Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Stanzas 71 through 80

And seyde he hadde a feuere and ferd amys. Line 491 But how it was, serteyn, kan I nat seye, Line 492 If that his lady vnderstood nat this, Line 493 Or feynede hire she nyste, on of the tweye; Line 494 But wel I rede that by no manere weye Line 495 Ne semed it as that she of hym roughte, Line 496 Or of his peyne, or what so euere he thoughte. Line 497

But thanne felte this Troilus swich wo, Line 498 That he was wel neigh wood -- for ay his drede Line 499 Was this, that she som wight hadde loued so Line 500 That neuere of hym she wolde han taken hede, Line 501 ffor which hym thoughte he felte his herte blede, Line 502 Ne of his wo ne dorste he nat bygynne Line 503 To tellen hir, for al this world to wynne. Line 504

But whan he hadde a space from his care, Line 505 Thus to hym self ful ofte he gan to pleyne; Line 506 He seyde, "O fool, now artow in the snare, Line 507 That whilom iapedest at loues peyne; Line 508 Now artow hent, now gnaw thin owen cheyne; Line 509 Thow were ay wont eche louere reprehende Line 510 Of thing fro which thow kanst the nat defende. Line 511

"What wol now euery louere seyn of the Line 512 If this be wist, but euere in thin absence Line 513 Laughen in scorne and seyn, "loo, ther goth he Line 514 That is the man of so gret sapience, Line 515 That held vs loueres leest in reuerence. Line 516 Now, thanked be god, he may gon in the daunce Line 517 Of hem that loue list fiebli for to auaunce. Line 518

"But O thow woful Troilus, god wolde, Line 519 Sith thow most louen thorugh thi destine, Line 520 That thow be-set were on swich oon that sholde Line 521 Know al thi wo, al lakked hir pitee. Line 522 But also cold in loue towardes the Line 523 Thi lady is as frost in wynter moone, Line 524 And thow fordon as snow in fire is soone. Line 525

"God wold I were aryued in the porte Line 526 Of deth to which my sorwe wol me lede. Line 527 A, lord, to me it were a gret comforte -- Line 528 Than were I quyt of languisshyng in drede; Line 529 ffor be myn hidde sorwe i-blowe on brede, Line 530 I shal by-iaped ben a thousand tyme Line 531 More than that fol of whos folie men ryme. Line 532

But now help, god, and ȝe, swete, for whom Line 533 I pleyne, i-kaught, ȝe, neuere wight so faste -- Line 534 O mercy, dere herte, and help me from Line 535 The deth, for I, while that my lyf may laste, Line 536 More than my self wol loue ȝow to my laste; Line 537 And with som frendly lok gladeth me, swete, Line 538 Though neuere more thing ȝe me byheete." Line 539

Thise wordes, and ful many an other to, Line 540 He spak, and called euere in his compleynte Line 541 Hire name, forto tellen hire his wo, Line 542 Til nei ȝ that he in salte teres dreynte: Line 543 Al was for nought, she herde nat his pleynte. Line 544 And whan that he by-thought on that folie, Line 545 A thousand fold his wo gan multiplie. Line 546

By-wayling in his chambre thus allone, Line 547 A frend of his that called was Pandare Line 548 Com oones in vnwar and herd hym groone, Line 549 And say his frend in swich destresse and care: Line 550 "Allas," quod he, "who causeth al this fare? Line 551 O mercy, god, what vnhap may this meene? Line 552 Han now thus soone Grekes maad ȝow leene? Line 553

"Or hastow som remors of conscience, Line 554 And art now falle in som deuocioun, Line 555 And wailest for thi synne and thin offence, Line 556 And hast for ferde caught attricioun? Line 557 God saue hem that biseged han oure town, Line 558 That so kan leye oure iolite on presse, Line 559 And bringe oure lusty folk to holynesse!" Line 560