Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Stanzas 151 through 156

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

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

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

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

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

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