Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Book III

Incipit prohemium tercii libri

O blisful light, of which the bemes clere Line 1 Adorneth al the thridde heuen faire; Line 2 O sonnes lief, O Ioues doughter deere, Line 3 Plesance of loue, O goodly debonaire, Line 4 In gentil hertes ay redy to repaire; Line 5 O veray cause of heele and of gladnesse, Line 6 I-heryed be thy myghte and thi goodnesse. Line 7

In heuene and helle, in erthe and salte see, Line 8 Is felt thi myght, if that I wel descerne; Line 9 As man, brid, beste, fisshe, herbe, and grene tree Line 10 The fele in tymes with vapour eterne. Line 11 God loueth, and to loue wol nought werne, Line 12 And in this world no lyues creature Line 13 With-outen loue is worth, or may endure. Line 14

Ȝe Ioues first to thilke effectes glade, Line 15 Thorugh which that thynges lyuen alle and be, Line 16 Comeueden, and amorous hem made Line 17 On mortal thyng, and as ȝow list ay ȝe Line 18 Ȝeue hym in loue ese or aduersitee, Line 19 And in a thousand formes down hym sente Line 20 ffor loue in erthe, and whom ȝow liste he hente. Line 21

Ȝe fierse Mars apaisen of his ire, Line 22 And as ȝow list ȝe maken hertes digne; Line 23 Algates hem that ȝe wol sette a-fyre, Line 24 They dreden shame, and vices they resygne; Line 25 Ȝe do hem cortays be, fresshe and benigne; Line 26 And heighe or lowe, after a wight entendeth, Line 27 The ioies that he hath, ȝoure myght it sendeth. Line 28

Ȝe holden regne and hous in vnitee; Line 29 Ȝe sothfast cause of frendshipe ben also; Line 30 Ȝe knowe al thilke couered qualitee Line 31 Of thynges, which that folk on wondren so, Line 32 Whan they kan nought construe how it may jo Line 33 She loueth hym, or whi he loueth here, Line 34 As whi this fissh, and naught that, comth to were. Line 35

Ȝe folk a lawe han set in vniverse, Line 36 And this knowe I by hem that louers be, Line 37 That who-so stryueth with ȝow hath the werse. Line 38 Now lady bryght, for thi benignite, Line 39 At reuerence of hem that seruen the, Line 40 Whos clerc I am, so techeth me deuyse Line 41 Som ioye of that is felt in thi seruyse. Line 42

Ȝe in my naked herte sentement Line 43 In-hielde, and do me shewe of thy swetnesse. Line 44 Caliope, thi vois be now present, Line 45 ffor now is nede: sestow nought my destresse, Line 46 How I mot telle a-non right the gladnesse Line 47 Of Troilus, to Venus heryinge? Line 48 To which gladnesse who nede hath god hym brynge! Line 49

Explicit prohemium tercii libri

Incipit liber tercius

Stanzas 8 through 20

Lay al this mene while Troilus, Line 50 Recordyng his lesson in this manere: Line 51 "Mafay," thoughte he, "thus wol I sey and thus; Line 52 Thus wol I pleyne vn-to my lady dere; Line 53 That word is good, and this shal be my cheere; Line 54 This nyl I nought forȝeten in no wise." Line 55 God leue hym werken as he kan deuyse. Line 56

And lord, so that his herte gan to quappe, Line 57 Heryng hire come, and shorte forto sike; Line 58 And Pandarus that ledde hire by the lappe, Line 59 Com ner and gan in at the curtyn pike, Line 60 And seyde, "god do boot on alle syke! Line 61 Se who is here ȝow comen to visite; Line 62 Lo, here is she that is ȝoure deth to wite." Line 63

Ther-with it semed as he wepte almoste. Line 64 "Ha, a," quod Troilus so reufully, Line 65 "Wher me be wo, O myghty god, thow wooste; Line 66 Who is al ther? I se nought trewely." Line 67 "Sire," quod Criseyde, "it is Pandare and I." Line 68 "Ȝe, swete herte? allas, I may nought rise, Line 69 To knele and do ȝow honour in som wyse"; Line 70

And dressed hym vpward, and she right tho Line 71 Gan bothe hire hondes softe vpon hym leye, Line 72 "O, for the loue of god, do ȝe nought so Line 73 To me," quod she, "I! what is this to seye? Line 74 Sire, comen am I to ȝow for causes tweye: Line 75 ffirst, ȝow to thonke, and of ȝoure lordshipe eke Line 76 Continuance I wolde ȝow biseke." Line 77

This Troilus that herde his lady preye Line 78 Of lordshipe hym, wax neither quyk ne dede, Line 79 Ne myghte o word for shame to it seye, Line 80 Al-though men sholde smyten of his hede; Line 81 But lord, so he wex sodeynliche rede, Line 82 And sire, his lessoun that he wende konne Line 83 To preyen hire is thorugh his wit i-ronne. Line 84

Criseyde al this aspied wel ynough, Line 85 ffor she was wis and loued hym neuere the lasse, Line 86 Al ner he malapert, or made it tough, Line 87 Or was to bold to synge a fool a masse; Line 88 But whan his shame gan somwhat to passe, Line 89 His resons, as I may my rymes holde, Line 90 I wol ȝow telle as techen bokes olde. Line 91

In chaunged vois, right for his verray drede, Line 92 Which vois ek quook, and therto his manere Line 93 Goodly abaist, and now his hewes rede, Line 94 Now pale, vnto Criseyde, his lady dere, Line 95 With look down cast and humble i-ȝolden chere, Line 96 Lo, the alderfirste word that hym asterte Line 97 Was twyes, "mercy, mercy, swete herte." Line 98

And stynte a while, and whan he myghte out brynge, Line 99 The nexte word was, "god woot, for I haue, Line 100 As ferforthly as I haue had konnynge, Line 101 Ben ȝoures al, god so my soule saue, Line 102 And shal, til that I, woful wight, be graue; Line 103 And though I dar ne kan vnto ȝow pleyne, Line 104 I-wis, I suffre nought the lasse peyne. Line 105

"Thus muche as now, O wommanliche wif, Line 106 I may out brynge, and if this ȝow displese, Line 107 That shal I wreke vp-on myn owen lif Line 108 Right soone, I trowe, and do ȝoure herte an ese, Line 109 If with my deth ȝoure wreththe may apese. Line 110 But syn that ȝe han herd me somwhat seye Line 111 Now recche I neuere now soone that I deye. Line 112

Ther-with his manly sorwe to biholde, Line 113 It myghte han made an herte of stoon to rewe, Line 114 And Pandare wep as he to water wolde, Line 115 And poked euere his Nece new and newe, Line 116 And seyde, "wo bygon ben hertes trewe; Line 117 ffor loue of god, make of this thinge an ende, Line 118 Or sle vs both at ones, er ȝe wende." Line 119

"I, what?' quod she, "by god and by my trouthe, Line 120 I not nat what ȝe wilne that I seye." Line 121 "I, what?" quod he, "that ȝe han on hym routhe, Line 122 ffor goddes loue, and doth him nought to deye." Line 123 "Now thanne thus," quod she, "I wolde hym preye Line 124 To telle me the fyn of his entente; Line 125 ȝet wist I neuere wel what that he mente." Line 126

"What that I mene, O swete herte deere?" Line 127 Quod Troilus, "O goodly fresshe free, Line 128 That with the stremes of ȝoure eyen cleere Line 129 Ȝe wolde som-tyme frendly on me see, Line 130 And thanne agreen that I may ben he, Line 131 With-outen braunche of vice on any wise, Line 132 In trouthe alwey to don ȝow my seruise, Line 133

"As to my lady right and chief resorte, Line 134 With al my wit and al my diligence; Line 135 And I to han, right as ȝow list, comforte, Line 136 Under yowre yerde egal to myn offence, Line 137 As deth, if that I breke ȝoure defence; Line 138 And that ȝe deigne me so muche honoure Line 139 Me to comanden aught in any houre; Line 140

Stanzas 21 through 30

"And I to ben ȝoure verray, humble, trewe, Line 141 Secret, and in myn paynes pacient, Line 142 And euere mo desiren fresshly newe Line 143 To serue and ben ay ylike diligent, Line 144 And with good herte al holly ȝoure talent Line 145 Receyuen wel, how sore that me smerte -- Line 146 Lo, this mene I, myn owen swete herte." Line 147

Quod Pandarus, "lo, here an hard requeste, Line 148 And resonable, a lady forto werne! Line 149 Now Nece myn, by natal Ioues feste, Line 150 Were I a god ȝe sholden sterue as ȝerne, Line 151 That heren wel this man wol no thing ȝerne Line 152 But ȝoure honour, and sen hym al-most sterue, Line 153 And ben so loth to suffren hym ȝow serue." Line 154

With that she gan hire eyen on hym caste Line 155 fful esily and ful debonairly, Line 156 Auysyng hire, and hied nought to faste Line 157 With neuere a word but seyde hym softely, Line 158 "Myn honour sauf, I wol wel trewly, Line 159 And in swich forme as he gan now deuyse, Line 160 Receyuen hym fully to my seruyse, Line 161

"Bysechyng hym for goddes loue, that he Line 162 Wolde in honour of trouthe and gentilesse, Line 163 As I wel mene, ek menen wel to me, Line 164 And myn honour with wit and bisynesse Line 165 Ay kepe, and if I may don hym gladnesse, Line 166 ffrom hennes-forth, i-wys, I nyl nought feyne. Line 167 Now beth al hool, no lenger ȝe ne pleyne. Line 168

"But natheles, this warne I ȝow," quod she, Line 169 "A kynges sone al-though ȝe be, ywys, Line 170 Ȝe shal namore han souereignete Line 171 Of me in loue than right in that cas is; Line 172 Ny nyl forbere, if that ȝe don amys, Line 173 To wratthe ȝow, and whil that ȝe me serue, Line 174 Chericen ȝow right after ȝe disserue. Line 175

"And shortly, deere herte and al my knyght, Line 176 Beth glad and draweth ȝow to lustinesse, Line 177 And I shal trewely with al my myght Line 178 Ȝoure bittre tornen al in-to swetenesse; Line 179 If I be she that may ȝow do gladnesse, Line 180 ffor euery wo ȝe shal recouere a blisse." Line 181 And hym in armes took and gan hym kisse. Line 182

ffil Pandarus on knees and vp his eyen Line 183 To heuen threw and held hise hondes highe, Line 184 "Immortal god," quod he, "that mayst nought deyen, Line 185 Cupide I mene, of this mayst glorifie; Line 186 And Venus, thow mayst maken melodie; Line 187 With-outen hond me semeth that in towne Line 188 ffor this merueille ich here ech belle sowne. Line 189

"But ho, namore as now of this matere; Line 190 ffor whi this folk wol comen vp anon, Line 191 That han the lettre red -- lo, I hem here; Line 192 But I coniure the, Criseyde, and oon, Line 193 And two, thow Troilus, whan thow mayst goon, Line 194 That at myn hous ȝe ben at my warnyng, Line 195 ffor I ful well shal shape ȝoure comyng; Line 196

"And eseth there ȝoure hertes right ynough; Line 197 And lat se which of ȝow shal bere the belle Line 198 To speke of loue aright," -- therwith he lough -- Line 199 "ffor ther haue ȝe a leiser forto telle." Line 200 Quod Troilus, "how longe shalle I dwelle, Line 201 Er this be don?" Quod he, "whan thow mayst ryse, Line 202 This thyng shal be right as I ȝow deuyse." Line 203

With that Eleyne and also Deiphebus Line 204 Tho comen vpward, right at the steires ende; Line 205 And lord, so thanne gan gronen Troilus, Line 206 His brother and his suster forto blende. Line 207 Quod Pandarus, "it tyme is that we wende; Line 208 Tak, Nece myn, ȝoure leue at alle thre, Line 209 And lat hem speke and cometh forth with me." Line 210

Stanzas 31 through 40

She took hire leue at hem ful thriftily, Line 211 As she wel koude, and they hire reuerence Line 212 Unto the fulle diden hardyly, Line 213 And wonder wel speken in hire absence Line 214 Of hire in preysing of hire excellence -- Line 215 Hire gouernaunce, hire wit, and hire manere Line 216 Comendeden, it ioie was to here. Line 217

Now lat hire wende vnto hire owen place, Line 218 And torne we to Troilus aȝein, Line 219 That gan ful lightly of the lettre pace, Line 220 That Deiphebus hadde in the gardyn seyn; Line 221 And of Eleyne and hym he wolde feyn Line 222 Deliuered ben, and seyde that hym leste Line 223 To slepe and after tales haue reste. Line 224

Eleyne hym kiste and took hire leue blyue, Line 225 Deiphebus ek, and hom wente euery wight; Line 226 And Pandarus, as faste as he may dryue, Line 227 To Troilus tho com as lyne right; Line 228

And on a paillet al that glade nyght Line 229 By Troilus he lay with mery chere Line 230 To tale, and wel was hem they were yfeere. Line 231

Whan euery wight was voided but they two, Line 232 And alle the dores weren faste yshette, Line 233 To telle in short with-outen wordes mo, Line 234 This Pandarus with-outen any lette Line 235 Up roos and on his beddes syde hym sette, Line 236 And gan to speken in a sobre wyse Line 237 To Troilus, as I shal ȝow deuyse. Line 238

"Myn alderleuest lord and brother deere, Line 239 God woot, and thow, that it sat me so soore, Line 240 Whan I the saugh so langwisshyng to-ȝere Line 241 ffor loue, of which thi wo wax alwey moore, Line 242 That I, with al my myght and al my loore Line 243 Haue euere sithen don my bisynesse Line 244 To brynge the to ioye out of distresse; Line 245

"And haue it brought to swich plit as thow wooste, Line 246 So that thorugh me thow stondest now in weye Line 247 To faren wel -- I sey it for no boste, Line 248 And wostow whi? for shame it is to seye: Line 249 ffor =e haue I bigonne a gamen pleye Line 250 Which that I neuere do shal eft for other, Line 251 Al-though he were a thousand fold my brother. Line 252

"That is to seye, for the am I bicomen, Line 253 Bitwixen game and ernest, swich a meene Line 254 As maken wommen vn-to men to comen -- Line 255 Al sey I nought, thow wost wel what I meene: Line 256 ffor the haue I my Nece, of vices cleene, Line 257 So fully maad thi gentilesse triste, Line 258 That al shal ben right as thi seluen liste. Line 259

"But god, that al woot, take I to witnesse, Line 260 That neuere I this for coueitise wroughte, Line 261 But oonly for tabregge that distresse, Line 262 ffor which wel neigh thow deidest, as me thoughte. Line 263 But goode brother, do now as the oughte, Line 264 ffor goddes loue, and kepe hire out of blame, Line 265 Syn thow art wys, and saue alwey hire name. Line 266

"ffor wel thow woost, the name as ȝet of here Line 267 Among the peeple, as who seyth, halwed is; Line 268 ffor that man is vnbore, I dar wel swere, Line 269 That euere wiste that she dide amys. Line 270 But wo is me that I, that cause al this, Line 271 May thynken that she is my Nece deere, Line 272 And I hire em and traitour ek y-feere. Line 273

Stanzas 41 through 50

"And were it wist that I, thorugh myn engyn, Line 274 Hadde in my Nece yput this fantasie, Line 275 To doon thi lust and holly to ben thyn, Line 276 Whi, al the world vpon it wolde crie, Line 277 And seyn that I the werste trecherie Line 278 Dide in this cas that euere was bigonne, Line 279 And she forlost, and thow right nought y-wonne. Line 280

"Wher-fore, er I wol ferther gon a pas, Line 281 The preye ich eft, althogh thow shuldest deye, Line 282 That priuete go with vs in this cas -- Line 283 That is to seyn, that thow vs neuere wreye; Line 284 And be nought wroth though I the ofte preye Line 285 To holden secree swich an heigh matere, Line 286 ffor skilfull is, thow woost wel, my praiere. Line 287

"And thynk what wo ther hath bitid er this, Line 288 ffor makyng of auantes, as men rede; Line 289 And what meschaunce in this world ȝet ther is, Line 290 ffro day to day, right for that wikked dede; Line 291 ffor which thise wise clerkes that ben dede Line 292 Han euere ȝet prouerbed to vs ȝonge Line 293 That 'firste vertue is to kepe tonge.' Line 294

"And nere it that I wilne as now tabregge Line 295 Diffusioun of speche, I koude al-moost Line 296 A thousand olde stories the allegge Line 297 Of wommen lost thorugh fals and foles bost; Line 298 Prouerbes kanst thi self inowe and woost Line 299 Aȝeins that vice for to ben a labbe, Line 300 Al seyde men soth as often as thei gabbe. Line 301

"O tonge, allas, so often here byforne Line 302 Hath mad ful many a lady bright of hewe Line 303 Seyd, 'weilaway, the day that I was borne!' Line 304 And many a maydes sorwe forto newe; Line 305 And, for the more part, al is vntrewe Line 306 That men of ȝelp, and it were brought to preue -- Line 307 Of kynde non auauntour is to leue. Line 308

"Auauntour and a lyere, al is on; Line 309 As thus: I pose a womman graunte me Line 310 Hire loue and seith that other wol she non, Line 311 And I am sworn to holden it secree, Line 312 And after I go telle it two or thre -- Line 313 I-wis, I am auauntour at the leeste, Line 314 And lyere, for I breke my biheste. Line 315

"Now loke thanne if they be nought to blame, Line 316 Swich manere folk -- what shal I klepe hem, what? -- Line 317 That hem auaunte of wommen, and by name, Line 318 That neuere ȝet bihyghte hem this ne that, Line 319 Ne knewe hem more than myn olde hat. Line 320 No wonder is, so god me sende hele, Line 321 Though wommen dreden with vs men to dele. Line 322

"I sey nought this for no mistrust of ȝow, Line 323 Ne for no wise men, but for foles nyce, Line 324 And for the harm that in the werld in now, Line 325 As wel for folie ofte as for malice; Line 326 ffor wel woot I in wise folk that vice Line 327 No womman drat, if she be wel auised; Line 328 ffor wyse ben by foles harm chastised. Line 329

"But now to Purpos, leue brother deere, Line 330 Haue al this thyng that I haue seyd in mynde, Line 331 And kepe the clos and be now of good cheere, Line 332 ffor at thi day thow shalt me trewe fynde. Line 333 I shal thi proces set in swych a kynde, Line 334 And god to-forn, that it shal the suffise, Line 335 ffor it shal be right as thow wolt deuyse. Line 336

"ffor wel I woot, thow menest wel, parde; Line 337 Ther-fore I dar this fully vndertake. Line 338 Thow woost ek what thi lady graunted the, Line 339 And day is set, the chartres vp to make. Line 340 Haue now good nyght, I may no lenger wake; Line 341 And bid for me syn thow art now in blysse, Line 342 That god me sende deth or soone lisse." Line 343

Stanzas 51 through 60

Who myghte tellen half the ioie or feste Line 344 Which that the soule of Troilus tho felte, Line 345 Heryng theffect of Pandarus byheste? Line 346 His olde wo, that made his herte swelte, Line 347 Gan tho for ioie wasten and to-melte, Line 348 And al the richesse of hise sikes sore Line 349 At ones fledde, he felte of hem namore. Line 350

But right so as thise holtes and thise hayis, Line 351 That han in wynter dede ben and dreye, Line 352 Reuesten hem in grene whan that May is, Line 353 Whan euery lusty liketh best to pleye, Line 354 Right in that selue wise, soth to seye, Line 355 Wax sodeynliche his herte ful of ioie, Line 356 That gladder was ther neuere man in Troie. Line 357

And gan his look on Pandarus vp caste Line 358 fful sobrely and frendly forto se, Line 359 And seyde, "frend, in Aperil the laste -- Line 360 As wel thow woost if it remembre the -- Line 361 How neigh the deth for wo thow fownde me, Line 362 And how thow dedest al thi bisynesse Line 363 To knowe of me the cause of my destresse. Line 364

"Thow woost how longe ich it forbar to seye Line 365 To the that art the man that I best triste; Line 366 And peril non was it to the bywreye, Line 367 That wist I wel; but telle me, if the liste, Line 368 Sith I so loth was that thi self it wiste, Line 369 How dorst I mo tellen of this matere, Line 370 That quake now and no wight may vs here? Line 371

"But natheles, by that god I the swere, Line 372 That as hym list may al this world gouerne -- Line 373 And if I lye, Achilles with his spere Line 374 Myn herte cleue, al were my lif eterne, Line 375 As I am mortal, if I late or ȝerne Line 376 Wolde it be-wreye, or dorst, or sholde konne, Line 377 ffor al the good that god made vnder sonne -- Line 378

"That rather dey I wolde and determyne, Line 379 As thynketh me, now stokked in prisoun, Line 380 In wrecchidnesse, in filthe, and in vermyne, Line 381 Caytif to cruel kyng Agamenoun; Line 382 And this in all the temples of this town, Line 383 Up-on the goddes alle, I wol the swere Line 384 To-morwe day, if that it liketh the here. Line 385

"And that thow hast so muche i-do for me Line 386 That I ne may it neuere more disserue, Line 387 This know I wel, al myghte I now for the Line 388 A thousand tymes on a morwe sterue; Line 389 I kan namore but that I wol the serue Line 390 Right as thi sclaue, whider so thow wende, Line 391 ffor euere more vn-to my lyues ende. Line 392

"But here, with al myn herte, I the biseche, Line 393 That neuere in me thow deme swich folie Line 394 As I shal seyn: me thoughte by thi speche Line 395 That this, which thow me dost for compaignie, Line 396 I sholde wene it were a bauderye -- Line 397 I am nought wood, al if I lewed be; Line 398 It is nought so, that woot I wel, parde. Line 399

"But he that gooth for gold or for ricchesse Line 400 On swich message, calle hym what the liste; Line 401 And this that thow doost, calle it gentilesse, Line 402 Compassioun, and felawship, and triste; Line 403 Departe it so, for wyde wher is wiste Line 404 How that ther is diuersite requered Line 405 Bytwixen thynges lik, as I haue lered. Line 406

"And that thow knowe I thynke nought, ne wene, Line 407 That this seruise a shame be or iape, Line 408 I haue my faire suster, Polixene, Line 409 Cassandre, Eleyne, or any of the frape; Line 410 Be she neuere so faire or wel y-shape, Line 411 Tel me which thow wilt of euerychone, Line 412 To han for thyn, and lat me thanne allone. Line 413

Stanzas 61 through 70

"But sith thow hast i-don me this seruyse, Line 414 My lif to saue, and for non hope of mede, Line 415 So, for the loue of god, this grete emprise Line 416 Perfourme it out, for now is moste nede; Line 417 ffor heigh and lough, with-owten any drede, Line 418 I wol alwey thyn hestes alle kepe; Line 419 Haue now good nyght, and lat vs bothe slepe." Line 420

Thus held hym eche of other wel apayed, Line 421 That al the world ne myghte it bet amende; Line 422 And on the morwe, whan they were arayed, Line 423 Eche to his owen nedes gan entende. Line 424 But Troilus, though as the fire he brende Line 425 ffor sharp desire of hope and of plesaunce, Line 426 He nought forgat his wise gouernaunce. Line 427

But in hym self with manhod gan restreyne Line 428 Ech racle dede and ech vnbridled cheere, Line 429 That alle tho that lyuen, soth to seyne, Line 430 Ne sholde han wist, by word or by manere, Line 431 What that he mente as touchyng this matere: Line 432 ffrom euery wight as fer as is the cloude Line 433 He was, so wel dissimulen he koude. Line 434

And al the while which that I ȝow deuyse, Line 435 This was his lif: with all his fulle myght Line 436 By day he was in Martes heigh seruyse -- Line 437 This is to seyn in armes as a knyght; Line 438 And for the more part, the longe nyght Line 439 He lay and thoughte how that he myghte serue Line 440 His lady best, hire thonk forto disserue. Line 441

Nil I naught swere, al-though he lay ful softe, Line 442 That in his thought he nas somwhat disesed, Line 443 Ne that he torned on his pilwes ofte, Line 444 And wold of that hym missed han ben sesed. Line 445 But in swich cas men ben nought alwey plesed, Line 446 ffor aught I woot, namore than was he; Line 447 That kan I deme of possibilitee. Line 448

But certeyn is, to purpos for to go, Line 449 That in this while, as writen is in geeste, Line 450 He say his lady som tyme and also Line 451 She with hym spak whan that she dorst or leste; Line 452 And by hire both auys as was the beste Line 453 Apoynteden full warly in this nede, Line 454 So as they durste, how they wolde procede. Line 455

But it was spoken in so short a wise, Line 456 In swich a-wait alwey and in swich feere, Line 457 Lest any wight deuynen or deuyse Line 458 Wold of hem two or to it laye an ere, Line 459 That al this world so leef to hem ne were Line 460 As that Cupide wolde hem grace sende Line 461 To maken of hire speche aright an ende. Line 462

But thilke litel that they spake or wroughte, Line 463 Hise wise goost took ay of al swych heede, Line 464 It semed hire he wiste what she thoughte Line 465 With-outen word, so that it was no nede Line 466 To bidde hym ought to doon or ought for-beede; Line 467 ffor which hir thought that loue, al come it late, Line 468 Of alle ioie hadde opned hire the ȝate. Line 469

And shortly of this proces forto pace, Line 470 So wel his werk and wordes he bisette. Line 471 That he so ful stood in his lady grace, Line 472 That twenty thousand tymes, er she lette, Line 473 She thonked god that euere she with hym mette; Line 474 So koude he hym gouerne in swich seruyse, Line 475 That al the world ne myght it bet deuyse. Line 476

ffor whi she fond hym so discret in al, Line 477 So secret, and of swich obeisaunce, Line 478 That wel she felte he was to hire a wal Line 479 Of stiel and sheld from euery displesaunce; Line 480 That to ben in his goode gouernaunce, Line 481 So wis he was, she was namore afered -- Line 482 I mene as fer as oughte ben requered. Line 483

Stanzas 71 through 80

And Pandarus, to quike alwey the fire, Line 484 Was euere y-like prest and diligent; Line 485 To ese his frend was set al his desire. Line 486 He shof ay on, he to and fro was sent, Line 487 He lettres bar whan Troilus was absent, Line 488 That neuere man, as in his frendes nede, Line 489 Ne bar hym bet than he with-outen drede. Line 490

But now, parauntour, som man wayten wolde Line 491 That euery word, or soonde, or look, or cheere Line 492 Of Troilus that I rehercen sholde, Line 493 In al this while vnto his lady deere: Line 494 I trowe it were a long thyng forto here, Line 495 Or of what wight that stant in swich disioynte, Line 496 Hise wordes alle, or euery look, to poynte. Line 497

ffor sothe I haue naught herd it don er this Line 498 In story non, ne no man here, I wene; Line 499 And though I wolde, I koude nought, y-wys; Line 500 ffor ther was som epistel hem bitwene, Line 501 That wolde, as seyth myn auctour, wel contene Line 502 Neigh half this book, of which hym liste nought write; Line 503 How sholde I thanne a lyne of it endite? Line 504

But to the grete effect: than sey I thus, Line 505 That stondyng in concord and in quiete Line 506 Thise ilke two, Criseyde and Troilus, Line 507 As I haue told, and in this tyme swete -- Line 508 Saue only often myghte they nought mete, Line 509 Ne leiser haue hire speches to fulfelle -- Line 510 That it bifel right as I shal ȝow telle, Line 511

That Pandarus, that euere dide his myght Line 512 Right for the fyn that I shal speke of here, Line 513 As forto bryngen to his hows som nyght Line 514 His faire Nece and Troilus yfere, Line 515 Wher-as at leiser al this heighe matere, Line 516 Touchyng here loue, were at the fulle vp-bounde, Line 517 Hadde out of doute a tyme to it founde. Line 518

ffor he with gret deliberacioun Line 519 Hadde euery thyng that herto myght auaille Line 520 fforncast and put in execucioun, Line 521 And neither left for cost ne for trauaille; Line 522 Come if hem list, hem sholde no thyng faille; Line 523 And forto ben in ought aspied there, Line 524 That wiste he wel an impossible were. Line 525

Dredeles it clere was in the wynde Line 526 Of euery pie and euery lette-game; Line 527 Now al is wel, for al the world is blynde Line 528 In this matere, bothe fremed and tame. Line 529 This tymbur is al redy vp to frame; Line 530 Us lakketh nought but that we witen wolde Line 531 A certeyn houre in which she comen sholde. Line 532

And Troilus, that al this purueiaunce Line 533 Knew at the fulle and waited on it ay, Line 534 Hadde here vpon ek mad gret ordinaunce, Line 535 And found his cause, and therto al the aray, Line 536 If that he were missed, nyght or day, Line 537 Ther while he was aboute this seruyse, Line 538 That he was gon to don his sacrifise, Line 539

And moste at swich a temple allone wake, Line 540 Answered of Apollo forto be, Line 541 And first to sen the holy laurer quake Line 542 Er that Apollo spak out of the tree Line 543 To telle hym next whan Grekes sholde flee -- Line 544 And forthy lette hym no man, god forbede, Line 545 But prey Apollo helpen in this nede. Line 546

Now is ther litel more forto doone, Line 547 But Pandare vp and, shortly forto seyne, Line 548 Right sone vp-on the chaungynge of the moone, Line 549 Whan lightles is the world a nyght or tweyne, Line 550 And that the wolken shop hym forto reyne, Line 551 He streght o morwe vn-to his Nece wente -- Line 552 Ȝe han wel herd the fyn of his entente. Line 553

Stanzas 81 through 90

Whan he was come, he gan anon to pleye Line 554 As he was wont, and of hym self to iape; Line 555 And finaly he swor and gan hire seye, Line 556 By this and that, she sholde hym nought escape, Line 557 Ne lenger don hym after hire to cape; Line 558 But certeynly she moste, by hire leue, Line 559 Come soupen in his hous with hym at eue. Line 560

At which she lough and gan hire faste excuse, Line 561 And seyde, "it reyneth, lo, how sholde I gon?" Line 562 "Lat be," quod he, "ne stant nought thus to muse; Line 563 This moot be don, ȝe shal be ther anon." Line 564 So at the laste herof they fille aton, Line 565 Or elles, softe he swor hire in hire ere, Line 566 He nolde neuere comen ther she were. Line 567

Soone after this she to hym gan to rowne, Line 568 And axed hym if Troilus were there. Line 569 He swor hire nay, for he was out of towne, Line 570 And seyde, "Nece, I pose that he were, Line 571 Ȝow thurste neuere han the more fere; Line 572 ffor rather than men myghte hym ther aspie, Line 573 Me were leuere a thousand fold to dye." Line 574

Nought list myn auctour fully to declare Line 575 What that she thoughte whan he seyde so, Line 576 That Troilus was out of towne y-fare, Line 577 As if he seyde ther-of soth or no; Line 578 But that, with-owten await, with hym to go Line 579 She graunted hym, sith he hire that bisoughte, Line 580 And as his Nece obeyed as hire oughte. Line 581

But natheles ȝet gan she hym biseche, Line 582 Al-though with hym to gon it was no fere, Line 583 ffor to ben war of goosissh poeples speche, Line 584 That dremen thynges which that neuere were, Line 585 And wel auyse hym whom he broughte there; Line 586 And seyde hym, "Em, syn I most on ȝow triste, Line 587 Loke al be wel and do now as ȝow liste." Line 588

He swor hire ȝes, by stokkes and by stones, Line 589 And by the goddes that in heuene dwelle, Line 590 Or elles were hym leuere, soule and bones, Line 591 With Pluto kyng as depe ben in helle Line 592 As Tantalus -- what sholde I more telle? Line 593 Whan al was wel, he roos and took his leue; Line 594 And she to soper com whan it was eue. Line 595

With a certein of hire owen men, Line 596 And with hire faire nece Antigone, Line 597 And other of hire wommen nyne or ten; Line 598 But who was glad now, who, as trowe ȝe, Line 599 But Troilus, that stood and myght it se Line 600 Thorugh-out a litel wyndow in a stewe, Line 601 Ther he bishet syn mydnyght was in mewe, Line 602

Unwist of euery wight but of Pandare? Line 603 But to the point: now whan that she was come, Line 604 With alle ioie and alle frendes fare, Line 605 Hire Em anon in armes hath hire nome, Line 606 And after to the soper, alle and some, Line 607 Whan tyme was, ful softe they hem sette -- Line 608 God woot, ther was no deynte forto fette. Line 609

And after soper gonnen they to rise, Line 610 At ese wel, with hertes fresshe and glade, Line 611 And wel was hym that koude best deuyse Line 612 To liken hire or that hire laughen made: Line 613 He song; she pleyde; he tolde tale of Wade. Line 614 But at the laste, as euery thyng hath ende, Line 615 She took hire leue and nedes wolde wende. Line 616

But O fortune, executrice of wyerdes, Line 617 O influences of thise heuenes hye, Line 618 Soth is that vnder god ȝe ben oure hierdes, Line 619 Though to vs bestes ben the causes wrie. Line 620 This mene I now, for she gan homward hye, Line 621 But execut was al bisyde hire leue Line 622 The goddes wil, for which she moste bleue. Line 623

Stanzas 91 through 100

The bente moone with hire hornes pale, Line 624 Saturne, and loue in Cancro ioyned were, Line 625 That swych a reyn from heuen gan auale, Line 626 That euery maner womman that was there Line 627 Hadde of that smoky reyn a verray feere; Line 628 At which Pandare tho lough and seyde thenne, Line 629 "Now were it tyme a lady to gon henne!" Line 630

"But goode Nece, if I myghte euere plese Line 631 Ȝow any thyng, than prey ich ȝow," quod he, Line 632 "To don myn herte as now so grete an ese Line 633 As forto dwelle here al this nyght with me, Line 634 ffor whi this is ȝoure owen hous, parde. Line 635 ffor by my trouthe, I sey it nought a-game, Line 636 To wende as now, it were to me a shame." Line 637

Criseyde, which that koude as muche good Line 638 As half a world, took hede of his preiere; Line 639 And syn it ron and al was on a flod, Line 640 She thoughte, "as good chep may I dwellen here, Line 641 And graunte it gladly with a frendes chere, Line 642 And haue a thonk, as grucche and thanne a-bide -- Line 643 ffor hom to gon, it may nought wel bitide." Line 644

"I wol," quod she, "myn vncle lief and deere, Line 645 Syn that ȝow list, it skile is to be so; Line 646 I am right glad with ȝow to dwellen here; Line 647 I seyde but a game I wolde go." Line 648 "I-wys, graunt mercy, Nece," quod he tho, Line 649 "Were it a game or no, soth forto telle, Line 650 Now am I glad, syn that ȝow list to dwelle." Line 651

Thus al is wel; but tho bigan aright Line 652 The newe ioie and al the feste agayn; Line 653 But Pandarus, if goodly hadde he myght, Line 654 He wolde han hyed hire to bedde fayn, Line 655 And seyde, "lord, this is an huge rayn! Line 656 This were a weder for to slepen inne -- Line 657 And that I rede vs soone to bygynne. Line 658

"And Nece, woot ȝe wher I wol ȝow leye, Line 659 ffor that we shul nat liggen far a-sonder, Line 660 And for ȝe neither shullen, dar I seye, Line 661 Heren noyse of reynes nor of thonder? Line 662 By god, right in my litel closet ȝonder. Line 663 And I wol in that outer hous allone Line 664 Be wardein of ȝoure wommen euerichone. Line 665

"And in this myddel chambre that ȝe se Line 666 Shal ȝoure wommen slepen wel and softe; Line 667 And there I seyde shal ȝoure seluen be; Line 668 And if ȝe liggen wel to-nyght, com ofte, Line 669 And careth nought what weder is a-lofte. Line 670 The wyn anon, and whan so that ȝow leste, Line 671 So go we slepe, I trowe it be the beste." Line 672

Ther nys no more, but here-after soone, Line 673 The voide dronke, and trauers drawe anon, Line 674 Gan euery wight that hadde nought to done Line 675 More in the place out of the chaumbre gon; Line 676 And euere mo so sterneliche it ron, Line 677 And blew ther-with so wondirliche loude, Line 678 That wel neigh no man heren other koude. Line 679

Tho Pandarus, hire Em, right as hym oughte, Line 680 With wommen swiche as were hire most aboute, Line 681 fful glad vnto hire beddes syde hire broughte, Line 682 And took his leue and gan ful lowe loute, Line 683 And seyde, "here at this closet dore with-oute, Line 684 Right ouere-thwart, ȝoure wommen liggen alle, Line 685 That whom ȝow list of hem ȝe may hire calle." Line 686

So whan that she was in the closet leyde, Line 687 And alle hire wommen forth by ordinaunce Line 688 Abedde weren, ther as I haue seyde, Line 689 Ther was nomore to skippen nor to traunce, Line 690 But boden go to bedde, with meschaunce, Line 691 If any wight was steryng any where, Line 692 And lat hem slepen that a-bedde were. Line 693

Stanzas 101 through 110

But Pandarus that wel koude ech a deel Line 694 The olde daunce and euery point ther-inne, Line 695 Whan that he sey that alle thyng was wel, Line 696 He thought he wolde vp-on his werk bigynne, Line 697 And gan the stuwe doore al softe vnpynne, Line 698 And stille as stoon, with-outen lenger lette, Line 699 By Troilus a-down right he hym sette. Line 700

And shortly to the point right forto gon, Line 701 Of al this werk he tolde hym word and ende, Line 702 And seyde, "make the redy right anon, Line 703 ffor thow shalt in-to heuene blisse wende." Line 704 "Now blisful Venus, thow me grace sende," Line 705 Quod Troilus, "for neuere ȝet no nede Line 706 Hadde ich er now, ne haluendel the drede." Line 707

Quod Pandarus, "ne drede the neuere a deel, Line 708 ffor it shal be right as thow wolt desire; Line 709 So thryue I, this nyght shal I make it weel, Line 710 Or casten al the gruwel in the fire." Line 711 "Ȝet, blisful Venus, this nyght thow me enspire," Line 712 Quod Troilus, "as wys as I the serue, Line 713 And euere bet and bet shal til I sterue. Line 714

"And if ich hadde, O Venus ful of myrthe, Line 715 Aspectes badde of Mars or of Saturne, Line 716 Or thow combust or let were in my birthe, Line 717 Thy fader prey al thilke harm disturne Line 718 Of grace and that I glad aȝein may turne, Line 719 ffor loue of hym thow louedest in the shawe -- Line 720 I meene Adoun, that with the boor was slawe. Line 721

"O Ioue ek, for the loue of faire Europe, Line 722 The which in forme of bole awey thow fette, Line 723 Now help; O Mars, thow with thi blody cope, Line 724 ffor loue of Cipres, thow me nought ne lette; Line 725 O Phebus, thynk whan Dane hire seluen shette Line 726 Under the bark and laurer wax for drede, Line 727 Ȝet for hire loue, O help now at this nede. Line 728

"Mercurie, for the loue of Hierse eke, Line 729 ffor which Pallas was with Aglawros wroth, Line 730 Now helpe, and ek Diane, I the biseke, Line 731 That this viage be nought to the looth; Line 732 O fatal sustren, which er any cloth Line 733 Me shapen was, my destine me sponne, Line 734 So helpeth to this werk that is bygonne." Line 735

Quod Pandarus, "thow wrecched mouses herte, Line 736 Artow agast so that she wol the bite? Line 737 Why, don this furred cloke vp-on thy sherte, Line 738 And folwe me, for I wol haue the wite; Line 739 But bide, and lat me gon biforn a lite," Line 740 And with that word he gan vndon a trappe, Line 741 And Troilus he brought in by the lappe. Line 742

The sterne wynd so loude gan to route, Line 743 That no wight oother noise myghte heere; Line 744 And they that layen at the dore with-oute Line 745 fful sikerly they slepten alle y-fere; Line 746 And Pandarus with a ful sobre cheere Line 747 Goth to the dore anon, with-outen lette, Line 748 Ther as they laye, and softely it shette. Line 749

And as he com aȝeynward pryuely, Line 750 His Nece a-wook and axed, "who goth there?" Line 751 "My dere Nece," quod he, "it am I. Line 752 Ne wondreth nought, ne haue of it no fere." Line 753 And ner he com and seyde hire in hire ere, Line 754 "No word, for loue of god, I ȝow biseche: Line 755 Lat no wight rise and heren of oure speche." Line 756

"What, which wey be ȝe comen, benedicite?" Line 757 Quod she, "and how thus vnwist of hem alle?" Line 758 "Here at this secre trappe dore," quod he. Line 759 Quod tho Criseyde, "lat me som wight calle." Line 760 "I, god forbede that it sholde falle," Line 761 Quod Pandarus, "that ȝe swich folye wrought; Line 762 They myghte demen thyng they neuere er thought. Line 763

Stanzas 111 through 120

"It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake, Line 764 Ne ȝeue a wight a cause to deuyne; Line 765 Ȝoure wommen slepen alle, I vndertake, Line 766 So that for hem the hous men myghte myne, Line 767 And slepen wollen til the sonne shyne; Line 768 And whan my tale brought is to an ende, Line 769 Unwist, right as I com, so wol I wende. Line 770

"Now Nece myn, ȝe shul wel vnderstonde," Line 771 Quod he, "so as ȝe wommen demen alle, Line 772 That forto holde in loue a man in honde, Line 773 And hym hire lief and deere herte calle, Line 774 And maken hym an howue aboue a calle -- Line 775 I meene, as loue another in this while -- Line 776 She doth hire self a shame and hym a gyle. Line 777

"Now wherby that I telle ȝow al this: Line 778 Ȝe woot ȝoure self as wel as any wight Line 779 How that ȝoure loue al fully graunted is Line 780 To Troilus, the worthieste knyght, Line 781 Oon of this world, and therto trouthe y-plight, Line 782 That, but it were on hym alonge, ȝe nolde Line 783 Hym neuere falsen while ȝe lyuen sholde. Line 784

"Now stant it thus, that sith I fro ȝow wente, Line 785 This Troilus, right platly forto seyn, Line 786 Is thorugh a goter by a pryue wente, Line 787 In-to my chaumbre come in al this reyn, Line 788 Unwist of euery manere wight, certeyn, Line 789 Saue of my self, as wisly haue I ioye, Line 790 And by that feith I shal Priam of Troie. Line 791

"And he is come in swich peyne and distresse Line 792 That, but he be al fully wood by this, Line 793 He sodeynly mot falle in-to woodnesse, Line 794 But if god helpe, and cause whi this is: Line 795 He seith hym told is of a frend of his, Line 796 How that ȝe sholden louen oon that hatte Horaste, Line 797 ffor sorwe of which this nyght shal ben his laste." Line 798

Criseyde, which that all this wonder herde, Line 799 Gan sodeynly aboute hire herte colde, Line 800 And with a sik she sorwfully answerde, Line 801 "Allas, I wende, who-so tales tolde, Line 802 My deere herte wolde me nought holde Line 803 So lightly fals -- allas, conceytes wronge, Line 804 What harm they don! for now lyue I to longe. Line 805

"Horaste! allas, and falsen Troilus? Line 806 I knowe hym nowt, god helpe me so," quod she, Line 807 "Allas, what wikked spirit tolde hym thus? Line 808 Now certes, Em, to-morwe and I hym se, Line 809 I shal therof as ful excusen me Line 810 As euere dide womman, if hym like." Line 811 And with that word she gan ful soore sike. Line 812

"O god," quod she, "so worldly selynesse, Line 813 Which clerkes callen fals felicitee, Line 814 I-medled is with many a bitternesse! Line 815 fful angwissous than is, god woot," quod she, Line 816 "Condicioun of veyn prosperitee; Line 817 ffor either ioies comen nought yfeere, Line 818 Or elles no wight hath hem alwey here. Line 819

"O brotel wele of mannes ioie vnstable! Line 820 With what wight so thow be or how thow pleye, Line 821 Either he woot that thow, ioie, art muable, Line 822 Or woot it nought, it mot ben oon of tweye. Line 823 Now if he woot it nought, how may he seye Line 824 That he hath verray ioie and selynesse, Line 825 That is of ignoraunce ay in derknesse? Line 826

"Now if he woot that ioie is transitorie, Line 827 As euery ioye of worldly thyng mot flee, Line 828 Than euery tyme he that hath in memorie, Line 829 The drede of lesyng maketh hym that he Line 830 May in no perfit selynesse be; Line 831 And if to lese his ioie he sette a myte, Line 832 Than semeth it that ioie is worth ful lite. Line 833

Stanzas 121 through 130

"Wherfore I wol diffyne in this matere, Line 834 That trewely, for aught I kan espie- Line 835 Ther is no verray weele in this world heere. Line 836 But O thow wikked serpent, ialousie, Line 837 Thow mysbyleued, enuyous folie, Line 838 Why hastow Troilus made to me vntriste, Line 839 That neuere ȝet agylt hym that I wiste?" Line 840

Quod Pandarus, "thus fallen is this cas." Line 841 "Why, Uncle myn," quod she, "who tolde hym this? Line 842 Why doth my deere herte thus, allas?" Line 843 "Ȝe woot, ȝe, Nece myn," quod he, "what is. Line 844 I hope al shal be wel that is amys; Line 845 ffor ȝe may quenche al this if that ȝow leste -- Line 846 And doth right so, for I holde it the beste." Line 847

"So shal I do to-morwe, ywys," quod she, Line 848 "And god to-forn, so that it shal suffise." Line 849 "To-morwe? allas, that were a faire," quod he; Line 850 "Nay, nay, it may nat stonden in this wise. Line 851 ffor, Nece myn, thus writen clerkes wise, Line 852 That peril is with drecchyng in y-drawe -- Line 853 Nay, swiche abodes ben nought worth an hawe. Line 854

"Nece, alle thyng hath tyme, I dar avowe, Line 855 ffor whan a chaumbre a-fire is, or an halle, Line 856 Wel more nede is it sodeynly rescowe Line 857 Than to dispute and axe amonges alle Line 858 How this candele in the strawe is falle. Line 859 A, benedicite, for al among that fare Line 860 The harm is don, and fare-wel feldefare! Line 861

"And Nece myn, ne take it naught a-grief: Line 862 If that ȝe suffre hym al nyght in this wo, Line 863 God help me so, ȝe hadde hym neuere lief, Line 864 That dar I seyn now ther is but we two. Line 865 But wel I woot that ȝe wol nat do so-- Line 866 Ȝe ben to wys to doon so gret folie, Line 867 To putte his lif al nyght in iupertie." Line 868

"Hadde I hym neuere lief? by god, I weene Line 869 Ȝe hadde neuere thyng so lief," quod she. Line 870 "Now, by my thrift," quod he, "that shal be seene; Line 871 ffor syn ȝe make this ensaumple of me, Line 872 If ich al nyght wolde hym in sorwe se, Line 873 ffor al the tresour in the town of Troie, Line 874 I bidde god I neuere mote haue ioie. Line 875

"Now loke thanne, if ȝe that ben his loue Line 876 Shul putte his lif al night in iupertie Line 877 ffor thyng of nought, now, by that god aboue, Line 878 Naught oonly this delay comth of folie, Line 879 But of malice, if that I shal naught lie. Line 880 What! platly, and ȝe suffre hym in destresse, Line 881 Ȝe neyther bounte don ne gentilesse." Line 882

Quod tho Criseyde, "wol ȝe don o thyng, Line 883 And ȝe ther-with shal stynte al his disese? Line 884 Haue heere and bereth hym this blewe ryng, Line 885 ffor ther is no thyng myghte hym bettre plese, Line 886 Saue I my self, ne more his herte a-pese; Line 887 And sey my deere herte that his sorwe Line 888 Is causeles, that shal be sen to-morwe." Line 889

"A ryng?" quod he, "ȝe, haselwodes shaken! Line 890 Ȝe, Nece myn, that ryng moste han a stoon Line 891 That myghte dede men alyue maken, Line 892 And swich a ryng trowe I that ȝe haue non: Line 893 Discrecioun out of ȝoure hed is gon, Line 894 That fele I now," quod he, "and that is routhe-- Line 895 O tyme i-lost, wel maistow corsen slouthe! Line 896

"Woot ȝe not wel that noble and heigh corage Line 897 Ne sorweth nought, ne stynteth ek, for lite? Line 898 But if a fool were in a ialous rage, Line 899 I nolde setten at his sorwe a myte, Line 900 But feffe hym with a fewe wordes white Line 901 A-nothir day, whan that I myghte hym fynde; Line 902 But this thyng stant al in another kynde. Line 903

Stanzas 131 through 140

"This is so gentil and so tendre of herte, Line 904 That with his deth he wol his sorwes wreke; Line 905 ffor trusteth wel, how sore that hym smerte, Line 906 He wol to ȝow no ialous wordes speke. Line 907 And forthi, Nece, er that his herte breke, Line 908 So speke ȝoure self to hym of this matere -- Line 909 ffor with a word ȝe may his herte stere. Line 910

"Now haue I told what peril he is inne, Line 911 And his comynge vnwist is to euery wight; Line 912 Ne, parde, harm may ther be non, ne synne -- Line 913 I wol my self be with ȝow al this nyght. Line 914 Ȝe knowe ek how it is ȝoure owen knyght, Line 915 And that bi right ȝe moste vp-on hym triste -- Line 916 And I al prest to fecche hym whan ȝow liste." Line 917

This accident so pitous was to here, Line 918 And ek so like a sooth at prime face, Line 919 And Troilus hire knyght to hir so deere, Line 920 His priue commyng and the siker place, Line 921 That though that she did hym as thanne a grace, Line 922 Considered alle thynges as they stoode, Line 923 No wonder is, syn she did al for goode. Line 924

Criseyde answerde, "as wisly god at reste Line 925 My soule brynge, as me is for hym wo; Line 926 And Em, i-wis, fayn wolde I don the beste, Line 927 If that ich hadde grace to do so. Line 928 But whether that ȝe dwelle or for hym go, Line 929 I am, til god me bettre mynde sende, Line 930 At dulcarnoun, right at my wittes ende." Line 931

Quod Pandarus, "ȝee, Nece, wol ȝe here? Line 932 Dulcarnoun called is 'flemyng of wrecches.' Line 933 It semeth hard, for wrecches wol nought lere, Line 934 ffor verray slouthe or other wilfull tecches. Line 935 This seyd by hem that ben nought worth two fecches; Line 936 But ȝe ben wis, and that we han on honde Line 937 Nis neither hard ne skilful to withstonde." Line 938

"Than Em," quod she, "doth her-of as ȝow liste; Line 939 But er he come, I wil vp first arise; Line 940 And, for the loue of god, syn al my triste Line 941 Is on ȝow two, and ȝe ben bothe wise, Line 942 So werketh now in so discret a wise Line 943 That I honour may haue and he plesaunce; Line 944 ffor I am here al in ȝoure gouernaunce." Line 945

"That is wel seyd," quod he, "my Nece deere. Line 946 Ther good thrift on that wise gentil herte! Line 947 But liggeth stille and taketh hym right here -- Line 948 It nedeth nought no ferther for hym sterte. Line 949 And ech of ȝow ese otheres sorwes smerte, Line 950 ffor loue of god, and Venus I the herye, Line 951 ffor soone hope I we shul ben alle merye." Line 952

This Troilus ful soone on knees hym sette Line 953 fful sobrely, right be hyre beddes hede, Line 954 And in his beste wyse his lady grette; Line 955 But lord, so she wex sodeynliche rede! Line 956 Ne though men sholde smyten of hire hede, Line 957 She kouthe nought a word a-right out brynge Line 958 So sodeynly, for his sodeyn comynge. Line 959

But Pandarus, that so wel koude feele Line 960 In euery thyng, to pleye anon bigan, Line 961 And seyde, "Nece, se how this lord kan knele: Line 962 Now, for ȝoure trouthe, se this gentil man." Line 963 And with that word he for a quysshen ran, Line 964 And seyde, "kneleth now, while that ȝow leste, Line 965 There god ȝoure hertes brynge soone at reste." Line 966

Kan I naught seyn, for she bad hym nought rise, Line 967 If sorwe it putte out of hire remembraunce, Line 968 Or elles that she took it in the wise Line 969 Of dewete, as for his obseruaunce; Line 970 But wel fynde I she dede hym this plesaunce, Line 971 That she hym kiste, al-though she siked sore, Line 972 And bad hym sitte adown with-outen more. Line 973

Stanzas 141 through 150

Quod Pandarus, "now wol ȝe wel bigynne; Line 974 Now doth hym sitte, goode Nece deere, Line 975 Up-on ȝoure beddes syde al ther with-inne, Line 976 That eche of ȝow the bet may other heere." Line 977 And with that word he drow hym to the feere, Line 978 And took a light and fond his contenaunce, Line 979 As forto looke vpon an old romaunce. Line 980

Criseyde, that was Troilus lady right, Line 981 And clere stood on a grounde of sikernesse, Line 982 Al thoughte she hire seruant and hire knyght Line 983 Ne sholde of right non vntrouthe in hire gesse, Line 984 Ȝet natheles, considered his distresse, Line 985 And that loue is in cause of swich folie, Line 986 Thus to hym spak she of his ialousie: Line 987

"Lo, herte myn, as wolde the excellence Line 988 Of loue, aȝeins the which that no man may, Line 989 Ne oughte ek goodly, make resistence, Line 990 And ek by-cause I felte wel and say Line 991 ȝoure grete trouthe and seruise euery day, Line 992 And that ȝoure herte al myn was, soth to seyne, Line 993 This drof me forto rewe vp-on ȝoure peyne. Line 994

"And ȝoure goodnesse haue I founde alwey ȝit, Line 995 Of which, my deere herte and al my knyght, Line 996 I thonke it ȝow as fer as I haue wit, Line 997 Al kan I nought as muche as it were right; Line 998 And I emforth my connyng and my might Line 999 Haue, and ay shal, how sore that me smerte, Line 1000 Ben to ȝow trewe and hool with al myn herte; Line 1001

"And dredeles that shal be founde at preue. Line 1002 But herte myn, what al this is to seyne Line 1003 Shal wel be told, so that ȝe nought ȝow greue, Line 1004 Though I to ȝow right on ȝoure self compleyne; Line 1005 ffor therwith mene I fynaly the peyne, Line 1006 That halt ȝoure herte and myn in heuynesse, Line 1007 ffully to slen and euery wrong redresse. Line 1008

"My goode myn, noot I for why ne how Line 1009 That ialousie, allas, that wikked wyuere, Line 1010 Thus causeles is cropen in-to ȝow, Line 1011 The harm of which I wolde fayn delyuere. Line 1012 Allas, that he, al hool or of hym slyuere, Line 1013 Shuld han his refut in so digne a place -- Line 1014 Ther loue hym sone out of ȝoure herte arace! Line 1015

"But O thow Ioue, O auctour of nature, Line 1016 Is this an honour to thi deyte, Line 1017 That folk vngiltif suffren hire iniure, Line 1018 And who that giltif is al quyt goth he? Line 1019 O, were it lefull forto pleyn on the, Line 1020 That vndeserued suffrest ialousie, Line 1021 Of that I wolde vp-on the pleyne and crie. Line 1022

"Ek al my wo is this, that folk now vsen Line 1023 To seyn right thus: 'ȝe, ialousie is loue'; Line 1024 And wolde a busshel venym al excusen, Line 1025 ffor that o greyn of loue is on it shoue. Line 1026 But that woot heighe god that sit a-boue, Line 1027 If it be likkere loue or hate or grame -- Line 1028 And after that it oughte bere his name. Line 1029

"But certeyn is, som manere ialousie Line 1030 Is excusable more than som, i-wys, Line 1031 As whan cause is, and som swich fantasie Line 1032 With piete so wel repressed is Line 1033 That it vnnethe doth or seyth amys, Line 1034 But goodly drynketh vp al his distresse -- Line 1035 And that excuse I for the gentilesse. Line 1036

"And som so full of furie is and despit Line 1037 That it sourmounteth his repressioun; Line 1038 But, herte myn, ȝe be nat in that plit, Line 1039 That thonke I god, for which ȝoure passioun Line 1040 I wol nought calle it but illusioun, Line 1041 Of habundaunce of loue and besy cure, Line 1042 That doth ȝoure herte this disese endure. Line 1043

Stanzas 151 through 160

"Of which I am right sory but nought wrothe; Line 1044 But, for my deuoir and ȝoure hertes reste, Line 1045 Wher so ȝow list, by ordal or by othe, Line 1046 By sort, or in what wise so ȝow leste, Line 1047 ffor loue of god lat preue it for the beste; Line 1048 And if that I be giltif, do me deye. Line 1049 Allas, what myght I more don or seye?" Line 1050

With that a fewe brighte teris newe Line 1051 Owt of hire eighen fille, and thus she seyde: Line 1052 "Now god, thow woost, in thought ne dede vntrewe Line 1053 To Troilus was neuere ȝet Criseyde." Line 1054 With that here heed down in the bed she leyde, Line 1055 And with the sheete it wreigh and sighte soore, Line 1056 And held hire pees; nought o word spak she more- Line 1057

But now help god to quenchen al this sorwe: Line 1058 So hope I that he shal for he best may; Line 1059 ffor I haue seyn of a ful misty morwe Line 1060 ffolowen ful ofte a myrie someris day, Line 1061 And after wynter foloweth grene May; Line 1062 Men sen alday, and reden ek in stories, Line 1063 That after sharpe shoures ben victories. Line 1064

This Troilus, whan he hire wordes herde, Line 1065 Haue ȝe no care, hym liste nought to slepe; Line 1066 ffor it thought hym no strokes of a ȝerde Line 1067 To heere or seen Criseyde, his lady, wepe; Line 1068 But wel he felt aboute his herte crepe Line 1069 ffor eueri tere which that Criseyde asterte, Line 1070 The crampe of deth, to streyne hym by the herte. Line 1071

And in his mynde he gan the tyme acorse Line 1072 That he com there, and that he was born; Line 1073 ffor now is wikke torned in-to worse, Line 1074 And al that labour he hath don by-forn, Line 1075 He wende it lost, he thought he nas but lorn. Line 1076 "O Pandarus," thoughte he, "allas, thi wile Line 1077 Serueth of nought, so weylaway the while." Line 1078

And therwith-al he heng adown the hede, Line 1079 And fil on knees, and sorwfully he sighte; Line 1080 What myghte he seyn? he felte he nas but dede, Line 1081 ffor wroth was she that sholde hise sorwes lighte. Line 1082 But natheles, whan that he speken myghte, Line 1083 Than seyde he thus, "god woot that of this game, Line 1084 Whan al is wist, than am I nought to blame." Line 1085

Ther-with the sorwe so his herte shette Line 1086 That from his eyen fil ther nought a tere, Line 1087 And euery spirit his vigour in knette, Line 1088 So they astoned or oppressed were; Line 1089 The felyng of his sorwe or of his fere, Line 1090 Or of aught elles, fled was out of towne, Line 1091 And down he fel al sodeynly a-swowne. Line 1092

This was no litel sorwe forto se; Line 1093 But al was hust, and Pandare vp as faste, Line 1094 "O Nece, pes, or we be lost," quod he, Line 1095 "Beth naught agast"; but certeyn, at the laste, Line 1096 ffor this or that, he in-to bed hym caste, Line 1097 And seyde, "O thef, is this a mannes herte?" Line 1098 And of he rente al to his bare sherte, Line 1099

And seyde, "Nece, but ȝe helpe vs now, Line 1100 Allas, ȝoure owen Troilus is lorn." Line 1101 "I-wis, so wolde I, and I wiste how, Line 1102 fful fayn," quod she, "allas, that I was born." Line 1103 "Ȝee, Nece, wol ȝe pullen out the thorn Line 1104 That stiketh in his herte?" quod Pandare, Line 1105 "Sey 'al forȝeue,' and stynt is al this fare." Line 1106

"Ȝe, that to me," quod she, "ful leuere were Line 1107 Than al the good the sonne a-boute gooth." Line 1108 And therwith-al she swor hym in his ere, Line 1109 "I-wys, my deere herte, I am nought wroth, Line 1110 Haue here my trouthe," and many an other oth; Line 1111 "Now speke to me, for it am I, Criseyde" -- Line 1112 But al for nought; ȝit myght he nought a-breyde. Line 1113

Stanzas 161 through 170

Therwith his pous and paumes of his hondes Line 1114 They gan to frote, and wete his temples tweyne; Line 1115 And to deliueren hym fro bittre bondes, Line 1116 She ofte hym kiste and, shortly forto seyne, Line 1117 Hym to reuoken she did al hire peyne. Line 1118 So at the laste, he gan his breth to drawe, Line 1119 And of his swough sone after that adawe, Line 1120

And gan bet mynde and reson to hym take, Line 1121 But wonder soore he was abayst, i-wis; Line 1122 And with a sik, whan he gan bet a-wake, Line 1123 He seyde, "O mercy, god, what thyng is this?" Line 1124 "Why do ȝe with ȝoure seluen thus amys?" Line 1125 Quod tho Criseyde, "is this a mannes game? Line 1126 What, Troilus, wol ȝe do thus for shame?" Line 1127

And therwith-al hire arme ouere hym she leyde, Line 1128 And al forȝaf and ofte tyme hym keste. Line 1129 He thonked hire and to hire spak and seyde Line 1130 As fil to purpos for his hertes reste; Line 1131 And she to that answerde hym as hire leste, Line 1132 And with hire goodly wordes hym disporte Line 1133 She gan, and ofte his sorwes to comforte. Line 1134

Quod Pandarus, "for aught I kan aspien, Line 1135 This light nor I ne seruen here of nought; Line 1136 Light is nought good for sike folkes yen; Line 1137 But for the loue of god, syn ȝe ben brought Line 1138 In thus good plit, lat now no heuy thought Line 1139 Ben hangyng in the hertes of ȝow tweye" -- Line 1140 And bar the candel to the chymeneye. Line 1141

Soone after this, though it no nede were, Line 1142 Whan she swiche othes as hire leste deuyse Line 1143 Hadde of hym take, hire thoughte tho no fere, Line 1144 Ne cause ek non, to bidde hym thennes rise. Line 1145 Ȝet lasse thyng than othes may suffise Line 1146 In many a cas; for euery wyght, I gesse, Line 1147 That loueth wel meneth but gentilesse. Line 1148

But in effect she wolde wite anon Line 1149 Of what man, and ek wheer, and also why, Line 1150 He ialous was, syn ther was cause non, Line 1151 And ek the sygne that he took it by, Line 1152 She badde hym that to telle hire bisily; Line 1153 Or elles, certeyn, she bar hym on honde, Line 1154 That this was don of malice, hire to fonde. Line 1155

Withouten more, shortly forto seyne, Line 1156 He most obeye unto his lady heste; Line 1157 And for the lasse harm he moste feyne. Line 1158 He seyde hire, whan she was at swiche a feste, Line 1159 She myght on hym han loked at the leste -- Line 1160 Noot I nought what, al deere ynough a rysshe, Line 1161 As he that nedes most a cause fisshe. Line 1162

And she answerde, "swete, al were it so, Line 1163 What harm was that, syn I non yvel mene? Line 1164 ffor, by that god that bought vs bothe two, Line 1165 In alle thyng is myn entente cleene. Line 1166 Swiche argumentes ne ben naught worth a beene. Line 1167 Wol ȝe the childissh ialous contrefete? Line 1168 Now were it worthi that ȝe were y-bete." Line 1169

Tho Troilus gan sorwfully to sike; Line 1170 Lest she be wroth hym thoughte his herte deyde, Line 1171 And seyde, "allas, vp-on my sorwes sike Line 1172 Haue mercy, swete herte myn, Criseyde. Line 1173 And if that in tho wordes that I seyde Line 1174 Be any wrong, I wol nomore trespace. Line 1175 Doth what ȝow list, I am al in ȝoure grace." Line 1176

And she answerde, "of gilt misericorde -- Line 1177 That is to seyn, that I forȝeue al this; Line 1178 And euere more on this nyght ȝow recorde, Line 1179 And beth wel war ȝe do namore amys." Line 1180 "Nay, dere herte myn," quod he, "i-wys." Line 1181 "And now," quod she, "that I haue don ȝow smerte, Line 1182 ffor-ȝeue it me, myn owene swete herte." Line 1183

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

Stanzas 181 through 190

Than seyde he thus, "O Loue, O Charite, Line 1254 Thi moder ek, Citheria the swete, Line 1255 After thi self next heried be she -- Line 1256 Venus mene I, the wel-willy planete; Line 1257 And next that, Imeneus, I the grete: Line 1258 ffor neuere man was to ȝow goddes holde Line 1259 As I, which ȝe han brought fro cares colde. Line 1260

"Benigne loue, thow holy bond of thynges, Line 1261 Who-so wol grace and list the nought honouren, Line 1262 Lo, his desire wol fle with-outen wynges; Line 1263 ffor noldestow of bownte hem socouren Line 1264 That seruen best, and most alwey labouren, Line 1265 Ȝet were al lost, that dar I wel seyn certes, Line 1266 But if thi grace passed oure desertes. Line 1267

"And for thow me, that koude leest disserue Line 1268 Of hem that noumbred ben vn-to thi grace, Line 1269 Hast holpen, ther I likly was to sterue, Line 1270 And me bistowed in so heigh a place Line 1271 That thilke boundes may no blisse pace, Line 1272 I kan namore, but laude and reuerence Line 1273 Be to thy bounte and thyn excellence." Line 1274

And therwith-al Criseyde anon he kiste, Line 1275 Of which certein she felte no disese; Line 1276 And thus seyde he, "now wolde god I wiste, Line 1277 Myn herte swete, how I ȝow myghte plese. Line 1278 What man," quod he, "was euere thus at ese Line 1279 As I, on which the faireste and the beste Line 1280 That euere I say deyneth hire herte reste? Line 1281

"Here may men seen that mercy passeth right; Line 1282 Thexperience of this is felt in me, Line 1283 That am vnworthi to so swete a wight. Line 1284 But, herte myn, of ȝoure benignite, Line 1285 So thynketh, though that I vnworthi be, Line 1286 Ȝet mot I nede amenden in som wyse, Line 1287 Right thorugh the vertue of ȝoure heigh seruyse. Line 1288

"And for the loue of god, my lady deere, Line 1289 Syn god hath wrought me for I shall ȝow serue -- Line 1290 As thus I mene, he wol ȝe be my steere, Line 1291 To do me lyue, if that ȝow liste, or sterue -- Line 1292 So techeth me how that I may disserue Line 1293 Ȝoure thonk, so that I thorugh myn ignoraunce Line 1294 Ne do no thyng that ȝow be displesaunce. Line 1295

"ffor certes, fresshe wommanliche wif, Line 1296 This dar I seye, that trouth and diligence, Line 1297 That shal ȝe fynden in me al my lif; Line 1298 Ny wol nat, certein, breken ȝoure defence; Line 1299 And if I do, present or in absence, Line 1300 ffor loue of god, lat sle me with the dede, Line 1301 If that it like vnto ȝoure wommanhede." Line 1302

"I-wys," quod she, "myn owen hertes list, Line 1303 My ground of ese, and al myn herte deere, Line 1304 Gramercy, for on that is al my trist; Line 1305 But lat vs falle awey fro this matere, Line 1306 ffor it suffiseth this that seyd is heere, Line 1307 And at o word, with-outen repentaunce, Line 1308 Welcome my knyght, my pees, my suffisaunce." Line 1309

Of hire delit or ioies oon the leeste Line 1310 Were impossible to my wit to seye; Line 1311 But iuggeth ȝe that han ben at the feste Line 1312 Of swich gladnesse, if that hem liste pleye. Line 1313 I kan namore, but thus thise ilke tweye Line 1314 That nyght bitwixen drede and sikernesse Line 1315 ffelten in loue the grete worthynesse. Line 1316

O blisful nyght of hem so longe i-soughte, Line 1317 How blithe vnto hem bothe two thow weere! Line 1318 Why nad I swich oon with my soule y-boughte, Line 1319 Ȝe, or the leeste ioie that was theere? Line 1320 Awey, thow foule daunger and thow feere, Line 1321 And lat hem in this heuene blisse dwelle, Line 1322 That is so heigh that al ne kan I telle. Line 1323

Stanzas 191 through 200

But sooth is, though I kan nat tellen all, Line 1324 As kan myn auctour of his excellence, Line 1325 Ȝet haue I seyd, and god to-forn, and shal Line 1326 In euery thyng al holly his sentence; Line 1327 And if that ich, at loues reuerence, Line 1328 Haue eny word in-eched for the beste, Line 1329 Doth therwith-al right as ȝoure seluen leste. Line 1330

ffor myne wordes, heere and euery parte, Line 1331 I speke hem alle vnder correccioun Line 1332 Of ȝow that felyng han in loues arte, Line 1333 And putte it al in ȝoure discrecioun Line 1334 To encresse or maken dymynucioun Line 1335 Of my langage, and that I ȝow biseche -- Line 1336 But now to purpos of my rather speche. Line 1337

Thise ilke two, that ben in armes lafte, Line 1338 So loth to hem a-sonder gon it were, Line 1339 That ech from other wenden ben birafte, Line 1340 Or elles, lo, this was hir mooste feere: Line 1341 That al this thyng but nyce dremes were; Line 1342 ffor which ful ofte ech of hem seyde, "O swete, Line 1343 Clippe ich ȝow thus or elles I it meete?" Line 1344

And lord, so he gan goodly on hire se, Line 1345 That neuere his look ne bleynte from hire face, Line 1346 And seyde, "O deere herte, may it be Line 1347 That it be soth, that ȝe ben in this place?" Line 1348 "Ȝee, herte myn, god thank I of his grace," Line 1349 Quod tho Criseyde, and ther-with-al hym kiste, Line 1350 That where his spirit was for ioie he nyste. Line 1351

This Troilus ful ofte hire eyen two Line 1352 Gan forto kisse and seyde, "O eyen clere, Line 1353 It weren ȝe that wroughte me swich wo, Line 1354 Ȝe humble nettes of my lady deere. Line 1355 Though ther be mercy writen in ȝoure cheere, Line 1356 God woot the text ful hard is, soth, to fynde; Line 1357 How koude ȝe with-outen bond me bynde?" Line 1358

Therwith he gan hire faste in armes take, Line 1359 And wel a thousand tymes gan he syke, Line 1360 Naught swiche sorwfull sikes as men make Line 1361 ffor wo, or elles when that folk ben sike, Line 1362 But esy sykes, swiche as ben to like, Line 1363 That shewed his affeccioun with-inne; Line 1364 Of swiche sikes koude he nought blynne. Line 1365

Soone after this they spake of sondry thynges, Line 1366 As fel to purpos of this auenture, Line 1367 And pleyinge entrechaungeden hire rynges, Line 1368 Of whiche I kan nought tellen no scripture; Line 1369 But wel I woot a broche, gold and asure, Line 1370 In which a rubye set was lik an herte Line 1371 Criseyde hym ȝaf, and stak it on his sherte. Line 1372

Lord, trowe ȝe a coueytous or a wrecche, Line 1373 That blameth loue and halt of it despite, Line 1374 That of tho pens that he kan mokre and cretche, Line 1375 Was euere ȝit y-ȝeuen hym swich delite, Line 1376 As is in loue, in o poynt, in som plite? Line 1377 Nay, douteles, for also god me saue, Line 1378 So perfit ioie may no nygard haue. Line 1379

They wol seyn "ȝis," but lord, so that they lye, Line 1380 Tho besy wrecches, ful of wo and drede! Line 1381 Thei callen loue a woodnesse or folie; Line 1382 But it shall falle hem as I shal ȝow rede: Line 1383 They shal forgon the white and ek the rede, Line 1384 And lyue in wo, ther god ȝeue hem meschaunce, Line 1385 And euery louere in his trouthe auaunce. Line 1386

As wolde god tho wrecches that dispise Line 1387 Seruise of loue hadde erys also longe Line 1388 As hadde Mida, ful of coueytise, Line 1389 And therto dronken hadde as hoot and stronge Line 1390 As Crassus didde for his affectis wronge, Line 1391 To techen hem that they ben in the vice, Line 1392 And loueres nought, al-though they holde hem nyce. Line 1393

Stanzas 201 through 210

Thise ilke two of whom that I ȝow seye, Line 1394 Whan that hire hertes wel assured were, Line 1395 Tho gonne they to speken and to pleye, Line 1396 And ek rehercen how and whan and where Line 1397 Thei knewe hem first, and euery wo or feere Line 1398 That passed was; but al swich heuynesse, Line 1399 I thank it god, was torned to gladnesse. Line 1400

And euere mo when that hem fel to speke Line 1401 Of any wo of swich a tyme agoon, Line 1402 With kissyng al that tale sholde breke Line 1403 And fallen in a newe ioye anoon, Line 1404 And diden al hire myght, syn they were oon, Line 1405 ffor to recoueren blisse and ben at eise, Line 1406 And passed wo with ioie contrepeise. Line 1407

Resoun wol nought that I speke of slepe. Line 1408 ffor it acordeth nought to my matere -- Line 1409 God woot they took of that ful litel kepe; Line 1410 But lest this nyght, that was to hem so deere, Line 1411 Ne sholde in veyn escape in no manere, Line 1412 It was byset in ioie and bisynesse Line 1413 Of al that souneth in-to gentilesse. Line 1414

But whan the cok, comune astrologer, Line 1415 Gan on his brest to bete and after crowe, Line 1416 And Lucyfer, the dayes messanger, Line 1417 Gan for to rise and out hire bemes throwe, Line 1418 And estward roos, to hym that koude it knowe, Line 1419 ffortuna Maior, that anoon Criseyde, Line 1420 With herte soor to Troilus thus seide, Line 1421

"Myn hertes lif, my trist and my plesaunce, Line 1422 That I was born, allas, what me is wo, Line 1423 That day of vs moot make disseueraunce; Line 1424 ffor tyme it is to ryse and hennes go, Line 1425 Or ellis I am lost for euere mo. Line 1426 O nyght, allas, why nyltow ouere vs houe, Line 1427 As longe as whan Almena lay by Ioue? Line 1428

"O blake nyght, as folk in bokes rede, Line 1429 That shapen art by god this world to hide Line 1430 At certeyn tymes wyth thi derke wede, Line 1431 That vnder that men myghte in reste abide, Line 1432 Wel oughten bestes pleyne and folk the chide, Line 1433 That there as day wyth labour wolde vs breste, Line 1434 That thow thus fleest and deynest vs nought reste. Line 1435

"Thow doost, allas, to shortly thyn office, Line 1436 Thow rakle nyght, ther god, maker of kynde, Line 1437 The for thyn haste and thyn vnkynde vice Line 1438 So faste ay to oure hemysperie bynde, Line 1439 That neuere more vnder the ground thow wynde: Line 1440 ffor now, for thow so hiest out of Troie, Line 1441 Haue I forgon thus hastili my ioie." Line 1442

This Troilus, that with tho wordes felte, Line 1443 As thoughte hym tho, for pietous distresse Line 1444 The blody teris from his herte melte, Line 1445 As he that neuere ȝet swich heuynesse Line 1446 Assayed hadde, out of so gret gladnesse, Line 1447 Gan ther-with-al Criseyde, his lady deere, Line 1448 In armes streyne and seyde in this manere: Line 1449

"O cruel day, accusour of the ioie Line 1450 That nyght and loue han stole and faste i-wryen, Line 1451 Acorsed be thi comyng in-to Troye, Line 1452 ffor euery bore hath oon of thi bryghte yen. Line 1453 Enuyous day, what list the so to spien? Line 1454 What hastow lost, why sekestow this place, Line 1455 Ther god thi light so quenche for his grace? Line 1456

"Allas, what haue thise loueris the agylte, Line 1457 Dispitous day? thyn be the peyne of helle! Line 1458 ffor many a louere hastow slayn and wilte: Line 1459 Thy pourynge in wol nowher lat hem dwelle. Line 1460 What profrestow thi light here forto selle? Line 1461 Go selle it hem that smale selys graue -- Line 1462 We wol the nought, vs nedeth no day haue." Line 1463

Stanzas 211 through 220

And ek the sonne, Titan, gan he chide, Line 1464 And seyde, "O fool, wel may men the dispise, Line 1465 That hast the dawyng al nyght by thi syde, Line 1466 And suffrest hire so soone vp fro the rise, Line 1467 fforto disesen loueris in this wyse. Line 1468 What, holde ȝoure bed ther, thow, and ek thi Morwe, Line 1469 I bidde god, so ȝeue ȝow bothe sorwe." Line 1470

Ther-with ful soore he syghte and thus he seyde, Line 1471 "My lady right, and of my wele or wo Line 1472 The welle and roote, O goodly myn, Criseyde, Line 1473 And shal I rise, allas, and shal I so? Line 1474 Now fele l that myn herte moot a-two, Line 1475 ffor how sholde I my lif an houre saue, Line 1476 Syn that with ȝow is al the lif ich haue? Line 1477

"What shal I don? for certes I not how, Line 1478 Ne whan, allas, I shal the tyme see, Line 1479 That in this plit I may ben eft with ȝow; Line 1480 And of my lif, god woot how that shal be, Line 1481 Syn that desire right now so biteth me, Line 1482 That I am ded anon, but I retourne. Line 1483 How sholde I longe, allas, fro ȝow soiourne? Line 1484

"But natheles, myn owen lady bright, Line 1485 Ȝit were it so that I wiste outrely, Line 1486 That I, ȝoure humble seruant and ȝoure knyght, Line 1487 Were in ȝoure herte i-set so fermely Line 1488 As ȝe in myn -- the which thyng, trewely, Line 1489 Me leuere were than thise worldes tweyne -- Line 1490 Ȝet sholde I bet enduren al my peyne." Line 1491

To that Criseyde answerde right anon, Line 1492 And with a sik she seyde, "O herte deere, Line 1493 The game, y-wys, so ferforth now is gon, Line 1494 That first shal Phebus fallen fro his speere, Line 1495 And euerich egle ben the dowues feere, Line 1496 And euerich roche out of his place sterte, Line 1497 Er Troilus out of Criseydes herte. Line 1498

"Ȝe ben so depe in-with myn herte graue, Line 1499 That, though I wolde it torne out of my thought, Line 1500 As wisly verray god my soule saue, Line 1501 To dyen in the peyne, I koude nought; Line 1502 And for the loue of god that vs hath wrought, Line 1503 Lat in ȝoure brayn non other fantasie Line 1504 So crepe that it cause me to dye. Line 1505

"And that ȝe me wolde han as faste in mynde Line 1506 As I haue ȝow, that wolde I ȝow biseche; Line 1507 And if I wiste sothly that to fynde, Line 1508 God myghte nought a poynt my ioies eche. Line 1509 But herte myn, with-outen more speche, Line 1510 Beth to me trewe, or ellis were it routhe, Line 1511 ffor I am thyn, by god and by my trouthe. Line 1512

"Beth glad forthy, and lyue in sikernesse; Line 1513 Thus seyde I neuere er this, ne shal to mo; Line 1514 And if to ȝow it were a gret gladnesse Line 1515 To torne aȝgeyn soone after that ȝe go, Line 1516 As fayn wolde I as ȝe that it were so, Line 1517 As wisly god myn herte brynge at reste" -- Line 1518 And hym in armes tok and ofte keste. Line 1519

Agayns his wil, sith it mot nedes be, Line 1520 This Troilus vp ros and faste hym cledde, Line 1521 And in his armes took his lady free Line 1522 An hondred tyme and on his wey hym spedde, Line 1523 And with swich voys as though his herte bledde Line 1524 He seyde, "fare wel, dere herte swete, Line 1525 Ther god vs graunte sownde and soone to mete." Line 1526

To which no word for sorwe she answerde, Line 1527 So soore gan his partyng hire distreyne; Line 1528 And Troilus vn-to his paleys ferde, Line 1529 As wo-bygon as she was, soth to seyne; Line 1530 So harde hym wrong of sharp desire the peyne Line 1531 fforto ben eft there he was in plesaunce, Line 1532 Thut it may neuere out of his remembraunce. Line 1533

Stanzas 221 through 230

Retorned to his real paleys soone, Line 1534 He softe in-to his bed gan forto slynke, Line 1535 To slepe longe, as he was wont to doone; Line 1536 But al for nought -- he may wel ligge and wynke, Line 1537 But slep ne may ther in his herte synke, Line 1538 Thynkyng how she, for whom desire hym brende, Line 1539 A thousand fold was worth more than he wende. Line 1540

And in his thought gan vp and down to wynde Line 1541 Hire wordes alle, and euery countenaunce, Line 1542 And fermely impressen in his mynde Line 1543 The leeste point that to him was plesaunce; Line 1544 And verraylich of thilke remembraunce Line 1545 Desire al newe hym brende, and lust to brede Line 1546 Gan more than erst, and ȝet took he non hede. Line 1547

Criseyde also, right in the same wyse, Line 1548 Of Troilus gan in hire herte shette Line 1549 His worthynesse, his lust, hise dedes wise, Line 1550 His gentilesse, and how she with hym mette, Line 1551 Thonkyng loue he so wel hire bisette, Line 1552 Desiryng eft to han hire herte deere Line 1553 In swich a plit she dorste make hym cheere. Line 1554

Pandare, o-morwe which that comen was Line 1555 Unto his Nece and gan hire faire grete, Line 1556 Seyde, "al this nyght so reyned it, allas, Line 1557 That al my drede is that ȝe, Nece swete, Line 1558 Han litel laiser had to slepe and mete; Line 1559 Al nyght," quod he, "hath reyn so do me wake, Line 1560 That som of vs, I trowe, hire hedes ake." Line 1561

And ner he com and seyde, "how stant it now Line 1562 This mury morwe, Nece, how kan ȝe fare?" Line 1563 Criseyde answerde, "neuere the bet for ȝow, Line 1564 ffox that ȝe ben, god ȝeue ȝoure herte kare! Line 1565 God help me so, ȝe caused al this fare, Line 1566 Trowe I," quod she; "for al ȝoure wordes white, Line 1567 O, who-so seeth ȝow, knoweth ȝow ful lite." Line 1568

With that she gan hire face forto wrye Line 1569 With the shete, and wax for shame al reede; Line 1570 And Pandarus gan vnder forto prie, Line 1571 And seyde, "Nece, if that I shal be dede, Line 1572 Haue here a swerd and smyteth of myn hede." Line 1573 With that his arm al sodeynly he thriste Line 1574 Under hire nekke and at the laste hire kyste. Line 1575

[I passe al that which chargeth nought to seye -- Line 1576 What! god for-yaf his deth, and she al-so Line 1577 ffor-yaf, and with here vncle gan to pleye, Line 1578 ffor other cause was ther noon than so. Line 1579 But of this thing right to the effect to go, Line 1580 Whan tyme was, hom to here hous she wente, Line 1581 And Pandarus hath fully his entente.] Line 1582

Now torne we aȝeyn to Troilus, Line 1583 That resteles ful longe a-bedde lay, Line 1584 And pryuely sente after Pandarus Line 1585 To hym to com in al the haste he may; Line 1586 He com anon, nought ones seyde he nay, Line 1587 And Troilus ful sobrely he grette, Line 1588 And down vp-on his beddes syde hym sette. Line 1589

This Troilus, with al thaffeccioun Line 1590 Of frendes loue that herte may deuyse, Line 1591 To Pandarus on knowes fil a-down, Line 1592 And er that he wolde of the place arise, Line 1593 He gan hym thonken in his beste wise Line 1594 An hondred sythe, and gan the tyme blesse Line 1595 That he was born to brynge hym fro destresse. Line 1596

He seyde, "O frend of frendes the alderbeste Line 1597 That euere was, the sothe for to telle, Line 1598 Thow hast in heuene y-brought my soule at reste Line 1599 ffro Flegitoun, the fery flood of helle; Line 1600 That, though I myght a thousand tymes selle Line 1601 Up-on a day my lif in thi seruise, Line 1602 It myghte naught a moote in that suffise. Line 1603

Stanzas 231 through 240

"The sonne, which that al the world may se, Line 1604 Saugh neuere ȝet my lif, that dar I leye, Line 1605 So inly faire and goodly as is she, Line 1606 Whos I am al, and shal, tyl that I deye. Line 1607 And that I thus am hires, dar I seye, Line 1608 That thanked be the heighe worthynesse Line 1609 Of loue, and ek thi kynde bysynesse. Line 1610

"Thus hastow ne no litel thing y-ȝiue, Line 1611 ffor which to the obliged be for ay Line 1612 My lif, and whi? for thorugh thyn helpe I lyue, Line 1613 Or elles ded hadde I ben many a day." Line 1614 And with that word down in his bed he lay, Line 1615 And Pandarus ful sobrely hym herde, Line 1616 Tyl al was seyd, and than he thus answerde: Line 1617

"My deere frend, if I haue don for the Line 1618 In any cas, god wot, it is me lief; Line 1619 And am as glad as man may of it be, Line 1620 God help me so; but take it nat a-grief Line 1621 That I shal seyn: be war of this meschief, Line 1622 That, there as thow now brought art in thy blisse, Line 1623 That thow thi self ne cause it nat to misse. Line 1624

"ffor of fortunes sharpe aduersitee Line 1625 The worste kynde of infortune is this, Line 1626 A man to han ben in prosperitee, Line 1627 And it remembren whan it passed is. Line 1628 Thart wis ynough, forthi do nat amys; Line 1629 Be naught to rakel, theigh thow sitte warme, Line 1630 ffor if thow be, certeyn, it wol the harme. Line 1631

"Thow art at ese and holde the wel ther-inne, Line 1632 ffor also seur as reed is euery fire, Line 1633 As gret a craft is kepe wel as wynne. Line 1634 Bridle alwey wel thi speche and thi desire; Line 1635 ffor worldly ioie halt nought but by a wire. Line 1636 That preueth wel, it brest al day so ofte; Line 1637 ffor-thi nede is to werken with it softe. Line 1638

Quod Troilus, "I hope, and god toforn, Line 1639 My deere frend, that I shal so me beere Line 1640 That in my gilt ther shal no thyng be lorn, Line 1641 Ny nyl nought rakle as forto greuen heere. Line 1642 It nedeth naught this matere ofte steere; Line 1643 ffor wystestow myn herte wel, Pandare, Line 1644 God woot of this thow woldest litel care." Line 1645

Tho gan he telle hym of his glade nyght, Line 1646 And wher-of first his herte dred, and how, Line 1647 And seyde, "frend, as I am trewe knyght, Line 1648 And by that feyth I shal to god and ȝow, Line 1649 I hadde it neuere half so hote as now; Line 1650 And ay the more that desire me biteth Line 1651 To loue hire best the more it me deliteth. Line 1652

"I not my self naught wisly what it is, Line 1653 But now I feele a newe qualitee, Line 1654 Ȝee, al a-nother than I didde er this." Line 1655 Pandare answerd and seyde thus, that "he Line 1656 That ones may in heuene blisse be, Line 1657 He feleth other weyes, dar I leye, Line 1658 Than thilke tyme he first herde of it seye." Line 1659

This is a word for al: this Troilus Line 1660 Was neuere ful to speke of this matere, Line 1661 And forto preisen vnto Pandarus Line 1662 The bounte of his righte lady deere, Line 1663 And Pandarus to thanke and maken cheere; Line 1664 This tale was ay span newe to bygynne, Line 1665 Til that the nyght departed hem atwynne. Line 1666

Soon after this, for that fortune it wolde, Line 1667 I-comen was the blisful tyme swete, Line 1668 That Troilus was warned that he sholde, Line 1669 There he was erst, Criseyde his lady mete; Line 1670 ffor which he felte his herte in ioie flete, Line 1671 And feithfully gan alle the goddes herie -- Line 1672 And lat se now if that he kan be merie. Line 1673

Stanzas 241 through 250

And holden was the forme and al the wise Line 1674 Of hire commyng, and ek of his also, Line 1675 As it was erst, which nedeth nought deuyse. Line 1676 But pleynly to theffect right for to go, Line 1677 In ioie and suerte Pandarus hem two Line 1678 A-bedde brought whan that hem bothe leste, Line 1679 And thus they ben in quyete and in reste. Line 1680

Nought nedeth it to ȝow, syn they ben mette, Line 1681 To axe at me if that they blithe were, Line 1682 ffor if it erst was wel, tho was it bette Line 1683 A thousand fold, this nedeth nought enquere. Line 1684 A-gon was euery sorwe and euery feere, Line 1685 And bothe, y-wys, they hadde, and so they wende, Line 1686 As muche ioie as herte may comprende. Line 1687

This is no litel thyng of for to seye; Line 1688 This passeth euery wit for to deuyse; Line 1689 ffor ech of hem gan otheres lust obeye. Line 1690 ffelicite, which that thise clerkes wise Line 1691 Comenden so, ne may nought here suffise; Line 1692 This ioie may nought writen be with inke; Line 1693 This passeth al that herte may bythynke. Line 1694

But cruel day, so wailaway the stounde, Line 1695 Gan for taproche, as they by sygnes knewe, Line 1696 ffor which hem thoughte feelen dethis wownde; Line 1697 So wo was hem that chaungen gan hire hewe, Line 1698 And day they gonnen to despise al newe, Line 1699 Callyng it traitour, enuyous, and worse, Line 1700 And bitterly the dayes light thei corse. Line 1701

Quod Troilus, "allas, now am I war Line 1702 That Pirous and tho swifte steedes thre, Line 1703 Which that drawen forth the sonnes char, Line 1704 Han gon som bipath in dispit of me; Line 1705 That maketh it so soone day to be; Line 1706 And for the sonne hym hasteth thus to rise, Line 1707 Ne shal I neuere don hym sacrifise." Line 1708

But nedes day depert hem moste soone, Line 1709 And whan hire speche don was and hire cheere, Line 1710 They twynne anon as they were wont to doone, Line 1711 And setten tyme of metyng eft y-feere; Line 1712 And many a nyght they wroughte in this manere. Line 1713 And thus fortune a tyme ledde in ioie Line 1714 Criseyde and ek this kynges sone of Troie. Line 1715

In suffisaunce, in blisse, and in singynges, Line 1716 This Troilus gan al his lif to lede; Line 1717 He spendeth, iousteth, maketh festeyinges; Line 1718 He ȝeueth frely ofte, and chaungeth wede, Line 1719 And held aboute hym alwey, out of drede, Line 1720 A world of folk, as com hym wel of kynde, Line 1721 The fresshest and the beste he koude fynde; Line 1722

That swich a vois of hym was and a steuene Line 1723 Thorugh-out the world, of honour and largesse, Line 1724 That it vp rong vnto the ȝate of heuene. Line 1725 And as in loue he was in swich gladnesse, Line 1726 That in his herte he demed, as I gesse, Line 1727 That ther nys louere in this world at ese Line 1728 So wel as he, and thus gan loue hym plese. Line 1729

The goodlihede or beaute which that kynde Line 1730 In any other lady hadde ysette Line 1731 Kan nought the montance of a knotte vnbynde, Line 1732 Aboute his herte of al Criseydes nette; Line 1733 He was so narwe y-masked and y-knette, Line 1734 That it vndon on any manere syde, Line 1735 That nyl naught ben, for aught that may bitide. Line 1736

And by the hond ful ofte he wolde take Line 1737 This Pandarus, and in-to gardyn lede, Line 1738 And swich a feste and swich a proces make Line 1739 Hym of Criseyde, and of hire wommanhede, Line 1740 And of hire beaute, that, with-outen drede, Line 1741 It was an heuene his wordes forto here; Line 1742 And thanne he wolde synge in this manere: Line 1743

Canticus Troili

"Loue that of erthe and se hath gouernaunce, Line 1744 Loue, that his hestes hath in heuenes hye, Line 1745 Loue, that with an holsom alliaunce Line 1746 Halt peples ioyned, as hym lest hem gye, Line 1747 Loue, that knetteth lawe of compaignie, Line 1748 And couples doth in vertue forto dwelle, Line 1749 Bynd this acord that I haue told and telle. Line 1750

"That that the world with feith which that is stable, Line 1751 Diuerseth so his stowndes concordyng, Line 1752 That elementz that ben so discordable Line 1753 Holden a bond perpetuely duryng, Line 1754 That Phebus mote his rosy day forth bryng, Line 1755 And that the mone hath lordshipe ouer the nyghtes -- Line 1756 Al this doth loue, ay heried be his myghtes! Line 1757

"That that the se, that gredy is to flowen, Line 1758 Constreyneth to a certeyn ende so Line 1759 His flodes that so fiersly they ne grow Line 1760 To drenchen erthe and al for euere mo; Line 1761 And if that loue aught lete his bridel go, Line 1762 Al that now loueth asondre sholde lepe, Line 1763 And lost were al that loue halt now to hepe. Line 1764

"So wolde god, that auctour is of kynde, Line 1765 That with his bond loue of his vertue liste Line 1766 To cerclen hertes alle and faste bynde, Line 1767 That from his bond no wight the wey out wiste; Line 1768 And hertes colde, hem wolde I that he twiste Line 1769 To make hem loue, and that hem liste ay rewe Line 1770 On hertes sore, and kepe hem that ben trewe." Line 1771

Stanzas 255 through 261

In alle nedes, for the townes werre, Line 1772 He was, and ay, the first in armes dyght, Line 1773 And certeynly, but if that bokes erre, Line 1774 Saue Ector, most y-dred of any wight; Line 1775 And this encresse of hardynesse and myght Line 1776 Com hym of loue, his ladies thank to wynne, Line 1777 That altered his spirit so with-inne. Line 1778

In tyme of trewe, on haukyng wolde he ride, Line 1779 Or elles honte boor, beer, or lyoun -- Line 1780 The smale bestes leet he gon biside; Line 1781 And whan that he com ridyng in-to town, Line 1782 fful ofte his lady from hire wyndow down, Line 1783 As fresshe as faukoun comen out of muwe, Line 1784 fful redy was hym goodly to saluwe. Line 1785

And moost of loue and vertue was his speche, Line 1786 And in despit hadde alle wrecchednesse; Line 1787 And douteles, no nede was hym biseche Line 1788 To honouren hem that hadde worthynesse, Line 1789 And esen hem that weren in destresse; Line 1790 And glad was he if any wyght wel ferde, Line 1791 That louere was, whan he it wiste or herde. Line 1792

ffor soth to seyne, he lost held euery wyght Line 1793 But if he were in loues heigh seruise -- Line 1794 I mene folk that oughte it ben of right. Line 1795 And ouere al this, so wel koude he deuyse Line 1796 Of sentement, and in so vnkouths wise Line 1797 Al his array, that euery louere thoughte Line 1798 That al was wel what so he seyde or wroughte. Line 1799

And though that he be come of blood roial, Line 1800 Hym liste of pride at no wight for to chace; Line 1801 Benigne he was to ech in general, Line 1802 ffor which he gat hym thank in euery place. Line 1803 Thus wolde loue, y-heried be his grace, Line 1804 That pride, enuye, ire, and auarice Line 1805 He gan to fle, and euerich other vice. Line 1806

Thow lady bright, the doughter to Dyone, Line 1807 Thy blynde and wynged sone ek, daun Cupide, Line 1808 Ȝee sustren nyne ek, that by Elicone Line 1809 In hil Pernaso listen for tabide, Line 1810 That Ȝe thus fer han deyned me to gyde, Line 1811 I kan namore, but syn that ȝe wol wende, Line 1812 Ȝe heried ben for ay with-outen ende. Line 1813

Thorugh ȝow haue I seyd fully in my songe Line 1814 Theffect and ioie of Troilus seruise, Line 1815 Al be that ther was som disese amonge, Line 1816 As to myn auctour listeth to deuise. Line 1817 My thridde boke now ende ich in this wyse; Line 1818 And Troilus in luste and in quiete Line 1819 Is with Criseyde, his owen herte swete. Line 1820

Explicit liber tercius.