Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Stanzas 181 through 190

His goodly manere, and his gentilesse, Line 1268 So wel that neuere, sith that she was born, Line 1269 Ne hadde she swych routh of his destresse; Line 1270 And how so she hath hard ben here byforn, Line 1271 To god hope I she hath now kaught a thorn, Line 1272 She shal nat pulle it out this nexte wyke -- Line 1273 God sende mo swich thornes on to pike. Line 1274

Pandare, which that stood hire faste by, Line 1275 ffelte iren hoot and he bygan to smyte, Line 1276 And seyde, "Nece, I pray ȝow hertely, Line 1277 Tel me that I shal axen ȝow a lite: Line 1278 A womman that were of his deth to wite, Line 1279 With-outen his gilt, but for hire lakked routhe, Line 1280 Were it wel doon?" Quod she, "nay, by my trouthe." Line 1281

"God help me so," quod he, "ȝe sey me soth. Line 1282 Ȝe felen wel ȝoure self that I nought lye. Line 1283 Lo, ȝond he rit!" "ȝe," quod she, "so he doth." Line 1284 "Wel," quod Pandare, "as I haue told ȝow thrie, Line 1285 Lat be ȝoure nyce shame and ȝoure folie, Line 1286 And spek with hym in esyng of his herte; Line 1287 Lat nycete nat do ȝow bothe smerte." Line 1288

But ther-on was to heuen and to doone, Line 1289 Considered al thing, it may nat be; Line 1290 And whi? for shame, and it were ek to soone Line 1291 To graunten hym so grete a libertee. Line 1292 ffor pleynly hire entente, as seyde she, Line 1293 Was forto loue hym vnwist if she myghte, Line 1294 And guerdoun hym with no thing but with sighte. Line 1295

But Pandarus thought, "it shal nought be so, Line 1296 Ȝif that I may, this nyce opynyoun Line 1297 Shal nought be holden fully ȝeres two." Line 1298 What sholde I make of this a long sermoun? Line 1299 He moste assente on that conclusioun Line 1300 As for the tyme, and whan that it was eue, Line 1301 And al was wel, he roos and toke his leue. Line 1302

And on his wey ful faste homward he spedde, Line 1303 And right for ioye he felte his herte daunce; Line 1304 And Troilus he fond allone a-bedde, Line 1305 That lay as do thise louers in a traunce, Line 1306 Bitwixen hope and derk disesperaunce. Line 1307 But Pandarus, right at his in comynge, Line 1308 He song, as who seyth, "somwhat I brynge." Line 1309

And seyde, "who is in his bed so soone Line 1310 I-buried thus?" "It am I, frend," quod he. Line 1311 "Who, Troilus? nay, help me so the moone," Line 1312 Quod Pandarus, "thow shalt arise and see Line 1313 A charme that was sent right now to the, Line 1314 The which kan helen the of thyn accesse, Line 1315 If thow do forth-with al thi bisynesse.", Line 1316

"Ȝe, thorugh the myght of god," quod Troilus. Line 1317 And Pandarus gan hym the lettre take, Line 1318 And seyde, "parde, god hath holpen vs; Line 1319 Haue here a light and loke on al this blake." Line 1320 But ofte gan the herte glade and quake Line 1321 Of Troilus, whil that he gan it rede, Line 1322 So as the wordes ȝaue hym hope or drede. Line 1323

But finaly he took al for the beste Line 1324 That she hym wroot, for somwhat he byhelde Line 1325 On which hym thoughte he myghte his herte reste, Line 1326 Al couered she the wordes vnder shelde. Line 1327 Thus to the more worthi part he helde, Line 1328 That what for hope and Pandarus byheste, Line 1329 His grete wo forȝede he at the leste. Line 1330

But as we may alday oure seluen see, Line 1331 Thorugh more wode or col the more fire, Line 1332 Right so encrees of hope, of what it be, Line 1333 Therwith ful ofte encresseth ek desire; Line 1334 Or as an ook comth of a litil spire, Line 1335 So thorugh this lettre which that she hym sente Line 1336 Encrescen gan desire of which he brente. Line 1337