Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Stanzas 21 through 30

Tho gan she wondren moore than biforne Line 141 A thousand fold, and down hire eyghen caste; Line 142 ffor neuere sith the tyme that she was borne Line 143 To knowe thyng desired she so faste; Line 144 And with a syk, she seyde hym atte laste, Line 145 "Now, Uncle myn, I nyl ȝow nought displese, Line 146 Nor axen more that may do ȝow disese.', Line 147

So after this, with many wordes glade, Line 148 And frendly tales and with merie chiere, Line 149 Of this and that they pleide and gonnen wade Line 150 In many an vnkouth, gladde, and depe matere, Line 151 As frendes doon whan thei ben mette y-fere, Line 152 Tyl she gan axen hym how Ector ferde, Line 153 That was the townes wal and Grekes ȝerde. Line 154

"fful wel, I thonk it god," quod Pandarus, Line 155 "Saue in his arme he hath a litel wownde, Line 156 And ek his fresshe brother, Troilus, Line 157 The wise, worthi Ector the secounde, Line 158 In whom that alle vertue list habounde, Line 159 As alle trouthe and alle gentilesse, Line 160 Wisdom, honour, fredom, and worthinesse." Line 161

"In good feith, Em," quod she, "that liketh me Line 162 Thei faren wel, god saue hem bothe two; Line 163 ffor trewelich I holde it gret deynte, Line 164 A kynges sone in armes wel to do, Line 165 And ben of good condiciouns therto; Line 166 ffor grete power and moral vertue here Line 167 Is selde yseyn in o persone y-feere." Line 168

"In good faith, that is soth," quod Pandarus, Line 169 "But, by my trouthe, the kyng hath sones tweye -- Line 170 That is to mene Ector and Troilus -- Line 171 That certeynly, though that I sholde deye, Line 172 Thei ben as voide of vices, dar I seye, Line 173 As any men that lyuen vndre the sonne; Line 174 Hire myght is wyde i-knowe, and what they konne. Line 175

"Of Ector nedeth it namore forto telle: Line 176 In al this world ther nys a bettre knyght Line 177 Than he that is of worthynesse welle, Line 178 And he wel moore vertue hath than myght; Line 179 This knoweth many a wise and worthi wight. Line 180 The same pris of Troilus I seye; Line 181 God help me so, I knowe nat swiche tweye." Line 182

"By god," quod she, "of Ector that is sooth; Line 183 "Of Troilus the same thyng trowe I; Line 184 ffor dredeles, men tellen that he doth Line 185 In armes day by day so worthily, Line 186 And bereth hym here at hom so gentily Line 187 To eueri wight, that alle pris hath he Line 188 Of hem that me were leuest preysed be." Line 189

"Ȝe sey right sooth, y-wys," quod Pandarus; Line 190 "ffor ȝesterday who-so hadde with hym ben, Line 191 He myghte han wondred vp-on Troilus; Line 192 ffor neuere ȝet so thikke a swarm of been Line 193 Ne fleigh as Grekes fro hym gonne fleen; Line 194 And thorugh the feld in eueri wightes eere Line 195 Ther nas no cry but 'Troilus is there!' Line 196

"Now here, now ther, he hunted hem so faste, Line 197 Ther nas but Grekes blood and Troilus. Line 198 Now hym he hurte and hym al down he caste; Line 199 Ay wher he wente it was arayed thus: Line 200 He was hire deth, and sheld and lif for vs, Line 201 That, as that day, ther dorste non withstonde, Line 202 Whil that he held his blody swerd in honde. Line 203

"Therto he is the frendlieste man Line 204 Of gret estat that euere I saugh my lyue, Line 205 And wher hym lest, best felawshipe kan Line 206 To swich as hym thynketh able forto thryue." Line 207 And with that word tho Pandarus as blyue Line 208 He took his leue and seyde, "I wol gon henne." Line 209 "Nay, blame haue I, myn Uncle," quod she thenne. Line 210