Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Stanzas 21 through 30

But how this town com to destruccion Line 141 Ne falleth naught to purpos me to telle; Line 142 ffor it were here a long digression Line 143 ffro my matere and ȝow to long to dwelle; Line 144 But the Troian gestes as they felle, Line 145 In Omer or in Dares or in Dite, Line 146 Who-so that kan may rede hem as they write. Line 147

But though that Grekes hem of Troie shetten Line 148 And hir cite biseged al aboute, Line 149 Hire olde vsage nolde they nat letten, Line 150 As for to honour hir goddes ful deuoute; Line 151 But aldirmost in honour, out of doute, Line 152 Thei hadde a relik heet Palladion Line 153 That was hire trist abouen euerichon. Line 154

And so bifel whan comen was the tyme Line 155 Of Aperil, whan clothed is the mede Line 156 With newe grene, of lusty Veer the pryme, Line 157 And swote smellen floures white and rede, Line 158 In sondry wises shewed, as I rede, Line 159 The folk of Troie hire obseruaunces olde, Line 160 Palladiones feste forto holde. Line 161

And to the temple in al hir beste wise Line 162 In general ther wente many a wight Line 163 To herknen of Palladion the seruyce; Line 164 And namely, so many a lusty knyght, Line 165 So many a lady fressh and mayden bright, Line 166 fful wel arayed, both moeste, mene, and leste, Line 167 Ȝe, bothe for the seson and the feste. Line 168

Among thise othere folk was Criseyda, Line 169 In widewes habit blak, but natheles, Line 170 Right as oure firste lettre is now an A, Line 171 In beaute first so stood she makeles; Line 172 Hire goodly lokyng gladed al the prees. Line 173 Nas neuere ȝet seyn thyng to ben preysed derre, Line 174 Nor vnder cloude blak so bright a sterre, Line 175

As was Criseyde, as folk seyde euerichone, Line 176 That hir behelden in hir blake wede; Line 177 And ȝet she stood ful lowe and stille allone, Line 178 Byhynden other folk in litel brede, Line 179 And nei ȝ the dore, ay vndre shames drede, Line 180 Simple of atire and debonaire of chere, Line 181 With ful assured lokyng and manere. Line 182

This Troilus, as he was wont to gide Line 183 His ȝonge knyghtes, lad hem vp and down Line 184 In thilke large temple on euery side, Line 185 Byholding ay the ladies of the town, Line 186 Now here, now there, for no deuocioun Line 187 Hadde he to non to reuen hym his reste, Line 188 But gan to preise and lakken whom hym leste. Line 189

And in his walk ful faste he gan to wayten Line 190 If knyght or squyer of his compaignie Line 191 Gan forto syke or lete his eighen baiten Line 192 On any womman that he koude espye; Line 193 He wolde smyle and holden it folye, Line 194 And seye hym thus, "god woot, she slepeth softe Line 195 ffor loue of the, whan thow turnest ful ofte. Line 196

"I haue herd told, perdieux, of ȝoure lyuynge, Line 197 Ȝe loueres, and ȝoure lewed obseruaunces, Line 198 And which a labour folk han in wynnynge Line 199 Of loue, and in the kepyng which doutaunces; Line 200 And whan ȝoure prey is lost, woo and penaunces. Line 201 O veray fooles, nyce and blynde be ȝe; Line 202 Ther nys nat oon kan war by other be." Line 203

And with that word he gan caste vp the browe, Line 204 Ascaunces, "loo, is this naught wisely spoken?" Line 205 At which the god of loue gan loken rowe Line 206 Right for despit, and shop forto ben wroken: Line 207 He kidde anon his bowe nas naught broken, Line 208 ffor sodeynly he hitte hym atte fulle, Line 209 And ȝet as proude a pekok kan he pulle. Line 210