Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde
About this Item
- Title
- Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde
- Author
- Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400
- Publication
- London ; New York: Longman
- 1984
- Rights/Permissions
Oxford Text Archive number: U-1689-A
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DPLA Rights Statement: No Copyright - United States
- Link to this Item
-
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/Troilus
- Cite this Item
-
"Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/Troilus. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 27, 2025.
Pages
Page 152
Incipit prohemium secundi libri
Owt of thise blake wawes forto saylle,
Line 1
O wynde, O wynde, the weder gynneth clere,
Line 2
ffor in this see the boot hath swych trauaylle
Line 3
Of my konnyng that vnneth I it steere:
Line 4
This see clepe I the tempestous matere
Line 5
Of disespeir that Troilus was inne --
Line 6
But now of hope the kalendes bygynne.
Line 7
O lady myn, that called art Cleo,
Line 8
Thow be my speed fro this forth, and my Muse,
Line 9
To ryme wel this book til I haue do;
Line 10
Me nedeth here noon othere art to vse.
Line 11
ffor-whi to euery louere I me excuse
Line 12
That of no sentement I this endite,
Line 13
But out of Latyn in my tonge it write.
Line 14
Wherfore I nyl haue neither thank ne blame
Line 15
Of al this werk, but prey ȝow mekely,
Line 16
Disblameth me if any word be lame,
Line 17
ffor as myn auctour seyde, so sey I;
Line 18
Ek though I speeke of loue vnfelyngly,
Line 19
No wondre is, for it no thyng of newe is:
Line 20
A blynd man kan nat iuggen wel in hewis.
Line 21
Ȝe knowe ek that in fourme of speche is chaunge
Line 22
With-inne a thousand ȝeer, and wordes tho
Line 23
That hadden pris now wonder nyce and straunge
Line 24
Us thenketh hem, and ȝet thei spake hem so,
Line 25
And spedde as wel in loue as men now do,
Line 26
Ek forto wynnen loue in sondry ages,
Line 27
In sondry londes, sondry ben vsages.
Line 28
And forthi if it happe in any wyse,
Line 29
That here be any louere in this place
Line 30
That herkneth, as the storie wol deuise,
Line 31
How Troilus com to his lady grace,
Line 32
And thenketh, "so nold I nat loue purchace,"
Line 33
Or wondreth on his speche or his doynge,
Line 34
I noot, but it is me no wonderynge.
Line 35
ffor euery wight which that to Rome wente
Line 36
Halt nat o path or alwey o manere;
Line 37
Ek in som lond were al the game shente
Line 38
If that they ferde in loue as men don here,
Line 39
As thus, in opyn doyng or in chere,
Line 40
In visityng in forme or seyde hire sawes;
Line 41
ffor-thi men seyn, ecch contree hath hise lawes.
Line 42
Page 154
Ek scarsly ben ther in this place thre
Line 43
That haue in loue seid like and don in al,
Line 44
ffor to thi purpos this may liken the,
Line 45
And the right nought, ȝet al is seid, or schal;
Line 46
Ek som men graue in tree, som in ston wal,
Line 47
As it bitit; but syn I haue bigonne,
Line 48
Myn auctour shal I folwen if I konne.
Line 49
Explicit prohemium secundi libri
Incipit liber secundus
Stanzas 8 through 20
In May, that moder is of monthes glade,
Line 50
That fresshe floures blew and white and rede
Line 51
Ben quike agayn, that wynter dede made,
Line 52
And ful of bawme is fletyng euery mede;
Line 53
Whan Phebus doth his bryghte bemes sprede
Line 54
Right in the white Bole, it so bitidde,
Line 55
As I shal synge, on Mayes day the thrydde,
Line 56
That Pandarus, for al his wise speche,
Line 57
ffelt ek his parte of loues shotes keene,
Line 58
That koude he neuere so wel of louyng preche,
Line 59
It made his hewe a-day ful ofte greene;
Line 60
So shop it that hym fil that day a teene
Line 61
In loue, for which in wo to bedde he wente,
Line 62
And made er it was day ful many a wente.
Line 63
The swalowe Proigne with a sorowful lay
Line 64
Whan morwen com gan make hire waymentyng
Line 65
Whi she forshapen was, and euere lay
Line 66
Pandare a-bedde half in a slomberyng,
Line 67
Til she so neigh hym made hire cheteryng,
Line 68
How Tereus gan forth hire suster take,
Line 69
That with the noyse of hire he gan awake,
Line 70
And gan to calle, and dresse hym vp to ryse,
Line 71
Remembryng hym his erand was to doone
Line 72
ffrom Troilus, and ek his grete emprise,
Line 73
And caste and knewe in good plit was the moone
Line 74
To doon viage, and took his way ful soone
Line 75
Unto his Neces palays ther biside;
Line 76
Now Ianus, god of entree, thow hym gyde!
Line 77
Page 156
Whan he was come vnto his Neces place,
Line 78
"Wher is my lady?" to hire folk quod he;
Line 79
And they hym tolde and he forth in gan pace
Line 80
And fond two othere ladys sete, and she,
Line 81
With-inne a paued parlour, and they thre
Line 82
Herden a mayden reden hem the geste
Line 83
Of the siege of Thebes while hem leste.
Line 84
Quod Pandarus, "ma dame, god ȝow see,
Line 85
With al ȝoure book and al the compaignie."
Line 86
"Ey, vncle myn, welcome i-wis," quod she;
Line 87
And vp she roos and by the hond in hye
Line 88
She took hym faste and seyde, "this nyght thrie --
Line 89
To goode mot it turne -- of ȝow I mette."
Line 90
And with that word she doun on benche hym sette.
Line 91
'"Ȝe, Nece, ȝee shal faren wel the bet,
Line 92
If god wol, al this ȝeere," quod Pandarus;
Line 93
"But I am sory that I haue ȝow let
Line 94
To herken of ȝoure book ȝe preysen thus.
Line 95
ffor goddes loue, what seith it? telle it vs;
Line 96
Is it of loue? O, som good ȝe me leere!,,
Line 97
"Uncle," quod she, " ȝoure maistresse is nat here."
Line 98
With that thei gonnen laughe, and tho she seyde,
Line 99
"This romaunce is of Thebes that we rede;
Line 100
And we han herd how that kyng Layus deyde,
Line 101
Thorugh Edippus his sone, and al that dede;
Line 102
And here we stynten at thise lettres rede,
Line 103
How the bisshop, as the book kan telle,
Line 104
Amphiorax, fil thorugh the grounde to helle."
Line 105
Quod Pandarus, "al this knowe I my selue,
Line 106
And al thassege of Thebes and the care,
Line 107
ffor her-of ben ther maked bookes twelue;
Line 108
But lat be this and telle me how ȝe fare;
Line 109
Do wey ȝoure barbe and shew ȝoure face bare;
Line 110
Do wey ȝoure book, rys vp, and lat vs daunce,
Line 111
And lat vs don to May som obseruaunce."
Line 112
Page 158
"I, god forbede!" quod she, "be ȝe madde?
Line 113
Is that a widewes lif, so god ȝow saue?
Line 114
By god, ȝe maken me ryght soore adradde,
Line 115
Ȝe ben so wylde, it semeth as ȝe raue.
Line 116
It satte me wel bet ay in a caue
Line 117
To bidde and rede on holy seyntes lyues;
Line 118
Lat maydens gon to daunce and ȝonge wyues."
Line 119
"As euere thriue I," quod this Pandarus,
Line 120
"Ȝet koude I telle a thyng to doon ȝow pleye."
Line 121
"Now Uncle deere," quod she, "telle it vs
Line 122
ffor goddes loue: is than thassege aweye?
Line 123
I am of Grekes so fered that I deye."
Line 124
"Nay, nay," quod he, "as euere mote I thryue,
Line 125
"It is a thing wel bet than swyche fyue."
Line 126
"Ȝe, holy god," quod she, "what thyng is that?
Line 127
What, bet than swyche fyue? I! nay, ywys.
Line 128
ffor al this world ne kan I reden what
Line 129
It sholde ben; som iape I trowe is this;
Line 130
And but ȝoure seluen telle vs what it is,
Line 131
My wit is for tarede it al to leene;
Line 132
As help me god, I not nat what ȝe meene."
Line 133
"And I ȝoure borugh, ne neuere shal, for me,
Line 134
This thyng be told to ȝow, as mote I thryue."
Line 135
"And whi so, vncle myn, whi so?" quod she.
Line 136
"By god," quod he, "that wol I telle as blyue;
Line 137
ffor proudder womman is ther noon on lyue,
Line 138
And ȝe it wist, in al the town of Troye;
Line 139
I iape nought, as euere haue I ioye."
Line 140
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
Page 160
"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
Page 162
"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
Stanzas 31 through 40
"What aileth ȝow to be thus wery soone,
Line 211
And namelich of wommen? wol ȝe so?
Line 212
Nay, sitteth down; by god, I haue to doone
Line 213
With ȝow to speke of wisdom er ȝe go."
Line 214
And eueri wight that was aboute hem tho,
Line 215
That herde that, gan fer a-wey to stonde,
Line 216
Whil they two hadde al that hem liste in honde.
Line 217
Whan that hire tale al brought was to an ende,
Line 218
Of hire estat and of hire gouernaunce,
Line 219
Quod Pandarus, "now is it tyme I wende;
Line 220
But ȝet I say, ariseth, lat vs daunce,
Line 221
And cast ȝoure widewes habit to mischaunce.
Line 222
What list ȝow thus ȝoure self to disfigure,
Line 223
Sith ȝow [MS thow] is tid thus faire an auenture?"
Line 224
"A, wel bithought, for loue of god," quod she,
Line 225
"Shal I nat witen what ȝe meene of this?"
Line 226
"No, this thing axeth leyser," tho quod he,
Line 227
"And eke me wolde muche greue, i-wis,
Line 228
If I it tolde and ȝe it toke amys.
Line 229
Ȝet were it bet my tonge forto stille
Line 230
Than seye a soth that were a ȝeyns ȝoure wille.
Line 231
"ffor, Nece, by the goddesse Mynerue,
Line 232
And Iupiter, that maketh the thondre rynge,
Line 233
And by the blisful Venus that I serue,
Line 234
Ȝe ben the womman in this world lyuynge --
Line 235
With-outen paramours to my wyttynge --
Line 236
That I best loue and lothest am to greue,
Line 237
And that ȝe weten wel ȝoure self, I leue."
Line 238
Page 164
"I-wis, myn vncle," quod she, "grant mercy;
Line 239
Ȝoure frendshipe haue I founden euere ȝit;
Line 240
I am to no man holden, trewely,
Line 241
So muche as ȝow, and haue so litel quyt;
Line 242
And with the grace of god, emforth my wit,
Line 243
As in my gylt I shall ȝow neuere offende,
Line 244
And if I haue er this, I wol amende.
Line 245
"But for the loue of god, I ȝow biseche,
Line 246
As ȝe ben he that I moost loue and triste,
Line 247
Lat be to me ȝoure fremde manere speche,
Line 248
And sey to me, ȝoure Nece, what ȝow liste."
Line 249
And with that word hire uncle anoon hire kiste
Line 250
And seyde, "gladly, leue Nece dere --
Line 251
Tak it for good that I shal sey ȝow here."
Line 252
With that she gan hire eighen down to caste,
Line 253
And Pandarus to coghe gan a lite,
Line 254
And seyde, "Nece, alwey, lo, to the laste,
Line 255
How so it be that som men hem delite
Line 256
With subtyl art hire tales forto endite,
Line 257
Ȝet for al that, in hire entencioun,
Line 258
Hire tale is al for som conclusioun.
Line 259
"And sithen thende is euery tales strengthe,
Line 260
And this matere is so bihouely,
Line 261
What sholde I peynte or drawen it on lengthe
Line 262
To ȝow that ben my frend so feythfully?"
Line 263
And with that word he gan right inwardly
Line 264
Byholden hire and loken on hire face
Line 265
And seyde, "on swich a mirour goode grace!"
Line 266
Than thought he thus, "if I my tale endite
Line 267
Aught harde, or make a proces any whyle,
Line 268
She shal no sauour haue ther-in but lite,
Line 269
And trowe I wolde hire in my wil bigyle;
Line 270
ffor tendre wittes wenen al be wyle
Line 271
Ther as thei kan nought pleynly vnderstonde;
Line 272
fforthi hire wit to seruen wol I fonde."
Line 273
And loked on hire in a bysi wyse,
Line 274
And she was war that he byheld hire so,
Line 275
And seyde, "lord, so faste ȝe mauise!
Line 276
Sey ȝe me neuere er now? what sey ȝe? no?"
Line 277
"Ȝis, ȝys," quod he, "and bet wol er I go;
Line 278
But be my trouthe, I thoughte now if ȝe
Line 279
Be fortunat, for now men shal it se.
Line 280
Stanzas 41 through 50
Page 166
"fforto euery wight som goodly auenture
Line 281
Som tyme is shape, if he it kan receyuen,
Line 282
And if that he wol take of it no cure,
Line 283
Whan that it commeth, but wilfully it weyuen,
Line 284
Lo, neyther cas ne fortune hym deceyuen,
Line 285
But ryght his verray slouthe and wrecchednesse;
Line 286
And swich a wight is forto blame, I gesse.
Line 287
"Good auenture, O beele Nece, haue ȝe
Line 288
fful lightly founden, and ȝe konne it take;
Line 289
And for the loue of god and ek of me,
Line 290
Cache it anon, lest auenture slake.
Line 291
What sholde I lenger proces of it make?
Line 292
Ȝif me ȝoure hond, for in this world is noon,
Line 293
If that ȝow list, a wight so wel bygon.
Line 294
"And sith I speke of good entencioun,
Line 295
As I to ȝow haue told wel here byforn,
Line 296
And loue as wel ȝoure honour and renoun
Line 297
As creature in al this world yborn,
Line 298
By alle the othes that I haue ȝow sworn,
Line 299
And ȝe be wrooth therfore, or wene I lye,
Line 300
Ne shal I neuere sen ȝow eft with eye.
Line 301
"Beth naught agast, ne quaketh naught; wherto?
Line 302
Ne chaungeth naught for feere so ȝoure hewe;
Line 303
ffor hardely, the werst of this is do,
Line 304
And though my tale as now be to ȝow newe,
Line 305
Ȝet trist alwey ȝe shal me fynde trewe;
Line 306
And were it thyng that me thoughte vnsittynge,
Line 307
To ȝow wolde I no swiche tales brynge."
Line 308
"Now, my good Em, for goddes loue I preye,"
Line 309
Quod she, "come of and telle me what it is;
Line 310
ffor both I am agast what ȝe wol seye,
Line 311
And ek me longeth it to wite, ywis;
Line 312
ffor whethir it be wel or be amys,
Line 313
Say on, lat me nat in this feere dwelle.',
Line 314
"So wol I doon; now herkeneth, I shall telle.
Line 315
"Now, Nece myn, the kynges deere sone,
Line 316
The goode, wise, worthi, fresshe and free,
Line 317
Which alwey for to don wel is his wone,
Line 318
The noble Troilus, so loueth the,
Line 319
That, but ȝe helpe, it wol his bane be.
Line 320
Lo, here is al -- what sholde I moore sey?
Line 321
Do what ȝow lest to make hym lyue or dey.
Line 322
Page 168
"But if ȝe late hym deyen, I wol sterue --
Line 323
Haue here my trouthe, Nece, I nyl nat lyen --
Line 324
Al sholde I with this knyf my throte kerue."
Line 325
With that the teris breste out of his eyen,
Line 326
And seyde, "if that ȝe don vs bothe dyen,
Line 327
Thus gilteles, than haue ȝe fisshed fayre;
Line 328
What mende ȝe, though that we booth appaire?
Line 329
"Allas, he which that is my lord so deere,
Line 330
That trewe man, that noble, gentil knyght,
Line 331
That naught desireth but ȝoure frendly cheere,
Line 332
I se hym deyen ther he goth vp-ryght,
Line 333
And hasteth hym with al his fulle myght
Line 334
fforto ben slayn, if his fortune assente;
Line 335
Allas, that god ȝow swich a beaute sente!
Line 336
"If it be so that ȝe so cruel be,
Line 337
That of his deth ȝow liste nought to recche,
Line 338
That is so trewe and worthi as ȝe se,
Line 339
Namoore than of a iaper or a wrecche --
Line 340
If ȝe be swich ȝoure beaute may nat strecche
Line 341
To make amendes of so cruel a dede:
Line 342
Auysement is good byfore the nede.
Line 343
"Wo worth the faire gemme vertuelees!
Line 344
Wo worth that herbe also that dooth no boote!
Line 345
Wo worth that beaute that is routheles!
Line 346
Wo worth that wight that tret ech vndir foote!
Line 347
And ȝe that ben of beaute crop and roote,
Line 348
If therwith-al in ȝow ther be no routhe,
Line 349
Than is it harm ȝe lyuen, by my trouthe.
Line 350
Stanzas 51 through 60
"And also think wel that this is no gaude;
Line 351
ffor me were leuere thow and I and he
Line 352
Were hanged, than I sholde ben his baude,
Line 353
As heigh as men myghte on vs alle y-see;
Line 354
I am thyn Em, the shame were to me
Line 355
As wel as the if that I sholde assente,
Line 356
Thorugh myn abet, that he thyn honour shente.
Line 357
"Now vnderstond, for I ȝow nought requere
Line 358
To bynde ȝow to hym thorugh no byheste,
Line 359
But only that ȝe make hym bettre chiere
Line 360
Than ȝe han doon er this and moore feste,
Line 361
So that his lif be saued atte leeste;
Line 362
This al and som, and pleynly, oure entente;
Line 363
God help me so, I neuere other mente.
Line 364
Page 170
"Lo this requeste is naught but skylle, ywys,
Line 365
Ne doute of resoun, pardee, is ther noon.
Line 366
I sette the worste that ȝe dreden this:
Line 367
Men wolde wondren sen hym com or goon;
Line 368
There-a ȝeins answere I thus anoon,
Line 369
That euery wight, but he be fool of kynde,
Line 370
Wol deme it loue of frendshipe in his mynde.
Line 371
"What, who wol demen, though he se a man
Line 372
To temple go, that he thymages eteth?
Line 373
Thenk ek how wel and wisely that he kan
Line 374
Gouerne hym self that he nothyng for ȝeteth,
Line 375
That where he cometh he pris and thank hym geteth;
Line 376
And ek therto he shal come here so selde,
Line 377
What fors were it though al the town byhelde?
Line 378
"Swych loue of frendes regneth al this town,
Line 379
And wry ȝow in that mantel euere moo;
Line 380
And, god so wys be my sauacioun,
Line 381
As I haue seyd, ȝoure beste is to do soo;
Line 382
But alwey, goode Nece, to stynte his woo,
Line 383
So lat ȝoure daunger sucred ben a lite,
Line 384
That of his deth ȝe be naught forto wite."
Line 385
Criseyde, which that herde hym in this wise,
Line 386
Thought, "I shal felen what he meneth, y-wis."
Line 387
"Now, Em," quod she, "what wolde ȝe deuise?
Line 388
What is ȝoure rede I sholde don of this?"
Line 389
"That is wel seyd," quod he, "certein, best is
Line 390
That ȝe hym loue a ȝeyn for his louynge,
Line 391
As loue for loue is skilful guerdonynge.
Line 392
"Thenk ek how elde wasteth euery houre
Line 393
In eche of ȝow a partie of beautee;
Line 394
And therfore, er that age the deuoure,
Line 395
Go loue, for old, ther wol no wight of the;
Line 396
Lat this prouerbe a loore vn-to ȝow be:
Line 397
"To late ywar, quod beaute, whan it paste';,
Line 398
And elde daunteth daunger at the laste.
Line 399
"The kynges fool is wont to crien loude,
Line 400
Whan that hym thinketh a womman berth hire hye,
Line 401
"So longe mote ȝe lyue, and alle proude,
Line 402
Tyl crowes feet be growe vnder ȝoure eye,
Line 403
And sende ȝow than a myrour in-to prye,
Line 404
In which that ȝe may se ȝoure face a morwe.,
Line 405
Nece, I bidde wisshe ȝow namore sorwe."
Line 406
Page 172
With this he stynte and caste a-down the hede,
Line 407
And she began to breste a-wepe a-noon,
Line 408
And seyde, "allas, for wo why nere I deede?
Line 409
ffor of this world the feyth is al agoon.
Line 410
Allas, what sholden straunge to me doon,
Line 411
Whan he that for my beste frende I wende
Line 412
Ret me to loue, and sholde it me defende?
Line 413
"Allas, I wolde han trusted, douteles,
Line 414
That if that I thorugh my disauenture
Line 415
Hadde loued outher hym or Achilles,
Line 416
Ector, or any mannes creature,
Line 417
Ȝe nolde han had no mercy ne mesure
Line 418
On me, but alwey had me in repreue.
Line 419
This false worlde, allas, who may it leue?
Line 420
Stanzas 61 through 70
"What! is this al the ioye and al the feste?
Line 421
Is this ȝoure reed? is this my blisful cas?
Line 422
Is this the verray mede of ȝoure byheeste?
Line 423
Is al this paynted proces seyd, allas,
Line 424
Right for this fyn? O lady myn, Pallas,
Line 425
Thow in this dredful cas for me purueye,
Line 426
ffor so astoned am I that I deye."
Line 427
Wyth that she gan ful sorwfully to syke.
Line 428
"A! may it be no bet?" quod Pandarus,
Line 429
"By god, I shal namore come here this wyke,
Line 430
And god toforn, that am mystrusted thus.
Line 431
I se ful wel that ȝe sette lite of vs,
Line 432
Or of oure deth; allas, I woful wrecche!
Line 433
Might he ȝet lyue, of me is nought to recche.
Line 434
"O cruel god, O dispitouse Marte,
Line 435
O furies thre of helle, on ȝow I crye!
Line 436
So lat me neuere out of this hous departe,
Line 437
If that I mente harm or vilenye.
Line 438
But sith I se my lord mot nedes dye,
Line 439
And I with hym, here I me shryue and seye
Line 440
That wikkedly ȝe don vs bothe deye.
Line 441
Page 174
"But sith it liketh ȝow that I be dede,
Line 442
By Neptunus, that god is of the see,
Line 443
ffro this forth shal I neuere eten brede,
Line 444
Til I myn owen herte blood may see;
Line 445
ffor certeyn I wol deye as soone as he."
Line 446
And vp he sterte and on his wey he raughte,
Line 447
Tyl she agayn hym by the lappe kaughte.
Line 448
Criseyde, which that wel neigh starf for feere,
Line 449
So as she was the ferfulleste wight
Line 450
That myghte be, and herde ek with hire ere,
Line 451
And saugh the sorwful ernest of the knyght,
Line 452
And in his preier ek saugh noon vnryght,
Line 453
And for the harm that myghte ek fallen moore,
Line 454
She gan to rewe and dredde hire wonder soore.
Line 455
And thoughte thus: "vnhappes fallen thikke
Line 456
Alday for loue, and in swych manere cas,
Line 457
As men ben cruel in hem self and wikke;
Line 458
And if this man sle here hym self, allas,
Line 459
In my presence, it wol be no solas.
Line 460
What men wolde of it deme I kan nat seye;
Line 461
It nedeth me ful sleighly forto pleie.";
Line 462
And with a sorwful sik she sayde thrie,
Line 463
"A, lord, what me is tid a sory chaunce!
Line 464
ffor myn estat lith now in iupartie,
Line 465
And ek myn Emes lif is in balaunce;
Line 466
But natheles, with goddes gouernaunce,
Line 467
I shal so doon, myn honour shal I kepe,
Line 468
And ek his lif" -- and stynte forto wepe.
Line 469
"Of harmes two the lesse is forto chese;
Line 470
Ȝet haue I leuere maken hym good chere
Line 471
In honour than myn Emes lyf to lese. --
Line 472
Ȝe seyn ȝe no-thyng elles me requere?"
Line 473
"No, wis," quod he, "myn owen Nece dere."
Line 474
"Now wel," quod she, "and I wol doon my peyne;
Line 475
I shal myn herte a ȝeins my lust constreyne.
Line 476
"But that I nyl nat holden hym in honde,
Line 477
Ne loue a man ne kan I naught ne may
Line 478
A ȝeins my wyl, but elles wol I fonde,
Line 479
Myn honour sauf, plese hym fro day to day;
Line 480
Therto nolde I nat ones han seyd nay,
Line 481
But that I drede, as in my fantasye;
Line 482
But cesse cause, ay cesseth maladie.
Line 483
Page 176
"And here I make a protestacioun,
Line 484
That in this proces if ȝe depper go,
Line 485
That certeynly, for no saluacioun
Line 486
Of ȝow, though that ȝe steruen bothe two,
Line 487
Though al the world on o day be my fo,
Line 488
Ne shal I neuere of hym han other routhe."
Line 489
I graunte wel, quod Pandare, "by my trowthe."
Line 490
Stanzas 71 through 80
"But may I truste wel therto," quod he,
Line 491
"That of this thyng that ȝe han hight me here,
Line 492
Ȝe wole it holden trewely vn-to me?"
Line 493
"Ȝe, doutelees," quod she, "myn vncle deere."
Line 494
"Ne that I shal han cause in this matere,"
Line 495
Quod he, "to pleyn or ofter ȝow to preche?"
Line 496
"Why no, perde; what nedeth moore speche?"
Line 497
Tho fillen they in other tales glade,
Line 498
Tyl at the laste, "O good Em," quod she tho,
Line 499
"ffor his loue which that vs bothe made,
Line 500
Tel me how first ȝe wisten of his wo?
Line 501
Woot noon of it but ȝe?" He seyde, "no."
Line 502
"Kan he wel speke of loue," quod she, "I preye?"
Line 503
"Tel me, for I bet me shal purueye."
Line 504
Tho Pandarus a litel gan to smyle,
Line 505
And seyde, "by my trouthe, I shal ȝow telle.
Line 506
This other day, naught gon ful longe while,
Line 507
In-with the paleis gardyn by a welle,
Line 508
Gan he and I wel half a day to dwelle,
Line 509
Right forto speken of an ordinaunce,
Line 510
How we the Grekes myghten disauaunce.
Line 511
"Soon after that bigonne we to lepe,
Line 512
And casten with oure dartes to and fro,
Line 513
Tyl at the laste he seyde he wolde slepe,
Line 514
And on the gres adoun he leyde hym tho;
Line 515
And I afer gan romen to and fro,
Line 516
Til that I herde, as that I welk alone,
Line 517
How he bigan ful wofully to grone.
Line 518
"Tho gan I stalke hym softely byhynde,
Line 519
And sikirly, the soothe forto seyne,
Line 520
As I kan clepe a ȝein now to my mynde,
Line 521
Right thus to loue he gan hym forto pleyne:
Line 522
He seyde, "lord haue routhe vp-on my peyne,
Line 523
Al haue I ben rebell in myn entente,
Line 524
Now mea culpa, lord, I me repente.
Line 525
Page 178
"'O god that at thi disposicioun
Line 526
Ledest the fyn, by iuste purueiaunce
Line 527
Of euery wight, my lowe confessioun
Line 528
Accepte in gree, and sende me swich penaunce
Line 529
As liketh the, but from disesperaunce,
Line 530
That may my goost departe awey fro the,
Line 531
Thow be my sheld, for thi benignite.
Line 532
"'ffor certes, lord, so soore hath she me wounded,
Line 533
That stood in blak, with lokyng of hire eyen,
Line 534
That to myn hertes botme it is y-sounded,
Line 535
Thorugh which I woot that I moot nedes deyen:
Line 536
This is the werste, I dar me nat bywreyen,
Line 537
And wel the hotter ben the gledes rede,
Line 538
That men hem wrien with asshen pale and dede."
Line 539
"Wyth that he smot his hed adown a-non,
Line 540
And gan to motre I noot what, trewely.
Line 541
And I with that gan stille awey to goon,
Line 542
And leet ther-of as no thing wist had I,
Line 543
And com a ȝein anon and stood hym by,
Line 544
And seyde, "awake, ȝe slepen al to longe;
Line 545
It semeth nat that loue doth ȝow longe,
Line 546
"That slepen so that no man may ȝow wake.
Line 547
Who sey euere or this so dul a man?"
Line 548
"Ȝe, frende," quod he, "do ȝe ȝoure hedes ake
Line 549
ffor loue, and lat me lyuen as I kan."
Line 550
But though that he for wo was pale and wan,
Line 551
Ȝet made he tho as fresshe a countenaunce
Line 552
As though he sholde haue led the newe daunce.
Line 553
"This passed forth til now, this other day,
Line 554
It fel that I com romyng al allone
Line 555
In-to his chaumbre and fond how that he lay
Line 556
Vp-on his bed, but man so soore grone
Line 557
Ne herde I neuere, and what that was his mone
Line 558
Ne wist I nought, for as I was comyng,
Line 559
Al sodeynly he lefte his complaynyng.
Line 560
Stanzas 81 through 90
"Of which I took somwhat suspecioun,
Line 561
And ner I com and fond he wepte soore;
Line 562
And god so wys be my sauacioun,
Line 563
As neuere of thyng hadde I no routhe moore,
Line 564
ffor neither with engyn, ne with no loore,
Line 565
Unnethes myghte I fro the deth hym kepe,
Line 566
That ȝet fele I myn herte for hym wepe.
Line 567
Page 180
"And god woot, neuere sith that I was born
Line 568
Was I so besy no man forto preche,
Line 569
Ne neuere was to wight so depe i-sworn,
Line 570
Or he me told who myghte ben his leche.
Line 571
But now to ȝow rehercen al his speche,
Line 572
Or all his woful wordes forto sowne,
Line 573
Ne bid me naught, but ȝe wol se me swowne.
Line 574
"But forto saue his lif, and elles nought,
Line 575
And to noon harm of ȝow, thus am I dryuen;
Line 576
And for the loue of god that vs hath wrought,
Line 577
Swich cheer hym dooth that he and I may lyuen.
Line 578
Now haue I plat to ȝow myn herte shryuen,
Line 579
And sith ȝe woot that myn entent is cleene,
Line 580
Take heede therof, for I non yuel meene.
Line 581
"And right good thrifte, I prey to god, haue ȝe
Line 582
That han swich oon y-kaught withouten net;
Line 583
And be ȝe wis as ȝe be faire to see,
Line 584
Wel in the rynge than is the rubie set.
Line 585
Ther were neuere two so wel y-met,
Line 586
Whan ȝe ben his al hool, as he is ȝoure:
Line 587
Ther myghty god ȝit graunte vs see that houre."
Line 588
"Nay, therof spak I nought, ha, ha!" quod she;
Line 589
"As helpe me god, ȝe shenden euery deel."
Line 590
"O, mercy, dere Nece," anon quod he,
Line 591
"What so I spak, I mente naught but wel,
Line 592
By Mars, the god that helmed is of steel;
Line 593
Now beth naught wroth, my blood, my Nece dere."
Line 594
"Now wel," quod she, "for ȝeuen be it here."
Line 595
With this he took his leue and home he wente;
Line 596
And lord, so he was glad and wel bygon!
Line 597
Criseyde aros, no lenger she ne stente,
Line 598
But streght in-to hire closet wente anon,
Line 599
And set hire doun as stylle as any ston,
Line 600
Aad euery word gan vp and down to wynde,
Line 601
That he had seyd, as it com hire to mynde,
Line 602
And wax somdel astoned in hire thoughte,
Line 603
Right for the newe cas, but whan that she
Line 604
Was ful auysed, tho fond she right noughte
Line 605
Of peril why she ought afered be.
Line 606
ffor man may loue, of possibilite,
Line 607
A womman so his herte may to-breste,
Line 608
And she naught loue a ȝein but if hire leste.
Line 609
Page 182
But as she sat allone and thoughte thus,
Line 610
Ascry aros at scarmuch al with-oute,
Line 611
And men criden in the strete, "se, Troilus
Line 612
Hath right now put to flight the Grekes route!"
Line 613
With that gan al hire meigne forto shoute,
Line 614
"A, go we se, caste vp the ȝates wyde,
Line 615
ffor thorwgh this strete he moot to paleys ride;
Line 616
"ffor other wey is fro the ȝate noon
Line 617
Of Dardanus, there opyn is the cheyne."
Line 618
With that com he and al his folk anoon
Line 619
An esy pas rydyng in routes tweyne,
Line 620
Right as his happy day was, sooth to seyne,
Line 621
ffor which, men seyn, may nought destourbed be
Line 622
That shal bityden of necessitee.
Line 623
This Troilus sat on his baye steede,
Line 624
Al armed, saue his hed, ful richely,
Line 625
And wownded was his hors, and gan to blede,
Line 626
On which he rood a pas ful softely;
Line 627
But swich a knyghtly sighte, trewely,
Line 628
As was on hym was nought, withouten faille,
Line 629
To loke on Mars that god is of bataille.
Line 630
Stanzas 91 through 100
So lik a man of armes and a knyght
Line 631
He was to seen, fulfilled of heigh prowesse,
Line 632
ffor bothe he hadde a body and a myght
Line 633
To don that thing, as wel as hardynesse,
Line 634
And ek to seen hym in his gere hym dresse,
Line 635
So fressh, so ȝong, so weldy semed he,
Line 636
It was an heuen vp-on hym forto see.
Line 637
His helm to-hewen was in twenty places,
Line 638
That by a tyssew heng his bak byhynde;
Line 639
His sheeld to-dasshed was with swerdes and maces,
Line 640
In which men myghte many an arwe fynde
Line 641
That thirled hadde horn and nerf and rynde;
Line 642
And ay the peple cryde, "here cometh oure ioye,
Line 643
And, next his brother, holder vp of Troye."
Line 644
ffor which he wex a litel reed for shame,
Line 645
When he the peple vp-on hym herde cryen,
Line 646
That to byholde it was a noble game,
Line 647
How sobrelich he caste down his eyen.
Line 648
Criseyda gan al his chere aspien,
Line 649
And leet it so softe in hire synke,
Line 650
That to hire self she seyde, "who ȝaf me drynke?"
Line 651
Page 184
ffor of hire owen thought she wex al reed,
Line 652
Remembryng hire right thus, "lo, this is he
Line 653
Which that myn vncle swerith he moot be deed,
Line 654
But I on hym haue mercy and pitee."
Line 655
And with that thought for pure ashamed she
Line 656
Gan in hire hed to pulle and that as faste,
Line 657
While he and al the peple forby paste;
Line 658
And gan to caste and rollen vp and down
Line 659
With-inne hire thought his excellent prowesse,
Line 660
And his estat and also his renown,
Line 661
His wit, his shap and ek his gentilesse,
Line 662
But moost hire fauour was for his distresse
Line 663
Was al for hire, and thought it was a routhe
Line 664
To sleen swich oon if that he mente trouthe.
Line 665
Now myghte som envious iangle thus:
Line 666
"This was a sodeyn loue; how myght it be
Line 667
That she so lightly loued Troilus
Line 668
Right for the firste syghte, ȝe, parde?"
Line 669
Now whoso seith so, mote he neuere y-the;
Line 670
ffor euery thyng a gynnyng hath it nede
Line 671
Er al be wrought, with-owten any drede.
Line 672
ffor I sey nought that she so sodeynly
Line 673
Ȝaf hym hire loue, but that she gan enclyne
Line 674
To like hym first, and I haue told ȝow whi;
Line 675
And after that his manhod and his pyne
Line 676
Made loue with-inne hire herte forto myne,
Line 677
ffor which by proces and by good seruyse
Line 678
He gat hire loue, and in no sodeyn wyse.
Line 679
And also blisful Venus, wel arrayed,
Line 680
Sat in hire seuenthe hous of heuene tho,
Line 681
Disposed wel, and with aspectes payed,
Line 682
To helpen sely Troilus of his woo;
Line 683
And soth to seyne, she nas nat al a foo
Line 684
To Troilus in his natiuitee;
Line 685
God woot that wel the sonner spedde he.
Line 686
Now lat vs stynte of Troilus a throwe,
Line 687
That rideth forth, and lat vs torne faste
Line 688
Unto Criseyde that heng hire hed ful lowe,
Line 689
Ther as she sat allone and gan to caste
Line 690
Where on she wolde apoynte hire atte laste,
Line 691
If it so were hire Em ne wolde cesse
Line 692
ffor Troilus vp-on hire forto presse.
Line 693
Page 186
And lord, so she gan in hire thought argue
Line 694
In this matere of which I haue ȝow tolde,
Line 695
And what to doone best were and what eschewe,
Line 696
That plited she ful ofte in many folde;
Line 697
Now was hire herte warme, now was it colde;
Line 698
And what she thoughte, somwhat shal I write,
Line 699
As to myn auctour listeth for tendite.
Line 700
Stanzas 101 through 110
She thoughte wel that Troilus persone
Line 701
She knew by syghte and ek his gentilesse,
Line 702
And thus she seyde, "al were it nat to doone
Line 703
To graunte hym loue, ȝit, for his worthynesse,
Line 704
It were honour with pleye and with gladnesse
Line 705
In honestee with swich a lord to deele,
Line 706
ffor myn estat and also for his heele.
Line 707
"Ek wel woot I my kynges sone is he,
Line 708
And sith he hath to se me swich delite,
Line 709
If I wolde outreliche his sighte flee,
Line 710
Peraunter he myghte haue me in dispite,
Line 711
Thorugh whicch I myghte stonde in worse plite,
Line 712
Now were I wis me hate to purchace,
Line 713
With-outen nede, ther I may stonde in grace?
Line 714
"In euery thyng, I woot, ther lith mesure,
Line 715
ffor though a man forbede dronkenesse,
Line 716
He naught forbet that euery creature
Line 717
Be drynkeles for alwey, as I gesse.
Line 718
Ek sith I woot for me is his destresse,
Line 719
I ne aughte naught for that thing hym despise,
Line 720
Sith it is so he meneth in good wyse.
Line 721
"And ek I knowe, of longe tyme agon,
Line 722
His thewes goode, and that he is nat nyce;
Line 723
Nauantour, seith men, certein is he noon --
Line 724
To wis is he to doon so get a vice;
Line 725
Ne als I nyl hym neuere so cherice,
Line 726
That he may make auaunt by iuste cause;
Line 727
He shal me neuere bynde in swich a clause.
Line 728
"Now sette a caas: the hardest is, y-wys,
Line 729
Men myghten demen that he loueth me;
Line 730
What dishonour were it vn-to me this?
Line 731
May ich hym lette of that? why nay, parde.
Line 732
I knowe also, and alday heere and se,
Line 733
Men louen wommen al biside hire leue,
Line 734
And whan hem leste namore, lat hem byleue.
Line 735
Page 188
"I thenk ek how he able is forto haue
Line 736
Of al this noble towne the thriftieste
Line 737
To ben his loue, so she hire honour saue;
Line 738
ffor out and out he is the worthieste,
Line 739
Saue only Ector, which that is the beste;
Line 740
And ȝet his lif al lith now in my cure.
Line 741
But swich is loue and ek myn auenture.
Line 742
"Ne me to loue, a wonder is it nought;
Line 743
ffor wel woot I my self, so god me spede --
Line 744
Al wolde I that noon wiste of this thought --
Line 745
I am oon the faireste, out of drede,
Line 746
And goodlieste, whoso taketh hede,
Line 747
And so men seyn, in al the town of Troie:
Line 748
What wonder is though he of me haue ioye?
Line 749
"I am myn owene womman, wel at ese,
Line 750
I thank it god, as after myn estate,
Line 751
Right ȝong, and stonde vnteyd in lusty leese,
Line 752
With-outen ialousie or swich debate;
Line 753
Shal noon housbonde seyn to me 'chek mate.'
Line 754
ffor either they ben ful of ialousie,
Line 755
Or maisterfull, or louen nouelrie.
Line 756
"What shal I doon? to what fyn lyue I thus?
Line 757
Shal I nat loue, in cas if that me leste?
Line 758
What, pardieux! I am naught religious.
Line 759
And though that I myn herte sette at reste
Line 760
Upon this knyght, that is the worthieste,
Line 761
And kepe awey myn honour and my name,
Line 762
By alle right, it may do me no shame."
Line 763
But right as when the sonne shyneth bright,
Line 764
In March, that chaungeth ofte tyme his face,
Line 765
And that a cloude is put with wynd to flight,
Line 766
Which ouersprat the sonne as for a space,
Line 767
A cloudy thought gan thorugh hire soule pace,
Line 768
That ouerspradde hire brighte thoughtes alle,
Line 769
So that for feere almost she gan to falle.
Line 770
Stanzas 111 through 120
That thought was this: "allas, syn I am free,
Line 771
Sholde I now loue, and put in iupertie
Line 772
My sikernesse and thrallen libertee?
Line 773
Allas, how dorst I thenken that folie?
Line 774
May I naught wel in other folk aspie
Line 775
Hire dredfull ioye, hire constreinte and hire peyne?
Line 776
Ther loueth noon that she nath wey to pleyne.
Line 777
Page 190
"ffor loue is ȝet the mooste stormy lyf,
Line 778
Right of hym self, that euere was bigonne;
Line 779
ffor euere som mystrust or nice strif
Line 780
Ther is in loue, som cloude is ouere that sonne.
Line 781
Therto we wrecched wommen no-thing konne,
Line 782
Whan vs is wo, but wepe and sitte and thinke;
Line 783
Oure wrecche is this, oure owen wo to drynke.
Line 784
"Also thise wikked tonges ben so preste
Line 785
To speke vs harm, ek men ben so vntrewe,
Line 786
That right anon as cessed is hire leste
Line 787
So cesseth loue, and forth to loue a newe;
Line 788
But harm y-doon is doon, who-so it rewe:
Line 789
ffor though thise men for loue hem first to-rende,
Line 790
fful sharp bygynnyng breketh ofte at ende.
Line 791
"How ofte tyme hath it y-knowen be,
Line 792
The tresoun that to wommen hath ben do;
Line 793
To what fyn is swich loue I kan nat see,
Line 794
Or wher bycometh it whan it is ago.
Line 795
Ther is no wight that woot, I trowe so,
Line 796
Where it bycometh; lo, no wight on it sporneth:
Line 797
That erst was no thing, in-to nought it torneth.
Line 798
"How bisy, if I loue, ek most I be
Line 799
To plesen hem that iangle of loue and dremen,
Line 800
And coye hem, that they seye noon harm of me;
Line 801
ffor though ther be no cause, ȝet hem semen
Line 802
Al be for harm that folk hire frendes quemen;
Line 803
And who may stoppen euery wikked tonge,
Line 804
Or sown of belles whil that thei ben ronge?"
Line 805
And after that, hire thought gan forto clere,
Line 806
And seide, "he which that nothing vndertaketh,
Line 807
No thyng nacheueth, be hym looth or deere."
Line 808
And with an other thought hire herte quaketh;
Line 809
Than slepeth hope, and after drede awaketh;
Line 810
Now hoot, now cold; but thus bitwixen tweye,
Line 811
She rist hire vp, and wente hire forto pleye.
Line 812
Adown the steyre anon right tho she wente
Line 813
In-to the gardyn with hire neces thre,
Line 814
And vp and down ther made many a wente --
Line 815
fflexippe, she, Tharbe and Antigone --
Line 816
To pleyen, that it ioye was to see;
Line 817
And other of hire wommen a gret route
Line 818
Hire folwede in the gardyn al aboute.
Line 819
Page 192
This ȝerd was large and rayled alle thaleyes,
Line 820
And shadewed wel with blosmy bowes grene,
Line 821
And benched newe, and sonded alle the weyes,
Line 822
In which she walketh arm in arm bitwene;
Line 823
Til at the laste, Antigone the shene
Line 824
Gan on a Troian song to singen cleere,
Line 825
That it an heuen was hire vois to here.
Line 826
Cantus Antigone
She seyde, "O loue, to whom I haue and shal
Line 827
Ben humble subgit, trewe in myn entente,
Line 828
As I best kan, to ȝow, lord, ȝeue ich al,
Line 829
ffor euere mo, myn hertes lust to rente.
Line 830
ffor neuere ȝet thi grace no wight sente
Line 831
So blisful cause as me, my lif to lede
Line 832
In alle ioie and seurte out of drede.
Line 833
"Ȝe, blisful god, han me so wel byset
Line 834
In loue, i-wys, that al that bereth lif
Line 835
Ymagynen ne kouthe how to ben bet;
Line 836
ffor, lord, withouten jalousie or strif,
Line 837
I loue oon which that moost is ententif
Line 838
To seruen wel, vnweri or vnfeyned,
Line 839
That euere was, and leest with harm desteyned.
Line 840
"As he that is the welle of worthynesse,
Line 841
Of trouthe grownd, mirour of goodlihede,
Line 842
Of wit Apollo, stoon of sikernesse,
Line 843
Of vertue roote, of lust fynder and hede,
Line 844
Thorugh which is alle sorwe fro me dede --
Line 845
I-wis, I loue hym best, so doth he me;
Line 846
Now good thrifte haue he, wher-so that he be!
Line 847
Stanzas 121 through 130
"Whom shulde I thanken but ȝow, god of loue,
Line 848
Of al this blisse in which to bathe I gynne?
Line 849
And thanked be ȝe, lord, for that I loue.
Line 850
This is the righte lif that I am inne,
Line 851
To flemen alle manere vice and synne;
Line 852
This dooth me so to vertue for tentende,
Line 853
That day by day I in my wille amende.
Line 854
Page 194
"And whoso seith that forto loue is vice,
Line 855
Or thraldom, though he feele in it destresse,
Line 856
He outher is enuyous or right nyce,
Line 857
Or is vnmyghty for his shrewednesse
Line 858
To louen; for swich manere folk, I gesse,
Line 859
Defamen loue as nothing of it knowe:
Line 860
They speken, but thei benten neuere his bowe.
Line 861
"What is the sonne wers, of kynde right,
Line 862
Though that a man for fieblesse of his eyen
Line 863
May nought endure on it to see for bright?
Line 864
Or loue the wers, though wrecches on it crien?
Line 865
No wele is worth that may no sorwe dryen;
Line 866
And forthi, who that hath an hed of verre,
Line 867
ffro caste of stones war hym in the werre.
Line 868
"But I with al myn herte and al my myghte,
Line 869
As I haue seyd, wol loue vn-to my laste
Line 870
My deere herte and al myn owen knyghte,
Line 871
In which myn herte growen is so faste,
Line 872
And his in me, that it shal euere laste:
Line 873
Al dredde I first to loue hym to bigynne,
Line 874
Now woot I wel ther is no peril inne."
Line 875
And of hir song right with that word she stente,
Line 876
And ther-with-al, "now Nece," quod Cryseyde,
Line 877
"Who made this song now with so good entente?"
Line 878
Antygone answerde anoon and seyde,
Line 879
"Madame, y-wys, the goodlieste mayde
Line 880
Of gret estat in al the town of Troye,
Line 881
And let hire lif in moste honour and ioye."
Line 882
"ffor-sothe, so it semeth by hire songe,"
Line 883
Quod tho Criseyde, and gan therwith to sike,
Line 884
And seyde, "lord, is ther swych blisse amonge
Line 885
Thise loueres, as they konne faire endite?"
Line 886
"Ȝe, wis," quod fresshe Antigone the white,
Line 887
"ffor al the folk that han or ben on lyue
Line 888
Ne konne wel the blisse of loue discryue.
Line 889
"But wene ȝe that euery wrecche woot
Line 890
The parfit blisse of loue? why nay, i-wys;
Line 891
They wenen all be loue if oon be hoot;
Line 892
Do wey, do wey, they woot nothyng of this.
Line 893
Men mosten axe at seyntes if it is
Line 894
Aught faire in heuene -- why? for they kan telle --
Line 895
And axen fendes is it foule in helle."
Line 896
Page 196
Criseyde vnto that purpos naught answerde,
Line 897
But seyde, "ywys, it wol be nyght as faste."
Line 898
But euery word which that she of hire herde,
Line 899
She gan to prenten in hire herte faste,
Line 900
And ay gan loue hire lasse for tagaste
Line 901
Than it dide erst and synken in hire herte,
Line 902
That she wex somwhat able to conuerte.
Line 903
The dayes honour and the heuenes eye,
Line 904
The nyghtes foo -- al this clepe I the sonne --
Line 905
Gan westren faste and downward forto wrye,
Line 906
As he that hadde his dayes cours yronne,
Line 907
And white thynges wexen dymme and donne
Line 908
ffor lakke of lyght and sterres for tapere,
Line 909
That she and alle hire folk in went yfeere.
Line 910
So whan it liked hire to go to reste,
Line 911
And voided weren thei that voiden oughte,
Line 912
She seyde that to slepen wel hire leste;
Line 913
Hire wommen soon vnto hire bed hire broughte.
Line 914
Whan al was hust, than lay she stille and thoughte
Line 915
Of al this thing the manere and the wise;
Line 916
Reherce it nedeth nought, for ȝe ben wise.
Line 917
Stanzas 131 through 140
A nyghtyngale vpon a cedre grene,
Line 918
Under the chambre wal ther as she lay,
Line 919
fful loude song aȝein the moone shene
Line 920
Peraunter in his briddes wise a lay
Line 921
Of loue that made hire herte fressh and gay,
Line 922
That herkned she so longe in good entente,
Line 923
Til at the laste the dede slepe hire hente.
Line 924
And as she slep, anon right tho hire mette
Line 925
How that an egle fethered whit as bone
Line 926
Under hire brest his longe clawes sette,
Line 927
And out hire herte he rente, and that anone,
Line 928
And dide his herte in-to hire brest to gone --
Line 929
Of which she nought agroos ne nothyng smerte --
Line 930
And forth he fleigh with herte left for herte.
Line 931
Now lat hire slepe, and we oure tales holde
Line 932
Of Troilus that is to paleis riden
Line 933
ffro the scarmuch of the which I tolde,
Line 934
And in his chaumbre sit and hath abiden
Line 935
Til two or thre of his messages ȝeden
Line 936
ffor Pandarus and soughten hym ful faste,
Line 937
Til they him founde and broughte hym at the laste.
Line 938
Page 198
This Pandarus com lepyng in attones,
Line 939
And seyde thus, "who hath ben wel i-bete
Line 940
To-day with swerdes and with slynge stones
Line 941
But Troilus, that hath caught hym an hete?
Line 942
And gan to iape and seyde, "lord, so ȝe swete!
Line 943
But ris and lat vs soupe and go to reste."
Line 944
And he answerd hym, "do we as the leste."
Line 945
With al the haste goodly that they myghte,
Line 946
They spedde hem fro the soper vnto bedde,
Line 947
And euery wight out at the dore hym dyghte,
Line 948
And where hym liste vp-on his wey him spedde;
Line 949
But Troilus, that thoughte his herte bledde
Line 950
ffor wo til that he herde som tydyng,
Line 951
He seyde, "frend, shal I now wepe or syng?"
Line 952
Quod Pandarus, "ly stille and lat me slepe,
Line 953
And don thyn hood, thy nedes spedde be,
Line 954
And chese if thow wolt synge or daunce or lepe.
Line 955
At shorte wordes, thow shalt trowen me.
Line 956
Sire, my Nece wol do wel by the,
Line 957
And loue the best, by god and by my trouthe,
Line 958
By lakke of pursuyt make it in thi slouthe.
Line 959
"ffor thus ferforth I haue thi werk bigonne,
Line 960
ffro day to day til this day by the morwe,
Line 961
Hire loue of frendshipe haue I to the wonne,
Line 962
And therto hath she leyd hire feyth to borwe;
Line 963
Algate a foot is hameled of thi sorwe."
Line 964
What sholde I lenger sermoun of it holde?
Line 965
As ȝe han herd byfore, al he hym tolde.
Line 966
But right as floures, thorugh the colde of nyght
Line 967
Iclosed, stoupen on hire stalkes lowe,
Line 968
Redressen hem aȝein the sonne bright,
Line 969
And spreden on hire kynde cours by rowe,
Line 970
Right so gan tho his eighen vp to throwe
Line 971
This Troilus and seyde, "O Venus deere,
Line 972
Thi myght, thi grace, y-heried be it here."
Line 973
And to Pandare he held vp bothe his hondes,
Line 974
And seyde, "lord, al thyn be that I haue,
Line 975
ffor I am hool, al brosten ben my bondes;
Line 976
A thousand Troyes who-so that me ȝaue,
Line 977
Ech after other, god so wys me saue,
Line 978
Ne myghte me so gladen; lo, myn herte,
Line 979
It spredeth so for ioie it wol to-sterte.
Line 980
Page 202
"But lord, how shal I doon, how shal I lyuen?
Line 981
Whan shal I next my deere herte see?
Line 982
How shal this longe tyme awey be dryuen
Line 983
Til that thow be aȝein at hire fro me?
Line 984
Thow maist answer, "abid, abid," but he
Line 985
That hangeth by the nekke, soth to seyne,
Line 986
In gret disese abideth for the peyne."
Line 987
Stanzas 141 through 150
"Al esily, now, for the loue of Marte,"
Line 988
Quod Pandarus, "for euery thing hath tyme
Line 989
So longe abid til that the nyght departe;
Line 990
ffor also siker as thow list here by me,
Line 991
And god to-forn, I wol be ther at pryme;
Line 992
And for-thi, werk som-what as I shal seye,
Line 993
Or on som other wight this charge leye.
Line 994
ffor pardee, god woot, I haue euere ȝit
Line 995
Den redy the to serue, and to this nyght
Line 996
Haue I naught feyned, but emforth my wit
Line 997
Don al thi lust, and shal with al my myght.
Line 998
Do now as I shal seyn and fare aright;
Line 999
And if thow nylt, wite al thi self thi care:
Line 1000
On me is nought a-long thyn yuel fare.
Line 1001
"I woot wel that thow wiser art than I
Line 1002
A thousand fold, but if I were as thow,
Line 1003
God help me so, as I wolde outrely
Line 1004
Right of myn owen hond write hire right now
Line 1005
A lettre, in which I wolde hire tellen how
Line 1006
I ferd amys, and hire biseche of routhe;
Line 1007
Now help thi self and leue it nought for slouthe-
Line 1008
"And I my self wol therwith to hire gon;
Line 1009
And whan thow woost that I am with hire there,
Line 1010
Worth thow vp-on a courser right anon,
Line 1011
Ȝe, hardily, right in thi beste gere,
Line 1012
And ryd forth by the place as nought ne were,
Line 1013
And thow shalt fynde vs, if I may, sittyng
Line 1014
At som wyndow in-to the strete lokyng.
Line 1015
"And if the list, than maystow vs salue,
Line 1016
And vp-on me make thow thi countenaunce,
Line 1017
But by thi lif be war and faste eschue
Line 1018
To tarien ought -- god shilde vs fro meschaunce!
Line 1019
Rid forth thi wey and hold thi gouernaunce,
Line 1020
And we shal speek of the somwhat, I trowe,
Line 1021
Whan thow art gon, to don thyn eris glowe.
Line 1022
Page 204
"Towchyng thi lettre, thou art wys ynough;
Line 1023
I woot thow nylt it dygneliche endite,
Line 1024
As make it with thise argumentes tough,
Line 1025
Ne scryuenyssh or craftily thow it write;
Line 1026
Biblotte it with thi teris ek a lite,
Line 1027
And if thow write a goodly word al softe,
Line 1028
Though it be good, reherce it nought to ofte.
Line 1029
"ffor though the beste harpour vp-on lyue
Line 1030
Wolde on the beste sowned ioly harpe
Line 1031
That euere was with alle his fyngres fyue
Line 1032
Touche ay o stryng or ay o werbul harpe,
Line 1033
Were his nayles poynted neuere so sharpe,
Line 1034
It sholde maken euery wight to dulle
Line 1035
To here his glee and of his strokes fulle.
Line 1036
"Ne iompre ek no discordant thyng y-feere,
Line 1037
As thus, to vsen termes of Phisik
Line 1038
In loues termes; hold of thi matere
Line 1039
The forme alwey and do that it be lik;
Line 1040
ffor if a peyntour wolde peynte a pyk
Line 1041
With asses feet and hedde it as an ape,
Line 1042
It cordeth naught, so nere it but a iape."
Line 1043
This counseil liked wel to Troilus,
Line 1044
But as a dredful louere he seyde this,
Line 1045
"Allas, my deere brother Pandarus,
Line 1046
I am ashamed forto write, ywis,
Line 1047
Lest of myn innocence I seyde amys,
Line 1048
Or that she nolde it for despit receyue;
Line 1049
Than were I ded, ther myght it nothying weyue."
Line 1050
To that Pandare answerde, "if the leste,
Line 1051
Do that I seye, and lat me therwith gon;
Line 1052
ffor by that lord that formed est and weste,
Line 1053
I hope of it to brynge answere anon
Line 1054
Right of hire hond, and if that thow nylt noon,
Line 1055
Lat be, and sory mote he ben his lyue
Line 1056
Aȝeins thi lust that helpeth the to thryue."
Line 1057
Stanzas 151 through 160
Page 206
Quod Troilus, "depardieux, ich assente,
Line 1058
Sith that the list, I wil arise and write;
Line 1059
And blisful god prey ich with good entente,
Line 1060
The viage and the lettre I shal endite,
Line 1061
So spede it, and thow, Minerua the white,
Line 1062
Yif thow me wit my lettre to deuyse."
Line 1063
And sette hym down and wrot right in this wyse.
Line 1064
ffirst he gan hire his righte lady calle,
Line 1065
His hertes lif, his lust, his sorwes leche,
Line 1066
His blisse, and ek thise other termes alle,
Line 1067
That in swich cas thise loueres alle seche;
Line 1068
And in ful humble wise, as in his speche,
Line 1069
He gan hym recomaunde vnto hire grace;
Line 1070
To telle al how, it axeth muchel space.
Line 1071
And after this ful lowly he hire preyde
Line 1072
To be nought wroth, thogh he, of his folie,
Line 1073
So hardy was to hire to write, and seyde
Line 1074
That loue it made or elles most he die;
Line 1075
And pitousli gan mercy forto crye;
Line 1076
And after that he seyde -- and leigh ful loude --
Line 1077
Hym self was litel worth, and lasse he koude;
Line 1078
And that she sholde han his konnyng excused,
Line 1079
That litel was, and ek he dredde hire soo,
Line 1080
And his vnworthynesse ay he acused;
Line 1081
And after that than gan he telle his woo--
Line 1082
But that was endeles, with-outen hoo --
Line 1083
And seyde he wolde in trouth alwey hym holde;
Line 1084
And radde it ouer and gan the lettre folde.
Line 1085
Page 210
And with hise salte teris gan he bathe
Line 1086
The rubie in his signet and it sette
Line 1087
Up-on the wex deliuerliche and rathe;
Line 1088
Therwith a thousand tymes, er he lette,
Line 1089
He kiste tho the lettre that he shette,
Line 1090
And seyde, "lettre, a blisful destine
Line 1091
The shapyn is, my lady shal the see."
Line 1092
This Pandare tok the lettre, and that by-tyme
Line 1093
A-morwe, and to his Neces paleis sterte;
Line 1094
And faste he swor that it was passed prime,
Line 1095
And gan to iape and seyde, "ywys, myn herte,
Line 1096
So fresshe it is, al-though it sore smerte,
Line 1097
I may naught slepe neuere a Mayes morwe;
Line 1098
I haue a ioly wo, a lusty sorwe."
Line 1099
Criseyde, whan that she hire vncle herde,
Line 1100
With dredful herte and desirous to here
Line 1101
The cause of his comynge, thus answerde,
Line 1102
"Now by ȝoure fey, myn vncle," quod she, "dere,
Line 1103
What manere wyndes gydeth ȝow now here?
Line 1104
Tel vs ȝoure ioly wo and ȝoure penaunce --
Line 1105
How ferforth be ȝe put in loues daunce?"
Line 1106
"By god," quod he, "I hoppe alwey by-hynde."
Line 1107
And she to laughe, it thought hire herte brest.
Line 1108
Quod Pandarus, "loke alwey that ȝe fynde
Line 1109
Game in myn hood, but herkneth, if ȝow lest:
Line 1110
Ther is right now come in-to town a gest,
Line 1111
A Greek espie, and telleth newe thinges,
Line 1112
ffor which I come to telle ȝow tydynges.
Line 1113
"In-to the gardyn go we and ȝe shal here
Line 1114
Al pryuely of this a longe sermoun."
Line 1115
With that they wenten arm in arm yfeere,
Line 1116
In-to the gardyn from the chaumbre down,
Line 1117
And whan that he so fer was that the sown
Line 1118
Of that he spake no man heren myghte,
Line 1119
He seyde hire thus, and out the lettre plighte:
Line 1120
Page 212
"Lo, he that is al holy ȝoures free
Line 1121
Hym recomaundeth lowely to ȝoure grace,
Line 1122
And sente ȝow this lettre here by me.
Line 1123
Auyseth ȝow on it, whan ȝe han space,
Line 1124
And of som goodly answere ȝow purchace;
Line 1125
Or helpe me god, so pleynly forto seyne,
Line 1126
He may nat longe lyuen for his peyne."
Line 1127
Stanzas 161 through 170
fful dredfully tho gan she stonden stylle,
Line 1128
And took it naught, but al hire humble chere
Line 1129
Gan forto chaunge, and seyde, "scrit ne bille,
Line 1130
ffor loue of god, that toucheth swich matere
Line 1131
Ne brynge me noon; and also, vncle deere,
Line 1132
To myn estat haue more rewarde, I preye,
Line 1133
Than to his lust -- what sholde I more seye?
Line 1134
"And loketh now if this be resonable,
Line 1135
And letteth nought for fauour ne for slouthe
Line 1136
To seyn a sooth; now were it couenable
Line 1137
To myn estat, by god and by ȝoure trouthe,
Line 1138
To taken it or to han of hym routhe
Line 1139
In harmyng of my self or in repreue?
Line 1140
Ber it aȝein for hym that ȝe on leue."
Line 1141
This Pandarus gan on hire forto stare,
Line 1142
And seyde, "now is this the grettest wondre
Line 1143
That euere I seigh -- lat be this nyce fare!
Line 1144
To dethe mot I smyten be with thondre,
Line 1145
If for the citee which that stondeth ȝondre,
Line 1146
Wolde I a lettre vnto ȝow brynge or take
Line 1147
To harm of ȝow; what list ȝow thus it make?
Line 1148
"But thus ȝe faren, wel neigh alle and some,
Line 1149
That he that most desireth ȝow to serue,
Line 1150
Of hym ȝe recche leest wher he by-come,
Line 1151
And whethir that he lyue or elles sterue.
Line 1152
But for al that that euer I may deserue,
Line 1153
Refuse it naught," quod he and hente hire faste,
Line 1154
And in hire bosom the lettre down he thraste,
Line 1155
And seyde hire, "now cast it awey anon,
Line 1156
That folk may seen and gauren on vs tweye."
Line 1157
Quod she, "I kan abyde til they be gon,
Line 1158
And gan to smyle and seyde hym, "Em, I preye,
Line 1159
Swich answere as ȝow list ȝoure self purueye,
Line 1160
ffor trewely I nyl no lettre write."
Line 1161
"No? than wol I," quod he, "so ȝe endite."
Line 1162
Page 214
Therwith she lough and seyde, "go we dyne."
Line 1163
And he gan at hym self to iape faste,
Line 1164
And seyde, "Nece, I haue so grete a pyne
Line 1165
ffor loue that euerich other day I faste,"
Line 1166
And gan his beste iapes forth to caste,
Line 1167
And made hire so to laughe at his folye,
Line 1168
That she for laughter wende for to dye.
Line 1169
And whan that she was comen in-to halle,
Line 1170
"Now Em," quod she, "we wol go dyne anon,"
Line 1171
And gan some of hire wommen to hire calle,
Line 1172
And streght in-to hire chambre gan she gon,
Line 1173
But of hire besynesses this was on,
Line 1174
Amonges othere thynges out of drede,
Line 1175
fful pryuely this lettre forto rede.
Line 1176
Auysed word by word in euery lyne,
Line 1177
And fond no lakke, she thoughte he koude good;
Line 1178
And vp it putte and wente hire in-to dyne;
Line 1179
But Pandarus, that in a studye stood,
Line 1180
Er he was war, she took hym by the hood,
Line 1181
And seyde, "ȝe were caught er that ȝe wist."
Line 1182
"I vouche-sauf," quod he, "do what ȝou list."
Line 1183
Tho wesshen they and sette hem down and ete;
Line 1184
And after noon ful sleighly Pandarus
Line 1185
Gan drawe hym to the wyndowe next the strete,
Line 1186
And seyde, "Nece, who hath araied thus
Line 1187
The ȝonder hous that stant aforȝeyn vs?"
Line 1188
"Which hous?" quod she, and gan forto byholde,
Line 1189
And knew it wel, and whos it was hym tolde.
Line 1190
And fillen forth in speche of thynges smale,
Line 1191
And seten in the windowe bothe tweye,
Line 1192
Whan Pandarus saugh tyme vn-to his tale,
Line 1193
And saugh wel that hire folk were alle aweye,
Line 1194
"Now, Nece myn, tel on," quod he, "I seye,
Line 1195
How liketh ȝow the lettre that ȝe woot?
Line 1196
Kan he ther-on? for by my trouthe, I noot."
Line 1197
Stanzas 171 through 180
Therwith al rosy hewed tho wex she,
Line 1198
And gan to homme and seyde, "so I trowe."
Line 1199
"Acquite hym wel, for goddes loue," quod he;
Line 1200
"My self to medes wol the lettre sowe."
Line 1201
And held his hondes vp and sat on knowe;
Line 1202
"Now, goode Nece, be it neuere so lite,
Line 1203
Ȝif me the labour it to sowe and plite."
Line 1204
Page 216
"Ȝe, for I kan so writen," quod she tho,
Line 1205
"And ek I noot what I sholde to hym seye."
Line 1206
"Nay, Nece," quod Pandare, "sey nat so;
Line 1207
Ȝet at the leeste thonketh hym, I preye,
Line 1208
Of his good wille and doth hym nat to deye.
Line 1209
Now for the loue of me, my Nece deere,
Line 1210
Refuseth nat at this tyme my prayere."
Line 1211
"Depardieux," quod she, "god leue al be wel!
Line 1212
God help me so, this is the firste lettre
Line 1213
That euere I wroot, ȝe, al or any del."
Line 1214
And in-to a closet for tauise hire bettre
Line 1215
She wente allone, and gan hire herte vnfettre
Line 1216
Out of desdaynes prisoun but a lite,
Line 1217
And sette hire down and gan a lettre write.
Line 1218
Of which to telle in short is myn entente
Line 1219
Theffect as fer as I kan vnderstonde:
Line 1220
She thanked hym of al that he wel mente
Line 1221
Towardes hire, but holden hym in honde
Line 1222
She nolde nought, ne make hire seluen bonde
Line 1223
In loue, but as his suster hym to plese
Line 1224
She wolde ay fayn, to doon his herte an ese.
Line 1225
She shette it and to Pandare in gan goon,
Line 1226
Ther as he sat and loked in-to the strete,
Line 1227
And down she sette hire by hym on a stoon
Line 1228
Of iaspre, vp-on a quysshyn gold y-bete,
Line 1229
And seyde, "as wisly help me god the grete,
Line 1230
I neuere dide a thing with more peyne
Line 1231
Than writen this, to which ȝe me constreyne" --
Line 1232
And took it hym. He thonked hire and seyde,
Line 1233
"God woot, of thyng ful often looth bygonne
Line 1234
Comth ende good, and, Nece myn, Criseyde,
Line 1235
That ȝe to hym of hard now ben y-wonne
Line 1236
Oughte he be glad, by god and ȝonder sonne;
Line 1237
ffor whi men seith, "Impressiounes lighte
Line 1238
fful lightly ben ay redy to the flighte."
Line 1239
"But ȝe han played the tirant neigh to longe,
Line 1240
And hard was it ȝoure herte forto graue;
Line 1241
Now stynte, that ȝe no lenger on it honge,
Line 1242
Al wolde ȝe the forme of daunger saue,
Line 1243
But hasteth ȝow to doon hym ioye haue;
Line 1244
ffor trusteth wel, to long y-doon hardnesse
Line 1245
Causeth despit ful often for destresse."
Line 1246
Page 218
And right as they declamed this matere,
Line 1247
Lo, Troilus, right at the stretes ende,
Line 1248
Com rydyng with his tenthe somme y-fere,
Line 1249
Al softely, and thiderward gan bende
Line 1250
Ther as they sete, as was his way to wende
Line 1251
To paleis-ward, and Pandare hym aspide
Line 1252
And seyde, "Nece, i-see who comth here ride.
Line 1253
"O fle naught in -- he seeth vs, I suppose --
Line 1254
Lest he may thynken that ȝe hym eschuwe."
Line 1255
"Nay, nay," quod she, and wex as rede as rose.
Line 1256
With that he gan hire humbly to saluwe,
Line 1257
With dredful chere and oft his hewes muwe,
Line 1258
And vp his look debonairly he caste,
Line 1259
And bekked on Pandare and forth he paste.
Line 1260
God woot if he sat on his hors aright,
Line 1261
Or goodly was biseyn that ilke day!
Line 1262
God woot wher he was lik a manly knyght!
Line 1263
What sholde I drecche or telle of his aray?
Line 1264
Criseyde, which that alle thise thynges say,
Line 1265
To telle in short, hire liked al in fere,
Line 1266
His persoun, his aray, his look, his chere,
Line 1267
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
Page 220
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
Page 222
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
Stanzas 191 through 200
Wherfore I seye alwey that day and nyght
Line 1338
This Troilus gan to desiren moore
Line 1339
Thanne he did erst, thorugh hope, and did his myght
Line 1340
To preessen on as by Pandarus loore,
Line 1341
And writen to hire of his sorwes soore;
Line 1342
ffro day to day he leet it nought refreyde,
Line 1343
That by Pandare he wroot somwhat or seyde;
Line 1344
And dide also his other obseruaunces,
Line 1345
That til a louere longeth in this cas;
Line 1346
And after that his dees torned on chaunces,
Line 1347
So was he outher glad or seyde "allas."
Line 1348
And held after his gistes ay hid pas;
Line 1349
And after swiche answeres as he hadde,
Line 1350
So were his dayes sory outher gladde.
Line 1351
But to Pandare alwey was his recours,
Line 1352
And pitously gan ay to hym to pleyne,
Line 1353
And hym bisoughte of reed and som socours;
Line 1354
And Pandarus, that sey his woode peyne,
Line 1355
Wex wel neigh ded for routhe, sooth to seyne,
Line 1356
And bisily with al his herte cast
Line 1357
Som of his wo to slen, and that as faste;
Line 1358
And seyde, "lord and frend and brother dere,
Line 1359
God woot that thi disese doth me wo.
Line 1360
But wiltow stynten al this woful cheere,
Line 1361
And by my trouthe, er it be dayes two,
Line 1362
And god to-forn, ȝet shal I shape it so,
Line 1363
That thow shalt come in-to a certeyn place,
Line 1364
There as thow mayst thi self hire preye of grace.
Line 1365
"And certeynly -- I noot if thow it woost,
Line 1366
But tho that ben expert in loue it seye --
Line 1367
It is oon of the thynges forthereth most
Line 1368
A man to han a layser forto preye,
Line 1369
And siker place his wo forto bywreye;
Line 1370
ffor in good herte it mot som routhe impresse
Line 1371
To here and see the giltlees in distresse.
Line 1372
Page 226
"Peraunter thynkestow: though it be so,
Line 1373
That kynde wolde don hire to bygynne
Line 1374
To haue a manere routhe vpon my woo,
Line 1375
Seyth daunger, "nay, thow shalt me neuere wynne."
Line 1376
So reulith hire hir hertes gost with-inne,
Line 1377
That though she bende, ȝeet she stant on roote;
Line 1378
What in effect is this vnto my boote?
Line 1379
"Thenk here aȝeins: whan that the stordy ook,
Line 1380
On which men hakketh ofte for the nones,
Line 1381
Receyued hath the happy fallyng strook,
Line 1382
The greete sweigh doth it come al at ones,
Line 1383
As don thise rokkes or thise milnestones;
Line 1384
ffor swifter cours comth thyng that is of wighte,
Line 1385
Whan it descendeth, than don thynges lighte.
Line 1386
"And reed that boweth down for euery blaste,
Line 1387
fful lightly, cesse wynd, it wol aryse;
Line 1388
But so nyl nought an ook whan it is caste;
Line 1389
It nedeth me nought the longe to forbise.
Line 1390
Men shal reioissen of a grete empryse
Line 1391
Acheued wel, and stant with-outen doute,
Line 1392
Al han men ben the lenger ther-aboute.
Line 1393
"But Troilus, ȝet telle me if the lest
Line 1394
A thing now which that I shal axen the:
Line 1395
Which is thi brother that thow louest best,
Line 1396
As in thi verray hertes priuetee?"
Line 1397
"I-wis, my brother Deiphebus," quod he.
Line 1398
"Now," quod Pandare, "er houres twyes twelue,
Line 1399
He shal the ese, vnwist of it hym selue.
Line 1400
"Now lat malone and werken as I may,"
Line 1401
Quod he; and to Deiphebus wente he tho,
Line 1402
Which hadde his lord and grete frend ben ay;
Line 1403
Saue Troilus, no man he loued so.
Line 1404
To telle in short, withouten wordes mo,
Line 1405
Quod Pandarus, "I pray ȝow that ȝe be
Line 1406
ffrend to a cause which that toucheth me."
Line 1407
Stanzas 201 through 210
"Ȝis, perde," quod Deiphebus, "wel thow woost,
Line 1408
In al that euere I may, and god to-fore,
Line 1409
Al nere it but for man I loue moost,
Line 1410
My brother Troilus; but sey wherfore
Line 1411
It is, for sith that day that I was bore,
Line 1412
I nas, ne neuere mo to ben I thynke,
Line 1413
Aȝeins a thing that myghte the forthynke."
Line 1414
Page 228
Pandare gan hym thank and to hym seyde,
Line 1415
"Lo, sire, I haue a lady in this town,
Line 1416
That is my Nece and called is Criseyde,
Line 1417
Which som men wolden don oppressioun;
Line 1418
And wrongfully han hire possessioun;
Line 1419
Wherfore I of ȝoure lordship ȝow biseche
Line 1420
To ben oure frend, withouten more speche."
Line 1421
Deiphebus hym answerde, "O, is nat this,
Line 1422
That thow spekest of to me thus straungely,
Line 1423
Criseyda, my frend?" He seyde, "ȝis."
Line 1424
"Than nedeth," quod Deiphebus, "hardyly,
Line 1425
Namore to speke, for trusteth wel that I
Line 1426
Wol be hire champioun with spore and ȝerde;
Line 1427
I roughte nought though alle hire foos it herde.
Line 1428
"But telle me, thow that woost al this matere,
Line 1429
How I myght best auaylen." -- "Now lat se,"
Line 1430
Quod Pandarus, "if ȝe, my lord so dere,
Line 1431
Wolden as now do this honour to me,
Line 1432
To preyen hire to-morwe, lo, that she
Line 1433
Come vn-to ȝow, hire pleyntes to deuise,
Line 1434
Hire aduersaries wolde of it agrise.
Line 1435
"And ȝif I more dorste prey ȝow as now,
Line 1436
And chargen ȝow to han so gret trauaille,
Line 1437
To han som of ȝoure bretheren here with ȝow,
Line 1438
That myghten to hire cause bet auaille,
Line 1439
Than wot I wel she myghte neuere faille
Line 1440
fforto ben holpen, what at ȝoure instaunce,
Line 1441
What with hire other frendes gouernaunce."
Line 1442
Deiphebus, which that comen was of kynde
Line 1443
To alle honour and bounte to consente,
Line 1444
Answerd, "it shal be don, and I kan fynde
Line 1445
Ȝet grettere help to this in myn entente.
Line 1446
What wiltow seyn if I for Eleyne sente
Line 1447
To speke of this? I trowe it be the beste,
Line 1448
ffor she may leden Paris as hire leste.
Line 1449
"Of Ector, which that is my lord, my brother,
Line 1450
It nedeth naught to preye hym frend to be;
Line 1451
ffor I haue herd hym, o tyme and ek oother,
Line 1452
Speke of Cryseyde swich honour that he
Line 1453
May seyn no bet, swich hap to hym hath she:
Line 1454
It nedeth naught his helpes forto craue;
Line 1455
He shal be swich right as we wol hym haue.
Line 1456
Page 230
"Speke thow thi self also to Troilus
Line 1457
On my byhalue, and prey hym with vs dyne."
Line 1458
"Syre, al this shal be don," quod Pandarus,
Line 1459
And took his leue and neuere gan to fyne,
Line 1460
But to his Neces hous as streyght as lyne
Line 1461
He come, and fond hire fro the mete arise,
Line 1462
And sette hym down and spak right in this wise.
Line 1463
He seide, "O verray god, so haue I ronne!
Line 1464
Lo, Nece myn, se ȝe nought how I swete?
Line 1465
I not wheither ȝe the more thank me konne.
Line 1466
Be ȝe naught war how false Poliphete
Line 1467
Is now aboute eftsones forto plete
Line 1468
And brynge on ȝow aduocacies newe?"
Line 1469
"I? no," quod she, and chaunged al hire hewe.
Line 1470
"What is he more aboute me to drecche
Line 1471
And don me wrong? what shal I doon, allas?
Line 1472
Ȝet of hym self nothing ne wolde I recche,
Line 1473
Nere it for Antenor and Eneas,
Line 1474
That ben his frendes in swich manere cas.
Line 1475
But for the loue of god, myn vncle deere,
Line 1476
No fors of that, lat hym han al yfeere.
Line 1477
Stanzas 211 through 220
"With-outen that I haue ynough for vs."
Line 1478
"Nay," quod Pandare, "it shal no thing be so,
Line 1479
ffor I haue ben right now at Deiphebus,
Line 1480
At Ector, and myn oother lordes moo,
Line 1481
And shortly maked eche of hem his foo,
Line 1482
That, by my thrift, he shal it neuere wynne,
Line 1483
ffor aught he kan, whan that so he bygynne."
Line 1484
And as thei casten what was best to doone,
Line 1485
Deiphebus of his owen curteisie
Line 1486
Com hire to preye, in his propre persone,
Line 1487
To holde hym on the morwe compaignie,
Line 1488
At dyner, which she nolde nought denye,
Line 1489
But goodly gan to his preier obeye.
Line 1490
He thonked hire and went vp-on his weye.
Line 1491
Whan this was don, this Pandare vp anon,
Line 1492
To telle in short, and forth gan forto wende
Line 1493
To Troilus, as stille as any ston,
Line 1494
And al this thyng he tolde hym worde and ende,
Line 1495
And how that he Deiphebus gan to blende,
Line 1496
And seyde hym, "now is tyme, if that thow konne,
Line 1497
To bere the wel to-morwe, and al is wonne.
Line 1498
Page 232
"Now spek, now prey, now pitously compleigne;
Line 1499
Lat nought for nyce shame or drede or slouthe.
Line 1500
Som tyme a man mot telle his owen peyne;
Line 1501
Bileue it, and she shal han on the routhe;
Line 1502
Thow shalt be saued by thi feyth in trouthe.
Line 1503
But wel woot I that thow art now in deede,
Line 1504
And what it is I leye I kan arede.
Line 1505
"Thow thynkest now, "how sholde I don al this?
Line 1506
ffor by my cheres mosten folk aspie
Line 1507
That for hire loue is that I fare amys;
Line 1508
Ȝet hadde I leuere vnwist for sorwe dye."
Line 1509
Now thynk nat so, for thow dost gret folie,
Line 1510
ffor I right now haue founden o manere
Line 1511
Of sleyghte forto coueren al thi cheere.
Line 1512
"Thow shalt gon ouer nyght, and that bylyue,
Line 1513
Unto Deiphebus hous as the to pleye,
Line 1514
Thi maladie awey the bet to dryue,
Line 1515
ffor whi thow semest sik, soth forto seye.
Line 1516
Soone after that, down in thi bed the leye,
Line 1517
And sey thow mayst no lenger vp endure,
Line 1518
And lie right there and bide thyn auenture.
Line 1519
"Sey that thi fevre is wont the forto take
Line 1520
The same tyme, and lasten til a-morwe;
Line 1521
And lat se now how wel thow kanst it make,
Line 1522
ffor perde, sik is he that is in sorwe.
Line 1523
Go now, far-wel; and Venus here to borwe,
Line 1524
I hope, and thow this purpos holde ferme,
Line 1525
Thi grace she shal fully ther conferme."
Line 1526
Quod Troilus, "i-wis, thow nedeles
Line 1527
Conseilest me that siklich I me feyne,
Line 1528
ffor I am sik in ernest, douteles,
Line 1529
So that wel neigh I sterue for the peyne."
Line 1530
Quod Pandarus, "thow shalt the bettre pleyne,
Line 1531
And hast the lasse nede to countrefete,
Line 1532
ffor hym men demen hoot that men seen swete.
Line 1533
"Lo, hold the at thi triste cloos, and I
Line 1534
Shal wel the deer vnto thi bowe dryue."
Line 1535
Therwith he took his leue al softely,
Line 1536
And Troilus to paleis wente blyue;
Line 1537
So glad ne was he neuere in al his lyue,
Line 1538
And to Pandarus reed gan al assente,
Line 1539
And to Deiphebus hous at nyght he wente.
Line 1540
Page 234
What nedeth ȝow to tellen al the cheere
Line 1541
That Deiphebus vnto his brother made,
Line 1542
Or his accesse or his siklich manere --
Line 1543
How men gan hym with clothes forto lade,
Line 1544
Whan he was leyd, and how men wolde hym glade?
Line 1545
But al for nought: he held forth ay the wyse
Line 1546
That ȝe han herd Pandare er this deuyse.
Line 1547
Stanzas 221 through 230
But certayn is, er Troilus hym leyde,
Line 1548
Deiphebus had hym preied ouer nyght
Line 1549
To ben a frend and helpyng to Criseyde.
Line 1550
God woot that he it graunted a-non right,
Line 1551
To ben hire fulle frend with al his myght;
Line 1552
But swich a nede was to preye hym thenne,
Line 1553
As forto bidde a wood man forto renne.
Line 1554
The morwen com and neighen gan the tyme
Line 1555
Of meeltide that the faire queene Eleyne
Line 1556
Shoop hire to ben, an houre after the prime,
Line 1557
With Deiphebus, to whom she nolde feyne;
Line 1558
But as his suster, homly, soth to seyne,
Line 1559
She com to dyner in hire pleyne entente --
Line 1560
But god and Pandare wist al what this mente.
Line 1561
Com ek Criseyde, al innocent of this,
Line 1562
Antigone, hire suster Tarbe also,
Line 1563
But fle we now prolixitee best is,
Line 1564
ffor loue of god, and lat vs faste go
Line 1565
Right to theffect, withouten tales mo,
Line 1566
Whi al this folk assembled in this place;
Line 1567
And lat vs of hire saluynges pace.
Line 1568
Gret honour did hem Deiphebus, certeyn,
Line 1569
And fedde hem wel with al that myghte like,
Line 1570
But euere mo, "allas," was his refreyn,
Line 1571
"My goode brother, Troilus, the syke,
Line 1572
Lith ȝet" -- and therwithal he gan to sike;
Line 1573
And after that he peyned hym to glade
Line 1574
Hem as he myghte and cheere good he made.
Line 1575
Compleyned ek Eleyne of his siknesse
Line 1576
So feythfully that pite was to here;
Line 1577
And euery wight gan waxen for accesse
Line 1578
A leche anon and seyde, "in this manere
Line 1579
Men curen folk; this charme I wol ȝow leere";
Line 1580
But ther sat oon, al list hire nought to teche,
Line 1581
That thoughte, "best koude I ȝet ben his leche."
Line 1582
Page 236
After compleynte, hym gonnen they to preyse,
Line 1583
As folk don ȝet whan som wight hath bygonne
Line 1584
To preise a man, and vp with pris hym reise
Line 1585
A thousand fold ȝet heigher than the sonne:
Line 1586
"He is, he kan, that fewe lordes konne."
Line 1587
And Pandarus, of that they wolde afferme,
Line 1588
He naught forgat hire preisynge to conferme.
Line 1589
Herde al this thyng Criseyde wel i-nough,
Line 1590
And euery word gan forto notifie,
Line 1591
ffor which with sobre cheere hire herte lough;
Line 1592
ffor who is that ne wolde hire glorifie,
Line 1593
To mowen swich a knyght don lyue or dye?
Line 1594
But al passe I, lest ȝe to longe dwelle;
Line 1595
ffor for o fyn is al that euere I telle.
Line 1596
The tyme com fro dyner forto ryse,
Line 1597
And as hem aughte arisen euerichone,
Line 1598
And gonne a while of this and that deuise;
Line 1599
But Pandarus brak al this speche anone,
Line 1600
And seide to Deiphebus, "wol ȝe gone,
Line 1601
If it ȝoure wille be, as I ȝow preyde,
Line 1602
To speke here of the nedes of Criseyde?"
Line 1603
Eleyne, which that by the hond hire helde,
Line 1604
Took first the tale and seyde, "go we blyue";
Line 1605
And goodly on Criseyde she bihelde,
Line 1606
And seyde, "Ioues lat hym neuere thryue,
Line 1607
That doth ȝow harm, and brynge hym soone of lyue,
Line 1608
And ȝeue me sorwe but he shal it rewe,
Line 1609
If that I may, and alle folk be trewe."
Line 1610
"Tel thow thi Neces cas," quod Deiphebus
Line 1611
To Pandarus, "for thow kanst best it telle."
Line 1612
"My lordes and my ladyes, it stant thus:
Line 1613
What sholde I lenger," quod he, "do ȝow dwelle?"
Line 1614
He rong hem out a proces lik a belle
Line 1615
Up-on hire foo, that highte Poliphete,
Line 1616
So heynous that men myghte on it spete.
Line 1617
Stanzas 231 through 240
Answerde of this eche werse of hem than other,
Line 1618
And Poliphete they gonnen thus to warien:
Line 1619
"Anhonged be swich oon, were he my brother,
Line 1620
And so he shal, for it ne may nought varien."
Line 1621
What shold I lenger in this tale tarien?
Line 1622
Pleynliche alle at ones they hire highten
Line 1623
To ben hire help in al that euere they myghten.
Line 1624
Page 238
Spak than Eleyne and seyde, "Pandarus,
Line 1625
Woot ought my lord my brother this matere,
Line 1626
I meene Ector? or woot it Troilus?"
Line 1627
He seyde, "ȝe, but wole ȝe now me here?
Line 1628
Me thynketh this, sith that Troilus is here,
Line 1629
It were good, if that ȝe wolde assente,
Line 1630
She tolde hire self hym al this er she wente.
Line 1631
"ffor he wol haue the more hir grief at herte,
Line 1632
By-cause, lo, that she a lady is,
Line 1633
And, by ȝoure leue, I wol but in right sterte
Line 1634
And do ȝow wyte, and that anon, i-wys,
Line 1635
If that he slepe, or wol ought here of this."
Line 1636
And in he lepte, and seyde hym in his ere,
Line 1637
"God haue thi soule, i-brought haue I thi beere!"
Line 1638
To smylen of this gan tho Troilus,
Line 1639
And Pandarus, withouten rekenyng,
Line 1640
Out wente anon to Eleyne and Deiphebus,
Line 1641
And seyde hem, "so ther be no tarying,
Line 1642
Ne moore prees, he wol wel that ȝe bryng
Line 1643
Criseyda, my lady, that is here,
Line 1644
And as he may enduren, he wol here.
Line 1645
"But wel ȝe woot, the chaumbre is but lite,
Line 1646
And fewe folk may lightly make it warme;
Line 1647
Now loketh ȝe -- for I wol haue no wite,
Line 1648
To brynge in prees that myghte don hym harme,
Line 1649
Or hym disesen, for my bettre arme --
Line 1650
Wher it be bet she bide til eft-sonys?
Line 1651
Now loketh ȝe, that knowen what to doon is.
Line 1652
"I sey for me, best is, as I kan knowe,
Line 1653
That no wight in ne wente but ȝe tweye,
Line 1654
But it were I, for I kan in a throwe
Line 1655
Reherce hire cas vnlik that she kan seye;
Line 1656
And after this she may hym ones preye
Line 1657
To ben good lord, in short, and take hire leue;
Line 1658
This may nought muchel of his ese hym reue-
Line 1659
"And ek for she is straunge, he wol forbere
Line 1660
His ese which that hym thar nought for ȝow;
Line 1661
Ek oother thing that toucheth nought to here
Line 1662
He wol ȝow telle--I woot it wel, right now --
Line 1663
That secret is, and for the townes prow."
Line 1664
And they that nothyng knewe of his entente,
Line 1665
With-outen more, to Troilus in they wente.
Line 1666
Page 240
Eleyne in al hire goodly, softe wyse
Line 1667
Gan hym salue, wommanly to pleye,
Line 1668
And seyde, "I-wys, ȝe moste algate arise;
Line 1669
Now, faire brother, beth al hool, I preye."
Line 1670
And gan hire arm right ouer his shulder leye,
Line 1671
And hym with al hire wit to reconforte;
Line 1672
As she best koude, she gan hym to disporte.
Line 1673
So after this quod she, "we ȝow biseke,
Line 1674
My deere brother, Deiphebus and I,
Line 1675
ffor loue of god, and so doth Pandare eke,
Line 1676
To ben good lord and frend right hertely
Line 1677
Unto Criseyde, which that certeynly
Line 1678
Receyueth wrong, as woot weel here Pandare,
Line 1679
That kan hire cas wel bet than I declare."
Line 1680
This Pandarus gan newe his tong affile,
Line 1681
And al hire cas reherce and that anon.
Line 1682
Whan it was seyd, soone after in a while,
Line 1683
Quod Troilus. "as sone as I may gon,
Line 1684
I wol right fayn with al my myght ben oon,
Line 1685
Haue god my trouthe, hire cause to sustene."
Line 1686
"Good thrift haue ȝe," quod Eleyne the queene."
Line 1687
Stanzas 241 through 250
Quod Pandarus, "and it ȝoure wille be,
Line 1688
That she may take hire leue er that she go?"
Line 1689
"O, elles god forbede it," tho quod he,
Line 1690
If that she vouche sauf forto do so."
Line 1691
And with that word quod Troilus, "ȝe two,
Line 1692
Deiphebus and my suster lief and deere,
Line 1693
To ȝow haue I to speke of o matere,
Line 1694
"To ben auysed by ȝoure reed the bettre."
Line 1695
And fond, as hap was, at his beddes hede,
Line 1696
The copie of a tretys and a lettre
Line 1697
That Ector hadde hym sent to axen rede
Line 1698
If swych a man was worthi to ben dede --
Line 1699
Woot I nought who -- but in a grisly wise
Line 1700
He preyede hem anon on it auyse.
Line 1701
Deiphebus gan this lettre for tonfolde
Line 1702
In ernest greet; so did Eleyne the queene;
Line 1703
And romyng outward faste it gonne byholde,
Line 1704
Downward a steire, in-to an herber greene,
Line 1705
This ilke thing they redden hem bitwene;
Line 1706
And largely, the mountance of an houre,
Line 1707
Thei gonne on it to reden and to poure.
Line 1708
Page 242
Now lat hem rede, and torne we anon
Line 1709
To Pandarus, that gan ful faste prye
Line 1710
That al was wel, and out he gan to gon
Line 1711
In-to the grete chaumbre, and that in hye,
Line 1712
And seyde, "god saue al this compaynye!
Line 1713
Come, Nece myn, my lady queene Eleyne
Line 1714
Abideth ȝow and ek my lordes tweyne.
Line 1715
"Rys, take with ȝow ȝoure Nece, Antigone,
Line 1716
Or whom ȝow list -- or no fors, hardyly
Line 1717
The lesse prees the bet -- com forth with me,
Line 1718
And loke that ȝe thonken humblely
Line 1719
Hem alle thre, and whan ȝe may goodly
Line 1720
Ȝoure tyme se, taketh of hem ȝoure leeue,
Line 1721
Lest we to longe hise restes hym byreeue.",
Line 1722
Al innocent of Pandarus entente,
Line 1723
Quod tho Criseyde, "go we, vncle deere."
Line 1724
And arm in arm inward with hym she wente,
Line 1725
Auysed wel hire wordes and hire cheere;
Line 1726
And Pandarus in ernestful manere
Line 1727
Seyde, "We folk, for goddes loue, I preye,
Line 1728
Stynteth right here, and softely ȝow pleye.
Line 1729
"Auyseth ȝow what folk ben here with-inne,
Line 1730
And in what plit oon is, god hym amende!"
Line 1731
And inward thus, "ful softely bygynne,
Line 1732
Nece, I coniure and heighly ȝow defende,
Line 1733
On his half which that soule vs alle sende,
Line 1734
And in the vertue of corones tweyne,
Line 1735
Sle naught this man that hath for ȝow this peyne.
Line 1736
"ffy on the deuel! thynk which oon he is,
Line 1737
And in what plit he lith; com of anon!
Line 1738
Thynk al swich taried tyde but lost it nys --
Line 1739
That wol ȝe bothe seyn whan ȝe ben oon.
Line 1740
Secoundely, ther ȝet deuyneth noon
Line 1741
Upon ȝow two; come of now, if ȝe konne --
Line 1742
While folk is blent, lo, al the tyme is wonne.
Line 1743
"In titeryng and pursuyte and delayes
Line 1744
The folk deuyne at waggyng of a stree;
Line 1745
And though ȝe wolde han after mirye dayes,
Line 1746
Than dar ȝe naught; and whi? for she and she
Line 1747
Spak swych a word, thus loked he and he;
Line 1748
Las tyme i-loste, I dar nought with ȝow dele;
Line 1749
Com of, therfore, and bryngeth hym to hele."
Line 1750
Page 244
But now to ȝow, ȝe loueres that ben here,
Line 1751
Was Troilus nought in a kankedort,
Line 1752
That lay and myghte whisprynge of hem here,
Line 1753
And thoughte, "O lord, right now renneth my sort
Line 1754
ffully to deye or han anon comfort,"
Line 1755
And was the firste tyme he shulde hire preye
Line 1756
Of loue? O myghty god, what shal he seye?
Line 1757
Explicit secundus liber.