Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Stanzas 171 through 180

This Troilus, with blisse of that supprised, Line 1184 Putte al in goddes hand, as he that mente Line 1185 No thing but wel, and sodeynly auysed, Line 1186 He hire in armes faste to hym hente. Line 1187 And Pandarus with a ful good entente Line 1188 Leyde hym to slepe and seyde, "if ȝe be wise, Line 1189 Swouneth nought now, lest more folk arise." Line 1190

What myghte or may the sely larke seye, Line 1191 Whan that the sperhauk hath it in his foot? Line 1192 I kan namore, but of thise ilke tweye -- Line 1193 To whom this tale sucre be or soot -- Line 1194 Though that I tarie a ȝer, som tyme I moot, Line 1195 After myn auctour, tellen hire gladnesse, Line 1196 As wel as I haue told hire heuynesse. Line 1197

Criseyde, which that felte hire thus i-take -- Line 1198 As writen clerkes in hire bokes olde -- Line 1199 Right as an aspes leef she gan to quake, Line 1200 Whan she hym felte hire in his armes folde. Line 1201 But Troilus, all hool of cares colde, Line 1202 Gan thanken tho the blisful goddes seuene: Line 1203 Thus sondry peynes bryngen folk to heuene. Line 1204

This Troilus in armes gan hire streyne, Line 1205 And seyde,"O swete, as euere mot I gon, Line 1206 Now be ȝe kaught, now is ther but we tweyne, Line 1207 Now ȝeldeth ȝow, for other bote is non." Line 1208 To that Criseyde answerde thus anon, Line 1209 "Ne hadde I er now, my swete herte deere, Line 1210 Ben ȝolde, i-wis, I were now nought heere." Line 1211

O sooth is seyd, that heled forto be, Line 1212 As of a fevre or other gret siknesse, Line 1213 Men moste drynke, as men may ofte se, Line 1214 fful bittre drynke; and forto han gladnesse, Line 1215 Men drynken ofte peyne and gret distresse -- Line 1216 I mene it here as for this auenture, Line 1217 That thorugh a peyne hath founden al his cure. Line 1218

And now swetnesse semeth more swete, Line 1219 That bitternesse assaied was byforn; Line 1220 ffor out of wo in blisse now they flete, Line 1221 Non swich they felten syn they were born. Line 1222 Now is this bet than bothe two be lorn: Line 1223 ffor loue of god, take euery woman heede Line 1224 To werken thus, if it comth to the neede. Line 1225

Criseyde, al quyt from euery drede and tene, Line 1226 As she that iuste cause hadde hym to triste, Line 1227 Made hym swich feste it ioye was to seene, Line 1228 Whan she his trouthe and clene entente wiste; Line 1229 And as aboute a tree with many a twiste Line 1230 Bytrent and writhe the swote wodebynde, Line 1231 Gan ech of hem in armes other wynde. Line 1232

And as the newe abaysed nyghtyngale, Line 1233 That stynteth first whan she bygynneth to synge, Line 1234 Whan that she hereth any herde tale, Line 1235 Or in the hegges any wyght stirynge, Line 1236 And after siker doth hire vois out rynge, Line 1237 Right so Criseyde, whan hire drede stente, Line 1238 Opned hire herte and tolde hym hire entente. Line 1239

And right as he that seth his deth y-shapen, Line 1240 And dyen mot in ought that he may gesse, Line 1241 And sodeynly rescous doth hym escapen, Line 1242 And from his deth is brought in sykernesse, Line 1243 ffor al this world, in swych present gladnesse, Line 1244 Was Troilus, and hath his lady swete: Line 1245 With worse hap god lat vs neuere mete. Line 1246

Hire armes smale, hire streghte bak and softe, Line 1247 Hire sydes longe, flesshly, smothe, and white Line 1248 He gan to stroke, and good thrift bad ful ofte Line 1249 Hire snowissh throte, hire brestes rounde and lite; Line 1250 Thus in this heuene he gan hym to delite, Line 1251 And ther-with-al a thousand tyme hire kiste, Line 1252 That what to don for ioie vnnethe he wiste. Line 1253