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 ...

[Camb. Univ. Libr. MS. Gg. 4. 27, leaf 103: leaf 102 has been cut out of the MS.]

(6)

¶ ffor yre he quok so gan his herte gnawe [ 36] Whan diomede on horse gan hyr [[r, corrected]] dresse And seyde to hym self þis ilke sawe Allas quod he þus foul a wrechedenes [ 39] Whi suffere I it whi nyl I it [[I it, corrector]] redresse Were it not bet at onys for to deye Þan eueremore þus langurynge to drye [ 42]

(7)

// Whi nyl I make at onys ryche or pore [ 43] To haue I-now to don or þan sche go Whi nyl I brynge al Troye vp on a rore Whi nyl I sle þis diomede also [ 46] Whi nyl I raþere with a man or to Stele hire a-way whi wil I [[wil I, corrector]] þis endure Whi nyl I helpyn to myn owene cure [ 49]

(8)

¶ But whi he nolde do so fel a dede [ 50] Þat schal I say & whi hym liste it spare He hadde in herte alwoy a maner drede Lest Crisseide in rumur of þis fare [ 53] Scholde a be slayn lo þis was al his care And eɫɫ serteyn as I seyde to-fore [[eɫɫ = ellis]] He hadde it do with-oute wordis more [ 56]

(9)

// Criseyde whan þat sche was redi for to ryde [ 57] fful sorwefully sche syhede & seyde allas But forth [[rth, corrector]] sche muste for ouȝt þat may be-tyde And forthe sche rauȝt ful sorwefully apas [ 60] And ofte sche syhede & seyde allas What wondyr ist þow þat hire sore smert Whan sche for-goþ hire owene dere hert [ 63]

(10)

¶ Þis Troylus in wise of curteysye [ 64] With hauk & hound & with an heuge route Of knyȝtis rede & dede hire cumpany Passynge al þe valey fer with-oute [ 67] And ferþere wolde han redyn with-outyn doute fful fayn & wo was hym to gon so sone But turne he muste & ek it was to done [ 70]

(11)

¶ And ryȝt with þat was antenore I-come [leaf 103, back] [ 71] Ouȝt of grekis ost & euery wiȝt Was of it glad & seyde he was wolcome And Troilus al nere his herte lyȝt [ 74] He peynyde hym with al his fulle myȝt Hym to withholde of wepynge at þe leste And antenore kyste & made feste. [ 77]

(12)

// And here with al he muste his leue take [ 78] And caste his eyȝyn vp on hym pitousely And ner he rod his cause for to make And tok hire by þe hond al soberely [ 81] And lord so he gan wepyn tenderely And he ful softe & slyly gan hire sey Now help þis day & do me not to dey. [ 84]

(13)

¶ With þat his coursir turnede hym aboute [ 85] With face pale & on-to diome[de] No word he spak ne non of al his rout Of which þe sone [[o, corrected]] of Tideus tok hede [ 88] As he þat coude more þan þe crede IN swich a craft & bi þe [[r, first v]] reyne he hent And Troilus to Troyeward hom he went. [ 91]

(14)

// Þis diomede þat lad hire bi þe bridil [ 92] Whan þat he say þe folk of troye awoye Þouȝte al myn trauayl schal not ben ydil Ȝif þat I may for sumwhat schal I seye [ 95] ffor at þe werste it may ȝit schorte myn woye I haue herd seyd ek be tymys twiis & twelue He is a fol þat wele for-ȝete hym selue. [ 98]

(15)

¶ But na-þeles þus þouȝte he wel I-now [ 99] Þat certeynly I am a-boute nouȝt Ȝif þat I speke of loue & make it tow ffor douteles ȝif sche haue in hire þouȝt [ 102] Hym þat I gesse he may not ben I-bouȝt So a-way but I schal fynde a mene Þat sche not wete schal / as ȝit what I mene. [ 105]

(16)

¶ Þis diomede as he þat coude his good [leaf 104] [ 106] Whan tyme was gan falle forth in speeche Of þis & þat & axede why sche stode In swich de-sese & gan hire ek be-seche [ 109] Ȝif þat by encres myȝte or eche With ony þyng hire ese þat sche schulde Comaundyn it hym & he don it wolde [ 112]

(17)

¶ ffor treweliche he swor hire as a knyȝt [ 113] Þat þere was þyng with which he myȝte hire plese Þat he nyl don his herte & al his myȝt To don it for to don his herte an ese [ 116] And preyede sche wolde hire sorwe pese And seyde I-wis we grekys can haue ioye To honoure ȝow as wel as folk in troye [ 119]

(18)

¶ He seyde ek þus I wot ȝow þynkiþ straunge [ 120] No wondyr is for it is to ȝow newe Þe aqueyntau[n]se of þis Troylus for to chaunge ffor folk of grece þo ȝe neuere knewe [ 123] But wolde neuere god but as [[s, corrector]] trewe A grek ȝe schulde a-mongis vs alle fynde As ony troyan is & ek as kynde. [ 126]

(19)

¶ And bi þe cause I swor ȝow ryȝt lo now [ 127] To ben ȝoure frend & helpyn to myn myȝt And for þe more aqueyntauns ek of ȝow Haue I had / þanne anoþer straungere wyȝt [ 130] So from þis forth I prey ȝow day & nyȝt Comaundith it me so sore so me smert To don al þat may like to ȝoure hert. [ 133]

(20)

¶ And þat ȝe woldyn me as ȝoure broþer trete [ 134] And takyth not myn frenschepe in dispyȝt And þow ȝoure sorwe be for þyngis grete Not I not whi but out of more respyt [ 137] Myn herte haþ to amendyn it gret delyȝt And ȝif I may ȝoure harmys not redresse I am ryȝt sory for ȝoure heuynesse. [ 140]

(21)

¶ ffor þow þe troyanys with þ^e grekis wroþe [lf 104, bk] [ 141] Han manyaday ben alwey ȝit parde On good loue in soþ we were beþe And for þe loue of god myn lady fre [ 144] Whom so ȝe hate as beþ not wroþ with me ffor trewely þere can no wyȝt ȝow serue Þat half so soþ ȝoure wrethe wolde deserue. [ 147]

(22)

¶ And nere it þat we ben so ner þe tent [ 148] Of calcas which þat sen vs boþe may I wolde of þis telle ȝow of al myn entent But be þis enselyd / tyl a noþer day [ 151] Ȝif me ȝoure honde / I am & schal ben ay God helpe me so whil þat myn lyf may dure Ȝoure owyn a-bouyn euery criature. [ 154]

(23)

¶ Þus seyde I neuere er now to woman born [ 155] ffor god myn herte as wisely glade so I louede neuere woman here be-forn As paramour ne neuere schal no mo [ 158] And for þe loue of god beþ not myn fo Al can I not to ȝow myn lady dere Compleyne aryȝt for I am ȝit to lere. [ 161]

(24)

¶ And wonderith nouȝt myn owene lady bryȝt [ 162] Þow I speke to ȝow of loue þus blyue ffor I haue herd or þis of manye a wyȝt He louede þyng he saw neuere in his lyue [ 165] ffor I am not of power for to stryue Aȝens þe god of loue but hym obeye I wele alwey & mercy I ȝow preye. [ 168]

(25)

¶ Þere ben so worþy knyȝtis in þis place [ 169] And ȝe so fayr þat eueryche of hem alle Wele peynyn hem to stondyn in ȝoure grace But myȝte me so fayr a grace falle [ 172] Þat ȝe me for ȝoure seruaunt wolde calle So louely ne so trewely ȝow serue Nil non of hem as I schal til I sterue. [ 175]

(26)

¶ Crisseyde vn-to þat purpos litil answerde [leaf 106] [ 176] As sche þat was with sorwe opressed so Þat sche in effectis sche not his talys herde But here & þere now here a word or to [ 179] Hire þouȝte hire sorweful herte brast oto Whan sche gan hire fadyr fer asspye Wel ny doun of hire hors sche gan to sye. [ 182]

(27)

¶ But naþeles sche þankede dyomede [ 183] Of al his trauayle & his goode chere And þat him lust his frenschepe here to bede And sche acceptid it in good manere [ 186] [. . . . . . . no gap in the MS.] And trostyn hym sche wolde & wel sche myȝt Asyde & from hire hors sche a-lyȝt. [ 189]

(28)

¶ Hire fadir haþ hire in his armys nome [ 190] And xx^ti time he kyste his douȝtir swete And seyde o dere douȝter myn wolcome Sche seyde ek sche was fayn with hym to mete [ 193] [A blank line in the MS.] But here I lete hire with hire fadyr dwelle And forth I wele of troylus ȝow telle [ 196]

(29)

TO Troye is comyn þis woful troylus [ 197] In sorwe a-boue alle sorwis smert With feloun lok & fase dispetous Is sodeynly from his hors [[I, corrected]] I-stert [ 200] And þour his paleys with a sorweful hert To chambere he wente of non [[of non m, corrected]] man tok he hede Ne non to hym dar speke a word for drede [ 203]

(30)

¶ And þere his sorwis þat he sparyd hadde [ 204] He ȝaf an isseu large & loude he cryede And in his þrowys frentyk he made He cursede Ioue appollo & cupide [ 207] He cursede seres Bacus & Cypride His burħ hymself his stat & ek nature And saue his lady euery creature. [ 210]

(31)

¶ To bede he goþ & walwith þere & turnyth [lf 105, bk] [ 211] In furie as ³ thow he leye in helle ³ [[³-³ by corrector]] And þis wise he ny til day soiornyth But þo be-gan a lityl his herte vnswelle [ 214] Þour teris wich þat gan vp te welle And pitousli he cryede vp-on crisseyde And to hym self þus he spak & seyde [ 217]

(32)

¶ Where is myn owene lady leue & dere [ 218] Where is hire white brest where is it where Where ben hire armys & hire eyen clere Þat ȝistyr nyȝt þis tyme with me were [ 221] Now may I wepe alone manye a tere And graspe a-boute I may but in þis place Saue a pilwe fynde not to embrase [ 224]

(33)

¶ How schal I don whanne schal sche comyn a-ȝen [ 225] I not allas whi let I hire to gon As wolde god I hadde as þo ben slayn O herte myn Criseide o swete fo [ 228] O lady myn þo I loue & no mo To whom for eueremor myn herte is holde And þus he pleynyd & ferþere more he tolde [ 231]

(34)

¶ Who sey ȝow now myn ryȝte lodis sterre [ 232] Who sit ryȝt now or stont in ȝoure presense Who can conforte now ȝoure hertis werre Whan I am gon ho ȝeuyth ȝow audience [ 235] Who spekith for me ryȝt now in myn absense Allas no wiȝt & þat is al myn care ffor wel I wot as iuele as I ȝe fare [ 238]

(35)

¶ How schal I þus ful ten dayis endure [ 239] Whan I þe ferste nyȝt haue al ȝis tene How schal sche do ek sorweful cryature ffor tendirnesse how schal sche ek susteyne [ 242] Whiche for me o pitous pale & grene Schal ben ȝour frosche womanliche fase ffor longyng or ȝe turne vn-to þis plase [ 245]

(36)

¶ And whan he fel in ony slomberyng [leaf 106] [ 246] A-non begynne ¹ he schulde for to grone ¹ [[¹-¹ by corrector]] And dremyn of þe dredfuleste þynge Þat myȝte ben þat mette he þere a-lone [ 249] In plase oribele makynge haþ his mone Or metyn þat he was a-mongis alle Hise enemyis & in here hondis falle. [ 252]

(37)

// And þerwithal his body schulde sterte [ 253] And with þe stert al sodeynly a-wake And swich a tremour fel a-boute his herte Þat of þe fer þe body schulde quake [ 256] ² And for that fer anon he dede a-wake ² [[²-² by a corrector]] And semyn þanne as he schulde falle depe ffrom hye on loft & þanne wolde he wepe. [ 259]

(38)

¶ And rewyn on hym self so pitousli [ 260] Þat wondir was to hire his fantasye A noþer tyme he schulde myȝtily Conforte him self & sey it were folye [ 263] So causeles swich drede for to drye And eft be-gan his asper sorwe newe Þat euery man myȝt on his sorwe rewe [ 266]

(39)

// Ho so wil telle / aryȝt or ful discrye [ 267] His wo his pleynt his langure & his pyne Not alle þe men þat han or ben on lyue Þu redere wel þou mayȝ þyn self deuyne [ 270] Þat swich a wo myn wit can not defyne In ydil for to write [[ȝ. corrector]] ȝit schulde I swynke Whan þat myn wit is wery it to þynke [ 273]

(40)

¶ On heuene ȝit þe sterris were sene [ 274] Al-þow ful pale wexen gan þe mone And whityn gan eche oryȝonte schene Al est-ward as it was wone to done [ 277] And phebus with his rosy carte sone Gan aftyr to dresse hym vp to fare Whan Troilus haþ sent aftyr pandare [ 280]

(41)

¶ Þis Pandare þat of al þe day be-forn [leaf 106, back] [ 281] Ne myȝte a come Troilus for to se Al-þow he on his heuyd it hadde sworyn ffor with þe kyng Priame alday was he [ 284] So þat it lay not in his liberte Nowher to gon but on þe morwe he went To Troylus whan þat he for hym sent [ 287]

(42)

// ffor in his herte he coude wel deuyne [ 288] Þat Troilus alnyȝt for sorwe wok And þat he wolde tellyn hym of his pyne Þis knew he wel I-now with-oute bok [ 291] ffor which þe woye streyt to his chambir tok And Troilus sobereliche grette And on þe bed ful sone he gan hym sette [ 294]

(43)

¶ Myn pandarus quod Troilus þe sorwe [ 295] Which þat I drie may not longe endure I trowe I schal not leuyn tyl to morwe ffor which I wolde alwoy on auenture [ 298] To deuyse of myn sepulture Þe forme & of myn moble þou dispone Ryȝ as þe semyst best is for to done [ 301]

(44)

// But of þe fyr & flambe feuneral [ 302] In wich myn body brenne schal to glede And of þe feste & pleyes palestral At myn vigile I preye ȝow takyth hede [ 305] Þat it be wel & offere mars myn stede Myn swerd myn helm & leue broþer dere Myn child to paɫɫ ȝif þat schynyth clere [ 308]

(45)

¶ Þe poudir wich myn herte brent schal turne [ 309] Þat preye I þe þou take & ek conserue In a vessel þat men callyn vrne Of gold & to myn lady þat I serue [ 312] ffor loue of whom þus pitously I sterue. So ȝeue it hire & do hire þis plesaunce To prey hire kepe it for a remembraunce [ 315]

(46)

¶ ffor wel I fele be myn malady [leaf 107] [ 316] An myne dremys now & ȝore agon Þat serteynly I mot nedis deye Þe owle ek wich þat hiȝte eschaphilo [ 319] Haþ aftyr me schriht alle þese nyȝtis too [[too, corrected]] And god mercurye on me now woful wreche Þe soule gyde & whan ȝe luste it feche. [ 322]

(47)

PAndarus answerde & seyde troilus [ 323] Myn dere frend as I haue told þe ȝore Þat it is foly for to sorwe þus And causeles for which I can no more [ 326] But who so wele not trowe red ne lore I can in hym sen no remedy But let hym wercħyn with his fantasy [ 329]

(48)

¶ But Troylus I preye þe telle me now [ 330] Ȝif þat þow or I or ony wyȝt Haþ louyd paramour as wel as ȝow Ȝa god wot * so haþ many a worþi knyȝt [ 333] Haþ his lady forgon a fortenyȝt And he not ȝit made haluyndel þe fare What nediþ it þ^e / to make al þis [[c, corrected]] care. [ 336]

(49)

¶ Syn day be day / þow mayȝt þyn seluyn se [ 337] Þat from his loue / or eɫɫ from his wif A man mot twynnyn / of necescite Ȝa þow he loue hire / as as his owene lyf [ 340] Ȝit nyl he with hym self / make þis stryf ffor wel þow wist / myn owene lady dere Þat alwey frendis / may not ben in fere [ 343]

(50)

¶ How don þese folk / þat sen here louys weddit [ 344] Be fryndis myȝt / & as it be-tydyth ofte And sen hem in here . spousis bed . ben beddit God wot þey takyn it wisely & softe [ 347] ffor whi good hope / holt vp here herte on lofte And for þey can a tyme / of sorwe endure As tyme hem hirt / a tyme doþ hem cure [ 350]

(51)

¶ So schuldist þow endure & let slyde [leaf 107, back] [ 351] Þe tyme & fonde to ben glad & lyȝt Ten dayis is not so longe to on-byde And sithe sche to come haþ be-hyȝt [ 354] Sche nyl hire heste brekyn for no wyȝt ffor dred þe not þat sche ne wil fynde way To comyn a-ȝen myn lyf þanne durste I lay. [ 357]

(52)

// Þynne swenys ek & al þyn fantasye [ 358] Dryf owt & lat hem faryn to myschaunce ffor þey procedyn of þyn malencoly Þat doþ þe fele in slep al þis penaunce [ 361] A straw for alle sweuenys signefyaunce God help me so I counte hem not a bene Þere wot no man a-ryȝt ¹ what ¹ [[¹-¹ corrected]] dremys mene [ 364]

(53)

¶ ffor pristis of þe tempele tellyn þis [ 365] Þat dremys ben þ^e reuelaciouns Of goddis & as wel þey tellyn Iwis Þat þey ben enfernal illusionys [ 368] And lechis seyn þat of complexiounnys Procedyn þey or fast or glotenye Who wot in soþ þus / what þey signefye. [ 371]

(54)

// Ek oþere seyn þour enpressiounnys [ 372] As ȝif a ² whiȝt ² [[²-² corrected]] haþ fast a þyng in mynde Þat þere comyth sweche auisiounys And oþere seyn þat þey in bokys fynde [ 375] Þat aftyr tymys of ȝer be kynde Men dremyn & þat effectis gon bi þe mone But leue no drem for it is not to done. [ 378]

(55)

¶ Who [[o, corrected]] worþi of dremys / alle þese olde wyuys [ 379] And trewelyche augery of þese olde foulis ffor fere of whiche men wene [[wene, corrected]] lese here lyuys And rauenys qualme & strichinge of þese oules [ 382] To trowe on it / boþe fals & foul is Allas ⁵ allas so noble a creature ⁵ [[⁵-⁵ corrected]] As is a man schal dredyn swich ordure [ 385]

(56)

¶ ffor which with [[with, overline, later]] al myn herte I þe be-seche [ 386] On-to þyn self þat al þis þow for-ȝif And rys now vp with-oute more speche And lat vs cast how we may best forþ dryf [ 389] Þis tyme & how froschely we may lyf Til þat sche come & þat may ben ryȝt sone God help me so / best is þus to done [ 392]

(57)

¶ Rys lat vs speke / of lusty lyf in troye [ 393] Þat we han led / & forth þe tyme dreue And ek of tyme comynge / vs þe ioye Þat bryngyn schal oure blysse now so blyue [ 396] And langur of þese / twyis dais fyue We schal þerwith forȝetyn oure opresse Þat wel oneþe it schal don vs duresse. [ 399]

(58)

¶ Þis toun is ful of lordis al aboute [ 400] And treus lestith al þis mene while Go we pley vs in sum lusty route To Sarpedoun not henys but a myle [ 403] And þus þou schalt þe tyme wel be-gyle And dryue it forth on to þat blysful morwe Þat þow hire se þat cause is of ² thyn ² [[²-² corrected]] sorwe [ 406]

(59)

¶ Now rys vp myn dere broþer Troylus [ 407] ffor certis it is non honour on-to þe To wepe & in þyn bed to iouke þus ffor trewelich of on þyng truste me [ 410] ³ Yef that thow leve a dayor too or thre ³ [[³-³ by later hand]] Þe folk wele seyn þat þow for cowardyse Þe feynyst sek .& þat þou darst not ryse. [ 413]

(60)

THis Troylus answerde & seyde o pandare broþer [ 414] Þis knowyn folk þat han sufferyd peyne Þat þow he wepe & & make sorweful chere Þat felyth iuyl & smert in euery veyne [ 417] No wondir is al-þow I euere pleyne Or alwoy wepe I am no þyng to blame Syn I haue lost þe cause of al myn fame [ 420]

(61)

¶ But syn of fyn force I mot a-ryse [leaf 106, back] [ 421] I schal a-ryse as sone as euere I may And god to hom myn here I sacrifise So synde vs hastileche þe tenthe day [ 424] ffor was þere ¹ neuere foul so fayn of may ¹ [[¹-¹ corrected]] As I schal ben whan sche comyth to Troye Þat cause is of myn turnent & of myn Ioye [ 427]

(62)

// But wheþer / is þyn red quod Troylus [ 428] Þat we may pleye vs best in al þis toun By god myn conseyl is quod Pandarus To ryde & pley vs with kyng Sarpedoun [ 431] So longe of þis spoke þey vp & doun Til Troylus gan at þe laste a-sente To ryse & forth to sarpedoun þey wente [ 434]

(63)

¶ Þis Sarpedoun as he þat honurabele [ 435] Euere his lyf & ful of hey largesse With al þat myȝte ben seruyd on tabele Þat deynte was al coste it gret richesse [ 438] He fed hem day be day þat swich nobelesse As seyden boþe meste & ek þere leste Was neuere or þat day sen at ony feste [ 441]

(64)

// Nor in þis world þere is non instrewment [ 442] Delicious þour wynd or cours or corde As fer as euery wiȝt haþ euere went Þat tunge telle or herte may recorde [ 445] Þat at þe ferste / it was wel herd recorde Ne of ladyis ek / so fayr a cumpanye On daunce or þis was neuere sen with eye [ 448]

(65)

¶ But what vaylyde þis to Troylus [ 449] Þat for his sorwe no þyng of it rouȝte ffor euere in on / his herte pitous fful busyly Crisseyde / his lady souȝte [ 452] On hire was euere / al his herte þouȝte Now þis now þat / so faste ymagynyng Þat gladyn I-wis / can hym no festyng [ 455]

(66)

¶ Þese ladyis ek þat at þe feste ben [leaf 109] [ 456] Sen þat he seyth his lady was a-way It was his sorwyn on hem for to sen Or for to here on Instrument to play [ 459] ffor sche þat of his herte beryth þe kay Was absent lo þis was his fantasy Þat no wyȝt schulde make melody. [ 462]

(67)

// Ne þere nas oure in al þe day ne nyȝt [ 463] Whan he was þere þat no man myȝt hym here Þat he ne seyde a lessoum lady bryȝt How haue ȝe fare sythe ȝe were here [ 466] Wolcome I-wys myn owene lady dere But welleaway at þis nas but a mase ffortune his enmy entendit but to glase. [ 469]

(68)

¶ Þe letterys ek þat sche ¹ oftyn tyme ¹ [[¹-¹ corrector]] [ 470] Hadde sent / he wolde alle one rede An hunderyd siþe / be-twixe none & prime Refuguryn hire schap / hyre womanhede [ 473] With-inne his herte euery word & dede Þat passed was & þus he drof to an ende Þe ferþe day & þens wolde he wende. [ 476]

(69)

// And seyde leue broþer Pandarus [ 477] Entendist þow þat we schal here be-leue Tyl sarpedoun wele hene cunge vs Ȝit were it fayrere þat we toke oure leue [ 480] ffor goddys loue let vs nou sone at eue Oure leue take & homward let vs turne ffor trewely I nyl not þus soiorne [ 483]

(70)

¶ Pandarus answerede wele we þus [ 484] To feche ffire & renne hom a-ȝen God helpe me so I can not tellyn whidir We myȝtyn gon ȝif / I schulde sauely seyn [ 487] Þere euery whit is / of vs more fayn Þan serpedoun [[MS. serpedoun]] & ȝif we henys hye Þus sodeynly I holde it vilonye [ 490]

(71)

¶ Syn þat ȝe seyde we wolde be-leue [leaf 109, back] [ 491] With hym a wouke & now þus sodeynly Þe ferþe day to take of hym oure leue He wele wondere on it trewely [ 494] Lat vs holde oure purpos frendely And syn þat we behyȝtyn hire to a-byde Hold forward now & aftyr lat vs ryde [ 497]

(72)

// Þus pandarus with al peyne & wo [ 498] Madyn hym to dwelle & at þe woukis ende Of þis Sarpedoun / þey toke here leue þo And on here weye þey speddyn hem to wende [ 501] Qud Troilus now lord me grase synde Þat I may fynde at myn homcomyng Crisseide comyn & þerwith gan he syng [ 504]

(73)

¶ Ȝa hasilwode / pouȝte þis Pandare [ 505] And to hym self / þus softely he seyde God wot refreyne / may þis hote fare Or calcas sende / Troilus Crisseide [ 508] But neuerles he Iapede þus & seyde He swor I-wis his herte him wel be-hyȝte Sche wolde come as sone as euere sche myȝte. [ 511]

(74)

// Whan þey on to here paleys were come [ 512] Troilus & he doun of here hors alyȝt And to þe chaumbere þe woye haue þey nome And on to tyme þat it gan on to nyȝt [ 515] Þey spekyn of crisseyde þe bryȝt And aftyr þis what þat hem boþe lyst Handyn soppid þey speddyn hem on to rest [ 518]

(75)

¶ On morwe as sone as day be-gan to clere [ 519] Þis Troilus gan of his slep to a-breyde And to Pandarus his owene broþer dere ffor loue of god ful pitously he preyede [ 522] Go we sen þe paleys [[s, corrected]] of Crisseyde But syn we ȝit may haue no more feste So lat vs sen hire / paleys at þe leste [ 525]

(76)

¶ And þerwithal his meyne for to blynde [leaf 110] [ 526] A cause he fond in to toune for to go And to Crisseidis hous he gan wende But lord þis sely troilus was wo [ 529] Hym þouȝte his sorweful herte brast on to ffor whan he say hire doris sperede alle Wol nygh for sorwe doun gan he falle [ 532]

(77)

// Þerewith whan he was war / & gan be-holde [ 533] How schet was euery wyndowe of þe place As frost him þouȝte his herte gan to colde ffor which pale dedlych was his face [ 536] With-outyn word / he forþ be-gan to pase And as god wolde / he gan so faste ryde Þat no whit of his cuntenauns asspiede [ 539]

(78)

¶ Þanne seyde he þus O paleys desolat [ 540] O hous of housis whilhom best I-hiȝt O paleys emty & disconsolat O þu lantern of wich queynt is þe lyȝt [ 543] O paleys whilhom day þat nou art nyȝt Wel auȝtist þow to falle & to deye Syn sche is went þat wone was þe to geye. [ 546]

(79)

// O paleys whilhom croun of housis alle [ 547] Enlumynyd with þ^e forme of alle blys O ryng of wich þe ruby is out falle O cause of wo þat cause haþ ben of blys [ 550] Ȝa syn I may no bet fayn wolde I kys Þese colde doris durste I for þe route And far wel schryne of which þe seynt is oute [ 553]

(80)

¶ And þerwith he caste on pandare his eye [ 554] With schaungynge face & pitous to beholde And whan he myȝte his tyme a-ryȝt a-spye Ay as he rod to pandaris he tolde [ 557] His newe sorwe & ek his Ioyes olde So pitously & with so pale an hewe Þat euery wiȝt / myȝt on his sorwe rewe [ 560]

(81)

¶ ffrom þens forth þey redyn vp & doun [leaf 110, back] [ 561] And euery þyng come hym to remembraunce As he rod forbi placis in þe toun In which he whilhom hadde his pleasaunse [ 564] Lo ȝondyr say I last myn ladi daunce And in þat temple with hire eyȝen clere Me cauȝte ferst myn ryȝte lady dere. [ 567]

(82)

// And ȝondyr haue I herd ful lustyly [ 568] Myn dere herte lauȝe & ȝondyr play Saw I hire onys ek ful busily Now goode swete loue me wel I pray [ 571] Ȝondyr onys to me gan sche say And ȝondir so godly gan sch[e] me be-holde Þat to þe deþ myn herte is to hire holde [ 574]

(83)

¶ And at þat corner in þe ȝondyr hous [ 575] Herde I aldyr louelyest lady dere So womanly with voys melidious Synge so wel so godly & so clere [ 578] Þat in myn soule ȝit me þynkith I here Þe blisful soun & in þat ȝondir plase Myn lady fyrst me tok on-tyl hyre grace [ 581]

(84)

// Þanne þouȝte he þus a blysful lorde cupid [ 582] Whan I þyn proces haue in myn memorye How þou hast me weryed in e euery syde Men myȝte a bok make of it lyk a storye [ 585] What ist þe to seke on me victory Syn I am al holy at þyn wille What Ioye hast þou þynne owene folk to spille [ 588]

(85)

¶ Wel hast þou lord I-wroke on me þyn yre [ 589] Þow myȝty god & dredful for to greue Now mercy lord þow wost wel I desyre Þyn grace lord most of alle lustys leue [ 592] And lyf & deþ I wil in þe be-leue ffor which I ne axe en gardoun but on bone Þat þow me sende Crisseyde a-ȝen sone [ 595]

(86)

¶ Distreyne hyre herte as faste to retorne [leaf 111] [ 596] As þow dedyst myn to longyn hire to se Þanne wot I wel þat sche nyl not soiourne Now blysful lord so crewel þu ne be [ 599] Vn-to þe blod of Troye I preye þe As I[u]no was was vn-to þe blod Theban ffor which þe folk of Troye cauȝt here ban [ 602]

(87)

// And aftyr þis on to þe gate he went [ 603] Þere as crisseyde out rod a ful god pas And vp & doun þere made he manye a went And to hym self ful ofte he seyde allas [ 606] ffrom henys rod myn blys & myn solas As wolde blysful god now for his ioye I myȝt hire sen a-ȝen comyn in to troye [ 609]

(88)

¶ And to ȝondir hil I gan hire gyde [ 610] Allas & þere I tok of hire myn leue And ȝonde I say hyre to hire fadyr ryde ffor sorwe of which myn herte wil to-cleue [ 613] And hom hidir I com whan it was eue And here I dwelle cast out from alle ioye And schal tyl I may sen hire eft in troye [ 616]

(89)

// And of hym self ymagined he ofte [ 617] To ben defect pale & waxe lasse Þan he was wont & þat men seydyn softe What may it be ho can þ^e soþe gesse [ 620] Whi troylus haþ al þis heuynesse Al þis nas not his malencoly Þat he hadde of hym self swich fantasy [ 623]

(90)

¶ A noþer tyme ymagyne he wolde [ 624] Þat euery wiȝt þat wente by þe wey Hadde of hym reuthe and þat þey seyn schulde I am ryȝt sory Troylus wil deye [ 627] And þus he drof a day forth or twey As ȝe han herd swich lyf gan he lede As he þat stod a-twixe hope & drede [ 630]

(91)

¶ ffor which he likid in hise songis to schewe [lf 111, bk] [ 631] Þe enchesoun of his wo / as he best myȝt And mad a song of wordis but a fewe Sumwhat his woful herte for to lyȝt [ 634] And whan he was from euery mannys syȝt With softe voys he of his lady dere Þat absent was may synge as þe may here [ 637]

(92)

¶ O sterre of which I lost haue al þe lyȝt [ 638] With herte sor wel auȝte I to be-wayle Þat euere I lyue in turnement nyȝt be nyȝt Toward myn deþ with wynd on sterid I sayle [ 641] ffor which þe tente nyȝt ȝif I fayle Þe gydynge of þynne bemys bryȝte an oure Myn schyp & me Carybdes wole deuoure [ 644]

(93)

¶ Þis song whan he hade songe also sone [ 645] He fel a-ȝen in-to his sikys olde And euery nyȝt as was his wone to done He stod þe bryȝte mone to be-holde [ 648] And al his sorwe on-to þe mone tolde And seyde whan þow art hornede newe I schal be glad ȝif al þe world be trewe [ 651]

(94)

¶ I say þynne hornys olde by þe morwe [ 652] Whan henys rod myn bryȝte lady dere Þat cause is of myn turnent & myn sorwe ffor wich o bryȝte latona þe ¹ clere ¹ [[¹-¹ corrector]] [clere] [ 655] ffor loue of god ren faste a-boute þyn spere And whanne þyne hernys newe be-gynne to springe Þanne schal sche come þat may myn blysse brynge [ 658]

(95)

¶ Þe day is more & lengere euery nyȝt [ 659] Þan þey ben wone to be hym þouȝte þo And þat þe sunne wente his cours on-ryȝt Be lengere weye þan it was wone to go [ 662] And seyde I-wis me dredyþ eueremo Þat þe sonnes sone Phecon be on lyue And þat his fadiris carte a-mys he dryue [ 665]

(96)

¶ Vp on þe waɫɫ faste ek wolde he walk [leaf 112] [ 666] And on þe grekis ofte wolde he se And to hym self ryȝt þus he wolde talke Lo ȝondyr is myn owene lady fre [ 669] Or eɫɫ ȝondyr þere þe tentis be And þenys comyth þis eyr þat is so swote Þat in myn soule I fele it doþ me bote [ 672]

(97)

¶ And hardely þe wynd þat more & more [ 673] Þus stormyal encresith in ¹ myn face ¹ [[¹-¹ corrector]] Is of myne ladijs sykys sore I preue it þus for in non oþer space [ 676] Of al þis toun saue only in þis plase ffele I no wynd þat sounyth so lych peyne It seyth allas whyn twynnyd be we tweyne [ 679]

(98)

¶ Þis longe tyme be dryuyth forth ryȝt þus [ 680] Til fully passid was þe nynnte ryȝt And ay be syde hym was þis pandarus And besyly dede al his fulle myȝt [ 683] Hym to conforte & maken his herte lyȝt Ȝeuynge hym hope alwey þe tente morwe Þat sche schal come & styntyn al his sorwe [ 686]

(99)

Up on þat oþer syde ek was Crisseyde [ 687] With wemen fewe a-mong þe grekys stronge ffor which ful ofte a day allas sche seyde Þat I was born wil may ² myn herte longe ² [[²-² corrector]] [ 690] Aftyr myn day / for now leue ³ I to ³ [[³-³ corrector]] longe Allas & I ne may it not amende ffor now is wers þan euere ȝit I wende. [ 693]

(100)

¶ Myn fadyr wil for no þyng don me grace [ 694] To gon a-ȝen for nouȝt þat I may queme And ȝif it so be þat I myn terme pase Myn Troilus schal in his herte deme [ 697] Þat I am fals & so it may wel seme Þus schal I haue on-þank on euery syde Þat I was boryn so welleaway þe tyde [ 700]

(101)

¶ And ȝif þat I me putte in iupardye [leaf 112, back] [ 701] To stele a-way be nyȝt & it so falle Þat I be cauȝt I schal be holde a spye Or eɫɫ lo þis drede I most of alle [ 704] Ȝif in þe hondis of sum wreche I falle I am but lost al be myn herte trewe Now myȝty god þou on myn sorwe rewe [ 707]

(102)

// fful pale I-waxen was hire bryȝte face [ 708] Here lemys lene as sche þat al þe day Stod whan sche durste & lokede on to þe plase Þere sche was boryn & þere sche dwellyd hadde ay [ 711] And al þe nyȝt wepynge al as sche lay

[No gap in the MS.]

(103)

And þus sche sette hyre woful herte on ¹ fyre ¹ [[¹-¹ corrected]] Þour remembraunce of þat sche gan desyre. [ 721]

(104)

¶ In al þis world þere nys so crewel herte [ 722] Þat hire hade herd compleyne / in hire sorwe Þat wholde a wepid for hire peynys smerte So tendyrly sche wepid boþe eue & morwe [ 725] Hire nedit none teris for to borwe And þis was ȝit werst of al hire peyne Þere nas no wiȝt to whom sche durste hire compleyne. [ 728]

(105)

// fful reufully sche lokede vp on troye [ 729] Be-hild þe tourys hye & ek þe waɫɫ Allas quod sche þe plesaunse & þe ioye Þe whiche now al turnyd in-to galle is [ 732] Haue I ofte had with-inne zone wallis O Troilus what dost þou now sche seyde Lord wheþer þou þynke ȝit on Crisseyde [ 735]

(106)

¶ Allas þat I ne hadde trowid on ȝoure lore [ 736] And wente with ȝow as ȝe redde me or þis Þanne hadde I not sikyd half so sore Who myȝte a seyd þat I hadde don a-mys [ 739] To stele a-wey / with swich on as he is But al to late comyth þe letewarye Whan men þ^e dede cors on-to þe graue carye [ 742]

(107)

¶ To late is now to speke of þis matere [leaf 113] [ 743] Prudence allas on of þynne eyen þre Me lakkid alway er þan I cam here On tyme passid wel remembrid me [ 746] And present tyme ek coude I wel se But er þat tyme þat I was in þ^e snare Coude I not sen þat causeþ now myn care [ 749]

(108)

¶ But neuer-þeles be-tyde what be-tyde [ 750] I schal to morwe at nyȝt ben est or west Out of þis ostel in sum maner syde And gon with Troilus þere þat hym good lest [ 753] Þis purpos wele I holde & þis is best Nofors of wekede tongis iangelerye ffor euere of loue han wrechis had enuye [ 756]

(109)

¶ ffor ho-so wele of euery word take hed [ 757] Or reule hym be euery wiȝtis wit He schal neuere þryuyn out of drede ffor þat þat somen blame euere ȝit [ 760] Lo oþere manyr folk comendyn it And as for me for al swich varyaunce ffelicite clepe .I. myn sufficiaunce [ 763]

(110)

¶ ffor which I wele with-oute wordis mo [ 764] To Troye I wil as for conclusioun But god it wot er fully monythis to Sche was ful fer from þat entencioun [ 767] ffor boþe Troilus & Troye toun Schal knotteles þour hire herte glyde ffor sche wele take a purpos al be syde [ 770]

(111)

This dyomede of which I telle ȝow gan [ 771] Goþ now with hym seluyn arguynge With al þe sleyȝte & al þat euere he can How he may best with schort taryinge [ 774] In-to his net Crisseydis herte brynge To his entent he coude neuere fyne To fysshyn [[y••shyn, both, corrected]] hire he leyde both [[y••shyn, both, corrected]] hok or lyne [ 777]

(112)

¶ But neuer-þe-les wel in his herte he þouȝte [lf 113, bk] [ 778] Þat sche was not with-oute a loue in troye ffor neuere sithe he hire þens brouȝte Ne coude hyre se lauȝhe ne make ioye [ 781] He nyste how best hire herte ta-coye But for to a-saye ȝiftys he ȝeuyth ffor he þat nouȝt a-sayeþ nouȝt ne cheuyth [ 784]

(113)

¶ Ȝit seyde he to hym self vp-on a-nyȝt [ 785] Now am I not a fol þat wot wel how Hire wo is for loue of a noþer wiȝt And her-vp-on to gon a-say hire now [ 788] I may wel wete it nyl not be myn prow ffor wise folk in bokis it expres Men schal not wowe a wyȝt in heuynes [ 791]

(114)

¶ ffor ho so myȝte wynne swich a flour [ 792] ffrom him for whom sche mournyth nyȝt & day He myȝte seyn he were a conquerour And ryȝt a-non as he þat bold was ay [ 795] Þouȝte in herte happe how happe may Al schulde I deye I schulde hire herte seche I schal no more lese but myn speche [ 798]

(115)

¶ Þis Diomede as bokis vs declare [ 799] Was in hise nedis prest & coraieous With sterne voye & myȝti lemys square Hardy testyf strong & cheualrous [ 802] Of dedis lik his fadyr Thedeous And some men was here of tunge large And eyþer it was of / calidoyne & arge [ 805]

(116)

¶ Crisseyde mene was of stateure [ 806] And þerto schap of face & eke of chere Þere myȝte ben no fayrere creature And ofte tyme þis was hire manere [ 809] To gon trussid with hire here clere Doun by hire bak at hire coler be-hynde Which with a þred of gol sche wolde it bynde [ 812]

(117)

¶ And saf here browis ioynyd in fere [leaf 114] [ 813] Þere nas no lak in ouȝt I can asspyen But for to spekyn of hire eyȝyn clere So trewely þey wotyn þat hire seyen [ 816] Þat paradys stod formyd in hire eyen And with hire / swich beute euere more Strof in hire ay / which of hem were more [ 819]

(118)

Versus Sobria simplicitas sonus pudor arida nunquam Versus. Poscente poetas gracia fandi leuis // Sche sobere was ek symple & stille with-al [ 820] Þe beste I-norschid ek þat myȝte be And godly of hire speche in general Scharite abele statlyche lyȝt lusti & fre [ 823] Ne neueremore ne lakkede hire pete. Tendyr herte slydyng of corage But trewely I can not telle hire age [ 826]

(119)

Versus Troilus in spacium surgentes explicat artus Versus Mente gigas etate puer m[i]xxt[us]que vigore Versus Nulli-que secundus audendo virtutis opis // And troilus wel waxen was in hyȝte [ 827] And couplid formyd be proporcioun So wel þat kynde it nouȝt a-monde myȝt [cave] Ȝong frosch strong as lyoun [ 830] Trewe as stel in eche condicioun On of þe beste entechede criature Þat is or schal whil al þe world may deure. [ 833]

(120)

¶ And serteynly in stori as it is founde [ 834] Þat Troilus was neuere on-to no wyȝt As in his tyme in no degre secounde In dorynge to do þat longith to a knyȝt [ 837] Al myȝte a geaunt passyn hym of myȝt His herte as with þe ferste & with þ^e beste Stod to ¹ dore don / what hym leste. ¹ [[¹-¹ corrector]] [ 840]

(121)

¶ But for to telle forth of diomede [leaf 114, back] [ 841] It fel þat aftyr on þe tente day Syn Crisseyde out of þe cete ȝede Þis diome[de] as frosch as rose in may [ 844] Come to þe tente þere as calcas lay And fynede hym with Calcas to haue to done But what he mente I schal ȝow telle sone [ 847]

(122)

// Crisseyde at schorte wordis for to telle [ 848] Welcomede hym & doun by hire sette And as he eþe I-now to mowe dwelle And aftyr þis woþ longe lette [ 851] Þe spicis & þe wyn men forth hem fette And forþ þey spekyn of þis & þat in fere As frendys don of which som schal ȝe here [ 854]

(123)

¶ He gan fyrst fallyn of þe werre in speche [ 855] Be-tweþe hem & þe folk of troye toun And of [[p. for þ]] passage he gan hyre ek be-seche To telle hym what was his opynyoun [ 858] ffrom þat demaunde he forth dissendiþ doun To axen hire ȝif þat hire straunge þouȝt Þe grekys gise & werkys þat þey wrouȝt [ 861]

(124)

// And whi here fadir tarieþ so longe [ 862] To weddyn hire to sum worþi wiȝt Crisseide þat was in here peynys stronge ffor loue of Troilus hyre owene kn̄yt [ 865] As fer forth as [s]he knowynge hadde or myȝt Answerede hym but of his entent It semede not what he ment [ 868]

(125)

¶ But neuer þe les þis ilke diomede [ 869] Gan hym selue answere & þus he seyde Ȝif I aryȝt haue takyn of ȝow hede Me þynkiþ þis o ladi myn crisseyde [ 872] Þat syn I fyrst hond on ȝoure brydil leyde Whan he out of troye come be þe morwe Ne coude I neuere se ȝow but in sorwe [ 875]

(126)

¶ Can I not sen what may þe cause ben [leaf 115] [ 876] But ȝif for loue of som Troyan it were Þe whiche ryȝt sore wolde aþynkyn me Þat ȝe for ony wiȝt þat dwellyn þere [ 879] Scholde spille a quarter of a tere [No gap in the MS.] ffor dredeles it nys not worth þ^e while [ 882]

(127)

ffor folk of troye as wis sithe alle an som [ 883] In presoun ben as ȝe ȝoure seluyn se Nor þens schal not on on lyue comyn ffor al þe good be-twixe sünne & se [ 886] Trostiþ wel & vndirstondiþ me Þere schal not on for mercy gon on lyue Al were he lord of worldis twyis fyue. [ 889]

(128)

¶ Swich fechyng ¹ hom of Eleyne ¹ [[¹-¹ corrected]] [ 890] Þere schal be take er þan we henys wynde Þat mannes which þat goddis ben of peyne Schal ben a-gast þat grekys wil hem sende [ 893] And men schul drede vnto þ^e worldis ende ffrom henys forþ to rauych ony quene So crewel schal oure wreche on hem ben sene. [ 896]

(129)

// And but ȝif Calcas lede vs with a[m]bages [ 897] Þat is to seyne with doubele wordis slye Which as men clepe a word with twey vesagis Ȝe schal wel knowe þat I not lye [ 900] And al þis þyng ryȝt sen it with ȝoure eye And þat a-non ȝe nyl not trowe how sone Now takyth hed for it nys not to done [ 903]

(130)

¶ What wene ȝe þat ȝoure fadir wolde [ 904] Haue ȝouyn antenore for ȝow a-non Ȝif he ne woste þat þe cete schulde Distroyed ben whi nay so mote I gon [ 907] He knew ful wel þere scal not schappyn on Þat Troyan is & for þ^e grete fere He durste ȝow lete / no lengere dwelle þere [ 910]

(131)

¶ What wele ȝe more louesum ladi dere [leaf 115, back] [ 911] Lat troye & troyan oute of ȝoure herte pase Drif out þat bittir hope & make good chere And clepe a-ȝen þe beute of ȝoure face [ 914] Þat ȝe with salte teris so deface ² yow heere ² [[²-² by corrector]] ffor Troye is brouȝt in swich a iupardi Þat is to seyne is now no remedy [ 917]

(132)

// And þynkiþ wel ȝe schal in grekys fynde [ 918] A more parfyȝt loue or be myȝt Þan ony troyan is & more kynde And bet to seruyn ȝow wele don his myȝt [ 921] I wele ben he to seruyn ȝow myn selleue [[line 922 is want∣ing in the MS.]] Ȝa leuere þan ben kyng of grecis. vij. [A blank line in the MS.] [ 924]

(133)

¶ And with þat word he gan to wexen red [ 925] And in his speche a lityl he quok And caste a-syde a lite with his hed And stynte a while & aftyrward a-wok [ 928] And sobirly on hire dede þrowe his lok And seyde I am al be it to ȝow no ioye As gentil man as ony wyt in troye [ 931]

(134)

// ffor ȝif myn fadyr Thedeus he seyde [ 932] I-leuid hadde I hadde ben er þis Of al calidrion & arge a kyng Crisseide And so I hope & þat I schal I-wis [ 935] But he was slain allas more harm is Vnhappi at Thedes al to rathe Polymyȝt & many man al to skaþe [ 938]

(135)

¶ But herte myn syn I am ȝoure man [ 939] And ben þ^e fyrste of whom I seche grace And serue ȝow as hertely as I can And euere schal whil myn lyf haue spase [ 942] So er þat I departe out of þis place Þat ȝe me grauntyþ þat I may to morwe At bettere leyser telle ȝow al myn sorwe [ 945]

(136)

¶ What schulde I telle þe wordis & þ^e sorwe [leaf 116] [ 946] He spak I-now for on day at þ^e meste It preuyth he spak so þat Crisseyde Grauntyd on þe morwe at his requeste [ 949] ffor to speke with hym at þe leste So þat he nolde speke of swich matere And þus sche seyde to hym as ȝe schul here [ 952]

(137)

AS sche þat hire herte on troilus [ 953] So faste hadde set þat þere myȝt non arase And straungely sche spak & seyde þus O Diomede I loue þat ilke place [ 956] Þere I was born & ioue for his grace Deliuere it sone of alle þat don it care God for þyn myȝt so leue it wel to fare [ 959]

(138)

¶ Þat grekis wolde hire wrethe [[r, later]] on troye wreke [ 960] Ȝif þat þey myȝte I knowe it wel I-wis But I[t] schal not be-fallyn þat ȝe speke And god to-forn & ferþere ouer þis [ 963] I wot myn fadir wis & redi is And he me haþ bouȝt as ȝe me tolde So dere I am þe more to hym holde [ 966]

(139)

¶ Grekis ben of [[of, overline, later]] hey condicioun [ 967] I wot ek wel but sertein men schal fynde As worþi folk with-inne troye toun As cunnyng as þarfit & as kynde [ 970] As ben be tweþe orchades & ynde And þat ȝe couþe wel ȝoure ladi serue I trowe it wel hire þank for to deserue [ 973]

(140)

¶ But as ȝe speke of loue I-wis sche seyde [ 974] I hadde a lord to whom I weddid was Whos myn herte was tyl þat he deyede And oþer loue as helpe me now Pallas [ 977] Þere in myn herte nys ne neuere nas And þat ȝe ben of nobil & hy kenrede I haue wel herd it telle out of drede [ 980]

(141)

¶ And don me han so gret a wondir [leaf 116, back] [ 981] Þat ȝe wele scornyn ony woman so Ek good loue & I / ben fer a sundir I am disposed bet so mote I go [ 984] Vn-to myn deþ to pleynyn & make wo What I schal aftyr don can I not say But trewely as ȝit luste me no play [ 987]

(142)

¶ Myn herte is now in tribulacioun [ 988] And ȝe in armys besi day be day Here-aftyr whan ȝe wonyn haue þe toun Parauenture þanne so it happyn may [ 991] Þat whanne I se / þat neuere ȝit ne say Þanne wil I werke þat I neuere ne wrouȝte Þis is word I-now for ȝow / suffiseþ it nouȝt [ 994]

(143)

¶ To morwe wele I ek speke with ȝow fayn [ 995] So þat ȝe touche not of þis matere And whan ȝe leste ȝe may come aȝeyn And er ȝe gon þus meche I sey ȝow here [ 998] As helpe me pallas with hire eyyn clere Þat ȝif I schulde of ony grek han [[h, corrected]] reuthe It schulde be ȝoure sylf be myn treuthe [ 1001]

(144)

¶ I sey not þerfore þat I wele ȝow loue [ 1002] Ne I sey not nay but in conclusioun I mene wel bi god þat sit a-boue And þerwithal sche cast hire eyȝyn doun [ 1005] And gan to sike & seyde o troye toun Ȝit bidde I god / in quyete & in reste I may þe sen / or do myn herte breste [ 1008]

(145)

¶ But in effect & soþli for to seyen [ 1009] Þis diome[de] al newely now a-ȝen Gan ¹ mersi presyn here to preye ¹ [[¹-¹ by corrector]] But aftyr þis þ^e soþe for to seyn [ 1012] Hire gloue he tok of whiche he was ful fayn And fynally whan it was waxen eue And al was wel he ros & tok his leue [ 1015]

(146)

¶ THe bryȝte Venus folwede ay & tauȝte [leaf 117] [ 1016] Þe way / þe brode phebus doun a-lyȝte And synthea hire char hors ouer rauȝte To whirle out of þe lyoun ȝif sche myȝte [ 1019] And signifer hire candelis schewede bryȝt Whan þat Cresseyde vn-to hire reste went With-inne hire faderis fayre bryȝte tent [ 1022]

(147)

// Returnynge in hire soule vp & doun [ 1023] Þe wordis of þis sodeyn diomede His grete estat & peril of þe toun And þat sche was a-lone & hadde nede [ 1026] Of frendis helpe & þus be-gan to brede Þe causis wich soþ for to telle Þat sche tok fully purpos for to dwelle [ 1029]

(148)

¶ Þe morwe com & gostly for to speke [ 1030] Þis diomede is comyn to Crisseyde And schortly lest þat sche myn tale breke So wel for hymself he spak & seyde [ 1033] Þat alle hire sikis sore doun he leyde And finally þe soþe for to seyn He reuyth hire þe grete of al hire peyn [ 1036]

(149)

// And aftyr þis þe story tellyth þus [ 1037] Þat he hire ȝaf þ^e fayre baye stede Þe whiche he onys wan of Troylus A-ȝen a broche þat was lityl nede [ 1040] Þat Troilus [[o, later]] was / sche ȝaf þis diomede An þe bet of sorwe / him to releue Sche made hym to were a pensel of hire sleue [ 1043]

(150)

¶ I fynde ek in storyies eɫɫ where [ 1044] Þat þour þe body gert was diomede Of Troilus / þo wep sche manye a tere Whan þat sche saw hise wide wondis blede [ 1047] And þat sche tok hym to kepe good hede And for to hele hym / of hise sorwis smert Men sen not þat / sche ȝaf hym hyre herte [ 1050]

(151)

¶ But trewely þe story tellyth þus [leaf 117, back] [ 1051] Þere made neuere woman more wo Þan sche whan sche falsede troilus Sche seyde allas for now clene a-go [ 1054] I mene of treuthe / for now & euere mo ffor I haue falsed on þe gentilleste Þat euere was born & on þe worþyeste [ 1057]

(152)

¶ Allas of me vn-to þe worldis ende [ 1058] Schal noþer ben wretyn noþer I-songe No good word for bokys wele me schende On rolled schal I ben in manye a tonge [ 1061] Þour þe world no belle schal be ronge O wemen most / wele hatyn me of alle Allas þat swich a cas me schulde be-falle [ 1064]

(153)

¶ Þey wele seyn in as meche as in me is [ 1065] I haue hem don dishonour & velony Al be I not þ^e ferste þat dede a-mis What helpith þat to don myn blame a-way [ 1068] But syn I se þere is no betere way And þat to late it is now for to rewe To diomede algate I wele be trewe [ 1071]

(154)

¶ But Troilus sin I no betere may [ 1072] And syn þat þe departyn þus & I Ȝit preye I god so ȝeue ȝou god day As for þe gentilleste trewely [ 1075] Þat euere I say to serue feyithfully And best can ay his honour wel kepe And with þat word sche brast on for to wepe [ 1078]

(155)

¶ And sertis ȝow ne hatyn schal I neuere [ 1079] And frendis loue þat I schal haue of me And myn godde word al myȝty leuyn euere And trewely I wolde sory be [ 1082] ffor to se ȝow in aduersite And gilteles I wot I ȝow leue But al schal passe & þus take I myn leue [ 1085]

(156)

¶ But trewely longe it was be-twene [leaf 118] [ 1086] Þat sche for-sok him for þis diomede Þere nyis non autour tellyþ it I wene Take euery man now to hise bokys hede [ 1089] He schal non terme fynde out of drede But þow he gan to wowe hire sone Or he hire wan ȝit was þere more to done [ 1092]

(157)

¶ Ne me ne leste þis sely woman chide [ 1093] fferþere þan þ^e story wele deuyse Hire name allas is ponschede to wyde Þat for hire gilt it auȝte I-now suffyse [ 1096] And ȝif I myȝte excuse hire ony wise ffor sche so sory was for hire ontreuthe I-wis I wilde excuse hire for reuthe [ 1099]

(158)

THis Troilus as I be-fore haue told [ 1100] Þis drieeth as wel as he haþ myȝt But ofte was his herte hot & cold And namely þat ilke tenthe nyȝt [ 1103] Which on þe morwe sche haþ hym be-hyȝt To comyn aȝyn god wot ful litil reste Hadde he þat nyȝt no þyng to slepe hym leste [ 1106]

(159)

¶ Þe laurer crounnede phebus with his hete [ 1107] Gan in his cours vpward whan he went To warmyn of þe est þe waɫɫ wete And nysus is douȝtyr song with frosch entent [ 1110] Whan Troilus aftyr his pandarus sent And on þe wal of þe toun þey pleyede To loke ȝif he can ougȝt sen of Crisseyde [ 1113]

(160)

¶ Til it was non þey stode for to se [ 1114] Who þat þere come & euery maner wyȝt Þat come from fer þey seydyn it was sche Til þat þey coude knowyn hym a-ryȝt [ 1117] Now was his herte dul now was it lyȝt And þus beiapid stodeþey for to stare Abouȝte nouȝt Troylus & Pandare [ 1120]

(161)

¶ To Pandarus þis Troilus þus seyde [leaf 118, back] [ 1121] ffor ouȝt I wot bi-fore non sikirly In-to þis toun ne comyth not Crisseyde Sche haþ I-now to done hardily [ 1124] To wyndyn from hire fadir so trowe I Hire olde fadir wele makyn hire dyne Er þan sche go god ȝif his herte pyne [ 1127]

(162)

// Pandarus answerde it may wel ben serteyn [ 1128] ffor-þi lat vs dyne & þe be-seche And aftyr non þanne mayst þou comyn a-ȝen And hom þey gon with-outyn more speche [ 1131] And comyn a-geyn but longe may þey seche Er þat þey fynde þat þey aftyr gape ffortune hem boþe þynkyþ for to iape [ 1134]

(163)

¶ Quod Troilus I se wel now þat sche [ 1135] Is taried with hire [[first, his]] olde fadyr so Er þan sche come it wele ner euyn be Come forþ I wele vn-to þe ȝate go [ 1138] Þese porterys ben vncunnynge eueremo And I wele don hem holdyn vp þe ȝate as nouȝt ne were ȝif þat sche come late [ 1141]

(164)

// Þe day goþ faste & aftyr þat comyth euene [ 1142] And ȝit come not to Troilus Crisseyde He lokede forþ by hegis by treis be grene And ouer þe waɫɫ his hed he leyde [ 1145] And at þe laste he turnede hym & seyde By god I wot hire menyng pandare Al most I-wis was now al myn care [ 1148]

(165)

¶ Now douȝteles þis ladi can hire good [ 1149] I wot sche menyth to ryde priuyly I commende hire wisdom by myn hod Sche nyl not make þe puple nysely [ 1152] Gauryn on hire whan sche comyth but softely Be nyȝt in-to þe toun sche þynkyth ryde And dere broþer þynkith not longe to a-byde [ 1155]

(166)

¶ We haue not eɫɫ for to done I-wis [leaf 11] [ 1156] And Pandarus wilt þow trowe me Haue here myn treuthe I se hire ȝondir sche is Heue vp þynne eyȝyn man mayst þu not sen [ 1159] Pandarus answerede nay so mote I þe Al wrong bi god what seyst þou man where arte Þat I se ȝondir is but a fare carte [ 1162]

(167)

Allas þou seyst ful soþ quod Troilus [ 1163] But hardili it is al for nouȝt Þat in myn herte I-now reioye þus It is a-ȝen sum goode I haue a þouȝt [ 1166] Not I not how but syn þat I was wrouȝt Ne felte I swiche a confort soþ to seyne Sche comyth to nyȝt myn lyf I durste leyne [ 1169]

(168)

¶ Pandarus answerde it may be wel I-now [ 1170] And held with hym of al þat euere he seyde But in his herte he þouȝte & softe low And to hym self ful soberely he seyde [ 1173] ffram hasil wode þere ioly robyn pleyede Schal come al þat þow abydyst here Ȝa farwel al þe snow of fernere [ 1176]

(169)

// Þe wardeyn of þe ȝatis gan to calle [ 1177] Þe folk wich þat ouer þe ȝatis were And bad hem driue in here bestis alle Or al þat nyȝt muste hem bleue þere [ 1180] an fer with-inne nyȝt with manye a tere Þis Troilus gan homward for to ryde ffar wel sey he it helpiþ not to a-bide [ 1183]

(170)

¶ But neuer-þe-les he gladede hym in þis [ 1184] And seyde he mystondit hadde his day And seyde vndirstonde haue I a-mys ffor þeilke nyȝt I last Crisseide say [ 1187] Sche seyde I schal be þere ȝif þat I may Er þat mone / O dere herte swete Þe lyoun passe out of þat aryete [ 1190]

(171)

¶ ffor which sche ȝit may holde al hire heste [lf 119, bk] [ 1191] And on þe morwyn vnto þe ȝatis he went And vp & doun he west & ek he est Vp on þ^e waɫɫ made he manye a went [ 1194] But al for nouȝt his hope alwey hym blent ffor whiche at nyȝt with sorwe & sikis sore He wente hym hom with-outyn ony more [ 1197]

(172)

// His hope al clene out of his herte fledde [ 1198] He ne haþ no lengere wheron for to honge But for þe peyne hym þouȝte his herte bledde So weryn hise þrowis scharpe & wondyr stronge [ 1201] ffor whan he say þat sche a-bod so longe He nyste what to iugen of it myȝt Syn sche haþ brokyn þat sche hym be-hyȝt [ 1204]

(173)

¶ Þe þredde day þ^e forþe þe fifte þe sexte day [ 1205] Aftyr þe dayis ten þe whiche I tolde Be-twixe hope & dred his herte lay Ȝit sumwhat trostynge on hire hestis olde [ 1208] But whan he say sche nolde here hestis holde He can not sen non oþer remedy But for to schape hym sone for to dey [ 1211]

(174)

// Þerwiþ þe wekede sprit god vs blys [ 1212] Which þat men clepyn wode Ielosye Gan in hym crepe in as his heuynesse ffor cause of which he wolde sone deye [ 1215] He noþer et ne drank for his malencoly And ek from euery companye he fledde Þis was þe lyf þat al þis tyme he ledde [ 1218]

(175)

¶ He so disfigured was þat no maner man [ 1219] Vn-neþe myȝte hym knowe wher he wente So was he lene & þerto pale & wan And febele þat he walkede by potent [ 1222] And with his yre he þus hym seluyn schent But who so axe hym wherof hym smert He seyde his harm was al aboute his hert [ 1225]

(176)

¶ Priam ful ofte & ek his modir dere [leaf 120] [ 1226] Hise breþeren his sisteren gon hym frayn Whi he sorweful was in al hise chere And with þat þyng was cause of al his payn [ 1229] But al for nouȝt he nolde his cause playn But seyde he felte a greuous maledy A-boute his herte & sone he wolde dey [ 1232]

(177)

// So on a day he leyde hym doun to slepe [ 1233] And so be-fel þat in his slep hym þouȝte Þat in a forest faste he walkede to wepe ffor loue of hyre þat hym þis peyne wrouȝte [ 1236] And vp & doun as he þe forest souȝte He mette he say a bor with toschhis grete Þat slep a-ȝen þe bryȝte sunnys hete [ 1239]

(178)

¶ And bi þis bor faste in hyre armys ¹ ffolde ¹ [[¹-¹ corrected]] [ 1240] Lay kyssynge ay his ladi Crisseyde ffor sorwe of wich whan he gan hire be-holde And for dispit out of his slep he breyde [ 1243] And loude he criede o pandaris he seyde O pandarus now knowe I crop & rote I am but ded þere is non oþer bote [ 1246]

(179)

// Myn lady bryȝt Crisseyde haþ me be-trayed [ 1247] In whom I trostede most of ony wyȝt Sche ell wher haþ now hire herte apayed Þe blisful goddis þour here grete myȝt [ 1250] Han in myn drem schewid it ful ryȝt Þus in myn drem Crisseyde haue I beholde And al þis þyng to pandarus he tolde [ 1253]

(180)

¶ O myn Crisseyde allas what suptilite [ 1254] What lust what beute what sience What wreþe of iuste cause haue ȝe to me What gilt of me what fel experience [ 1257] Haþ from me raft allas ȝoure aduertence O trust of fayth o depe assuraunce Ho haþ me raft crisseyde al my plesaunse [ 1260]

(181)

¶ Allas whi let I hire henys from me go [leaf 120, back] [ 1261] Wo schal wol nyh out of myn wit me brayde Who schal now trowe on ony oþis mo But wel I wende O lady bryȝt Crisseyde [ 1264] Þat euery word was gospel þat sche seide But who may bet begile ȝif sche luste Þan þey on whom men wenyn best to truste [ 1267]

(182)

// What schal I don myn pandarus allas [ 1268] I fele now so scharpe a newe peyne Syn þat þere lyþ no remedie in þis cas But best were it I with myne hondis tweyne [ 1271] Myn self to sle þan þus alwoy to pleyne ffor þour þe deþ myn wo schal han an ende Þere euery day with lyf myn seluyn I schynde [ 1274]

(183)

¶ Pandarus answerde & seyde allas þe while [ 1275] Þat I was born haue I not seyd or þis Þat dremys manye a man be-gile And whi for folk expoungyn hem a-mys [ 1278] How durstist þow seyn þat fals þyn lady is ffor ony drem ryȝt for þyn owene drede Let be þis þouȝt þou canst no dremys rede [ 1281]

(184)

// Perauenture þere þou dremyst of þis bor [ 1282] It may so be þat it may signefye Hire fadir which þat old is & hor A-ȝen þe sunne lyth a poynt to deye [ 1285] And for sorwe sche gynnyth wepe & crye And hym kysseþ þere he lyth on þ^e gronde Þus schuldist þow þynne dremys a-ryȝt expounde [ 1288]

(185)

¶ How myȝte I þanne don quod Troilus [ 1289] To knowe of þis ȝe were it neuere so lite Now seyst þu wisely quod þis pandarus Myn red is syn þou canst wel endite [ 1292] Þat hastily a lettere þow here [[here corrected]] Þour which þow schat wel bryngyn it aboute To knowyn a soþ þere þow art now in doute [ 1295]

(186)

¶ And se now why for þis dar I wel seeyn [leaf 121] [ 1296] Þat ȝit so is þat sche ontrewe be I can not trowe sche wele wryte a-ȝen And ȝif þat sche write þow schat sone se [ 1299] As wheþer sche haþ ony liberte To comyn a-ȝen or eɫɫ in sum clause Ȝif sche be lettid sche wele a-sygne a cause [ 1302]

(187)

// Þow hast not wrete to hyre syn þat sche went [ 1303] Ne sche to þe & þis I durste ley Þere may swich cause be in hire entent Þat hardily þou wylt þyn seluyn sey [ 1306] Þat hire abod best is for ȝow twey Now write to hire þan & þou schat fele sone [[le sone corrected]] Asay of alle þere is no more to done [ 1309]

(188)

¶ A-corded þey ben to þis conclusioun [ 1310] And þat a-non þese ilke lordis too And hastyli sit Troilus a-doun And royled in herte to & fro [ 1313] How he may best discryuyn hyre his wo And to Crisseyde his owene lady dere He wrot ryȝt þus & seyde as ȝe schul here [ 1316]

(189) (Troylus's Letter to Criseyde)

// Ryȝt frosche flour whos I haue ben & schal [ 1317] With-oute part of ellys where seruyse With herte body lyf lust þouȝt & al I woful wiȝt in euery vmbele wise [ 1320] Þat tonge telle or herte may deuyse As ofte as mater ocupieþ plase Me recommende on-to ȝoure nobele grace [ 1323]

(190)

// Lykyth it ȝow to wetene swete herte [ 1324] As ȝe wel knowe how longe tyme a-gon Þat ȝe me lefte in asper peynys smerte Whan þat ȝe wente of which ȝit but non [ 1327] Haue I non had but euere werse be-gon From day to day lyn & so mot dwelle Wil it ȝow lust of wele & wo myn welle [ 1330]

(191)

¶ Which to ȝow with dredful herte drewe [lf 121, bk] [ 1331] I write as he þat sorwe dryuyth To wryte Myn wo þat euery our encreseþ newe Compleynynge as I can or dar endite [ 1334] And þat defasid is þat may ȝe weiȝte With Teris whiche þat from mynne eyen reyne Þat woldyn spekyn ȝif þat þey couþe pleyne [ 1337]

(192) (Troilus's Letter to Criseyde, continued.)

// Ȝow fyrst be-seche I þat with ȝoure eyen clere [ 1338] To lokyn on þis lettere ¹ that ȝe vn-folde ¹ [¹-¹ corrector]] And ouer al þis þat ȝe myn lady dere Wele vouche-saf þis lettere to beholde [ 1341] And bi þe cause ek of myne caris colde Þat sleth myn wit þat ouȝt a-mys me asterte ffor-ȝeue it me myn owene swete herte [ 1344]

(193)

¶ Ȝif ony seruaunt durste or auȝte of ryȝt [ 1345] Vp-on his lady pitously compleyne Þanne wene I þat I auȝte ben þat wiȝt Considerid þis þat ȝe þese moneþis tweyne [ 1348] Han taried þere ȝe seyde soþ to seyne But dayes ten ȝe woldyn in heste soiourne But in to monythis ȝit ȝe not retourne [ 1351]

(194)

// But for as meche as me muste nedis like [ 1352] Al þat ȝow lust I dar not pleyne more But humili with sorweful sikis I sike Ȝite wite I myn onreste & myne sorwis sore [ 1355] ffrom day to day desirynge euere more To knowe fully ȝif ȝoure wille it were How ȝe han ferd & don whil ȝe ben þere [ 1358]

(195)

¶ Whos wel-fare & ese god encrese [ 1359] In honour swich þat vpward in degre It growe al wey so þat it neuere sere Ryȝt as ȝoure herte ay can ladi fre [ 1362] Deuyse I preye to god so mote it be And grante it þat ȝe sone vp-on me rewe As wisely as I am in alle þynge to ȝow trewe [ 1365]

(196) (Troylus's Letter to Criseyde, continued.)

¶ And ȝif ȝow likyth to knowyn of þe fare [leaf 122] [ 1366] Of me whos wo þere may no wiȝt descryue I can no more but cheste of euery care At þe writyng of þis lettere I was on lyue [ 1369] Al redy out myn woful gost to dryue Whiche I delaye & holde him ȝit in honde Vp-on þe syȝt of mater of ȝoure sonde [ 1372]

(197)

// Myne eyȝyn to I veyn with whiche I se [ 1373] Of sorweful teris salte aryn waxen well Myn song in pleynt of myn aduersite Myn good in-to harm myn ioye ek waxen helle is [ 1376] Myn myrthe In-to wo I can sey ȝow not ell But turnyd is for which myn lyf I warie Euery ioye or ese is in his contrarye [ 1379]

(198)

¶ Whiche with ȝoure comynge a-ȝen hom to Troye [ 1380] Ȝe may redresse & more a þousent siþe Þan euere I hadde encresyn in me ioye ffor was þere neuere herte ȝit so blyþe [ 1383] To haue his lyf as I schal be as swyþe As I ȝow se / & þow no maner routhe Remeue ȝow ȝit þynk vp-on ȝoure treuthe [ 1386]

(199)

// And ȝif so be myn gylt haue deþ deseruyd [ 1387] Or if ȝe lust no more vp-on me se In guerdoun ȝit þat I haue ȝow seruyd Be-seche I ȝow myn hertis ladi fre [ 1390] Þat here-vp-on ȝe wolde wryte to me ffor loue of god myn ryȝte lode sterre Þat deþ may make an ende of al myn werre [ 1393]

(200) (Troylus's Letter to Criseyde, continued.)

¶ Ȝif oþer cause doþ ȝou ouȝt to dwelle [ 1394] Þat with ȝoure lettere ȝe me reconforte ffor þow to me ȝoure absence be an helle With pacience I wele myn wo comporte [ 1397] And with ȝoure lettere of loue I wil disporte Now writyth swete let me not compleyne With hope or deþ delyuere ¹ me from this peyne ¹ [[¹-¹ by a corrector]] [ 1400]

(201)

¶ I-wis myn owene dere herte trewe [leaf 122, back] [ 1401] I wot þan whan ȝe next vp-on me se So lost haue I myn hele & ek myn hewe Crisseyde schulde not cunne knowe me [ 1404] I-wis myn hertis day myn ladi fre So trustyth ay myn herte to by-holde Ȝoure beute þat myn silf vn-neþe I holde [ 1407]

(202)

// I sey no more al haue I for to sey [ 1408] To ȝow wel more þan I telle may But weþer ȝe do me leue oþer deye I preye god so ȝeue ȝow ryȝt good day [ 1411] And farwel goodly fayre frossche may As sche þat lyf or deþ me may comaunde And to ȝoure hertis pete / ay I me recommaunde [ 1414]

(203)

¶ Which hele which þat but ȝe ȝeuyn me [ 1415] Þe same hele I schal non hele haue In ȝow lyth whan ȝow lyste þat it so be Þe day on which me cloþyn schal myn graue [ 1418] In ȝow myn lyf lyth holly for to saue Me from desesis from alle peynys smert And fareþ now wel myne owene swete hert. [ 1421]

[Letter ends]

(204)

// Þis lettere forþ was sent on to Crisseyde [ 1422] Of wich in effect hire answere was þis fful pitously sche wrot a-ȝen & seyde Þat also sone as þat sche myȝte I-wis [ 1425] Sche wolde come & mende al þat was a-mys And finally sche wrot & seyde hym þan Sche wolde come ȝa but sche nyste neuere whan [ 1428]

(205)

¶ But in hire lettere made sche sweche festis [ 1429] Þat wondyr was & swerith sche louyth hym best Of which he fond but bottemeles behestis But Troilus þou mayt now est or west [ 1432] Pypyn in yuy lef / ȝif þat þou lest Þus goþ þ^e world god schilde vs from mys-schaunce And euery wiȝt þat menyth / treuthe a-vaunce [ 1435]

(206)

¶ Encresyn gan þe wo from day to nyȝt [leaf 123] [ 1436] Of Troilus for taryinge of crisseyde And lessyn gan his hope & ek his myȝt ffor which al doun he in þ^e bed hym leyde [ 1439] He net ne drank ne no word he ne seyde ymaginyng þat sche was vn-kynde ffor which wel nyh he wex out of his mynde [ 1442]

(207)

// Þis drem of which I told haue ek by-fore [ 1443] May neuere out of his remembraunce He þouȝte ay wel he hadde his lady lorn And þat þat Iouys hadde of his puruyaunce [ 1446] Hym schewid in slep þ^e signyfiaunce Of hire ontreuthe & his disauenture And þat þis boþe was schewid in figure [ 1449]

(208)

¶ ffor which for sibile his sustyr he sente [ 1450] Þat callid was cassaundere al a-boute And al his drem he tolde hire or he stente And hire be-souȝte to a-soylyn hym þat doute [ 1453] Of þ^e stronge bor with his toschhis stoute And fynally withinne a lytil stounde Cassaundere hym gan ryȝt þus expounde [ 1456]

(209)

// Sche gan fyrst smyle & seyde o broþer dere [ 1457] Ȝif þou a soþe of þis desirist to knowe Þow a fewe / of olde storyis here To purpos / how þat fortune ouer þrowe [ 1460] Haþ lordis olde þour which with-inne a þrowe Þow wel þis forn. schalt knowe & of what kynde He comyn is as men in bokys fynde [ 1463]

(210)

¶ Dyane which þat wroþ was in yre [ 1464] ffor grekys wolde not hire sacrifise Þe ensens vp-on hyre auter settyn a fyre Sche for þat grekys gan hire so dispise [ 1467] Wrok hire in a wondyr crewel wise ffor with a bor as gret as oxe in stalle Sche made vp frete here corn & vynys alle [ 1470]

(211)

// To sle þis bor was al þe cuntre reysed [leaf 123, back] [ 1471] A-mong whiche þere come þis for to se A mayde on of þis world þe beste I-preysede And meleagre lord of þat cuntre [ 1474] He louede so þis frossche mayde fre Þat with his manhod or he wolde stynt Þe bor he slow & hire þe hed he sent [ 1477]

(212)

// Of whiche as olde bokys tellyn vs [ 1478] Þere ros a contek & gret enuye And of þis lord dessendede thidius Be lyue or olde bokys lye [ 1481] But how þis Mellager dude dye Of hire modir wil I ȝow not telle ffor to longe it were for vs to dwelle [ 1484]

(213)

¶ Sche tolde ek how Cithideus or sche stente [ 1485] On to þe stronge sete of thebes To cleymyn kyndom of þe cete went ffor his falawe dan polymites [ 1488] Of which þe broþer dan Etthiocles fful wrongfully of thebes held þ^e strenthe Þus told sche be proces al on lenthe [ 1491]

(214)

// Sche tolde ek how hermoneades a-stert [ 1492] Whan thedeus slow fifty knyȝtis stoute Sche tolde ek al þe profecy be herte And how þat seuene kyngis on a route [ 1495] Besegede þ^e cete al a-boute And of holy serpent & þ^e welle And of furies also sche gan hym telle [ 1498]

[Argument of the 12 Books of Statius's Thebais.]

Versus Associat profi thedeus prinnus polimite Versus Thidea legatum docet incidias-que secundus Versus Tercius sinoduden canes & vates latitantes Versus Quartus habet reges in-euntees prelia septem Versus Mox furie lenne quinto narratur in anguis ¶ Archi-mosi bustum sexto ludi-que leguntur [leaf 124]

Dat graios Thebes & vatem septimus Vmbris Octauo cecidit thedeus spes vita pelasgis Ypominon nono moritur cum parte-nopea Fulmine percussus decimo cappanius superatur Vndecimo [[MS. s for o]] sese perimunt per vulnera fratres Argina flentem narrat duodenus & ignem

(215)

// Of arichmoure brenynge & þe pleyes [ 1499] And how anphiorax fel þour grounde How Tideus was slayn lord of Argeys And how ypomidoun with blody wounde [ 1502] And parthonope in litil stounde Ben slayn & how cappaneus þ^e proude With þondirdent was slayne & cryede loude [ 1505]

(216)

¶ Sche gan hym ek tellyn how eyþer broþer [ 1506] Ethiocles & pollinute also At a scharmoth eche of hem slow oþer And of arthmes wepynge & hire wo [ 1509] And how þe toun was brend sche tolde hym þo And so dissendiþ he doun from gestis olde To Diomede & þus sche spak & tolde [ 1512]

(217)

// Þis ilke bor be-tokenyth Diomede [ 1513] Thedeus sone þat doun dissendid is ffrom meliagre þat made þ^e bor to blede And þyn lady where-so sche be I-wys [ 1516] Þis Diomede hire herte haþ & sche his Wepe ȝif þou wilt or lef / for out of doute Þis diomede is inne & þow art oute [ 1519]

(218)

¶ Þow seyst not soþ quod he þou sercheresse [ 1520] Wyþ al þyn false gost of professye Þow wenyst to be a gret deuyneresse Now sest not þis fool of fantasye [ 1523] Paynyth hire on ladiis for to lye A-woy quod he þere iouus ȝeue þe sorwe Þow schalt ben fals parauntyr er to morwe [ 1526]

(219)

¶ As wel þow myȝtist lyen on altest [leaf 124, back] [ 1527] Þat was of criaturis but men lye Þat ewere were þe kyndest & þe best Þat whan hire hosbande was in iupardie [ 1530] To deye hym self But ȝif sche wolde deye Sche ches deþ & ek to gon to helle And starf a-non as vs þe bokys telle [ 1533]

(220)

¶ Cassaundere goþ / & he for crewel herte [ 1534] ffor-ȝat he wo for angir of hire speche And from his bed al sodeynly he sterte As þow hym al hol hym hadde mad a leche [ 1537] And day be day he gan enquere & seche A soþ of his wit al his fulle cure And þus he dryuyth forth his auenture [ 1540]

(221)

FOrtune þat with permutacioun [ 1541] His wille haþ as it is here knyttid Be puruyaunce & dispocicioun Of heye ioue as regnes schal be kyttid [ 1544] ffor folk in folk or whan þey schal ben flittid Can pulle awoy þ^e federis bryȝte of troye ffrom day to day til þey be in were of ioye [ 1547]

(222)

A-mong al þis þe fyn of þe parodye [ 1548] Of ector gan aprochyn wondir blyue Þe face wolde his soule schulde on-bodye And schape hadde a mene it out to dryue [ 1551] Aȝens whiche face hym helpyth not to stryue But on a day to fyȝtyn gan he wynde At þe whiche he cauȝte his lyuys ende [ 1554]

(223)

¶ ffor which me þynkeþ euery maner wiȝt [ 1555] Þat hancory harmys auȝte to biwayle Þe day of hym þat was so nobel a knyȝt ffor as he drow a knyȝt be þe auentayle [ 1558] On-war of his Achilles þour þe mayle Lenne þour þe body gan hym for to ryue And þus þis worþi knyȝt was brouȝt of lyue [ 1561]

(224)

¶ ffor which as olde bokys tellyn vs [leaf 125] [ 1562] Was mad swich wo þat tonge may not telle And namely þe sorwyn of troilus Þat next him was of worþinesse þe welle [ 1565] And in þis wo gan Troilus to dwelle Þat what for sorwe & loue & for vnrest fful oft [[t, corrector]] on day he bad his herte brest [ 1568]

(225)

¶ But neuer-þe-les þow he gan hym self dispaire [ 1569] And drede þat his lady was vn-trewe Ȝit in his herte gan repayre And as þese loueris don he souȝte anewe [ 1572] To gete aȝen Crisseyde bryȝt of hewe And in his herte he wente hire excusynge Þat Calcas causede al hire tarying [ 1575]

(226)

¶ And ofte tyme he was in purpos gret [ 1576] Hym selue lyk a pilgrym to disgise To sen hire but he may not counterefete To ben ouknowe of folk þat were wyse [ 1579] Ne fynde excuse aryȝt þat may suffyse Ȝif he a-mong þe grekys knowe were ¶ ffor whiche he wepte ful ofte manye a tere [ 1582]

(227)

To hire he wrot ful ofte tyme al newe [ 1583] fful pitously he lefte not for þe slouthe Be-sechyng hire þat syn þat he was trewe Þat sche wolde come ageyn & holde hyre trouthe [ 1586] ffor whiche crisseyde vp-on a day for routhe I tok it so touchynge al þis matere Wrot hym a-geyn & seyde as ȝe may here [ 1589]

(228) (Criseyde's Letter to Troylus)

Cupidis sone en-saumpele of godly-hede [ 1590] O swerd of knythod ground of gentilles How myȝte a wyȝt in turnement & in drede And heleles ȝow sende ȝit gladnesse [ 1593] I herde telle in seek & in distresse Syn ȝe with me / ne I with ȝow may dele Ȝow noþer sende / .I. may herte ne hele [ 1596]

(229)

¶ Ȝoure letteris of paper ful I-peynted [leaf 125, back] [ 1597] Conseyuyd haþ myn hertis pete I haue ek sen with terys al depeyntid Ȝoure lettere & how þat ȝe requeryn me [ 1600] To come a-geyn whiche may not ¹ ȝet be ¹ [[¹-¹ corrector]] But whi lest þis lettere fonde were Non menoioun make I now for fere [ 1603]

(230) (Criseyde's Letter continued)

// Greuous to me god wot is ȝoure vnrest [ 1604] Ȝoure haste & at þ^e goddis ordenaunce It semyth not ȝe takyn it for þe beste Nor oþer þyng is in ȝoure remembr[a]unce [ 1607] As þynkyþ me but only ȝoure plesaunce But beþ not wroþ & þat I ȝow be-seche ffor þat I tarie is al for wekede speche [ 1610]

(231)

¶ ffor I haue herd wel more þan I wende [ 1611] Touchinge vs to how þyngis han I-stounde Whiche I schal with dishomblynge a-mende And be not wroþ I haue ek vndirstonde [ 1614] How ȝe ne don but holdyn me in honde But now nofors I can not in ȝow gesse But alle treuthe & al gentillesse [ 1617]

(232)

// Come I wolde But ȝit in swich disioynt [ 1618] I stonde as now but what ȝer or what day Þat þis schal ben þat can I not a-poynt But in effect I prey ȝow as I may [ 1621] Of ȝoure goode & of ȝoure frenschep ay But trewely whil þat myn lyf may dure As for a frend ȝe may en me assure [ 1624]

(233)

¶ Ȝit preye I ȝow on euyl ȝe ne take [ 1625] Þat it is schort whiche þat I to ȝow wryȝte I dar not þere I am wel letteris make Ne neuere ȝit ne couþe wel endite [ 1628] Ek gret effectis men write in space lite Þe centence is al & not þ^e letterys spase And farith now wel god haue ȝow in his grace [ 1631]

(234)

¶ Troylus þis lettere þouȝte al strong [leaf 126] [ 1632] Whan he it sey & sorwefully he sight Hym þouȝte it lik a kalandis of chung But fynnally he ful ne trowe myȝte [ 1635] Þat sche ne wolde holde hym þat sche hyȝt ffor which with euelle wil luste hym to leue Þat louyȝt wel in swich cas þow hym greue [ 1638]

(235)

// But neuer-þe-les men seyn at þe last [ 1639] ffor ony þyng men schal þe soþe se And siche be-tyd & þat also fast Þat Troilus wel vndirstant þat sche [ 1642] Nas not so kynde as þat hire auȝte to be And finally he wot now out of doute Þat al is lost þat he haþ ben a-boute [ 1645]

(236)

¶ Stod on a day in his malencoly [ 1646] Þis Troilus & ine suspeciounne Of hire for whom he wende for to deye And so be-fel þat þour troye toune [ 1649] As was þ^e gise was boryn vp & dounne A naue of cotearmure as seyth þ^e storye Be-fore Deiphebe in signe of his victorye [ 1652]

(237)

// Þe whiche cote as tellyth lollyus [ 1653] Deyphebe it hadde I-rent from diomede Þe same day & whan þis Troilus It saw he gan to takyn of it hede [ 1656] Auysynge of þ^e lenthe & of þ^e brede And al þe werk but as he gan beholde fful sodeynleche his herte be-gan to colde [ 1659]

(238)

¶ As he þat on þe coler fond with-inne [ 1660] A broche þat he ȝaf þat morwe Þat sche from troye muste nedis twynne In remembraunce of hym & of his sorwe [ 1663] And sche hym ledde a-ȝen hire feþ to borwe To kepyn it ay but now ful wel he wiste His lady was no lengere on to triste [ 1666]

(239)

¶ He goþ hym hom & gan ful sone sende [leaf 126, back] [ 1667] ffor Pandarus & al þis newe chaunce And of þis broche he told hym word & ende Compleynynge of his hertis varyaunce [ 1670] His longe loue his trouthe & his penaunce And aftyr day with-oute wordis more fful faste he cryede his reste hym to restore [ 1673]

(240)

// Þanne spak he þus o lady bryȝt Crisseyde [ 1674] Where is ȝoure fayth & where is ȝoure beheste Where is ȝoure loue where is ȝoure trouthe he seyde Of diamede haue now al þis feste [ 1677] Allas I wolde a trowed at þe leste Þat syn ȝe nolde in [[in corrected]] trouthe to me stonde Þat ȝe þus nolde haue holdyn me in honde [ 1680]

(241)

¶ Who schal now trowe on ony oþis mo [ 1681] Allas I neuere wolde han wend or þis Þat ȝe Cresseide wolde a chaunged so No but I hadde gilt & don a-mys [ 1684] So crewel wende I not ȝoure hert had be I-wis To sle me þus allas ȝoure name of trouthe Is [[s corrected]] now fordon & þat is al myn routhe [ 1687]

(242)

// Was þere non oþer broche ȝow leste lete [ 1688] To feffe [[ffe corrected]] with ȝoure newe loue qud he But þat ilke broche þat I with terys wete Ȝow ȝaf as for a remembraunce of me [ 1691] Non oþer cause allas ne haddyn ȝe But for dispit & ek for þat ment At vttyrly to schewyn ȝoure entent [ 1694]

(243)

¶ Þour whiche I se þat clene out of ȝoure mynde [ 1695] Ȝe han me cast & I ne can ne may ffor al þis world with-inne myn herte fynde To vn-loue ȝow a quarter of a day [ 1698] In cursede tyme I born was weyleaway Þat ȝe þat don me al þis wo endure Ȝit loue I ȝow best of ony creature [ 1701]

[Leaves 127-131, the end of Troylus and the beginning of the Canterbury Tales, have been cut out of this Cambridge MS., Gg. 4. 27.]