft of eche welfare [ 228] Ybounden in þe blak bark of care Disposed wode out of his wit to brayde So soore hym sat þe chaungynge of Criseyde [ 231]

(34)

¶ He ryste hym up and euery dore he shette [ 232] And wyndow ek and tho þis sorwful man Vp on his beddes syde a-down hym sett Ful like a dede ymage pale and wan [ 235] And in his breste þe heped wo bygan Out brast / and he to werken in þis wyse In his wodenesse / as I shal ȝow deuyse [ 238]

(35)

¶ Right as þe wilde bole bigynneth sprynge [ 239] Now here now ther ydarted to þe herte And of his deth roreth in compleynnynge Right so gan he aboute þe chaumbre sterte [ 242] Smytynge his brest ay with his fistes smerte His hed to þe walle his body to þe grounde Ful ofte he swapte hym seluen to confounde [ 245]

(36)

¶ His eyen two for pite of herte [ 246] out stremeden as swyft welles tweye Þe heigh sobbes of his sorwes smerte His spech hym refte vnnethes myghte he seye [ 249] O deth allas why nyl-tow do me deye A-corsed be þat day whiche þat nature Shope me to ben a lyues creature [ 252]

(37)

¶ But efter when þe furie and al þe rage [ 253] which þat his herte twiste and fast threste By lenghe of tyme som what gan at-swage Vp on his bedde he layde hym down to reste [ 256] But þo bigan his teres more oute breste Þat wonder is þe body may suffise To half þis wo which þat I ȝow deuyse [ 259]

(38)

¶ Than seyde he þus fortune allas þe while [ 260] what haue I don what haue I þus a-gilt How myghtestow for routhe me by-gyle Is ther no grace and shal I þus be spilte [Sine causs.] [ 263] Shal þus Criseyde a-wey for þat thow wilt Allas how maistow in thyn herte fynde To ben to me þus cruel and vnkynde [ 266]

(39)

¶ Haue þe nought honoured al my lyue [leaf 60] [ 267] As thow wel woost a-boue þe goddes alle why wiltow me fro Ioie thus depryue O Troilus what may men þe now calle [ 270] But wrich of wriches out of honour falle Into miserie in whiche I wol biwaille Criseide allas / til þat þe breth me faille [ 273]

(40)

¶ Allas fortune if þat my life in Ioie [ 274] Displesed hadde vn-to thy foule enuye whi ne haddestow my fader kyng of Troye Byraft the life or don my bretheren dye [ 277] Or slayn my-self þat þus compleyne and crye I combre world þat may of no thynge serue But euere dye and neuere fully sterue [ 280]

(41)

¶ If þat Criseyde allone were me laft [ 281] Nought rought I whidere thow woldest me stere And hire allas than hastow me biraft But euere more lo þis is thy manere [ 284] To reue a wyght þat moost is to hym dere To preue in þat thi gerful violence Þus am I lost ther helpeth no defence [ 287]

(42)

¶ O verre lord o loue o god allas [ 288] Þat knowest best myn herte and alle my thought what shal my sorwful lyf don in þis cas If I for-go þat I so deere haue bought [ 291] Syn ȝe Criseyde and me han fully brought In to ȝour grace / and both oure hertes seled How may ȝe suffre / allas it be repeled [ 294]

(43)

¶ what I may don I shal whil I may dure [ 295] On lyue in torment and in cruel peyne Þis infortune or this disauenture Allone as I was borne I-wys compleyne [ 298] Ne neuere wol I sen it shyne or reyne But ende I wol as Edippe in derkenesse My sorwful lyf and dyen in distresse [ 301]

(44)

¶ O verrey goost þat errest to and fro [ 302] whi nyltow flen out of þe wofulleste Body / þat euere myght on grounde go O soule lurkynge in þis wo vnneste [.i. go out of þi nest] [ 305] Fle forth out of myn herte and lat it breste And folow alwey Criseyde þi lady deere Þi right place is now no longer here [ 308]

(45)

¶ O woful eyen two syn ȝoure disporte [leaf 60, back] [ 309] was al to sen Criseydes eyen bright what shal ȝe don but for my disconforte Stonden for naught and wepen out ȝour sighte [ 312] Syn she is queynte þat was ȝow to lighte In veyne fro þis forth haue ich eyen Tweye I-formed / Syn ȝoure vertu is a-weye [ 315]

(46)

¶ O my Criseyde o lady souerayne [ 316] Of þis woful soule þat þus cryeth Who shal now ȝeuen confort to þe peyne Allas no wight / but when myn herte dyeth [ 319] My spirit which þat so vn-to ȝow hyeth Receyue in gre / for þat shal ay ȝow serue For-thy no fors is thought þe body sterue [ 322]

(47)

¶ O ȝe louers þat heighe vp on þe whiel [ 323] Ben set of fortune in goode auenture God leue þat ȝe fynde ay loue of stiel And longe mote ȝoure lyf in Ioie endure [ 326] But when ȝe comen by my sepulture Remembreth þat ȝoure felowe resteth þere For I loued ek though ich vnworthy were [ 329]

(48)

¶ O olde vnholsom and myslyued man [ 330] Calkas I mene allas what ayled the To ben a greke / syn thow ert born troian O calkas which þat wolt my bane be [ 333] In cursed tyme was thow borne for me As wold blisful Iouo for his Ioie Þat I þe hadde wher I wold in Troie [ 336]

(49)

¶ A thousand sikes hottere þan þe glede [ 337] Out of his breste ech efter othere wente Medled with pleyntes now his wo to fede For which his woful teris neuere stente [ 340] And shortly so hise peynes hym to-rente And wax so maat þat Ioie or penaunce He feleth non but lith forth in a traunce [ 343]

(50)

¶ Pandare which þat in þe parlement [ 344] Adde harde / what euery lord and burges seyde And how ful graunted was by oon assente For antenor to ȝelden so Criseyde [ 347] Gan wel neigh woode out of his wit to breyde So þat for wo he nyste what he mente But in a rees to Troilus he wente [ 350]

(51)

¶ A certeyn knyght þat for þe tyme kepte [leaf 61] [ 351] Þe chaumbre dore vndid it hym anon And Pandare þat ful tendrelych wepte In to þe derke chaumbre as stille as stone [ 354] Towarde þe bedde gan softly to gon So confus þat he nyst what to seye For verray wo his wit was neigh awaye [ 357]

(52)

¶ And with his chere and lokynge al to-torn [ 358] For sorwe of þis and with his armes folden He stode þis woful Troilus biforn And on his pitous face he gan biholden [ 361] But lord so soft gan his herte colden Seynge his frend in wo whos heuynesse His herte slough as thoughte hym for distresse [ 364]

(53)

¶ Þis woful witht þis Troilus þat felte [ 365] his frend Pandare y-comen hym to se Gan as þe snow aȝein þe sonne melte For which þis sorwful Pandare of pite [ 368] Gan for to wepe as tendrelich as he And specheles this ben thise ilke tweye Þat neither myght a worde for sorw seye [ 371]

(54)

¶ But at þe laste this woful Troilus [ 372] Neigh ded for smerte gan bresten out to rore And with a sorwful noise he seyde thus Amang hise sobbes and his sikes sore [ 375] Lo Pandare I am ded with-outen more Hastow nat herd at parlement he seyde For antenor how loste is my Criseyde [ 378]

(55)

¶ Þis Pandarus ful ded and pale of hewe [ 379] Ful pitously answerde and seyde yis As wisly were it fals as it is trewe That I haue herde and woot al how it is [ 382] O mercy god who wold haue trowed þis who wold haue wende þat in so litel a throwe Fortune oure Ioie wold haue ouer throw [ 385]

(56)

¶ For in þis worlde ther is no creature [ 386] As to my dome þat euere saugh ruyne Straunger þen þis thorwgh cas or auenture But who may al eschue or al deuyne [ 389] Swich is þis world for-þi I þus deffyne Ne truste no wight to fynden in fortune Ay properte / hire ȝiftes ben comune [ 392]

(57)

¶ But tel me þis why thow ert now so mad [leaf 61, back] [ 393] To sorwen þus why listow in þis wyse Syn þi desire al holly hastow had So þat by right it ought ynough suffise [ 396] But I þat neuere felt in my seruyse A frendly chere or lokynge of an eye Lat me þus wepe and waylen til I dye [ 399]

(58)

¶ And ouer al þis as thow wel woost þi selue [ 400] Þis town is ful of ladis al aboute And to my doom fayrer þan swich twelue As euere she was / shal I fynden in som route [ 403] Ye oon or two with-outen any doute For-þi be glad myn owen deere brother If she be lost we shal recouere a-nother [ 406]

(59)

¶ what god forbede alwey þat ech plesaunce [ 407] In o thynge were and in noon other wight If on kan synge a nother kan wel daunce If þis be goodly she is glad and light [ 410] And þis is fair and þat kan goode a-right Ech for his vertu holden is for deere Both heroner and faucoun for ryuere [ 413]

(60)

¶ And ek as writ ȝauȝis þat was ful wis [ 414] Þe new loue oute chaceth oft þe olde And vp on newe cas lith a newe a-uys Thynke ek þi lif to sauen ertow holden [ 417] Swich fire by processe shal of kynde colden For syn it is but casuel plesaunce Som cas shal putte it oute of remembraunce [ 420]

(61)

¶ For also seur as day cometh after nyght [ 421] Þe new loue / labour or other wo Or elles selde seynge of a wight Don olde affeccions alle ouer go [ 424] And for þi part thow shal haue oon of two Tabrigge with þi bittre peynes smerte Absens of hire shal dryue hire out of herte [ 427]

(62)

¶ Þese wordes seyde he for þe noones alle [ 428] To helpe his frende list he for sorwe dyed For douteles to don his wo to falle He rought nought what vnthrift þat he seyde [ 431] But Troilus þat neigh for sorw dyed Took litel hede of alle þat euere he mente Oon ere it herde attother out it wente [ 434]

(63)

¶ But atte last answerde and seyde frende [leaf 62] [ 435] Þis lechecraft or heled thus to be were wel sittynge if þat I were a fend To traysen a wight þat trewe is vn-to me [ 438] I preye god let þis counseyle neuere I-the But do me rather sterue a-non right here Er I þus do as thow me woldest leere [ 441]

(64)

¶ She þat I serue I-wis what so thow seye [ 442] To whom myn herte enhabit is by right Shal han me holly hires til þat I dye For Pandarus syn I haue trowthe hire hight [ 445] I wol nat ben vntrow for no wight But as hire man I wole ay lyue and sterue And neuere other creature serue [ 448]

(65)

¶ And þer thow seist thow shalt as faire fynde [ 449] As she / lat be / make no comparisoun To creature yformed here by kynde O leue Pandare in conclusyoun [ 452] I wol not ben of thyn opynyoun Touchynge al þis for whiche I þe beseche So holde þi pees thow slest me with þi speche [ 455]

(66)

¶ Thow biddest me I sholde loue a nother [ 456] Alle freshly newe and lat Criseyde go It lith nat in my Power leeue brother And though .I myghte I wol not do so [ 459] But kanstow pleyen raket to and fro Nettle in dokke out now þis now þat Pandare Now foule falle hire for þi wo and care [ 462]

(67)

¶ Thow fairest ek by me thow Pandarus [ 463] As he þat whan a wight is wo-by-gon He cometh to hym a paas and seith right thus Thynke nat on smerte and thow shalt fele none [ 466] Thow moost me first transmuwen in a stoon And reue me my passiouns alle Er thow so lightly do my wo to falle [ 469]

(68)

¶ Þe deth may wel out of my brest departe [ 470] Þe lyf / so longe may þis sorw myne But fro my soule shal Criseydes darte Out neuer mo / but down with proserpyne [ 473] Whan I am dede I wol go wone in pyne And þer I wol eternaly compleyne My wo / and þat twynned be we tweyne [ 476]

(69)

¶ Thow hast here made an argument for fyne [lf 62, bk] [ 477] How þat it shold lasse peyne be Criseyde to for-gon for she was myne And lyued in ese and in felicite [ 480] why gabbestow þat seydest vn-to me Þat hym is wors þat is fro wel I-throwe Þan he hadde erst non of þat wele y-knowe [ 483]

(70)

¶ But tel me now syn þat the thynketh so lyght [ 484] To chaungen so in loue ay to and fro Why hastow nat doon bysily thy myghte To chaungen hire þat doth þe al þi wo [ 487] why nyltow lete hire fro þin herte I-go why nyltow loue a nother lady swete Þat may þin herte setten in quiete [ 490]

(71)

¶ If thow hast hadde in loue ay ȝet meschaunce [ 491] And kast it nought oute of thyn herte dryue I þat lyuede in luste and in plesaunce with hire as muche as creature on lyue [ 494] How shold I þat forȝete and þat so blyue O wher hastow ben so longe hyde in muwe Þat kanst so wel and formeliche argue [ 497]

(72)

¶ Nay god woote nought worthi is al þi reede [ 498] For which for what þat euere may be-falle With-outen wordes mo I wol be dede O deth þat endere ert of sorwes alle [ 501] Com now syn I so oft efter þe calle For sely is þat deth soft for to seyne That oft I-cleped cometh and endeth peyne [ 504]

(73)

¶ wel wote I whil my lif was in qui[e]te [ 505] Er thow me slewe I wolde haue ȝeuen hire But now þi comynge is to me so swete Þat in þis world I no thynge so desire [ 508] O deth syn with þi sorw I am a-fire Thow outher do me a-non in teres drenche Or with cold strooke myn heete quenche [ 511]

(74)

¶ Syn þat thow slest so fele in sondry wyse [ 512] Aȝeyns hire wil vn-preyed day and nyghte Do me at my requeste this seruyse Deliuere now þe world so dostow right [ 515] Of me / þat am þe wofullest wight Þat euere was / for tyme is þat I sterue Syn in þis world of nought may serue [ 518]

(75)

¶ This troilus in teres gan distille [leaf 63] [ 519] As licour out of a lambic ful faste And Pandarus gan hold his tonge stille And to þe grounde his eyen don he caste [ 522] But natheles thus thought he at þe laste what parde rather þan my felawe deye Ȝet shal I somwhat more vn-to hym seye [ 525]

(76)

¶ And seyd frende syn thow haste swich distresse [ 526] And syn þe list myn argumentȝ to blame why nyl thy seluen helpen don retresse And with þi manhod letten al þis grame [ 529] Go rauyshe hire ne kanstow nought for shame And outher lat hire out town faire Or hold hire stille and leue þi nyce fare [ 532]

(77)

¶ Artow in troye and hast non hardimente [ 533] To tak a womman which þat loueth the And wold hire seluen ben of thyn assente Now is nat þis a nyce vanyte [ 536] Rise vp a-non and lat þis wepynge be And right thow ert a man for in þis houre I wol ben dede or she bleuen oure [ 539]

(78)

¶ To this answerde hym Troylus ful soft [ 540] And seyde parde leue brother deere Al this haue I my self ȝet thought ful oft And more thynge þan thow deuysest here^hic [ 543] But why þis thynge is laft thow shalt wel here^audire And when thow me hast ȝeuen an audience Þer-efter maistow telle alle þi sentence [ 546]

(79)

¶ First syn thow woost þis town hath alle þis werre [ 547] For rauysshyng of wommen so by nyght It shold nought be suffred me to erre as it stant now / ne don so grete vnright [ 550] I sholde han also blame of euery wyght My fadres graunte If that I so with-stode Syn she is chaunged for þe townes goode [ 553]

(80)

¶ I haue ek thought so it were hire assente [ 554] To axe hire at my fader of his grace Þan thynke I thys were hire acusemente Syn wel I woot I may hire nought purchace [ 557] For syn my fader in so heigh a place As parlement / hath hire eschaunge enseled He nyl for me his lettre be repeled [ 560]

(81)

¶ Ȝet drede I most hire herte to [[p has a dash under, = per] p̄ertorbe [leaf 63, back] [ 561] with violence If I do swich a game For if I wolde it openly distorbe It moost be disclandre to hire name, [ 564] And me were leuere ded than hire defame As nold god but if I shold haue hire honour leuere þan my lif to saue [ 567]

(82)

¶ Þus am I lost for ought þat I kan se [ 568] For certein is syn þat I am hire kynyght I most hire honour leuere han þan me Iu euery cas as louers aught of righte [ 571] Þus am I in desire and reson twyght Desire for to distourben hire me redeth And reson nyl so myn herte dredeth [ 574]

(83)

¶ Þus wepynge þat he koude neuere cesse [ 575] He seyde allas how shal I wriche fare For wel fele I alway my loue encresce And hope is lasse and lasse alway Pandare [ 578] Encresen ek þe causes of my care So waylawey why nyl myn herte breste For as in loue þer is but litel rest [ 581]

(84)

¶ Pandare answerde frend thow mayst for me [ 582] Don as þe lest / but hadde ich it so hoote and thyn estate she sholde go with me Though al þis town cryed on þis thynge by note [ 585] I nold sette at al þat noyse a grote For when men han wel cryed þan wol they rowne Ek wonder last but ix nyght neuere in towne [ 588]

(85)

¶ Deuyne nat in reson ay so depe [ 589] Ne curtaisly but helpe þi self a-non Bet is þat othere þan þi seluen wepe And namely syn ȝe two ben al oone [ 592] Rise vp / for by myn hed she shal not gon And rather be in blame a lite I-founde Þan sterue here as a gnat with-outen wounde [ 595]

(86)

¶ It is no shame vn-to ȝow ne no vyce [ 596] Hire to with-holden þat ye loueth most Paraunter she myght holden þe for nyce To laten hire go þus vn-to þe grekes oost [ 599] Thynk ek fortune as wel þi-seluen wooste Helpeth hardy man vn-to his emprise And weyneth wreches for hire cowardyse [ 602]

(87)

¶ And though thy lady wolde a lite hire greue [leaf 64] [ 603] Thow shalt þiself þi pees here-efter make But as for me certein I kan not leeue Þat she wolde it a now for euel take [ 606] why shold þanne of fered thyn herte quake Thynk ek how Paris hath þat is þi brother A loue / and why shaltowe not haue a nothe [ 609]

(88)

¶ And Troylus o thynge I dar þe swere [ 610] Þat If Criseyde which þat is þi lief Now loueth þe as wel as thow dost hire God help me so she nyl not take a-gryefe [ 613] Theigh thow do boote o-non in þis meschief And if wilneth fro þe for to passe Thanne is she fals so loue hire wel þ^e lasse [ 616]

(89)

¶ For-þi take herte and thynk right as knyght [ 617] Thorwe loue is broken alday euery lawe Right now somwhat þi curage and þi myght haue mercy on þi self for any awe [ 620] lat not þis wreched wo thyne herte gnawe and manly set þe world on six and seuene And if thow deye a martyr go to heuene [ 623]

(90)

¶ I wol my self ben with þe at þis dede [ 624] Theigh ich and alle my kyn vp-on a stownde Shul in a strete as dogges liggen dede Thorwgh gyrt with many wyde and blody wounde [ 627] In euery cas I wol a frend ben founde And if þe list here steruen as a wreche A dieu / þe deuel spede hym þat it reche [ 630]

(91)

¶ This Troilus gan with wordes quykken [ 631] And seyde frende graunte mercy ich assente But certeynly thow maist not so me priken Ne peyne non ne may me so tormente [ 634] Þat for no cas it is not myn entente At shorte wordes though I dyen shold To rauysshen hire but If hire self it wolde [ 637]

(92)

¶ why so mene I quod Pandarus [ 638] But tel me þanne hastow hire wil asayde Þat sorwest þus and he answerde hym nay were-of ertow quod Pandare þanne amayed [ 641] Þat nost not þat she wol ben yuel apeyed To rauysshen hire syn thow hast nought ben þere But If þat Ioue told it in thyn ere [ 644]

(93)

¶ For-thy ris vp as nought ne were anon [leaf 64, back] [ 645] And wessh þi face and to þe kynge thow wende Or he may wondren wheder thow ert gon Thow most with wisdom hym and other blynde [ 648] Or vp-on cas he may efter the sende Er thow be war and shortly brother deere Be glad / and lat me werke in þis matere [ 651]

(94)

¶ For I shal shape it so þat sikerly [ 652] Thow shalt þis nyght somtyme in som manere Com speken with þi lady priuely And by hire wordes ek as by hire cheere [ 655] Thow shalt ful soone a-perceyue and wel here al hire entent and in þis cas þe beste And fare now wele for in this poynte I reste [ 658]

(95)

¶ The swifte fame which þat fals thynges [ 659] Egal reportehth like þe thynges trewe was thorugh-out Troye yfled with prest wynges Fro man to man and made þis tale al newe [ 662] How calkas doughter with hire bryght hewe At parlement with-outen wordes moore I-graunted was in chaunge of antenore [ 665]

(96)

¶ Þe which tale a-non right as Criseyde [ 666] Hadde herde she which þat of hir fader roughte As in þis cas right nought ne when he deyed Ful bisily to Iuppiter bisoughte [ 669] Ȝeue hym meschaunce þat þis tretis broughte But shortly lest this tales sothe were She dorst at no wight axen it for feere [ 672]

(97)

¶ As she þat hadde hire herte and al hire mynde [ 673] On Troilus ysette so wonder faste Þat al þis world ne myghte hire loue vnbynde Ne Troilus out of hire herte caste [ 676] She wol ben his wil þat hire lif may laste And she þus brenneth bothe in loue and drede So þat she nyste what was best to rede. [ 679]

(98)

¶ But as men seen in town and alle a-boute [ 680] Þat wommen vsen frendes to visite So to Criseyde of wommen com a route For pitous Ioie / and wenden hire delite [ 683] And with hire tales dere ynough a myte Þis wommen which þat in þe cite dwelle They set hem down and seyde as I shal telle [ 686]

(99)

¶ Quod firste þat oon I am glad trewly [leaf 65] [ 687] By-cause of ȝow þat shal ȝoure fader se A nother seyd I-wys so nam not I For to litel hath she with vs be [ 690] Quod tho þe thridde I hope I-wis þat she Shal brynge vs þe pees on euery syde Þanne when she goth al-myghty god hire gyde [ 693]

(100)

¶ Tho wordes and þo wommansshe thynges [ 694] She herde hem right as though she tennes were For god it woot hire herte on other thynges is Al though þe body sate a-mange hem there [ 697] Hire aduertens is alwey elles-where For Troilus ful fast hire soule soughte with-outen worde on hym alwey she thoughte [ 700]

(101)

¶ Thise wommen þat þus wenden hire to pleese [ 701] Aboute nought gonne al hire tales spende Swich vanite ne kan don hire non ese As she þat al þis mene while brende [ 704] Of other passioun þan they wende So þat she felt al-moost hire herte dye For wo and wery of þat compaignye [ 707]

(103)

¶ And þilke fooles sittynge hire a-boute [ 715] wenden þat she wepte and syked soore By cause þat shol out of þat route Departen / and neuere pleye wit hem more [ 718] And þey þat hadde y-knowen hire of yoore Seigh hire so wepe and thought it kyndenesse And ech of hem wepte eke for hire distresse [ 721]

(104)

¶ And bisily they gonnen hire conforten [ 722] Of thynge god woot on which she litel thoughte And wit hire tales wenden hire disporten And to be glad they oft hire bysoughte [ 725] But which an ese ther-with they hire wroughte Right as a man is esed for to feele For ach of hed to clowen hym on his heele [ 728]

(105)

¶ But efter al þis nyce vanite [ 729] They took hire leue and hom they wente alle Criseyde ful of sorwful pitee In to hire chaumbre vp wente out of þ^e halle [ 732] And on hire bed she gan for ded to falle In purpos neuere thennes for to rise And þus she wroughte as I shal ȝowe devyse [ 735]

(106)

¶ Hire ownded here þat sonnyssh was of hewe [lf 65, bk] [ 736] She rente / and ek hire fyngeres longe and smale She wronge ful oft / and bad god on hire rewe And with þe deth to don boote on hire bale [ 739] Hire hew whilom bright þat þo was pale Bar witnesse of hire wo and hire constreynte And þus she spake sobbynge in hire compleynte [ 742]

(107)

¶ Allas quod she out of this region [ 743] I woful wreche and infortuned wight And born in corsed constellacioun Moot goon / and þus departen fro my knyght [ 746] wo worth allas þat ilke dayes lyght On which I saugh hym first with eyen tweyne Þat causeth me / and ich hym al þis peyne [ 749]

(108)

¶ Þer-with þe teres from hire eyen two [ 750] Down fille / as shour in aperil swithe Hire white brest she bet and for þe wo Efter þe deth she cryed a thousand sythe [ 753] Syn he þat wont hire wo was for to lithe She moot for-gon for which disauenture She held hire self a forlost creature [ 756]

(109)

¶ She seyd how shal he doon and ich also [ 757] how shold I lyue if þat I fro hym twynne O deere herte ek þat I loue so who shal þat sorw alen þat ȝe ben Inne [ 760] O calkas fader thyn be al þis synne O moder myn þat cleped were argyue wo worth þat day þat thow me bere on lyue [ 763]

(110)

¶ To what fyn shold I lyue and sorwen þus [ 764] How shold a fissh with-outen water dure what is Criseyde worth from Troilus How shold a plaunte or lyues creature [ 767] Lyue / with-outen his kynde noriture For which ful oft a byworde here I seye Þat rootheles mot grene soon dye [ 770]

(111)

¶ I shal doon þus syn neither swerde ne darte [ 771] Dar I non handlee for the cruelte Þat ilk day þat I from ȝow departe If sorwe of þat nyl nat my bane be [ 774] Þanne shal no mete or drynk com in me Til I my soule out of my breste vnshethe And þus my-seluen wold I don to dethe [ 777]

(112)

¶ And Troilus my clothes euerychon [leaf 66] [ 778] Shal blake ben in tokennynge herte swete Þat I am out of þis worlde gon Þat wonte was ȝow to setten in quiete [ 781] And of myn ordre ay til deth me mete Þe obseruaunce euere in ȝoure absens Shal sorw ben compleynte and abstinence [ 784]

(113)

¶ Myn herte and ek þe woful goost þer-Inne [ 785] By-quethe I with ȝoure spirit to compleyne Eternaly for they shal neuere twynne For though in erith I-twynned be we tweyne [ 788] Ȝet in þe feld of pite out of peyne Þat height Elysos shal we ben I-feere As orpheus and Erudice his feere [ 791]

(114)

¶ Thus herte myn for antenor allas [ 792] I soone shal ben chaunged as I weene But how shul ȝe don in þis sorwful cas How shal ȝoure tendre herte þis sustene [ 795] But herte myne for-ȝet this sorw and teen And me also for sothly for to seye So ȝe wel fare I reche noughte to dye [ 798]

(115)

¶ How myght it euere yherd ben or ysonge [ 799] Þe pleynte þat she made in hire distresse I not / but as for me my litel tonge If discryuen wold hire heuynesse [ 802] It sholde Make hire sorwe seme lesse Þanne þat it was / and childisshly deface Hire heighe compleynte and þer-for ich it pace [ 805]

(116)

¶ Pandare which þat sente from Troilus [ 806] was vnto Criseyde as ȝe han herde deuyse Þat for þe beste it was a-corded thus And he ful glad to don hym þat seruyse [ 809] Vn-to Criseyde in a ful faire wyse Þer as she lay in torment and in rage Com hire to telle alle holly his message [ 812]

(117)

¶ And fonde þat she hire-seluen gan to trete [ 813] Ful pitously / for with hire salte teres Hire breste / hire face y-bathed was ful wete Þe myghty tresses of hire sonnysshe here [ 816] Vnbroiden hangen al a-boute hire eeres which ȝaf hym verray signal of matere Of deth which þat hire herte gan desire [ 819]

(118)

¶ when she hym saugh she gan for sorwe anon [lf 66, bk] [ 820] Hire tery face atwixe hire armes hyde For which þis Pandare is so wo-bigon Þat in þe hous he myght vnneth abyde [ 823] As he þat pite hadde on euery syde For if Criseide hadda erst compleyned soore Þo gan she pleyne a thousand tyme moore. [ 826]

(119)

¶ And in hire aspre pleynte þus she seyde [ 827] Pandare first of ioies moo þan two was cause causynge vn-to me Criseyde Þat now transmuwed ben in cruel wo [ 830] Ther shal I seye to ȝow wel com or no Þat aldirfirste me brought vn-to seruyse of loue / allas þat endeth in swich wyse [ 833]

(120)

¶ Endeth thanne loue in wo ȝe or men lieth [ 834] And and alle wordly blisse as thynketh me Þe ende of blisse ay sorw it ocupieth And who-so troweth not þat it so be [ 837] lat vp-on me woful wreche y-see Þat my-self hate and ay burthe a-corse Felynge alwey fro wikke I go to worse [ 840]

(121)

¶ who-so me seeth he seeth sorwe al atones [ 841] Peyne torment / pleynte / wo / distresse Out of my woful body harm þer non is As angwissh / langour / cruel / bitternesse [ 844] Anoy / smert / drede furye and ek sekenesse I trowe I-wis from teres reyne For pite of myn aspre and cruel peyne [ 847]

(122)

¶ And though my suster ful of disconfort [ 848] Quod Pandarus what thynkestow to doo why ne hastow to þi-seluen som reporte why wiltow þus þi self allas for-do [ 851] Leef al þis werk and take now hede to Þat I shal seyne / and herkene of goode entente Þis message whiche by me þi Troilus me sente [ 854]

(123)

¶ Torned hire tho Criseyde a wo makynge [ 855] So grete / þat it a deth was for to se Allas quod she what wordes may ȝe brynge what wol my deere herte seyne to me [ 858] which þat I drede neuere mo to se wol he han pleynte or teres or I wende I haue I-noughe If he ther-efter sende [ 861]

(124)

¶ She was right swich to seen in hire visage [leaf 67] [ 862] As is þat wight þat men on beere bynde Hire face like to paradis þe ymage was al chaunged in a nother kynde [ 865] Þe pleye þe laughtre men was wonte to fynde On hire / and ek hire Ioies euerychone Ben fled / and þus lith now Criseyde allone [ 868]

(125)

¶ Aboute hire eyen two purpre rynge [ 869] By-trent in sothfast toknynge of lyre peyne Þat to be-holde it was a dedely thynge For which Pandare myght not refreyne [ 872] Þe teres from his eyen for to reyne But nathales / as he best myght he seyde From Troilus / thise wordes to Criseyde [ 875]

(126)

¶ Loo nece I trowe ȝe han herde al howe [ 876] Þe kynge with other lordes for þe beste Hath made eschaunge of antenor and ȝowe Þat cause is of þis sorw and þis vnreste [ 879] But how þis cas doth Troilus moleste Þat may non erthly mannes tonge seye For verray wo his wit is alle a-weye [ 882]

(127)

¶ For which we han so sorwed he and I. [ 883] Þat in to litel both it hadde vs slawe But thorugh myn conseil þis day fynaly He somwhat is fro wepynge now with-drawe [ 886] And semeth me at he desireth fawe with ȝow to ben al nyght for to deuyse Remede in þis if ther any wyse [ 889]

(128)

¶ This shorte and pleyne þeffect of my message [ 890] As fer forth as my wit kan comprehende For ȝe þat ben of tormente in swich rage May to no longe prologe as now entende [ 893] And here-vp-on ȝe may answer to hym sende And for þe loue of god my nece deere So lef this wo or Troilus be heere [ 896]

(129)

¶ Gret is my wo quod she and sighte soore [ 897] As she þat feleth · dedely sharp distresse But ȝet to me is sorwe is muchel more Þat loue hym bet þan he hym self I gesse [ 900] Allas for me hath swich heuynesse kan he for me so pitously compleyne I-wis þis sorw dowbleth al my peyne [ 903]

(130)

¶ Greuous to me god woot for to twyne [leaf 67, back] [ 904] Quod she / but ȝet it hardere is to me To sen þat sorwe which þat he is Inne For wel wot I it wol my bane be [ 907] And dye I wol in certeyn tho quod she But bid hym come er deth þat þus me threteth Dryue out that gost which in myne herte he betheth [ 910]

(131)

¶ Þise wordes seyde she on hire armes two [ 911] Fil [[? MS. stil]] gruf and gan to wepen pitously Quod pandarus allas why do ȝe so Syn wel ȝe woote þe tyme is fast by [ 914] Þat he shal com aris vp hastely Þat he ȝow nat bywepen thus ne fynde But ȝe wol haue hym woode out of hys mynde [ 917]

(132)

¶ For wiste he þat ȝe ferde in þis manere [ 918] He wold hym seluen sle / and if I wende To han þis fare he shold nat com heere For al þe good þat priam may despende [ 921] For to what fyn he wold a-non pretende Þat knowe ich wel and for-þi ȝet I seye So lef þis sorwe or platly he wol dye [ 924]

(133)

¶ And shapeth ȝow his sorw for tabrigge [ 925] And nought encresce leue nece swete Beth rather to hym cause of flat than egge And with som wysdom ȝe his sorwe beete [ 928] what helpeth it to wexen ful a strete Or though ȝe bothe in salt terys dreynte Bet is a tyme of cure ay þan of pleynte [ 931]

(134)

¶ I mene thus when iche hym hyder brynge [ 932] Syn ȝe be wyse and both of oon assent So shapeth how destourbe ȝour goynge Or come aȝeyn soone efter ȝe be wente [ 935] Wommen ben wyse in short a-vysemente And lat sen how ȝoure wit shal now availe And what þat I may help it schal not faile [ 938]

(135)

¶ Go quod Criseyde and vncle trewly [ 939] I shal don al my myght me to restreyne From wepynge in his sight and bysily Hym for to glade I shal don al my peyne [ 942] And in myn herte seken euery veyne If to this soor there may be founden salue It shal not lakke certeyn on myn halue [ 945]

(136)

¶ Goth Pandarus and Troilus he soughte [leaf 68] [ 946] Til in a temple he fonde hym allone As he þat of his lif no lenger roughte But to þe pitouse goddes euerychon [ 949] Ful tenderly he preyde and made his mone To doon hym soon out of þis worlde to pace For wel he thoughte þer was no nother grace [ 952]

(137)

¶ And sothely al þe sothe for to seyne [ 953] He was so fallen in dispaire þat day Þat outrely he shope hym for [to] dye For righte þus was his argument alwey [ 956] He seyde he nas but lorn waylawey For al þat cometh comth by necessite Þus to ben lorne it is my desteyne [ 959]

(138)

¶ For certeynly þis woote I wel he sayde [ 960] Þat forsyght of deuyne puruyaunce Hathe seyn alwey me for to for-gon Criseyde Syn god seth euery thynge out of doutaunce [ 963] And hym disponeth thorwgh his ordinaunce In hire merites sothely for to be as they shul comen by predesteyne [ 966]

(139)

¶ But natheles allas whom shal I leue [ 967] For þer ben grete many oone That destyne thorwgh argumentȝ preue And som man seyn þat nedely þer is noon [ 970] But þat fre cloys [[for choys]] is ȝeuen vs euerichon O waylaway so sleighe ern clerkes olde Þat I nat whos opinion I may holde [ 973]

(140)

¶ For som men seyn If god seth al byforne [ 974] Ne god may not deseyued ben parde Than moot it fallen theigh men hadde it sworne Þat purueyaunce hath seyn be-for to be [ 977] wher-for I seye þat from eterne if he [.i. done] Hathe wiste by-forn our thought ek as oure dede we haue no fre choys as thise clekkes rede [ 980]

(141)

¶ For other thoughte nor other dede also [ 981] Myght neuere ben but swich as purueyaunce Which may nat ben deceyued neuere moo Hath feled by-forne with-outen ignoraunce [ 984] For if ther myght ben a variaunce To wrythen out fro goddes purueynge Ther ner no prescience of thynge comynge [ 987]

(142)

¶ But it were rather an opinyon [leaf 68, back] [ 988] Vncertein / and in no stedfast forseynge And certes þat were an abusyon Þat god shold han no parfit clere wetynge [ 991] More þan we men þat han doutes wenynge But swich an erroure vp-on god to gesse Were fals and foule and wikked corsednesse [ 994]

(143)

¶ Ek þis is an opinyon of some [ 995] Þat han hire top ful heigh and smothe I-shore They seyn right þus þat thynge is nat to comen For þat þe prescience hath seyne by-fore [ 998] Þat it shal come but they seyn þat ther-fore Þat it shal come ther-for þe purueyaunce woot it bifore with-outen ignorance [ 1001]

(144)

¶ And in þis manere þis necessite [ 1002] Retourneth in his part contrarye agayn For nedfully by-houeth it not to be That þilke thynges fallen in certeyn [ 1005] Þat ben purueyed / but nedly as they seyne Bihoueth it þat thynges which þat falle Þat þei in certein ben purueied alle [ 1008]

(145)

¶ I mene as though I laboured me in this [ 1009] To enqueren which thynge cause of whiche thynge be As whether þat þe prescience of god is The certein cause of þe necessite [ 1012] Of thynges þat to comen ben parde Or if necessite of thynge comynge Be cause certein of the purueyinge [ 1015]

(146)

¶ But now nen-force I me nat in shwynge [ 1016] How the ordre of causes stant / but wol woot I Þat it bihoueth that the bifallynge Of thynges wiste bifor certeinly [ 1019] Be necessarie al seme it nat ther-by That prescience put fallynge necessarie To thynge to come al falle it foule or faire [ 1022]

(147)

¶ For if þer sit a man ȝonde on a see [ 1023] Than by necessite bihoueth it Þat certes thyn opinioun soth be That wenest or coniectest þat he sit [ 1026] And further now ouer aȝeinwarde ȝit lo right so is it of þe part contrarie As thus nowe herkene for I wol nat tarie [ 1029]

(148)

¶ I sey þat if þe opinion of this [leaf 69] [ 1030] Be soth / for þat he sit than seye I this Þat he moot sitten by necessite And þus necessite in either is [ 1033] For in hym nede of sittynge is I-wis And in the / nede of soth and þis for soth Ther mot necessite ben in ȝow bothe [ 1036]

(149)

¶ Bot thow maist seyne þe man sit nat þere-fore [ 1037] Þat thyn opinioun of his sittynge sothe is But rather for the man sit there by-fore Þerfor is thyn opinioun soth y-wys [ 1040] And I seye though þe cause of soth of þis Cometh of his sittynge ȝet necessite Is entrechaunged both in hym and the [ 1043]

(150)

¶ Thus in this same wyse out of doutaunce [ 1044] I may wel maken as it semeth me My resonynge of goddes purueiaunce And of þe thynges þat to comen be [ 1047] By which reson men may wel y-see Þat thylk thynges þat in erthe falle Þat by necessite they comen alle [ 1050]

(151)

¶ For al-though þat for thynge shal come ywys [ 1051] Þer-for is it purueyed certeynly Nat þat it comes for it purueied is Ȝet natheles bihoueth it nedfully [ 1054] Þat thynge to come be purueied trewly Or elles thynges þat purueied be That they bitiden by necessite [ 1057]

(152)

¶ And þis sufficeth right y-nough certeyn [ 1058] For to discruye oure fre choys euery dele But now is this abusioun to seyne Þat fallynge of the thynges temporel [ 1061] Is cause of goddes prescience eternel Now trewly þat is a fals sentence Þat thynge to come sholde cause his prescience [ 1064]

(153)

¶ what myght I wene and I hadde swich a thought [ 1065] But þat god purueieth thynge þat is to come For þat is to come and elles nought So myght I wene þat þynges alle and sone [ 1068] Þat whilom ben bifalle and ouere-come Ben cause of thilke soueyren puruyaunce Þat for-woot alle with-outen ignoraunce [ 1071]

(154)

¶ And ouer al þis ȝet seye I moore herto [leaf 69, back] [ 1072] Þat right as when I woot there is o thynge Iwis þat thynge mot nedfully be so Ek right as when I woote a thynge comynge [i. euentus] [ 1075] So mot it come and þus þe bifallynge Of thynges þat ben wiste bi-fore þe tyde They mowe not ben eschued on no syde [ 1078]

(155)

¶ Þan seyde he þus almyghty Ioue in Trone [ 1079] Þat woost of al þis thynge þe sothfastnesse Rewe on my sorwe or do me dyen sone Or brynge Criseyde and me fro þis distresse [ 1082] And while he was in al þis heuynesse Disputynge with hym self in þis matere Com Pandare in / and seyde as ȝe may here [ 1085]

(156)

¶ O myghty god quod Pandarus in Trone [ 1086] I who say euere a wys man faren so whi Troilus what thynkestow to doon Hastow swich luste to ben thyn owne fo [ 1089] What parde ȝet is not Criseyde ago whi lust þe so þi self for-doon for drede Þat in thyn hed thy nene semen dede [ 1092]

(157)

¶ Hastow nought lyued many a ȝere by-forne [ 1093] with-outen hire and ferde ful wel atese Ertow for hire and for non other borne Hath kynde þe wroughte al oonly hire to plese [ 1096] lat be / and thynk right þus in thy disese Þat in þe dees right as þer fallen chaunces Right so in loue þere com and gon plesaunces [ 1099]

(158)

¶ And ȝet þis is a wonder moost of alle [ 1100] whi thow þus sorwest syn thow nost not ȝit Touchynge hire goynge how þat it shal falle Ne ȝif she kan hire self distourben it [ 1103] Thow hast nat ȝit assayed al hire wit A man may al by-tyme his nekke beede whan it shal of and sorwen at þe nede [ 1106]

(159)

¶ For-þi take hede of al þat I shal seye [ 1107] I haue with hire I-spoke and longe I-be So as a-corded was by-twyxe us twa And euer moo me thynketh þus þat she [ 1110] Hath somwhat in hire hert I preuete whar-with she can If I shal right arede Destourbe al þis of which thow ert in drede [ 1113]

(160)

¶ For which my conseil is whan it is nyght [leaf 70] [ 1114] Thow to hire go and mak of þis an ende And blisful Iuno thorwgh hire grete myghte Shal as I hope hire grace vnto vs sende [ 1117] Myn herte seith she shal nat wende And for-þi put thyn herte a qwhile in reste And hold þis purpos for it is þe beste [ 1120]

(161)

¶ This Troilus answerde and sighte soore [ 1121] Thow saist right wel and I wol doon right so And what hym liste he seyde vnto it moore And whan þat it was tyme for to go [ 1124] Ful preuely hym self with-outen mo Vn-to hire come as he was wonte to doon And how they wroughte I shal ȝow tellen soone [ 1127]

(162)

¶ Soth is than when they gonnen first to meete [ 1128] So gan the peyne hire hertes for to twyste Þat neither of hem myghte other grete But hem in armes tooke and efter kyste [ 1131] Þe lasse woful of hem both nyste wher þat he was ne myght o word out brynge As I seyde arst / for wo and for sobbynge [ 1134]

(163)

¶ Þe woful teres þat they leten falle [ 1135] As bittre wern out of teres kynde For peyne / as is ligne aloes or galle So bittre teres wepe noughte as I fynde [ 1138] Tho woful myrra [[? MS. a]] thorwgh þe barke and rynde Þat in þis world þer nys so hard an herte Þat nolde han rewed on hire peynes smerte [ 1141]

(164)

¶ But when hire woful wery gostes tweyne [ 1142] Retourned ben / ther as hem owen to dwelle And þat som what to woken gan þe peyne By lenghthe of pleynte and ebben gan the welle [ 1145] Of hire teres / and þe herte vnswelle With brokyn vois al hois for shright Criseyde To Troilus thise ilke wordes seyde [ 1148]

(165)

¶ O Ioue I deye and mercy I biseche [ 1149] Helpe Troilus / and ther-with-al hire face Vp on his breste she leyde and lefte speche His woful spirit from his propre place [ 1152] Right with þe worde alwey o peynte to pace And þus she lith with hewes pale and grene Þat whilom fressh and fairest was to sene [ 1155]

(166)

¶ Thus Troilus þat on hire gan biholde [leaf 70, back] [ 1156] Clepynge hire name and she lay as for dede With-outen answere and felt hire lymes colde Hire eyen throwen vpwarde to hire hed [ 1159] This sorwful man kan now noon other rede But oft tyme hire cold mouthe he kyste Wher hym was wo god and hym self it wiste [ 1162]

(167)

¶ He rist hym vp and longe streught he hire layde [ 1163] For signe of lyf for ought he kan or may Kan he non fynde in no thynge on Criseyde For which his songe ful oft is walaway [ 1166] But when he saugh þat specheles she lay with sorwful vois and herte of blisse al bare He seyde how she was fro þis worlde y-fare [ 1169]

(168)

¶ So efter þat longe hadde hyre compleyned [ 1170] His hondes wronge and seyde þat was to seye And with hire teris salt hire breest by-reyned He gan tho teris wepen of ful dreye [ 1173] And pitously gan for she soule preye And seyde o lord þat ert in þi trone Rew ek on me for I shal folwe hir sone [ 1176]

(169)

¶ She colde was and with-outen sentemente [ 1177] For aught he woot for breth ne felt he non And þis was hym a preignant argument Þat she was forth out of þis world a-gone [ 1180] And when he sey þer was non other wone He gan hyre lymes dresse in swich manere As men don hem þat shal be layd on beere [ 1183]

(170)

¶ And efter þis with sterne and cruel herte [ 1184] His swerde anon out of his shethe he twyghte Hym self to slane how sore þat hym smerte So þat his soule hire soule folwen myghte [ 1187] Þer as dome of mynos wold it dighte Syn loue and cruel fortune it ne wolde Þat in þis world .he langer lyuen sholde [ 1190]

(171)

¶ Than seyde he þus fulfilld of heigh desdayn [ 1191] O cruel Ioue and thow fortune aduerse Þis al and som þat falsly haue ye slayn Criseyde / and syn ȝe may do me no werse [ 1194] Fy on ȝoure myght and werkes so dyuerse Þus cowardly ȝe shul me neuere wynne Ther shal no deth me fro my lady twynne [ 1197]

(172)

¶ For I þis world syn ȝe haue slayn hire thus [leaf 71] [ 1198] wol lete and folw hire spirit low or heye Shal neuere louer seyn That Troilus Dar not for with his lady dye [ 1201] For certein I wol bere hire companye But syn ȝe wol not suffure vs lyues here Ȝet suffreth þat our soules ben I-feere [ 1204]

(173)

¶ And thow cite which þat I lyue in wo [ 1205] And thow priam and bretheren alle I-fere And thow moder far wel for I go and attropes mak redy thow my beere [ 1208] And thow Criseyde o swete herte deere Receyue now my spirit wolde he seye With swerd at herte al redy for to dye [ 1211]

(174)

¶ But as god wold of swough ther-with she brayde [ 1212] And gan to sike and Troilus she cryede And he answerde lady myn Criseyde Lyue ȝe ȝit and lete his swerde down glide [ 1215] Ȝe herte myn þat thanked be cupide Quod she / and ther-with-al for sighte And he bigan to glad hire as he myghte [ 1218]

(175)

¶ Took hire in armes two and kyste hire ofte [ 1219] And hire to glade / he dide al his entente For which hire gooste þat fliked ay o lofte In-to hire woful herte aȝein it wente [ 1222] But at þe laste as þat hire eye glente a syde / anon she gan his swerde aspye As it lay bare / and gan for feere crie [ 1225]

(176)

¶ And asked hym whi he it hadde out drawe [ 1226] And Troilus a-non / þe cause hire tolde And how hym self þer-with he wolde han slawe For which Criseyde vp-on hym gan by-holde [ 1229] And gan hym in armes faste folde And seyde o mercy god lo which a dede Allas how neigh we weren bothe dede [ 1232]

(177)

¶ Thanne if I nadde I-spoken as grace was [ 1233] Ȝe wold han slayn ȝowre-self a-non quod she Ȝe douteles / and she answarde allas For by þat ilk lord that made me [ 1236] I nold a forlonge wey o lyue haue be After ȝour deth to han ben crowned quene Of al þat lond þe sonne on shyneth sheene [ 1239]

(178)

¶ But with this selue swerde which þat here is [lf 71, bk] [ 1240] My self I wolde han slayn quod she tho But hoo for we han right ynowgh of þis And lat vs rise and streughte to bedde go [ 1243] And þer lat vs speken of oure wo For by þe morter which þat I se brenne Know I ful wel þat day is not fere henne [ 1246]

(179)

¶ when they were in hire bedde in armes folde [ 1247] Naught was it like tho nyghtes here biforn For pitously ich other gan by-holde As they þat hadden al hire blisse y-lorn [ 1250] Bywaylynge ay þe day þat they were borne Til at þe laste þis sorwful wight Criseyde To Troilus þis ilke wordis seyde [ 1253]

(180)

¶ Loo herte myne wel woot ȝe þis quod she [ 1254] Þat if a wight alwey his wo compleyne And seketh naught how holpen for to be It is but folye and encresse of peyne [ 1257] And sin þat here assembled be we twyne To fynde boote of wo þat we ben Inne It were al tyme soone to bigynne [ 1260]

(181)

¶ I am a womman as ful wel ȝe woote [ 1261] And as I am auysed sodeynly So wol I telle ȝow whil it is hoote Me thynketh thus þat noither ȝe nor I [ 1264] Ought half þis wo to maken skilfully For þer is art y-nough for to redresse Þat ȝet is mys and slen þis heuynesse [ 1267]

(182)

¶ Soth is þe wo þe wriche þat wo ben Inne [ 1268] For aught I wot for no thynge elles is But for þe cause þat we sholden twynne Considered al þer nys nomore amys [ 1271] But what is thanne a remade vnto þis But þat we shape vs soone for to mete Þis al and som my deere herte I-wis [ 1274]

(183)

¶ Now þat I shal wele bryngen it aboute [ 1275] To com aȝein soon efter þat I go Ther-of am I no maner thynge in doute For dredeles with-In a wowke or two [ 1278] I shal ben here and þat it may be so By al right / and in a wordes fewe I shal ȝow wel an heepe of weyes shewe [ 1281]

(184)

¶ For which I wol nat mak longe sermon [leaf 72] [ 1282] For tyme I-loste may nought recouered be But I wol gon to my conclusion And in þe best in aught þat I kan see [ 1285] And for þe loue of god forȝeue it me If I speke aught aȝenis ȝoure hertes reste For trewely I speke it for þe beste [ 1288]

(185)

¶ Makynge alwey a protestacioun [ 1289] Þat now þis wordes which þat I shal seye Nys but to shewen ȝowe my mocioun To fynde vn-to oure help þe beste weye [ 1292] And taketh it non other-wyse I ȝow preye For in affecte what so ȝe me comaunde Þat wol I don for [þat] ys no demaunde [ 1295]

(186)

¶ Now herkeneth þis ȝe han wel vnderstonde [ 1296] My goynge graunted is by parlement So forforth þat it may not be withtstonde For al þis world as by my Iugement [ 1299] And syn ther helpeth non a-uysement T[o] letten it / lat it passe out of mynde And lat vs shape a better wey to fynde [ 1302]

(187)

¶ The sothe þe twynynge of vs twyne [ 1303] Wol us disese and crueliche a-noye But hym bihoueth som tyme han a peyne Þat serueth loue If þat he wol haue Ioye [ 1306] And syn I shal no forther out of Troie Þan I may ride aȝein on half a morwe It aught lasse causen vs to sorwe [ 1309]

(188)

So as I shal not so ben hidde in muwe [ 1310] Þat day by day myn swete herte deere Syn wel ȝe wot þat it is now a truwe Ȝe shal ful wel al myn estate yheere [ 1313] And er þat truwe is don I shal ben here And þanne haue ȝe bothe antenor ywonne and me also / beth glad now if ȝe konne [ 1316]

(189)

¶ And thynk right þus Criseyde is now agon [ 1317] But she shal com hastily aȝein And when allas bi god lo right a-non Er dayes ten þis dar I saufly seyne [ 1320] And þan at erste shal we be so feyne So as we shal to-gideres euere dwelle Þat al þis worlde ne myght oure blisse telle [ 1323]

(190)

¶ I see that oft tyme ther as we bene now [leaf 72, back] [ 1324] Þat for þe beste oure conseil for to hide Ȝe spek not with me nor I with ȝowe In fourtenyght / ne se ȝow go ne ride [ 1327] May ȝe nought ten dayes þanne abide For myn honour in swich an auenture I wys ȝe mowe elles lite endure [ 1330]

(191)

¶ Ȝe knewe eke how þat al my kyn is here [ 1331] But if þat onlich it my fader be And myn other thynges al I-feere And nameliche my deere herte ȝe [ 1334] whom þat I nolde leuen for to se For al þis world as wyde as it hath space Or elles se iche neuere Ioues face [ 1337]

(192)

¶ whi trow ȝe my fader in þis wyse [ 1338] Coueiteth so to se me but for drede Lest in this town þat folkes me despice Be cause of hym for his vnhappi dede [ 1341] what woot my fader what lyf þat I lede For if he wiste in Troie how wel I fare Vs neded for my wendynge nought care [ 1344]

(193)

¶ Ȝe seen þat euery day ek mor and more [ 1345] Men trete of pees and It supposed is Þat men þe queene Eleyne shal restore And grekes vs restoren þat is mys [ 1348] So thought þer nere comfort non but this Þat men purposen pees on euery syde Ȝe may þe bettre at ese of herte abyde [ 1351]

(194)

¶ For if þat it be pees myn herte deere [ 1352] Þe nature of þe pees moot nedes dryue Þat men most entrecommunen yfere And to and fro ek ride and gon as blyue [ 1355] Alday as thykke as been fleen from an hyue And euery wight han liberte to bleue whar as hym liste bet with-outen leue [ 1358]

(195)

¶ And though so be þat pees þer may be non [ 1359] Ȝet hider though ther neuer pees ne weere I most come / for whider shold I gone Or how meschaunce sholde I dwelle þere [ 1362] O-mange þe men of armes euere in feere For which as wysely god my soule rede I kan not sen where-of ȝe sholden drede [ 1365]

(196)

¶ Haue here a nother wey if it so be [leaf 73] [ 1366] Þat al þis thynge ne may not suffise My fader as ȝe knowen wele parde Is old / and elde is ful of coueityse [ 1369] And I right now haue founden al þe gyse With-outen net wher-with I shal hym hente And herkeneth how if þat ȝe wol assente [ 1372]

(197)

¶ Loo Troilus men seyne þat ful harde it is [ 1373] Þe wolf ful and þe wether hoole to haue Þis is to seyn þat men ful oft y-wis Moot spenden part þe remenaunte for to saue [ 1376] For ay with gold men may þe herte graue Of hym þat set is vp-on coueitise And how I mene I shal it ȝowe deuyse [ 1379]

(198)

¶ Þe moeble which þat I haue in þis town [ 1380] Vn-to my fader shal I take and seye Þat right for truste and for sauacioun It sent is from a frend of his or tweye [ 1383] Þe which frendes feruentliche hym preye To sende efter more and þat in heye Whil þat þis town stante þus in Iupartye [ 1386]

(199)

¶ And þat shal ben an huge quantite [// i. of golde] [ 1387] Þus shal I seyn / but list it folk aspied Þis may be sente bi no wight but by me I shal ek shewen hym if pees betyde [ 1390] what frendes þat ich haue on euery syde Towarde þe courte to don the wreth space Of Priamus / and don hym stonde in grace [ 1393]

(200)

¶ So what for o thynge and for other swete [ 1394] I shal hym so enchaunten with my sawes Þat right in heuene his soul-is shal he mete For alle appollo or his clerkes lawes [ 1397] Or kalkulynge auayleth nought thre hawes Desire of gold shal so his soule blynde Þat as me liste I shal wel make an ende [ 1400]

(201)

¶ And if he wol aught by his sorte it preue [ 1401] If that I lye / in certein I shal fynde Destourben hym and plukke hym by the sleue Makynge his sort / and beren hym on honde [ 1404] He hath not wele þe goddes vnderstonde For goddes speken in amphibelogies And for a soth they tellen twenty lyes [ 1407]

(202)

¶ Ek drede fond firste goddes suppose [leaf 72, back] [ 1408] thus shal I seyn / and þat his coward herte Made hym a-mys þe goddes text to glose When he for ferde out of delphos sterte [ 1411] And but I make hym soon to conuerte And don my rede with-Inne a day or tweye I wol to ȝow oblige me to deye [ 1414]

(203)

¶ And treweliche as writen wel I fynde [ 1415] That al þis thynge was seyde in goode entent And þat hire herte trewe was and kynde Towardis hym and spak right as she mente [ 1418] And þat she for wo neigh when she wente And was in purpos euere to be trewe Þus writen they þat of hire werkes knowe [ 1421]

(204)

¶ To Troilus with herte and eres spradde [ 1422] Herd al þis thynge deuysen to and fro And verliche it semed þat he hadde The self wit / but to late hire go [ 1425] His herte mysforȝafe hym euere mo And finaly he gan his herte wreste To trusten hire and toke it for þe beste [ 1428]

(205)

¶ For which þe grete furye of his penaunce [ 1429] was queynte with hepe and ther-with hem bytwene Bygan for Ioye thamarouse daunce And as the bryddes whan the sonne is shene [ 1432] Deliten in hire songe in leues grene Right so þe wordes þat they spak Ifeere Delites hem and made hire hertes chere [ 1435]

(206)

¶ But natheles the wendynge of Criseyde [ 1436] For al þis world may not out of his mynde For whiche ful oft he pitously hire preyde Þat of hire heste he may hire trewe fynde [ 1439] And seyde hire certes If ȝe be vnkynde And but ȝe come at day set in-to Troye Ne shal I neuere haue hele honour ne Ioye [ 1442]

(207)

¶ For also soth as sonne vp-rist o morwe [ 1443] And god so wysely thow me woful wreche To reste brynge out of þis cruel sorwe I wol my-seluen sla if þat ȝe drecche [ 1446] But of my deth / though litel be to recche Ȝet or þat ȝeue me causen so to smerte Dwelle rather here myn owen swete herte [ 1449]

(208)

¶ For trewely myn owene lady deere [leaf 74] [ 1450] Tho sleightes ȝit þat I haue herde ȝowe steere Ful shapely ben to faylen alle I-feere For þus men seith þat oon thynketh þe bere [ 1453] But al a-nother thynketh his ledere Ȝour sire is wis / and seyde is out of drede Men may the wise at-renne and nought atrede [ 1456]

(209)

¶ It is ful hard to halten vnspied [ 1457] Bifor a crepul. for he kan the craft Ȝoure fader is in sleighte as argus eyed For al be þat his mooble is hym by-raft [ 1460] His olde sleighte is ȝit so with hym laft Ȝe shal nat blynde hym for ȝowre wommanhede Ne feyne arighte and þat is alle my drede [ 1463]

(210)

¶ I not if pees shal euere mo bitide [ 1464] But pees or no for ernest ne for game I woot syn calkas on the grekes seyde Hath oones ben / and lost so foule his name [ 1467] He dar nomor com here aȝein for shame For whiche þat wey for aught I kan espye To trusten on nys but a fantasye [ 1470]

(211)

¶ Ȝe shal ek sen ȝour fader shal ȝow glose [ 1471] To ben a wife / and as he kan wel preche He shal som greke so preyse and wele alose Þat rauysshen he shal ȝow with his speche [ 1474] Or do ȝow don be force as he shal teche And Troilus of on whom ȝe nyl han routhe Shal causeles so steruen in his trouthe [ 1477]

(212)

¶ And ouer al þis ȝoure fader shal despise [ 1478] Vs alle / and seyn / þis cite nys but lorne And þat thassage neuere shal arise For-why þe grekes han it al sworne [ 1481] Tyl we be sleyne and down our walles torn And þus he shal ȝow with his wordes feere Þat ay drede I þat ȝe wol bleuen theere [ 1484]

(213)

¶ Ȝe shal ek seen so many a lusti knyght [ 1485] O-mange þe grekes ful of worthynesse And ech of hem with hert wit and myght To plesen ȝow don alle his bisynesse [ 1488] Þat ȝe shul dullen of the rudenesse Of vs cely Troians / but if routhe Remorde ȝow / or vertu of ȝoure trouthe [ 1491]

(214)

¶ And this to me so greuous is to thynke [leaf 74, back] [ 1492] Þat fro my breeste it wol my soule sende Ne dredeles in me ther may not synke A goode opynyoun If þat ȝe wende [ 1495] For-why ȝoure faderes sleighte wol vs shende And if ȝe gon as I haue told yore So thynke I nam but deede with-oute more [ 1498]

(215)

¶ For which with humble trewe and pitouse herte [ 1499] A thousand tyme mercy I ȝow preye So reweth on myn aspre peynes smerte And doth somwhat as þat I shal ȝow seye [ 1502] And lat vs stele awey by-twyxe vs tweye. And thynke þat foly is when man may cheese For accident his substaunce ay to lese [ 1505]

(216)

¶ I mene þis þat syn we mow or day [ 1506] wele stele away and ben to-gidere so what wit were it to putten in assay In cas ȝe sholdon to ȝoure fader go [ 1509] If þat ȝe myghten com aȝein or no Thus mene I that were a grete folye To puten þat sykernesse in iu-partye [ 1512]

(217)

¶ And vulgarly to speken of substaunce [ 1513] Of tresour may we bothe with vs lede I-noughe to haue in honour and plesaunce Til in-to tyme þat we shal be dede [ 1516] And þus we may esshuen al þis drede For euery other wey ȝe kan recorde Myn herte I-wis may þer-with nought a-corde [ 1519]

(218)

¶ And hardily ne dredeth no pouerte [ 1520] For I haue kyn and frendes elles-were Þat though we comen in oure bare sherte vs sholde neyther lakken golde ne gere [ 1523] But ben honoured whil we dwellen there And go we a-non for as in myn entente Þis is þe best if þat ȝe wol assente [ 1526]

(219)

¶ Cryseyde with a syk ryght in þis wyse [ 1527] Answerde I-wis my deere herte trewe we may wel stele a-way as ȝe deuyse And fynden swich vnthrifty wayes newe [ 1530] But efterward ful sore it wol vs rewe And help me god so at my most nede As causeles ȝe suffren alle this drede [ 1533]

(220)

¶ For thylke day þat I for cherisynge [leaf 75] [ 1534] Or drede of fader or of any other wight Or for estat delit or for weddynge Be fals to ȝow my Troilus my knyghte [ 1537] Saturnes doughter Iuno th[r]ough hyre myghte As wood as athamante do me dwelle Eternaliche in stix þe put of helle [ 1540]

(221)

¶ And þis on euery god celestial [ 1541] I swere it ȝow / and ek on ech goddesse On euery Nymphe and deyte infernal On satury and fawny more and lesse [ 1544] Þat halue goddes ben of wildernesse And attropos my thred of lif to-breste If I be fals now. trowe me if ȝow leste [ 1547]

(222)

¶ And thow symoys þat as an arwe clere [ 1548] Th[r]ough Troye rennest ay downwarde to þe se Ber witnesse of þis word þat seyde is here Þat thilke day þat ich vntrewe be [ 1551] To Troilus myn owen herte fre Þat thow retourne bakkwarde to thy welle And I with body and soule synk in helle. [ 1554]

(223)

¶ But þat ȝe spek away þus for to go [ 1555] And letten alle ȝoure frendes god forbede For any womman þat ȝe sholde so And namely syn Troye hath now swiche nede [ 1558] of help and ek of [o] thynge taketh hede If þis were wist my lif lay in balaunce And ȝoure honour god shilde vs fro myschaunce [ 1561]

(224)

¶ And if so be þat pees here-after take [ 1562] As alday happeth after anger game Why lord þe wo and sorwe ȝe wolden make Þat ȝe ne dorst come aȝeyne for shame [ 1565] And er þat iu-parten so ȝoure name Beth nought to hastif in þis hote fare For hastif man wanthe neuere care [ 1568]

(225)

¶ what trow ȝe ek þe peple alle aboute [ 1569] wold of it seye / it is a ful light tarede They wolden seye / and swere it oute of doute Þat loue ne drof ȝow nought to don þis dede [ 1572] But lust voluptuous and cowarde drede Thus were al loste I-wis my herte deere Ȝoure honour which þat now shyneth so cleere [ 1575]

(226)

¶ And also thynketh on myn honeste [leaf 75, back] [ 1576] Þat floureth ȝet how foul I shold it shende And with what filthe it spotted shold be If in þis fourme I shold with ȝow wende [ 1579] And though I lyued vn-to þe worldes ende My name shold I neuere a-ȝeynwarde wynne Þus were I lost and þat were routhe and synne [ 1582]

(227)

¶ And for-þi sle with reson al þis hete [ 1583] Men seyn the suffrant ouercometh parde Ek who-so wol han lief he lyfe moot leete Thus maketh vertue of necessite [ 1586] By paciens / and thynke þat lorde is he Of fortune ay that naught wol of hire reche And she ne doutheth no wight but o wreche [ 1589]

(228)

¶ And trusteth þis þat certes herte swete [ 1590] Er Phebus suster lucyus the shene Þe leon [.i. signum leonis] passe oute of this ariete [.i. signum arietis] I wol ben here with-outen any wene [ 1593] I mene as help me Iuno heuynesse queene Þe tenthe day but if þat deth messaile I wol ȝow sen with-outen any fayle [ 1596]

(229)

¶ And now so þis be soth quod Troilus [ 1597] I shal wel suffre vn-to þe tenthe day Syn that I se þat nede it mot be þus But for þe loue of god if it be may [ 1600] So lat vs stele pryuely a-way For euere in oone as for to lyue in reste Myn herte seith þat it wol be þe beste [ 1603]

(230)

¶ O mercy god what lyfe is þis quod she [ 1604] Allas ȝe sle me thus for verray tene I se wel now þat ȝe mystrusten me For by ȝoure wordes it is wel I-seene [ 1607] Now for þe loue of cynthia the sheene Mystruste me naught þus causeles for routhe Syn to be trew I haue ȝow plyght my trouth [ 1610]

(231)

¶ And thynketh wel þat som tyme it is wit [ 1611] To spende a tyme / a tyme for to wynne Ne parde lorne am I naught fro ȝow ȝit Though þat we ben a day or tweye a-twynne [ 1614] Dryfe oute þe fantasies ȝow fro with-Inne And trusteþ me and leueth ek ȝoure sorwe Or here my trouthe I wol nought lyue tyl morwe [ 1617]

(232)

¶ For if ȝe wiste how soore it doth me smerte [leaf 76] [ 1618] Ȝe wolde ceese of þis / for god thow wooste The pure spirit wepeth in myn herte To se ȝow wepen þat I loue most [ 1621] And þat I moot gon to þe grekes ost Ȝe nere it þat I wiste remedye To com a-ȝeyn right here I wolde dye [ 1624]

(233)

¶ But certes I am nought so nyce a wight [ 1625] Þat I ne kan ymagynen a way To come a-ȝeyn þat day þat I haue hight For who may holde a thynge þat wol awey [ 1628] My fader naught for al his queynte pleye And by my thrifte my wendynge out of troye A-nother day shal com vs al to Ioye [ 1631]

(234)

¶ For-þi with al myn herte I ȝow beseke [ 1632] If þat ȝow liste don ought for my preyere And for þat loue whiche þat I loue ȝow eke Þat er þat I departe fro ȝow here [ 1635] Þat of so goode a confort and a chere I may ȝow sen / þat ȝe may brynge at reste Myn herte whiche þat is a poynte to breste [ 1638]

(235)

¶ And ouer alle þis I preye quod she tho [ 1639] Myn own herte sothfaste suffisaunce Syn I am þin alle hole with-outen mo Þat whil þat I am absente no plesaunce [ 1642] Of other do me fro ȝoure remembraunce For I am euere a-gast for-why men rede Þat loue is thynge ay ful of bysy drede [ 1645]

(236)

¶ For in þis worlde ther lyueth lady noon [ 1646] If þat ȝe were vn-trewe as god defende Þat so be-traysed were or wo-by-gon As I þat al trouthe in ȝow entende [ 1649] And douteles if þat ich other wende I nere but ded / and er ȝe cause fynde For goddes loue so beth me nought vnkynde [ 1652]

(237)

¶ To þis answerde Troilus and seyde [ 1653] Now god to whom ther nys no cause ywrye Me glad / as wis I neuere vnto Cryseyde Syn thilke day I saugh hire first with eye [ 1656] Was fals / ne neuer shal tyl þat I deye At short wordes wele ȝe may me lette I kan no more it shal be founde at preue [ 1659]

(238)

¶ Graunte mercy goode myn I-wis quod she [lf 76, bk] [ 1660] And blisful venus lat me neuere sterue Er I may stounde of plesaunce in degre To quyte hym wel þat so wele kan deserue [ 1663] And whil þat god my wit wol me conserue I shal so don so trewe I haue ȝow founde Þat ay honour to me warde shal rebounde [ 1666]

(239)

¶ For trusteth þat ȝoure estat real [ 1667] Ne veyn delit / nor oonely worthinesse Of ȝow in werre or tournay marcial Ne pomp / array / nobley / or ek richsse [ 1670] Ne made me to rew on ȝoure destresse But moral virtue grounded vp-on trowthe Þat was þe cause I firste hadde on ȝow routhe [ 1673]

(240)

¶ Eke gentil herte and manhode þat ȝe hadde [ 1674] And þat ȝe hadde as me thought in despite Euery thynge þat souned in-to badde As rudenesse and poeplissh appetite [ 1677] And þat ȝoure reson brideled ȝoure delite Þis made abouen euery creature Þat I was ȝoure and shal whil I may dure [ 1680]

(241)

¶ And þis may lenght of ȝeres nought for-do [ 1681] Ne renuable fortune deface But Iuppiter þat of his myght may do Þe sorwful to be glad so ȝeue vs grace [ 1684] Er nyghtes x. to meten in this place So þat it may ȝoure herte and myn suffise And fareth now wel for [[tyme is, later, written in margin]] þat ȝe rise [ 1687]

(242)

¶ And after that they longe ypleyned hadde [ 1688] And oft kyste and streyte in armes folde Þe day gan ryse and Troilus hym cladde and rewfulliche his lady gan by-holde [ 1691] As he þat felte dethes cares colde And to hire grace he gan hym to recomaunde where he was wo þis holde I no demaunde [ 1694]

(243)

¶ For mannes hed ymagynen ne kan [ 1695] Ne mendement considere ne tonge telle Þe cruel peynes of þis sorwful man Þat passen euery torment down in helle [ 1698] For when he saugh þat she ne myght dwelle whiche þat his soule out of his herte rente with-outen more out of þe chaumber he wente [ 1701]

Explicit liber quartus