Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Stanzas 11 through 20

So whan this Calkas knew by calkulynge, Line 71 And ek by answer of this Appollo. Line 72 That Grekes sholden swich a peple brynge Line 73 Thorugh which that Troie moste ben for-do, Line 74 He caste anon out of the town to go; Line 75 ffor wel wiste he by sort that Troye sholde Line 76 Destroyed ben -- ȝe, wolde who-so nolde. Line 77

ffor which forto departen softely Line 78 Took purpos ful this for-knowynge wise, Line 79 And to the Grekes oost ful pryuely Line 80 He stal anon; and they in curteys wise Line 81 Hym diden bothe worship and seruyce, Line 82 In trust that he hath konnynge hem to rede Line 83 In euery peril which that is to drede. Line 84

The noise vp ros whan it was first aspied Line 85 Thorugh al the town and generaly was spoken Line 86 That Calkas traitour fled was and allied Line 87 With hem of Grece, and casten to be wroken Line 88 On hym that falsly hadde his feith so broken, Line 89 And seyden he and al his kyn atones Line 90 Ben worthi for to brennen, felle and bones Line 91

Now hadde Calkas left in this meschaunce, Line 92 Al vnwist of this false and wikked dede, Line 93 His doughter, which that was in gret penaunce, Line 94 ffor of hire lif she was ful sore in drede, Line 95 As she that nyste what was best to rede; Line 96 ffor bothe a widewe was she and allone Line 97 Of any frend to whom she dorste hir mone. Line 98

Criseyde was this lady name al right -- Line 99 As to my doom in al Troies cite Line 100 Nas non so fair, for passynge euery wight Line 101 So aungelik was hir natif beaute Line 102 That lik a thing in-mortal semed she, Line 103 As doth an heuenyssh perfit creature Line 104 That down were sent in scornynge of nature. Line 105

This lady which that alday herd at ere Line 106 Hire fadres shame, his falsnesse and tresoun, Line 107 Wel neigh out of hir wit for sorwe and fere, Line 108 In widewes habet large of samyt broun, Line 109 On knees she fil biforn Ector adown Line 110 With pitous vois, and tendrely wepynge, Line 111 His mercy bad, hir seluen excusynge. Line 112

Now was this Ector pitous of nature, Line 113 And saugh that she was sorwfully bigon, Line 114 And that she was so faire a creature; Line 115 Of his goodnesse he gladede hire anon, Line 116 And seyde, "lat ȝoure fadres treson gon Line 117 fforth with meschaunce, and ȝe ȝoure self in ioie Line 118 Dwelleth with vs, whil ȝow good list, in Troie. Line 119

"And al thonour that men may don ȝow haue, Line 120 As ferforth as ȝoure fader dwelled here, Line 121 Ȝe shul haue, and ȝoure body shal men saue, Line 122 As fer as I may ought enquere or here." Line 123 And she hym thonked with ful humble chere, Line 124 And ofter wolde, and it hadde ben his wille. Line 125 And took hire leue, and hom, and held hir stille. Line 126

And in hire hous she abood with swich meyne Line 127 As til hire honour nede was to holde; Line 128 And whil she was dwellynge in that cite Line 129 Kepte hir estat, and both of ȝonge and olde Line 130 fful wel biloued, and wel men of hir tolde -- Line 131 But wheither that she children hadde or noon, Line 132 I rede it naught, ther-fore I late it goon. Line 133

The thynges fellen as they don of werre Line 134 Bitwixen hem of Troie and Grekes ofte; Line 135 ffor som day boughten they of Troie it derre, Line 136 And eft the Grekes founden no thing softe Line 137 The folk of Troie; and thus fortune on lofte Line 138 And vnder eft gan hem to whielen bothe Line 139 Aftir hir cours, ay whil that thei were wrothe. Line 140