Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde
About this Item
- Title
- Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde
- Author
- Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400
- Publication
- London ; New York: Longman
- 1984
- Rights/Permissions
Oxford Text Archive number: U-1689-A
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DPLA Rights Statement: No Copyright - United States
- Link to this Item
-
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/Troilus
- Cite this Item
-
"Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/Troilus. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 7, 2025.
Pages
Page 348
Incipit prohemium quarti libri
But al to litel, weylaway the whyle,
Line 1
Lasteth swich ioie, y-thonked be fortune,
Line 2
That semeth trewest whan she wol bygyle,
Line 3
And kan to fooles so hire song entune,
Line 4
That she hem hent and blent, traitour comune;
Line 5
And whan a wight is from hire whiel y-throwe,
Line 6
Than laugheth she and maketh hym the mowe.
Line 7
ffrom Troilus she gan hire brighte face
Line 8
Awey to writhe and tok of hym non heede,
Line 9
But caste hym clene out of his lady grace,
Line 10
And on hire whiel she sette vp Diomede;
Line 11
ffor which right now myn herte gynneth blede,
Line 12
And now my penne, allas, with which I write,
Line 13
Quaketh for drede of that I moste endite.
Line 14
ffor how Criseyde Troilus for-sook --
Line 15
Or at the leeste how that she was vnkynde --
Line 16
Moot hennes-forth ben matere of my book,
Line 17
As writen folk thorugh which it is in mynde.
Line 18
Allas, that they sholde euere cause fynde
Line 19
To speke hire harm, and if they on hire lye,
Line 20
I-wis, hem self sholde han the vilanye.
Line 21
O ȝe Herynes, Nyghtes doughtren thre,
Line 22
That endeles compleignen euere in pyne,
Line 23
Megera, Alete, and ek Thesiphone,
Line 24
Thow cruel Mars ek, fader to Quyryne,
Line 25
This ilke ferthe book me helpeth fyne,
Line 26
So that the losse of lyf and loue y-feere
Line 27
Of Troilus be fully shewed heere.
Line 28
Page 350
Line 28
Explicit prohemium quarti libri
Incipit liber quartus
Stanzas 5 through 20
Liggyng in oost, as I haue seyd er this,
Line 29
The Grekes stronge a-boute Troie town,
Line 30
Byfel that whan that Phebus shynyng is
Line 31
Upon the breste of Ercules lyoun,
Line 32
That Ector, with ful many a bold baroun,
Line 33
Caste on a day with Grekis forto fighte,
Line 34
As he was wont to greue hem what he myghte.
Line 35
Not I how longe or short it was bitwene
Line 36
This purpos and that day they fighten mente;
Line 37
But on a day, wel armed brighte and shene,
Line 38
Ector and many a worthi wight out wente,
Line 39
With spere in honde and bigge bowes bente;
Line 40
And in the berd, with-outen lenger lette,
Line 41
Hire fomen in the felde anon hem mette.
Line 42
The longe day, with speres sharpe i-grounde,
Line 43
With arwes, dartes, swerdes, maces felle,
Line 44
They fighte and bringen hors and man to grounde,
Line 45
And with hire axes out the braynes quelle;
Line 46
But in the laste shour, soth for to telle,
Line 47
The folk of Troie hem seluen so mysledden
Line 48
That with the wors at nyght homward they fledden.
Line 49
At whiche day was taken Antenore,
Line 50
Maugre Polydamas or Monesteo,
Line 51
Santippe, Sarpedoun, Polynestore,
Line 52
Polite, or ek the Troian daun Rupheo,
Line 53
And other lasse folk as Phebuseo;
Line 54
So that for harm that day the folk of Troie
Line 55
Dredden to lese a gret part of hire ioie.
Line 56
Page 352
Of Priamus was ȝeue at Grekes requeste
Line 57
A tyme of trewe, and tho they gonnen trete
Line 58
Hire prisoners to chaungen, meste and leste,
Line 59
And for the surplus ȝeuen sommes grete.
Line 60
This thing anon was couth in euery strete,
Line 61
Bothe in thassege, in town and euery where,
Line 62
And with the firste it com to Calkas ere.
Line 63
Whan Calkas knew this tretis sholde holde,
Line 64
In consistorie among the Grekes soone
Line 65
He gan in thringe forth with lordes olde,
Line 66
And sette hym there as he was wont to doone,
Line 67
And with a chaunged face hem bad a boone,
Line 68
ffor loue of god, to don that reuerence,
Line 69
To stynte noyse and ȝeue hym audience.
Line 70
Than seyde he thus, "lo, lordes myn, ich was
Line 71
Troian, as it is knowen out of drede;
Line 72
And if that ȝow remembre, I am Calkas,
Line 73
That alderfirst ȝaf comfort to ȝoure nede,
Line 74
And tolde wel how that ȝe shulden spede --
Line 75
ffor dredeles, thorugh ȝow shal in a stownde
Line 76
Ben Troie y-brend and beten down to grownde.
Line 77
"And in what fourme or in what manere wise
Line 78
This town to shende and al ȝoure lust tacheue,
Line 79
Ȝe han er this wel herd me ȝow deuyse;
Line 80
This knowe ȝe, my lordes, as I leue.
Line 81
And for the Grekis weren me so leeue,
Line 82
I com my self in my propre persone,
Line 83
To teche in this how ȝow was best to doone,
Line 84
"Hauyng vn-to my tresore ne my rente
Line 85
Right no resport to respect of ȝoure ese;
Line 86
Thus al my good I lefte and to ȝow wente,
Line 87
Wenyng in this, my lordes, ȝow to plese.
Line 88
But al that los ne doth me no disese --
Line 89
I vouche-sauf as wisly haue I ioie,
Line 90
ffor ȝow to lese al that I haue in Troie,
Line 91
"Saue of a doughter that I lefte, allas,
Line 92
Slepyng at hom whan out of Troie I sterte.
Line 93
O sterne, O cruel fader that I was!
Line 94
How myghte I haue in that so hard an herte?
Line 95
Allas, I ne hadde i-brought hire in hire sherte!
Line 96
ffor sorwe of whiche I wol nought lyue to-morwe,
Line 97
But if ȝe lordes rewe vp-on my sorwe.
Line 98
Page 354
"ffor by that cause I say no tyme er now
Line 99
Hire to deliuere, ich holden haue my pees;
Line 100
But now or neuere, if that it like ȝow,
Line 101
I may hire haue right soone, douteles;
Line 102
O help and grace amonges al this prees --
Line 103
Rewe on this olde caytif in destresse,
Line 104
Syn I thorugh ȝow haue al this heuynesse.
Line 105
"Ȝe haue now kaught and fetered in prisoun
Line 106
Troians ynowe, and if ȝoure willes be,
Line 107
My child with oon may han redempcioun.
Line 108
Now for the loue of god and of bounte,
Line 109
Oon of so fele, allas, so ȝeue hym me.
Line 110
What nede were it this preiere forto werne,
Line 111
Syn ȝe shul bothe han folk and town as ȝerne?
Line 112
"On peril of my lif I shal nat lye,
Line 113
Appollo hath me told it feithfullye;
Line 114
I haue ek founde it be astronomye,
Line 115
By sort and by augurye ek trewelye,
Line 116
And dar wel say the tyme is faste by
Line 117
That fire and flaumbe on al the town shal sprede,
Line 118
And thus shal Troie torne to asshen dede.
Line 119
"ffor certein, Phebus and Neptunus bothe,
Line 120
That makeden the walles of the town,
Line 121
Ben with the folk of Troie alwey so wrothe,
Line 122
That they wol brynge it to confusioun,
Line 123
Right in despit of kyng Lameadoun:
Line 124
By-cause he nolde payen hem here hire,
Line 125
The town of Troie shal ben set on fire."
Line 126
Tellyng his tale alwey, this olde greye,
Line 127
Humble in his speche and in his lokyng eke,
Line 128
The salte teris from his eyen tweye
Line 129
fful faste ronnen down by either cheke.
Line 130
So longe he gan of socour hem biseke,
Line 131
That forto hele hym of his sorwes soore,
Line 132
They ȝaue hym Antenor with-outen moore.
Line 133
Page 356
But who was glad ynough but Calkas tho?
Line 134
And of this thyng ful soone hise nedes leyde
Line 135
On hem that sholden for the tretis go;
Line 136
And hem for Antenor ful ofte preyde
Line 137
To bryngen hom kyng Toas and Criseyde;
Line 138
And whan Priam his saue garde sente,
Line 139
Thembassadours to Troie streight they wente.
Line 140
Stanzas 21 through 30
The cause i-tolde of hire comyng, the olde
Line 141
Priam the kyng ful soone in general
Line 142
Let her-vpon his perlement to holde,
Line 143
Of which theffect rehercen ȝow I shal:
Line 144
Thembassadours ben answerd for fynal,
Line 145
Theschaunge of prisoners and al this nede
Line 146
Hem liketh wel, and forth in they procede.
Line 147
This Troilus was present in the place,
Line 148
Whan axed was for Antenor Criseyde,
Line 149
ffor which ful soone chaungen gan his face,
Line 150
As he that with tho wordes wel neigh deyde;
Line 151
But natheles he no word to it seyde,
Line 152
Lest men sholde his affeccioun espye;
Line 153
With mannes herte he gan his sorwes drye,
Line 154
And ful of angwissh and of grisly drede
Line 155
Abod what lordes wolde vnto it seye;
Line 156
And if they wolde graunte, as god forbede,
Line 157
Theschaunge of hire, than thoughte he thynges tweye:
Line 158
ffirst, how to saue hire honour, and what weye
Line 159
He myghte best theschaunge of hire withstonde;
Line 160
fful faste he caste how al this myghte stonde.
Line 161
Page 358
Loue hym made al prest to don hire byde,
Line 162
And rather dyen than she sholde go;
Line 163
But resoun seyde hym on that other syde:
Line 164
"With-outen assent of hire ne do nat so,
Line 165
If thow debate it, lest she be thy fo,
Line 166
And seyn that thorugh thy medlynge is i-blowe
Line 167
Ȝoure bother loue, ther it was erst vnknowe.'
Line 168
ffor which he gan deliberen for the beste,
Line 169
That though the lordes wolde that she wente,
Line 170
He wolde lat hem graunte what hem leste,
Line 171
And telle his lady first what that they mente;
Line 172
And whan that she hadde seyd hym hire entente,
Line 173
Ther-after wolde he werken also blyue,
Line 174
Theigh al the world aȝeyn it wolde stryue.
Line 175
Ector, which that wel the Grekes herde,
Line 176
ffor Antenor how they wolde han Criseyde,
Line 177
Gan it withstonde and sobrely answerde:
Line 178
"Syres, she nys no prisonere," he seyde;
Line 179
"I not on ȝow who that this charge leyde,
Line 180
But on my part ȝe may eft-sones hem telle,
Line 181
We vsen here no wommen forto selle."
Line 182
The noyse of peple vp stirte thanne at ones,
Line 183
As breme as blase of straw i-set on fire;
Line 184
ffor infortune it wolde for the nones
Line 185
They sholden hire confusioun desire.
Line 186
"Ector," quod they, "what goost may ȝow enspyre,
Line 187
This womman thus to shilde and don vs leese
Line 188
Daun Antenor -- a wrong wey now ȝe chese --
Line 189
"That is so wys and ek so bold baroun?
Line 190
And we han nede of folk, as men may se:
Line 191
He is ek on the grettest of this town.
Line 192
O Ector, lat tho fantasies be.
Line 193
O kyng Priam,' quod they, "thus sygge we,
Line 194
That al oure vois is to forgon Criseyde."
Line 195
And to deliueren Antenor they preyde.
Line 196
O Iuuenal, lord, soth is thy sentence,
Line 197
That litel wyten folk what is to ȝerne,
Line 198
That they ne fynde in hire desire offence;
Line 199
ffor cloude of errour lat hem nat discerne
Line 200
What best is; and lo, here ensample as ȝerne:
Line 201
This folk desiren now deliueraunce
Line 202
Of Antenor that brought hem to meschaunce.
Line 203
Page 360
ffor he was after traitour to the town
Line 204
Of Troye; allas, they quytte hym out to rathe.
Line 205
O nyce world, lo thy discrecioun!
Line 206
Criseyde, which that neuere dide hem scathe,
Line 207
Shal now no lenger in hire blisse bathe;
Line 208
But Antenor, he shal com hom to towne,
Line 209
And she shal out; thus seyde here and howne.
Line 210
Stanzas 31 through 40
ffor which delibered was by perlement,
Line 211
ffor Antenor to ȝelden out Criseyde,
Line 212
And it pronounced by the president,
Line 213
Al-theigh that Ector nay ful ofte preyde.
Line 214
And fynaly, what wight that it with-seyde,
Line 215
It was for nought; it moste ben and sholde,
Line 216
ffor substaunce of the perlement it wolde.
Line 217
Deperted out of parlement echone,
Line 218
This Troilus with-outen wordes mo
Line 219
Into his chambre spedde hym faste allone,
Line 220
But if it were a man of his or two,
Line 221
The which he bad out faste forto go,
Line 222
By-cause he wolde slepen as he seyde,
Line 223
And hastily vp-on his bedde hym leyde.
Line 224
Page 362
And as in wynter leues ben birafte,
Line 225
Ech after other til the tree be bare,
Line 226
So that ther nys but bark and braunche i-lafte,
Line 227
Lith Troilus byraft of eche welfare,
Line 228
I-bounden in the blake bark of care,
Line 229
Disposed wood out of his wit to breyde,
Line 230
So sore hym sat the chaungynge of Criseyde.
Line 231
He rist hym vp, and euery dore he shette
Line 232
And wyndow ek, and tho this sorwful man
Line 233
Up-on his beddes syde adown hym sette,
Line 234
fful like a dede ymage, pale and wan;
Line 235
And in his brest the heped wo bygan
Line 236
Out breste, and he to werken in this wise
Line 237
In his woodnesse, as I shal ȝow deuyse.
Line 238
Right as the wylde bole bygynneth sprynge,
Line 239
Now her, now ther, i-darted to the herte,
Line 240
And of his deth roreth in compleynynge,
Line 241
Right so gan he aboute the chambre sterte,
Line 242
Smytyng his brest ay with his fistes smerte;
Line 243
His hed to the wal, his body to the grounde,
Line 244
fful ofte he swapte, hym seluen to confounde.
Line 245
Page 364
His eyen two, for piete of herte,
Line 246
Out stremeden as swifte welles tweye;
Line 247
The heighe sobbes of his sorwes smerte
Line 248
His speche hym refte; vnnethes myghte he seye,
Line 249
"O deth, allas, why nyltow do me deye?
Line 250
Acorsed be that day which that nature
Line 251
Shop me to ben a lyues creature."
Line 252
But after, whan the furie and al the rage
Line 253
Which that his herte twiste and faste threste,
Line 254
By lengthe of tyme somwhat gan aswage,
Line 255
Upon his bed he leyde hym down to reste;
Line 256
But tho bygonne his teeris more out breste,
Line 257
That wonder is the body may suffise
Line 258
To half this wo which that I ȝow deuyse.
Line 259
Than seyde he thus, "fortune, allas the while!
Line 260
What haue I don, what haue I thus a-gylte?
Line 261
How myghtestow for rowthe me by-gile?
Line 262
Is ther no grace, and shal I thus be spilte?
Line 263
Shal thus Creiseyde awey for that thow wilte?
Line 264
Allas, how maistow in thyn herte fynde
Line 265
To ben to me thus cruwel and vnkynde?
Line 266
"Haue I the nought honoured al my lyue,
Line 267
As thow wel woost, aboue the goddes alle?
Line 268
Whi wiltow me fro ioie thus depriue?
Line 269
O Troilus, what may men now the calle
Line 270
But wrecche of wrecches, out of honour falle
Line 271
Into miserie, in which I wol be-waille
Line 272
Creiseyde, allas, til that the breth me faille?
Line 273
Page 366
"Allas, fortune, if that my lif in ioie
Line 274
Displesed hadde vnto thi foule enuye,
Line 275
Why ne haddestow my fader, kyng of Troye,
Line 276
Byraft the lif or don my bretheren dye,
Line 277
Or slayn my self that thus compleyne and crye,
Line 278
I, combre-world, that may of no thyng serue,
Line 279
But euere dye and neuere fulli sterue?
Line 280
Stanzas 41 through 50
If that Criseyde allone were me laft,
Line 281
Nought roughte I whider thow woldest me steere;
Line 282
And hire, allas, than hastow me biraft.
Line 283
But euere more, lo, this is thi manere,
Line 284
To reue a wight that most is to hym deere,
Line 285
To preue in that thi gerful violence:
Line 286
Thus am I lost, ther helpeth no diffence.
Line 287
"O verrey lord of loue, O god, allas,
Line 288
That knowest best myn herte and al my thoughte,
Line 289
What shal my sorwful lif don in this cas,
Line 290
If I for-go that I so deere haue boughte?
Line 291
Syn ȝe Criseyde and me han fully broughte
Line 292
In-to ȝoure grace and bothe oure hertes seled,
Line 293
How may ȝe suffre, allas, it be repeled?
Line 294
Page 368
"What shal I don? I shal, while I may dure
Line 295
On lyue in torment and in cruwel peyne,
Line 296
This in-fortune or this disauenture
Line 297
Allone as I was born, i-wys, compleyne;
Line 298
Ne neuere wol I seen it shyne or reyne,
Line 299
But ende I wol as Edippe in derknesse
Line 300
My sorwful lif and dyen in distresse.
Line 301
"O wery goost that errest to and fro,
Line 302
Why nyltow fleen out of the wofulleste
Line 303
Body that euere myghte on grounde go?
Line 304
O soule, lurkynge in this wo, vnneste,
Line 305
ffle forth out of myn herte and lat it breste,
Line 306
And folwe alwey Criseyde, thi lady dere;
Line 307
Thi righte place is now no lenger here.
Line 308
"O woful eyen two, syn ȝoure disport
Line 309
Was al to sen Criseydes eyen brighte,
Line 310
What shal ȝe don but, for my discomfort,
Line 311
Stonden for naught and wepen out ȝoure sighte,
Line 312
Syn she is queynt that wont was ȝow to lighte?
Line 313
In vayn fro this forth haue ich eyen tweye
Line 314
I-fourmed, syn ȝoure vertue is aweye.
Line 315
"O my Criseyde, O lady souereigne
Line 316
Of thilke woful soule that thus crieth,
Line 317
Who shal now ȝeuen comfort to the peyne?
Line 318
Allas, no wight; but whan myn herte dieth,
Line 319
My spirit, which that so vnto ȝow hieth,
Line 320
Receyue in gree, for that shal ay ȝow serue;
Line 321
ffor-thi no fors is though the body sterue.
Line 322
Page 370
"O ȝe loueris, that heigh vp on the whiel
Line 323
Ben set of fortune in good auenture,
Line 324
God leue that ȝe fynde ay loue of stiel,
Line 325
And longe mote ȝoure lif in ioie endure!
Line 326
But whan ȝe comen by my sepulture,
Line 327
Remembreth that ȝoure felawe resteth there,
Line 328
ffor I loued ek, though ich vnworthi were.
Line 329
"O oold, vnholsom and myslyued man --
Line 330
Calkas I mene -- allas, what eiled the
Line 331
To ben a Grek, syn thow art born Troian?
Line 332
O Calkas, which that wolt my bane be,
Line 333
In corsed tyme was thow born for me.
Line 334
As wolde blisful Ioue for his ioie
Line 335
That I the hadde wher I wolde in Troie."
Line 336
A thousand sikes hotter than the gleede
Line 337
Out of his brest ech after other wente,
Line 338
Medled with pleyntes new his wo to feede,
Line 339
ffor which his woful teris neuere stente;
Line 340
And shortly, so his peynes hym to-rente
Line 341
And wex so mat, that ioie nor penaunce
Line 342
He feleth non, but lith forth in a traunce.
Line 343
Pandare, which that in the parlement
Line 344
Hadde herd what euery lord and burgeys seyde,
Line 345
And how ful graunted was by oon assent
Line 346
ffor Antenor to ȝelden so Criseyde,
Line 347
Gan wel neigh wood out of his wit to breyde,
Line 348
So that for wo he nyste what he mente,
Line 349
But in a rees to Troilus he wente.
Line 350
Stanzas 51 through 60
Page 372
A certeyn knyght that for the tyme kepte
Line 351
The chambre door vndid it hym anon;
Line 352
And Pandare, that ful tendreliche wepte,
Line 353
In-to the derke chambre, as stille as ston,
Line 354
Toward the bed gan softely to gon,
Line 355
So confus that he nyste what to seye --
Line 356
ffor verray wo his wit was neigh aweye.
Line 357
And with his chiere and lokyng al to-torne
Line 358
ffor sorwe of this, and with his armes folden,
Line 359
He stood this woful Troilus by-forne,
Line 360
And on his pitous face he gan byholden;
Line 361
But, lord, so ofte gan his herte colden,
Line 362
Seyng his frend in wo, whos heuynesse
Line 363
His herte slough, as thoughte hym, for destresse.
Line 364
This woful wight, this Troilus, that felte
Line 365
His frend Pandare y-comen hym to se,
Line 366
Gan as the snow aȝeyn the sonne melte,
Line 367
ffor which this sorwful Pandare of pitee
Line 368
Gan forto wepe as tendreliche as he;
Line 369
And specheles thus ben thise ilke tweye,
Line 370
That neither myghte o word for sorwe seye.
Line 371
But at the laste this woful Troilus,
Line 372
Neigh ded for smert gan bresten out to rore,
Line 373
And with a sorwful noise he seyde thus,
Line 374
Amonge hise sobbes and his sikes sore:
Line 375
"Lo, pandare, I am ded with-outen more.
Line 376
Hastow nat herd at parlement," he seyde,
Line 377
"ffor Antenore how lost is my Criseyde?"
Line 378
This Pandarus, ful dede and pale of hewe,
Line 379
fful pitously answerde and seyde, "ȝis,
Line 380
As wisly were it fals as it is trewe,
Line 381
That I haue herd and woot al how it is.
Line 382
O mercy, god, who wolde haue trowed this?
Line 383
Who wolde haue wend that in so litel a throwe
Line 384
ffortune oure ioie wold han ouere-throwe?
Line 385
"ffor in this world ther is no creature,
Line 386
As to my dome, that euere saugh ruyne
Line 387
Straunger than this thorugh cas or auenture.
Line 388
But who may all eschue or al deuyne?
Line 389
Swich is this world; forthi I thus diffyne:
Line 390
Ne trust no wight to fynden in fortune
Line 391
Ay propretee -- hire ȝiftes ben comune.
Line 392
Page 374
"But telle me this, whi thow art now so mad
Line 393
To sorwen thus? Whi listow in this wise,
Line 394
Syn thi desire al holly hastow had,
Line 395
So that by right it oughte ynough suffise?
Line 396
But I that neuere felte in my seruyse
Line 397
A frendly cheere or lokyng of an eye,
Line 398
Lat me thus wepe and wailen til I deye.
Line 399
"And ouere al this, as thow wel woost thi selue,
Line 400
This town is ful of ladys al aboute;
Line 401
And to my doom, fairer than swiche twelue
Line 402
As euere she was shal I fynde in some route,
Line 403
Ȝee, on or two, with-outen any doute.
Line 404
ffor-thi be glad, myn owen deere brother;
Line 405
If she be lost, we shal recouere an other.
Line 406
"What, god forbede alwey that eche plesaunce
Line 407
In o thing were and in non other wight:
Line 408
If oon kan synge, an other kan wel daunce;
Line 409
If this be goodly, she is glad and light;
Line 410
And this is faire, and that kan good aright:
Line 411
Eche for his vertue holden is for deere,
Line 412
Both herouner and faucoun for ryuere.
Line 413
"And ek as writ Zanzis, that was ful wys,
Line 414
'The newe loue out chaceth ofte the olde',;
Line 415
And vp-on newe cas lith newe auys.
Line 416
Thenk ek thi lif to sauen artow holde.
Line 417
Swich fir by proces shal of kynde colde;
Line 418
ffor syn it is but casuel plesaunce,
Line 419
Som cas shal putte it out of remembraunce.
Line 420
Stanzas 61 through 70
"ffor also seur as day comth after nyght,
Line 421
The newe loue, labour, or oother wo,
Line 422
Or elles selde seynge of a wight,
Line 423
Don olde affecciouns alle ouere-go.
Line 424
And for thi part thow shalt haue oon of tho
Line 425
Tabregge with thi bittre peynes smerte;
Line 426
Absence of hire shal dryue hire out of herte."
Line 427
Page 376
Thise wordes seyde he for the nones alle,
Line 428
To help his frend lest he for sorwe deyde;
Line 429
ffor douteles to don his wo to falle
Line 430
He roughte nought what vnthrift that he seyde.
Line 431
But Troilus, that neigh for sorwe deyde,
Line 432
Took litel heede of al that euere he mente;
Line 433
Oon ere it herde, at tother out it wente.
Line 434
But at the laste he answerde and seyde, "frende,
Line 435
This lechecraft, or heeled thus to be,
Line 436
Were wel sittyng if that I were a fende --
Line 437
To traysen a wight that trewe is vnto me.
Line 438
I pray god lat this conseil neuere y-the;
Line 439
But do me rather sterue anon right here,
Line 440
Er I thus do as thow me woldest leere.
Line 441
"She that I serue, i-wis, what so thow seye,
Line 442
To whom myn herte enhabit is by right,
Line 443
Shal han me holly hires til that I deye.
Line 444
ffor Pandarus, syn I haue trouthe hire hight,
Line 445
I wol nat ben vntrewe for no wight;
Line 446
But as hire man I wol ay lyue and sterue,
Line 447
And neuere other creature serue.
Line 448
"And ther thow seist thow shalt as faire fynde
Line 449
As she -- lat be, make no comparisoun
Line 450
To creature y-formed here by kynde.
Line 451
O leue Pandare, in conclusioun
Line 452
I wol nat ben of thyn opynyoun
Line 453
Touchyng al this; for which I the biseche,
Line 454
So holde thi pees: thow sleest me with thi speche.
Line 455
"Thow biddest me I shulde loue an other
Line 456
Al fresshly newe and lat Criseyde go.
Line 457
It lith nat in my power, leeue brother;
Line 458
And though I myght, I wolde nat do so.
Line 459
But kanstow playen raket to and fro,
Line 460
Nettle in, dok out, now this, now that, Pandare?
Line 461
Now foule falle hire for thi wo that care.
Line 462
"Thow farest ek by me, thow Pandarus,
Line 463
As he that whan a wight is wo bygon,
Line 464
He cometh to hym a paas and seith right thus,
Line 465
"Thynk nat on smert and thow shalt fele non.'
Line 466
Thow moost me first transmewen in a ston,
Line 467
And reue me my passiones alle,
Line 468
Er thow so lightly do my wo to falle.
Line 469
Page 378
"The deth may wel out of my brest departe
Line 470
The lif, so longe may this sorwe myne;
Line 471
But fro my soule shal Criseydes darte
Line 472
Out neuere mo, but down with Proserpyne,
Line 473
Whan I am ded, I wol go wone in pyne;
Line 474
And ther I wol eternaly compleyne
Line 475
My wo and how that twynned be we tweyne.
Line 476
"Thow hast here made an argument for fyne,
Line 477
How that it sholde lasse peyne be
Line 478
Criseyde to forgon, for she was myne,
Line 479
And lyued in ese and in felicite --
Line 480
Whi gabbestow, that seydest vn-to me,
Line 481
That hym is wors that is fro wele ythrowe,
Line 482
Than he hadde erst noon of that wele y-knowe?
Line 483
"But telle me now syn that the thynketh so light
Line 484
To changen so in loue ay to and fro,
Line 485
Whi hastow nat don bisily thi myght
Line 486
To chaungen hire that doth the al thi wo?
Line 487
Whi nyltow lete hire fro thyn herte go?
Line 488
Whi nyltow loue an othere lady swete,
Line 489
That may thyn herte setten in quiete?
Line 490
Stanzas 71 through 80
["If thow hast had in loue ay yet myschaunce,
Line 491
And kanst it not out of thyn herte dryue,
Line 492
I that leuede yn lust and in plesaunce
Line 493
With here as muche as creature on lyue,
Line 494
How sholde I that foryete and that so blyue?
Line 495
O where hastow ben hid so longe in muwe,
Line 496
That kanst so wel and formely arguwe?
Line 497
Page 380
"Nay, nay, god wot, nought worth is al thi red,
Line 498
ffor which, for what that euere may by-falle,
Line 499
With-outen wordes mo I wol be ded.
Line 500
O deth that endere art of sorwes alle,
Line 501
Com now syn I so ofte after the calle;
Line 502
ffor sely is that deth, soth for to seyne,
Line 503
That ofte ycleped cometh and endeth peyne.
Line 504
"Wel wot I, whil my lyf was in quyete,
Line 505
Er thow me slowe I wolde haue yeuen hire;
Line 506
But now thi comynge is to me so swete
Line 507
That in this world I no thing so desire:
Line 508
O deth, syn with this sorwe I am a-fyre,
Line 509
Thou other do me anoon yn teris drenche,
Line 510
Or with thi colde strok myn hete quenche.
Line 511
"Syn that thow sleest so fele in sondry wyse
Line 512
A-yens hire wil vnpreyed day and nyght,
Line 513
Do me at my requeste this seruice:
Line 514
Delyuere now the world, so dostow right,
Line 515
Of me that am the wofulleste wyght
Line 516
That euere was; for tyme is that I sterue,
Line 517
Syn in this world of right nought may I serue."
Line 518
This Troylus in teris gan distille,
Line 519
As licour out of a lambyc ful faste;
Line 520
And Pandarus gan holde his tunge stille,
Line 521
And to the ground his eyen doun he caste;
Line 522
But natheles, thus thought he at the laste:
Line 523
"What, parde, rather than my felawe deye,
Line 524
Yet shal I som-what more vn-to hym seye."
Line 525
And seyde, "frend, syn thow hast swych distresse,
Line 526
And syn the list myn argumentz to blame,
Line 527
Why nylt thi seluen helpen don redresse,
Line 528
And with thy manhod letten al this grame?
Line 529
Go rauysshe here ne kanstow not for shame?
Line 530
And other lat here out of towne fare,
Line 531
Or hold here stille and leue thi nyce fare.]
Line 532
Page 382
"Artow in Troie and hast non hardymente
Line 533
To take a womman which that loueth the,
Line 534
And wolde hire seluen ben of thyn assente?
Line 535
Now is nat this a nyce vanitee?
Line 536
Ris vp anon and lat this wepyng be,
Line 537
And kith thow art a man, for in this houre
Line 538
I wol ben ded or she shal bleuen oure."
Line 539
To this answerde hym Troilus ful softe
Line 540
And seyde, "perde, leue brother deere,
Line 541
Al this haue I my self ȝet thought ful ofte,
Line 542
And more thyng than thow deuysest here.
Line 543
But whi this thing is laft thow shalt wel here,
Line 544
And whan thow me hast ȝeue an audience,
Line 545
I her-after maystow telle al thi sentence.
Line 546
"ffirst, syn thow woost this town hath al this werre
Line 547
ffor rauysshyng of wommen so by myght,
Line 548
It sholde nought be suffred me to erre,
Line 549
As it stant now, ne don so gret vnright:
Line 550
I sholde han also blame of euery wight,
Line 551
My fadres graunt if that I so with-stoode,
Line 552
Syn she is chaunged for the townes goode.
Line 553
"I haue ek thought, so it were hire assent,
Line 554
To axe hire at my fader of his grace;
Line 555
Than thynke I this were hire accusement,
Line 556
Syn wel I woot I may hire nought purchace:
Line 557
ffor syn my fader in so heigh a place
Line 558
As parlement hath hire eschaunge enseled,
Line 559
He nyl for me his lettre be repeled.
Line 560
Stanzas 81 through 90
"Ȝet drede I moost hire herte to pertorbe
Line 561
With violence, if I do swich a game;
Line 562
ffor if I wolde it openly destorbe,
Line 563
It mooste be disclaundre to hire name.
Line 564
And me were leuere ded than hire diffame --
Line 565
As nolde god but if I sholde haue
Line 566
Hire honour leuere than my lif to saue.
Line 567
Page 384
"Thus am I lost for aught that I kan see;
Line 568
ffor certeyn is, syn that I am hire knyght,
Line 569
I moste hire honour leuere han than me
Line 570
In euery cas, as louere ought of right.
Line 571
Thus am I with desire and reson twight:
Line 572
Desire forto destourben hire me redeth,
Line 573
And reson nyl nat, so myn herte dredeth."
Line 574
Thus wepyng that he koude neuere cesse,
Line 575
He seyde, "allas, how shal I, wrecche, fare?
Line 576
ffor wel fele I alwey my loue encresse,
Line 577
And hope is lasse and lasse alway, Pandare;
Line 578
Encressen ek the causes of my care.
Line 579
So weilaway, whi nyl myn herte breste?
Line 580
ffor as in loue ther is but litel reste."
Line 581
Pandare answerde, "frend, thow maist for me
Line 582
Don as the list; but hadde ich it so hoote,
Line 583
And thyn estat, she sholde go with me,
Line 584
Though al this town cride on this thyng by note:
Line 585
I nolde sette at al that noys a grote,
Line 586
ffor whan men han wel cryed, than wol they rowne;
Line 587
Ek wonder last but nyne nyght neuere in towne.
Line 588
"Deuyne nat in resoun ay so depe
Line 589
Ne corteisly, but help thi selue anon.
Line 590
Bet is that othere than thi seluen wepe,
Line 591
And namely, syn ȝe two ben al on,
Line 592
Ris vp, for by myn hed she shal not goon;
Line 593
And rather be in blame a lite i-founde
Line 594
Than sterue here as a gnat with-outen wounde.
Line 595
"It is no shame vn-to ȝow ne no vice
Line 596
Hire to witholden that ȝe loue moost.
Line 597
Peraunter she myghte holde the for nyce
Line 598
To late hire go thus to the Grekis oost.
Line 599
Thenk ek fortune, as wel thi seluen woost,
Line 600
Helpeth hardy man to his enprise
Line 601
And weyueth wrecches for hire cowardise.
Line 602
Page 386
"And though thy lady wolde a lite hire greue,
Line 603
Thow shalt thi self thi pees here-after make;
Line 604
But as for me, certeyn, I kan nat leue
Line 605
That she wolde it as now for yuel take.
Line 606
Whi sholde thanne of fered thyn herte quake?
Line 607
Thenk ek how Paris hath, that is thi brother,
Line 608
A loue, and whi shaltow nat haue another?
Line 609
"And Troilus, o thyng I dar the swere,
Line 610
That if Criseyde, which that is thi lief,
Line 611
Now loueth the as wel as thow dost here,
Line 612
God help me so, she nyl nat take a-grief
Line 613
Theigh thow do boote a-non in this meschief;
Line 614
And if she wilneth fro the for to passe,
Line 615
Thanne is she fals, so loue hire wel the lasse.
Line 616
"ffor-thi take herte and thynk right as a knyght,
Line 617
Thorugh loue is broken al day euery lawe.
Line 618
Kith now somwhat thi corage and thi myght;
Line 619
Haue mercy on thi self, for eny awe.
Line 620
Lat nat this wrecched wo thyn herte gnawe,
Line 621
But manly sette the world on six and seuene,
Line 622
And if thow deye a martyr, go to heuene.
Line 623
"I wol my self ben with the at this dede,
Line 624
Theigh ich and al my kyn vp-on a stownde
Line 625
Shulle in a strete as dogges liggen dede,
Line 626
Thorugh-girt with many a wide and blody wownde;
Line 627
In euery cas I wol a frend be founde.
Line 628
And if the list here steruen as a wrecche,
Line 629
A-dieu, the deuel spede hym that it recche."
Line 630
Stanzas 91 through 100
This Troilus gan with tho wordes quyken,
Line 631
And seyde, "frend, graunt mercy, ich assente.
Line 632
But certeynly thow maist nat so me priken,
Line 633
Ne peyne non ne may me so tormente,
Line 634
That for no cas it is nat myn entente,
Line 635
At shorte wordes, though I deyen sholde,
Line 636
To rauysshe hire, but if hire self it wolde."
Line 637
"Whi so mene I," quod Pandare, "al this day.
Line 638
But telle me thanne, hastow hire wil assayed,
Line 639
That sorwest thus?" and he answerde hym, "nay."
Line 640
"Wherof artow," quod Pandare," thanne amayed --
Line 641
That nost nat that she wol ben yuele appayed --
Line 642
To rauysshe hire, syn thow hast nought ben there,
Line 643
But if that Ioue tolde it in thyn ere?
Line 644
Page 388
"fforthi ris vp as nought ne were anon,
Line 645
And wasshe thi face and to the kyng thow wende,
Line 646
Or he may wondren whider thow art goon.
Line 647
Thow most with wisdom hym and othere blende,
Line 648
Or vp-on cas he may after the sende
Line 649
Er thow be war; and shortly, brother deere,
Line 650
Be glad, and lat me werke in this matere.
Line 651
"ffor I shal shape it so that sikerly
Line 652
Thow shalt this nyght som tyme, in som manere,
Line 653
Com speken with thi lady pryuely,
Line 654
And by hire wordes ek as by hire cheere
Line 655
Thow shalt ful sone aperceyue and wel here
Line 656
Al hire entente, and in this cas the beste;
Line 657
And fare now wel, for in this point I reste."
Line 658
The swifte fame, which that false thynges
Line 659
Egal reporteth lik the thynges trewe,
Line 660
Was thorugh-out Troye y-fled with preste wynges
Line 661
ffro man to man and made this tale al newe,
Line 662
How Calkas doughter with hire brighte hewe,
Line 663
At parlement with-outen wordes more
Line 664
Y-graunted was in chaunge of Antenore.
Line 665
The whiche tale anon right as Criseyde
Line 666
Hadde herd, she which that of hire fader roughte,
Line 667
As in this cas, right nought, ne whan he deyde,
Line 668
fful bisily to Iupiter bisoughte
Line 669
Ȝeue hem meschaunce that this tretis broughte;
Line 670
But shortly, lest thise tales sothe were,
Line 671
She dorst at no wight asken it for fere,
Line 672
As she that hadde hire herte and al hire mynde
Line 673
On Troilus i-set so wonder faste,
Line 674
That al this world ne myghte hire loue vnbynde,
Line 675
Ne Troilus out of hire herte caste;
Line 676
She wol ben his while that hire lif may laste.
Line 677
And thus she brenneth both in loue and drede,
Line 678
So that she nyste what was best to reede.
Line 679
But as men seen in towne and al aboute
Line 680
That wommen vsen frendes to visite,
Line 681
So to Criseyde of wommen com a route
Line 682
ffor pitous ioie and wenden hire delite;
Line 683
And with hire tales deere ynough a myte,
Line 684
Thise wommen which that in the Cite dwelle,
Line 685
They sette hem down and seyde as I shall telle.
Line 686
Page 390
Quod first that oon, "I am glad, trewely,
Line 687
By-cause of ȝow that shal ȝoure fader see.',
Line 688
Another seyde, "ywis, so nam nat I,
Line 689
ffor al to litel hath she with vs be."
Line 690
Quod tho the thridde, "I hope, ywis, that she
Line 691
Shal bryngen vs the pees on euery syde,
Line 692
That, whan she goth, almyghty god hire gide."
Line 693
Tho wordes and tho wommanysshe thynges,
Line 694
She herde hem right as though she thennes were;
Line 695
ffor, god it woot, hire herte on othir thyng is:
Line 696
Al-though the body sat among hem there,
Line 697
Hire aduertence is alwey elles-where;
Line 698
ffor Troilus ful faste hire soule soughte;
Line 699
With-outen word on hym alwey she thoughte.
Line 700
Stanzas 101 through 110
Thise wommen, that thus wenden hire to plese,
Line 701
Aboute naught gonne alle hire tales spende;
Line 702
Swich vanyte ne kan don hire non ese,
Line 703
As she that al this mene while brende
Line 704
Of other passioun than that they wende,
Line 705
So that she felte almost hire herte dye,
Line 706
ffor wo and wery of that compaignie.
Line 707
[ffor which no lenger myghte she restreyne
Line 708
Hir teeris, so they gonnen vp to welle,
Line 709
That yauen signes of the bittre peyne
Line 710
In which hir spirit was and moste dwelle,
Line 711
Remembryng hir fro heuen into which helle
Line 712
She fallen was, syn she forgoth the syghte
Line 713
Of Troilus, and sorwfully she sighte.]
Line 714
And thilke fooles sittynge hire a-boute
Line 715
Wenden that she wepte and siked sore
Line 716
By-cause that she sholde out of that route
Line 717
Deperte and neuere pleye with hem more.
Line 718
And they that hadde y-knowen hire of ȝore
Line 719
Seigh hire so wepe and thoughte it kyndenesse,
Line 720
And ech of hem wepte ek for hire destresse.
Line 721
And bisyly they gonnen hire comforten
Line 722
Of thyng, god woot, on which she litel thoughte,
Line 723
And with hire tales wenden hire disporten,
Line 724
And to be glad they often hire bysoughte.
Line 725
But swiche an ese therwith they hire wroughte
Line 726
Right as a man is esed forto feele,
Line 727
ffor ache of hed to clawen hym on his heele.
Line 728
Page 392
But after al this nyce vanyte
Line 729
They toke hire leue and hom they wenten alle.
Line 730
Criseyde, ful of sorweful pite,
Line 731
In-to hire chambre vp went out of the halle,
Line 732
And on hire bed she gan for ded to falle,
Line 733
In purpos neuere thennes for to rise;
Line 734
And thus she wroughte, as I shal ȝow deuyse.
Line 735
Hire ownded heer that sonnyssh was of hewe
Line 736
She rente, and ek hire fyngeres longe and smale
Line 737
She wrong ful ofte and bad god on hire rewe,
Line 738
And with the deth to doon boote on hire bale;
Line 739
Hire hewe whilom bright, that tho was pale,
Line 740
Bar witnesse of hire wo and hire constreynte;
Line 741
And this she spak, sobbyng in hire compleynte,
Line 742
"Allas,' quod she, "out of this regioun
Line 743
I, woful wrecche and in-fortuned wight,
Line 744
And born in corsed constellacioun,
Line 745
Moot goon and thus deperten from my knyght.
Line 746
Wo worth, allas, that ilke dayes light
Line 747
On which I saugh hym first with eyen tweyne,
Line 748
That causeth me -- and ich hym -- al this peyne!"
Line 749
Ther-with the teris from hire eyen two
Line 750
Down fille as shoure in Aperil ful swithe;
Line 751
Hire white brest she bet and for the wo
Line 752
After the deth she cryed a thousand sithe,
Line 753
Syn he that wont hire wo was for to lithe,
Line 754
She moot forgon; for which disauenture
Line 755
She held hire self a forlost creature.
Line 756
She seyde, "how shal he don and ich also?
Line 757
How sholde I lyue if that I from hym twynne?
Line 758
O deere herte eke, that I loue so,
Line 759
Who shal that sorwe slen that ȝe ben inne?
Line 760
O Calkas, fader, thyn be al this synne!
Line 761
O moder myn, that cleped were Argyue,
Line 762
Wo worth that day that thow me bere on lyue!
Line 763
Page 394
"To what fyn sholde I lyue and sorwen thus?
Line 764
How sholde a fissh with-outen water dure?
Line 765
What is Criseyde worth from Troilus?
Line 766
How sholde a plaunte or lyues creature
Line 767
Lyue with-outen his kynde noriture?
Line 768
ffor which ful ofte a byword here I seye,
Line 769
That "rooteles moot grene soone deye.'
Line 770
Stanzas 111 through 120
"I shal doon thus, syn neither swerd ne darte
Line 771
Dar I noon handle for the crueltee,
Line 772
That ilke day that I from ȝow departe,
Line 773
If sorwe of that nyl nat my bane be,
Line 774
Thanne shal no mete or drynke come in me
Line 775
Til I my soule out of my breste vnshethe,
Line 776
And thus my seluen wol I don to dethe.
Line 777
"And Troilus, my clothes euerychon
Line 778
Shul blake ben in tokennyng, herte swete,
Line 779
That I am as out of this world agon,
Line 780
That wont was ȝow to setten in quiete;
Line 781
And of myn ordre ay til deth me mete,
Line 782
The obseruance euere in ȝoure absence
Line 783
Shal sorwe ben, compleynt and abstinence.
Line 784
Page 396
"Myn herte and ek the woful goost ther-inne
Line 785
Byquethe I with ȝoure spirit to compleyne
Line 786
Eternaly for they shal neuere twynne;
Line 787
ffor though in erthe y-twynned be we tweyne,
Line 788
Ȝet in the feld of pite, out of peyne,
Line 789
That highte Elisos, shal we ben y-feere,
Line 790
As Orpheus with Erudice his feere.
Line 791
"Thus, herte myn, for Antenor, allas,
Line 792
I soone shal be chaunged, as I wene.
Line 793
But how shul ȝe don in this sorwful cas?
Line 794
How shal ȝoure tendre herte this sustene?
Line 795
But, herte myn, forȝete this sorwe and tene,
Line 796
And me also, for sothly forto seye,
Line 797
So ȝe wel fare, I recche naught to deye."
Line 798
How myghte it euere y-red ben or y-songe,
Line 799
The pleynte that she made in hire destresse?
Line 800
I not; but as for me, my litel tonge,
Line 801
If I discryuen wolde hire heuynesse,
Line 802
It sholde make hire sorwe seme lesse
Line 803
Than that it was, and childisshly deface
Line 804
Hire heigh compleynte, and therfore ich it pace.
Line 805
Pandare, which that sent from Troilus
Line 806
Was to Criseyde -- as ȝe han herd deuyse,
Line 807
That for the beste it was acorded thus,
Line 808
And he ful glad to doon hym that seruyse --
Line 809
Unto Criseyde in a ful secree wise,
Line 810
Ther as she lay in torment and in rage,
Line 811
Come hire to telle al holly his message.
Line 812
Page 398
And fond that she hire seluen gan to trete
Line 813
fful pitously, for with hire salte teris
Line 814
Hire brest, hire face, y-bathed was ful wete;
Line 815
The myghty tresses of hire sonnysshe heeris
Line 816
Unbroiden hangen al aboute hire eeris,
Line 817
Which ȝaf hym verray signal of martire
Line 818
Of deth which that hire herte gan desire.
Line 819
Whan she hym saugh she gan for sorwe anon
Line 820
Hire tery face atwixe hire armes hide,
Line 821
ffor which this Pandare is so wo-bygon
Line 822
That in the hous he myghte vnnethe abyde,
Line 823
As he that pite felt on euery syde:
Line 824
ffor if Criseyde hadde erst compleyned soore,
Line 825
Tho gan she pleyne a thousand tymes more.
Line 826
And in hire aspre pleynte thus she seyde,
Line 827
"Pandare first of ioies mo than two
Line 828
Was cause causyng vnto me, Criseyde,
Line 829
That now transmewed ben in cruel wo.
Line 830
Wher shal I seye to ȝow welcom or no,
Line 831
That alderfirst me broughte vnto seruyse
Line 832
Of loue, allas, that endeth in swich wise?
Line 833
"Endeth thanne loue in wo? ȝe, or men lieth,
Line 834
And alle worldly blisse as thynketh me:
Line 835
The ende of blisse ay sorwe it occupieth.
Line 836
And who-so troweth nat that it so be,
Line 837
Lat hym vp-on me, woful wrecche, ysee,
Line 838
That my self hate and ay my burthe a-corse,
Line 839
ffelyng alwey fro wikke I go to worse.
Line 840
Stanzas 121 through 130
"Who-so me seeth, he seeth sorwe al atonys,
Line 841
Peyne, torment, pleynte, wo, distresse.
Line 842
Out of my woful body harm ther noon is,
Line 843
As angwissh, langour, cruel bitternesse,
Line 844
Anoy, smert, drede, fury and ek siknesse.
Line 845
I trowe, ywys, from heuene teeris reyne
Line 846
ffor pite of myn aspre and cruel peyne."
Line 847
Page 400
"And thow my suster, ful of discomfort,"
Line 848
Quod Pandarus, "what thynkestow to do?
Line 849
Whi ne hastow to thy seluen som resport?
Line 850
Whi wiltow thus thi self, allas, for-do?
Line 851
Leef al this werk and take now heede to
Line 852
That I shal seyn, and herkne of good entente
Line 853
This which by me thi Troilus the sente."
Line 854
Tornede hire tho Criseyde, a wo makynge
Line 855
So gret that it a deth was forto see.
Line 856
"Allas," quod she, "what wordes may ȝe brynge?
Line 857
What wol my deere herte seyn to me,
Line 858
Which that I drede neuere mo to see?
Line 859
Wol he han pleynte or teris er I wende?
Line 860
I haue ynough if he ther-after sende."
Line 861
She was right swich to seen in hire visage
Line 862
As is that wight that men on beere bynde:
Line 863
Hire face, lik of Paradys the ymage,
Line 864
Was al ychaunged in a-nother kynde;
Line 865
The pleye, the laughter, men was wont to fynde
Line 866
In hire, and ek hire ioies euerichone,
Line 867
Ben fled, and thus lith now Criseyde allone.
Line 868
Aboute hire eyen two a purpre ryng
Line 869
By-trent in sothfast tokenyng of hire peyne,
Line 870
That to biholde it was a dedly thyng,
Line 871
ffor which Pandare myghte nat restreyne
Line 872
The teeris from hise eighen forto reyne.
Line 873
But natheles, as he best myghte, he seyde
Line 874
ffrom Troilus thise wordes to Criseyde.
Line 875
"Lo, Nece, I trowe ȝe han herd al how
Line 876
The kyng with othere lordes for the beste
Line 877
Hath made eschaunge of Antenor and ȝow,
Line 878
That cause is of this sorwe and this vnreste.
Line 879
But how this cas dooth Troilus moleste,
Line 880
That may non erthely mannes tonge seye;
Line 881
ffor verray wo his wit is al aweye.
Line 882
"ffor which we han so sorwed, he and I,
Line 883
That in-to litel bothe it hadde vs slawe;
Line 884
But thorugh my conseyl this day finaly,
Line 885
He somwhat is fro wepynge now withdrawe,
Line 886
And semeth me that he desireth fawe
Line 887
With ȝow to ben al nyght forto deuyse
Line 888
Remedie in this, if ther were any wyse.
Line 889
Page 402
"This, shorte and pleyn, theffect of my message,
Line 890
As ferforth as my wit kan comprehende;
Line 891
ffor ȝe that ben of torment in swich rage
Line 892
May to no longe prologe as now entende;
Line 893
And here-vpon ȝe may answere hym sende --
Line 894
And for the loue of god, my Nece deere,
Line 895
So leue this wo er Troilus be here."
Line 896
"Gret is my wo," quod she and sighte soore,
Line 897
As she that feleth dedly sharp distresse,
Line 898
"But ȝit to me his sorwe is muchel more,
Line 899
That loue hym bet than he hym self, I gesse.
Line 900
Allas, for me hath he swich heuynesse?
Line 901
Kan he for me so pitously compleyne?
Line 902
I-wis, his sorwe doubleth al my peyne.
Line 903
"Greuous to me, god woot, is forto twynne,"
Line 904
Quod she, "but ȝet it harder is to me
Line 905
To sen that sorwe which that he is inne,
Line 906
ffor wel woot I it wol my bane be,
Line 907
And deye I wol in certeyn," tho quod she;
Line 908
"But bid hym come er deth, that thus me threteth,
Line 909
Dryue out that goost which in myn herte beteth."
Line 910
Stanzas 131 through 140
Thise wordes seyd, she on hire armes two
Line 911
ffil gruf and gan to wepen pitously.
Line 912
Quod Pandarus, "allas, whi do ȝe so,
Line 913
Syn wel ȝe woot the tyme is faste by
Line 914
That he shal come? Aris vp hastily,
Line 915
That he ȝow nat bywopen thus ne fynde,
Line 916
But ȝe wole haue him wood out of his mynde.
Line 917
"ffor wiste he that ȝe ferde in this manere,
Line 918
He wolde hym seluen sle; and if I wende
Line 919
To han this fare, he sholde nat come here
Line 920
ffor al the good that Priam may dispende.
Line 921
ffor to what fyn he wolde anon pretende,
Line 922
That knowe ich wel, and forthi ȝet I seye,
Line 923
So lef this sorwe or platly he wol deye.
Line 924
"And shapeth ȝow his sorwe for tabregge,
Line 925
And nought encresse, leeue Nece swete;
Line 926
Beth rather to hym cause of flat than egge,
Line 927
And with som wisdom ȝe his sorwes bete.
Line 928
What helpeth it to wepen ful a strete,
Line 929
Or though ȝe bothe in salte teeris dreynte?
Line 930
Bet is a tyme of cure ay than of pleynte.
Line 931
Page 404
"I mene thus: whan ich hym hider brynge,
Line 932
Syn ȝe be wise and bothe of oon assente,
Line 933
So shapeth how destourbe ȝoure goynge,
Line 934
Or come aȝeyn soon after ȝe be wente --
Line 935
Wommen ben wise in short auysemente --
Line 936
And lat sen how ȝoure wit shal now auaille,
Line 937
And what that I may helpe, it shal nat faille.
Line 938
"Go," quod Criseyde, "and Uncle, trewely,
Line 939
I shal don al my myght me to restreyne
Line 940
ffrom wepyng in his sighte, and bisily
Line 941
Hym forto glade I shal don al my peyne,
Line 942
And in myn herte seken euery veyne;
Line 943
If to his sore ther may be fonden salue,
Line 944
It shal nat lakke, certeyn, on my halue."
Line 945
Goth Pandarus and Troilus he soughte,
Line 946
Til in a temple he fond hym al allone,
Line 947
As he that of his lif no lenger roughte;
Line 948
But to the pitouse goddes euerichone
Line 949
fful tendrely he preyde and made his mone,
Line 950
To doon hym sone out of this world to pace,
Line 951
ffor wel he thoughte ther was non other grace.
Line 952
And shortly, al the sothe forto seye,
Line 953
He was so fallen in despeir that day,
Line 954
That outrely he shop hym forto deye.
Line 955
ffor right thus was his argument alway:
Line 956
He seyde he nas but lorn, so weylaway --
Line 957
"ffor al that comth, comth by necessitee,
Line 958
Thus to ben lorn, it is my destinee.
Line 959
"ffor certeynly, this wot I wel," he seyde,
Line 960
"That for-sight of diuine purueyaunce
Line 961
Hath seyn alwey me to forgon Criseyde,
Line 962
Syn god seeth euery thyng, out of doutaunce,
Line 963
And hem disponyth, thorugh his ordinaunce,
Line 964
In hire merites sothly for to be,
Line 965
As they shul comen by predestyne.
Line 966
"But natheles, allas, whom shal I leeue?
Line 967
ffor ther ben grete clerkes many oon,
Line 968
That destyne thorugh argumentes preue;
Line 969
And som men seyn that nedely ther is noon,
Line 970
But that fre chois is ȝeuen vs euerychon.
Line 971
O welaway, so sleighe arn clerkes olde
Line 972
That I not whos opynyoun I may holde.
Line 973
Page 406
"ffor som men seyn, if god seth al biforn --
Line 974
Ne god may nat deceyued ben, parde --
Line 975
Than moot it fallen, theigh men hadde it sworn,
Line 976
That purueiance hath seyn byfore to be.
Line 977
Wherfore I sey that from eterne if he
Line 978
Hath wist byforn oure thought ek as oure dede,
Line 979
We han no fre chois, as thise clerkes rede.
Line 980
Stanzas 141 through 150
"ffor other thought, nor other dede also,
Line 981
Myghte neuere ben, but swich as purueyaunce,
Line 982
Which may nat ben deceyued neuere mo,
Line 983
Hath feled byforn, with-outen ignoraunce.
Line 984
ffor if ther myghte ben a variaunce
Line 985
To writhen out fro goddis purueyinge,
Line 986
Ther nere no prescience of thyng comynge.
Line 987
"But it were rather an opynyoun
Line 988
Uncerteyn, and no stedfast forseynge;
Line 989
And certes, that were an abusioun,
Line 990
That god sholde han no parfit clere wytynge
Line 991
More than we men that han doutous wenynge:
Line 992
But swich an errour vp-on god to gesse
Line 993
Were fals and foul and wikked corsednesse.
Line 994
"Ek this is an opynyoun of some
Line 995
That han hire top ful heigh and smothe yshore:
Line 996
They seyn right thus, that thyng is nat to come
Line 997
ffor that the prescience hath seyn by-fore
Line 998
That it shal come; but they seyn that therfore
Line 999
That it shal come, therfore the purueyaunce
Line 1000
Woot it byforn, with-outen ignoraunce.
Line 1001
"And in this manere this necessite
Line 1002
Retorneth in his part contrarie agayne;
Line 1003
ffor nedfully byhoueth it nat to bee
Line 1004
That thilke thynges fallen in certayne
Line 1005
That ben purueyed; but nedly, as they sayne,
Line 1006
Byhoueth it that thynges whiche that falle,
Line 1007
That they in certayn ben purueyed alle.
Line 1008
"I mene as though I laboured me in this
Line 1009
To enqueren which thyng cause of which thyng be:
Line 1010
As wheither that the prescience of god is
Line 1011
The certeyn cause of the necessite
Line 1012
Of thynges that to comen ben, parde;
Line 1013
Or if necessite of thyng comynge
Line 1014
Be cause certeyn of the purueyinge.
Line 1015
Page 408
"But now nenforce I me nat in shewynge
Line 1016
How the ordre of causes stant; but wel woot I
Line 1017
That it byhoueth that the byfallynge
Line 1018
Of thynges wiste byforn certeynly
Line 1019
Be necessarie, al seme it nat therby
Line 1020
That prescience putte fallynge necessaire
Line 1021
To thyng to come, al falle it foule or faire.
Line 1022
"ffor if ther sitte a man ȝond on a see,
Line 1023
Than by necessite bihoueth it
Line 1024
That, certes, thyn opynyoun sooth be
Line 1025
That wenest or coniectest that he sit;
Line 1026
And further ouere now aȝeynward ȝit,
Line 1027
Lo, right so is it of the part contrarie,
Line 1028
As thus -- now herkne, for I wol nat tarie:
Line 1029
"I sey that if the opynyoun of the
Line 1030
Be soth for that he sitte, than sey I this:
Line 1031
That he mot siten by necessite;
Line 1032
And thus necessite in eyther is.
Line 1033
ffor in hym nede of sittynge is, ywys,
Line 1034
And in the nede of soth; aud thus, forsothe,
Line 1035
There mot necessite ben in ȝow bothe.
Line 1036
"But thow mayst seyn the man sit nat therfore
Line 1037
That thyn opynyoun of his sittynge soth is;
Line 1038
But rather for the man sit ther byfore,
Line 1039
Therfore is thyn opynyoun soth, ywys.
Line 1040
And I seye, though the cause of soth of this
Line 1041
Comth of his sittyng, ȝet necessite
Line 1042
Is entrechaunged both in hym and the.
Line 1043
"Thus in the same wise, out of doutaunce,
Line 1044
I may wel maken, as it semeth me,
Line 1045
My resonyng of goddes purueyaunce
Line 1046
And of the thynges that to comen be;
Line 1047
By which resoun men may wel y-se
Line 1048
That thilke thynges that in erthe falle,
Line 1049
That by necessite they comen alle.
Line 1050
Stanzas 151 through 160
"ffor al-though that, for thynge shal come, y-wys,
Line 1051
Therfore is it purueyed, certeynly --
Line 1052
Nat that it comth for it purueyed is --
Line 1053
Ȝet natheles bihoueth it nedfully
Line 1054
That thing to come be purueyd, trewely;
Line 1055
Or elles thynges that purueyed be,
Line 1056
That they bitiden by necessite.
Line 1057
Page 410
"And this suffiseth right ynough, certeyn,
Line 1058
fforto destruye oure fre chois euery del.
Line 1059
But now is this abusioun to seyn
Line 1060
That fallyng of the thynges temporel
Line 1061
Is cause of goddes prescience eternel.
Line 1062
Now trewely, that is a fals sentence,
Line 1063
That thyng to come sholde cause his prescience.
Line 1064
"What myght I wene, and I hadde swich a thought,
Line 1065
But that god purueyeth thyng that is to come
Line 1066
ffor that it is to come, and ellis nought?
Line 1067
So myghte I wene that thynges alle and some,
Line 1068
That whilom ben byfalle and ouercome,
Line 1069
Ben cause of thilke souereyne purueyaunce
Line 1070
That for-woot al with-outen ignoraunce.
Line 1071
"And ouere al this, ȝet sey I more herto,
Line 1072
That right as whan I wot ther is a thyng,
Line 1073
I-wys, that thyng moot nedfully be so;
Line 1074
Ek right so whan I woot a thyng comyng,
Line 1075
So mot it come; and thus the bifallyng
Line 1076
Of thynges that ben wist bifore the tyde,
Line 1077
They mowe nat ben eschued on no syde."
Line 1078
Page 412
Thanne seyde he thus, "al-myghty Ioue in trone,
Line 1079
That woost of al thys thyng the sothfastnesse,
Line 1080
Rewe on my sorwe and do me deyen sone,
Line 1081
Or bryng Criseyde and me fro this destresse."
Line 1082
And whil he was in al this heuynesse,
Line 1083
Disputyng with hym self in matere,
Line 1084
Com Pandare in and seyde as ȝe may here.
Line 1085
"O myghty god," quod Pandarus, "in trone,
Line 1086
I! who say euere a wis man faren so?
Line 1087
Whi Troilus, what thinkestow to doone?
Line 1088
Hastow swich lust to ben thyn owen fo?
Line 1089
What, perde, ȝet is nat Criseyde a-go!
Line 1090
Whi list the so thi self fordoon for drede,
Line 1091
That in thyn hed thyne eyen semen dede?
Line 1092
"Hastow nat lyued many a ȝer byforn
Line 1093
With-outen hire and ferd ful wel at ese?
Line 1094
Artow for hire and for noon other born?
Line 1095
Hath kynde the wrought al only hire to plese?
Line 1096
Lat be, and thynk right thus in thi disese:
Line 1097
That in the dees right as ther fallen chaunces,
Line 1098
Right so in loue ther come and gon plesaunces.
Line 1099
"And ȝet this is my wonder moste of alle,
Line 1100
Whi thow thus sorwest, syn thow nost nat ȝit,
Line 1101
Touchyng hire goyng, how that it shal falle,
Line 1102
Ne ȝif she kan hire self destourben it.
Line 1103
Thow hast nat ȝet assayed al hire wit;
Line 1104
A man may al by-tyme his nekke beede
Line 1105
Whan it shal of, and sorwen at the nede.
Line 1106
"ffor-thi tak hede of that I shal the seye:
Line 1107
I haue with hire y-spoke and longe y-be,
Line 1108
So as acorded was bitwixe vs tweye.
Line 1109
And euere mor me thynketh thus that she
Line 1110
Hath somwhat in hire hertes priuete,
Line 1111
Wher-with she kan, if I shal right arede,
Line 1112
Destourbe al this of which thow art in drede.
Line 1113
"ffor which my counseil is, what it is nyght,
Line 1114
Thow to hire go and make of this an ende,
Line 1115
And blisful Iuno thorugh hire grete myght
Line 1116
Shal as I hope hire grace vnto vs sende.
Line 1117
Myn herte seyth certeyn she shal nat wende;
Line 1118
And forthi put thyn herte a while in reste,
Line 1119
And holde this purpos, for it is the beste."
Line 1120
Stanzas 161 through 170
Page 414
This Troilus answered and sighte soore,
Line 1121
"Thow seist right wel, and I wol don right so."
Line 1122
And what hym liste, he seyde vn-to it more.
Line 1123
And whan that it was tyme for to go,
Line 1124
fful pryuely hym self, with-outen mo,
Line 1125
Unto hire com as he was wont to doone,
Line 1126
And how they wroughte, I shal ȝow tellen soone.
Line 1127
Soth is, that whan they gonnen first mete,
Line 1128
So gan the peyne hire hertes forto twiste,
Line 1129
That neyther of hem other myghte grete,
Line 1130
But hem in armes toke and after kiste.
Line 1131
The lasse woful of hem bothe nyste
Line 1132
Wher that he was, ne myghte o word out bryng,
Line 1133
As I seyde erst, for wo and for sobbyng.
Line 1134
The woful teeris that they leten falle
Line 1135
As bittre weren out of teris kynde,
Line 1136
ffor peyne, as is ligne aloes or galle:
Line 1137
So bittre teeris weep nought, as I fynde,
Line 1138
The woful Mirra thorugh the bark and rynde;
Line 1139
That in this world ther nys so hard an herte
Line 1140
That nolde han rewed on hire peynes smerte.
Line 1141
But whan hire woful weri goostes tweyne
Line 1142
Retourned ben ther as hem owe to dwelle,
Line 1143
And that somwhat to wayken gan the peyne
Line 1144
By lengthe of pleynte, and ebben gan the welle
Line 1145
Of hire teeris and the herte vnswelle,
Line 1146
With broken vois, al hoors for-shright, Criseyde
Line 1147
To Troilus thise ilke wordes seyde:
Line 1148
"O Ioue, I deye, and mercy I beseche!
Line 1149
Help, Troilus!" and ther-with-al hire face
Line 1150
Up-on his brest she leyde and loste speche --
Line 1151
Hire woful spirit from his propre place,
Line 1152
Right with the word, alwey o poynt to pace --
Line 1153
And thus she lith with hewes pale and grene,
Line 1154
That whilom fresshe and fairest was to sene.
Line 1155
Page 416
This Troilus, that on hire gan biholde,
Line 1156
Clepyng hire name -- and she lay as for dede,
Line 1157
Withoute answere, and felte hire lymes colde,
Line 1158
Hire eyen throwen vpward to hire hede --
Line 1159
This sorwful man kan now noon other rede,
Line 1160
But ofte tyme hire colde mowth he kiste:
Line 1161
Wher hym was wo, god and hym self it wiste!
Line 1162
He rist hym vp and long streght he hire leyde;
Line 1163
ffor signe of lif, for aught he kan or may,
Line 1164
Kan he non fynde in no thyng on Criseyde,
Line 1165
ffor which his song ful ofte is "weylaway."
Line 1166
But whan he saugh that specheles she lay,
Line 1167
With sorweful vois and herte of blisse al bare,
Line 1168
He seyde how she was fro this worlde y-fare.
Line 1169
So after that he longe hadde hire compleyned,
Line 1170
His hondes wrong and seyde that was to seye,
Line 1171
And with hise teeris salt hire brest byreyned,
Line 1172
He gan tho teeris wypen of ful dreye,
Line 1173
And pitously gan for the soule preye,
Line 1174
And seyde, "O lord that set art in thi trone,
Line 1175
Rewe ek on me, for I shal folwe hire sone."
Line 1176
She cold was and with-outen sentement,
Line 1177
ffor aught he woot, for breth ne felte he non;
Line 1178
And this was hym a pregnant argument
Line 1179
That she was forth out of this world a-gon.
Line 1180
And whan he say ther was non other woon,
Line 1181
He gan hire lymes dresse in swich manere
Line 1182
As men don hem that shal ben layde on beere.
Line 1183
And after this with sterne and cruel herte,
Line 1184
His swerd anon out of his shethe he twighte,
Line 1185
Hym self to slen, how sore that hym smerte,
Line 1186
So that his soule hire soule folwen myghte,
Line 1187
Ther as the doom of Mynos wolde it dighte;
Line 1188
Syn loue and cruel fortune it ne wolde,
Line 1189
That in this world he lenger lyuen sholde.
Line 1190
Stanzas 171 through 180
Than seyde he thus, fulfild of heigh desdayn,
Line 1191
"O cruel Ioue, and thow fortune aduerse,
Line 1192
This al and som, that falsly haue ȝe slayn
Line 1193
Criseyde, and syn ȝe may do me no werse,
Line 1194
ffy on ȝoure myghte and werkes so dyuerse!
Line 1195
Thus cowardly ȝe shul me neuere wynne;
Line 1196
Ther shal no deth me fro my lady twynne.
Line 1197
Page 418
"ffor I this world, syn ȝe haue slayn hire thus,
Line 1198
Wol lete and folwe hire spirit low or hye;
Line 1199
Shal neuere louere seyn that Troilus
Line 1200
Dar nat for fere with his lady dye;
Line 1201
ffor certeyn, I wol beere hire compaignie.
Line 1202
But syn ȝe wol nat suffre vs lyuen here,
Line 1203
Ȝet suffreth that oure soules ben y-fere.
Line 1204
"And thow, Cite, which that I leue in wo,
Line 1205
And thow, Priam, and bretheren alle yfeere,
Line 1206
And thow, my Moder, far wel, for I go;
Line 1207
And Atropos, make redy thow my beere.
Line 1208
And thow Criseyde, O swete herte deere,
Line 1209
Receyue now my spirit," wolde he seye,
Line 1210
With swerd at herte, al redy forto deye.
Line 1211
But as god wolde, of swough therwith shabreyde,
Line 1212
And gan to sike and "Troilus" she cride,
Line 1213
And he answerde, "lady myn, Criseyde,
Line 1214
Lyue ȝe ȝeet?" and leet his swerd down glide.
Line 1215
"Ȝe, herte myn, that thonked be Cipride,"
Line 1216
Quod she, and ther-with-al she soore syghte,
Line 1217
And he bigan to glad hire as he myghte;
Line 1218
Took hire in armes two and kiste hire ofte,
Line 1219
And hire to glade he did al his entente;
Line 1220
ffor which hire goost, that flikered ay o-lofte,
Line 1221
In-to hire woful herte aȝeyn it wente.
Line 1222
But at the laste, as that hire eye glente
Line 1223
A-syde, anon she gan his swerd espie,
Line 1224
As it lay bare, and gan for fere crye,
Line 1225
And asked hym whi he it hadde out drawe?
Line 1226
And Troilus anon the cause hire tolde,
Line 1227
And how hym self therwith he wolde han slawe;
Line 1228
ffor which Criseyde vp-on hym gan biholde,
Line 1229
And gan hym in hire armes faste folde,
Line 1230
And seyde, "O mercy, god, lo, which a dede!
Line 1231
Ailas, how neigh we weren bothe dede!
Line 1232
"Than if I nadde spoken, as grace was,
Line 1233
Ȝe wolde han slayn ȝoure self auon?" quod she.
Line 1234
"Ȝee, douteles"; and she answerde, "allas,
Line 1235
ffor by that ilke lord that made me,
Line 1236
I nolde a forlong wey on lyue haue be
Line 1237
After ȝoure deth, to han ben crowned Queene
Line 1238
Of al that lond the sonne on shyneth sheene.
Line 1239
Page 420
"But with this selue swerd which that here is,
Line 1240
My selue I wolde han slayne," quod she tho.
Line 1241
"But hoo, for we han right ynough of this,
Line 1242
And lat vs rise and streght to bedde go,
Line 1243
Aud there lat vs speken of oure wo --
Line 1244
ffor by the morter which that I se brenne,
Line 1245
Knowe I ful wel that day is nat far henne."
Line 1246
Whan they were in hire bed in armes folde,
Line 1247
Naught was it lik tho nyghtes here by-forn;
Line 1248
ffor pitously ech other gan by-holde,
Line 1249
As they that hadden al hire blisse y-lorn,
Line 1250
Bywaylinge ay the day that they were born,
Line 1251
Til at the laste this sorwful wight Criseyde
Line 1252
To Troilus thise ilke wordes seyde:
Line 1253
"Lo, herte myn, wel woot ȝe this," quod she,
Line 1254
"That if a wight alwey his wo compleyne,
Line 1255
And seketh nought how holpen forto be,
Line 1256
It nys but folie and encresse of peyne;
Line 1257
And syn that here assembled be we tweyne,
Line 1258
To fynde boote of wo that we ben inne,
Line 1259
It were al tyme soone to bygynne.
Line 1260
Stanzas 181 through 190
"I am a womman, as ful wel ȝe woot,
Line 1261
And as I am auysed sodeynly,
Line 1262
So wol I telle ȝow while it is hoot:
Line 1263
Me thynketh thus, that nouther ȝe nor I
Line 1264
Ought half this wo to maken skilfully;
Line 1265
ffor ther is art ynough forto redresse
Line 1266
That ȝet is mys and slen this heuynesse.
Line 1267
"Soth is, the wo the which that we ben inne,
Line 1268
ffor aught I woot, for no-thyng ellis is
Line 1269
But for the cause that we sholden twynne:
Line 1270
Considered al, ther nys namore amys.
Line 1271
But what is thanne a remede vnto this,
Line 1272
But that we shape vs soone forto meete?
Line 1273
This al and som, my deere herte sweete.
Line 1274
"Now that I shal wel bryngen it a-boute
Line 1275
To come aȝeyn soone after that I go,
Line 1276
Ther-of am I no manere thyng in doute;
Line 1277
ffor dredeles, with-inne a wowke or two,
Line 1278
I shal ben here; and that it may be so
Line 1279
By alle right and in a wordes fewe,
Line 1280
I shal ȝow wel an heep of weyes shewe.
Line 1281
Page 422
"ffor which I wol nat make long sermoun,
Line 1282
ffor tyme y-lost may nought recouered be;
Line 1283
But I wol gon to my conclusioun,
Line 1284
And to the beste in aught that I kan see.
Line 1285
And for the loue of god forȝeue it me,
Line 1286
If I speke aught aȝeyns ȝoure hertes reste;
Line 1287
ffor trewely, I speke it for the beste,
Line 1288
"Makyng alwey a protestacioun
Line 1289
That now thise wordes which that I shal seye,
Line 1290
Nis but to shewen ȝow my mocioun
Line 1291
To fynde vnto oure help the beste weye;
Line 1292
And taketh it non other wise, I preye.
Line 1293
ffor in effect what so ȝe me comaunde,
Line 1294
That wol I don, for that is no demaunde.
Line 1295
"Now herkneth this: ȝe han wel vnderstonde,
Line 1296
My goyng graunted is by parlement
Line 1297
So ferforth that it may nat be withstonde
Line 1298
ffor al this world, as by my iugement;
Line 1299
And syn ther helpeth non auisement
Line 1300
To letten it, lat it passe out of mynde,
Line 1301
And lat vs shape a bettre wey to fynde.
Line 1302
"The soth is this: the twynnyng of vs tweyne
Line 1303
Wol vs disese and cruelich anoye;
Line 1304
But hym byhoueth som tyme han a peyne,
Line 1305
That serueth loue, if that he wol haue ioye.
Line 1306
And syn I shal no ferther out of Troie
Line 1307
Than I may ride aȝeyn on half a morwe,
Line 1308
It oughte lesse causen vs to sorwe.
Line 1309
"So as I shal not so ben hid in muwe,
Line 1310
That day by day, myn owne herte deere,
Line 1311
Syn wel ȝe woot that it is now a trewe,
Line 1312
Ȝe shal ful wel al myn estat y-heere.
Line 1313
And er that trewe is doon I shal ben heere;
Line 1314
And thanne haue ȝe both Antenore y-wonne,
Line 1315
And me also; beth glad now if ȝe konne.
Line 1316
"And thenk right thus, "Criseyde is now agon,
Line 1317
But what! she shal come hastiliche aȝeyn.'
Line 1318
And whanne, allas? by god, lo, right anon,
Line 1319
Er dayes ten, this dar I saufly seyn.
Line 1320
And than at erste shal we be so feyn,
Line 1321
So as we shal to-gideres euere dwelle,
Line 1322
That al this world ne myghte oure blisse telle.
Line 1323
Page 424
"I se that ofte tyme there as we ben now,
Line 1324
That for the beste oure counseyl for to hide,
Line 1325
Ȝe speke nat with me nor I with ȝow
Line 1326
In fourtenyght, ne se ȝow go ne ride.
Line 1327
May ȝe naught ten dayes thanne abide,
Line 1328
ffor myn honour in swich an auenture?
Line 1329
I-wys, ȝe mowen ellis lite endure.
Line 1330
Stanzas 191 through 200
"Ȝe knowe ek how that al my kynne is heere,
Line 1331
But if that onliche it my fader be,
Line 1332
And ek myn othere thynges alle yfeere --
Line 1333
And nameliche, my deere herte, ȝe,
Line 1334
Whom that I nolde leuen forto se
Line 1335
ffor al this world, as wyde as it hath space --
Line 1336
Or ellis se ich neuere Ioues face.
Line 1337
"Whi trowe ȝe my fader in this wise
Line 1338
Coueyteth so to se me, but for drede
Line 1339
Lest in this town that folkes me despise
Line 1340
By-cause of hym for his vnhappy dede?
Line 1341
What woot my fader what lif that I lede?
Line 1342
ffor if he wiste in Troie how wel I fare,
Line 1343
Us neded for my wendyng nought to care.
Line 1344
"Ȝe sen that euery day ek more and more
Line 1345
Men trete of pees and it supposid is
Line 1346
That men the queene Eleyne shal restore,
Line 1347
And Grekis vs restoren that is mys;
Line 1348
So though ther nere comfort non but this,
Line 1349
That men purposen pees on euery syde,
Line 1350
Ȝe may the bettre at ese of herte abyde.
Line 1351
"ffor if that it be pees, myn herte deere,
Line 1352
The nature of the pees moot nedes dryue
Line 1353
That men moost entrecomunen yfeere,
Line 1354
And to and fro ek ride and gon as blyue
Line 1355
Alday as thikke as been fleen from an hyue,
Line 1356
And euery wight han liberte to bleue
Line 1357
Where-as hym liste the bet withouten leue.
Line 1358
"And though so be that pees ther may be non,
Line 1359
Ȝet hider, though ther neuere pees ne were,
Line 1360
I moste come; for whider sholde I gon,
Line 1361
Or how meschaunce sholde I dwelle there
Line 1362
Among tho men of armes euere in feere?
Line 1363
ffor which, as wisly god my soule rede,
Line 1364
I kan nat sen wher-of ȝe sholden drede.
Line 1365
Page 426
"Haue here another wey, if it so be
Line 1366
That al this thyng ne may ȝow nat suffise:
Line 1367
My fader as ȝe knowen wel, parde,
Line 1368
Is old, and elde is ful of coueytise;
Line 1369
And I right now haue founden al the gise,
Line 1370
With-outen net, wherwith I shal hym hente;
Line 1371
And herkeneth how, if that ȝe wol assente.
Line 1372
"Lo, Troilus, men seyn that hard it is
Line 1373
The wolf ful and the wether hool to haue;
Line 1374
This is to seyn, that men ful ofte, i-wys,
Line 1375
Mote spenden part the remenant for to saue;
Line 1376
ffor ay with gold men may the herte graue
Line 1377
Of hym that set is vp-on coueytise;
Line 1378
And how I mene, I shal it ȝow deuyse.
Line 1379
"The moeble which that I haue in this town
Line 1380
Unto my fader shal I take and seye
Line 1381
That right for trust and for sauacioun
Line 1382
It sent is from a frend of his or tweye,
Line 1383
The whiche frendes feruentliche hym preye
Line 1384
To senden after more and that in hie,
Line 1385
Whil that this town stant thus in iupartie.
Line 1386
"And that shal ben an huge quantite --
Line 1387
Thus shal I seyn -- but lest it folk aspide,
Line 1388
This may be sent by no wyght but by me.
Line 1389
I shal ek shewen hym, yf pes by-tyde,
Line 1390
What frendes that ich haue on euery syde
Line 1391
Toward the Court, to don the wrathe pace
Line 1392
Of Priamus and don hym stonde in grace.
Line 1393
"So what for o thyng and for other, swete,
Line 1394
I shal hym so enchaunten with my sawes,
Line 1395
That right in heuene his sowle is, shal he mete;
Line 1396
ffor al Appollo or his clerkes lawes,
Line 1397
Or calkullynge, auayleth nought thre hawes;
Line 1398
Desir of gold shal so his soule blende,
Line 1399
That as me lyst I shal wel make an ende.
Line 1400
Stanzas 201 through 210
"And yf he wolde ought by hys sort it preue
Line 1401
If that I lye, in certayn I shal fonde
Line 1402
Distorben hym and plukke hym by the sleue,
Line 1403
Makynge his sort, and beren hym on honde
Line 1404
He hath not wel the goddes vnderstonde;
Line 1405
ffor goddes speken in amphibologies,
Line 1406
And for a soth they tellen twenty lyes.
Line 1407
Page 428
"Eke drede fond first goddes, I suppose --
Line 1408
Thus shal I seyn -- and that his coward herte
Line 1409
Made hym amys the goddes text to glose,
Line 1410
Whan he for fered out of Delphos sterte.
Line 1411
And but I make hym soone to conuerte,
Line 1412
And don my rede with-inne a day or tweye,
Line 1413
I wol to ȝow oblige me to deye."
Line 1414
And treweliche, as writen wel I fynde,
Line 1415
That al this thyng was seyd of good entente;
Line 1416
And that hire herte trewe was and kynde
Line 1417
Towardes hym and spak right as she mente,
Line 1418
And that she starf for wo neigh whan she wente,
Line 1419
And was in purpos euere to be trewe:
Line 1420
Thus writen they that of hire werkes knewe.
Line 1421
This Troilus, with herte and erys spradde,
Line 1422
Herde al this thyng deuysen to and fro,
Line 1423
And verrayliche hym semed that he hadde
Line 1424
The selue wit, but ȝet to late hire go
Line 1425
His herte mys-forȝaf hym euere mo.
Line 1426
But fynaly he gan his herte wreste
Line 1427
To trusten hire and took it for the beste.
Line 1428
ffor which the grete furie of his penaunce
Line 1429
Was queynt with hope, and therwith hem bitwene
Line 1430
Bigan for ioie thamorouse daunce;
Line 1431
And as the briddes whanne the sonne is shene
Line 1432
Deliten in hire song in leues grene,
Line 1433
Right so the wordes that they spake y-feere
Line 1434
Delited hem and made hire hertes clere.
Line 1435
But natheles, the wendyng of Criseyde
Line 1436
ffor al this world may nat out of his mynde;
Line 1437
ffor which ful ofte he pitously hire preyde
Line 1438
That of hire heste he myghte hire trewe fynde,
Line 1439
And seyde hire, "certes, if ȝe be vnkynde,
Line 1440
And but ȝe come at day set in-to Troye,
Line 1441
Ne shal I neuere haue hele, honour ne ioye.
Line 1442
"ffor also soth as sonne vp-rist o-morwe,
Line 1443
And god so wisly thow me, woful wrecche,
Line 1444
To reste brynge out of this cruel sorwe,
Line 1445
I wol my seluen sle if that ȝe drecche.
Line 1446
But of my deth though litel be to recche,
Line 1447
Ȝet er that ȝe me causen so to smerte,
Line 1448
Dwelle rather here, myn owen swete herte.
Line 1449
Page 430
"ffor trewely, myn owne lady deere,
Line 1450
Tho sleghtes ȝit that I haue herd ȝow stere
Line 1451
fful shaply ben to faylen alle y-feere.
Line 1452
ffor thus men seyth: "that on thenketh the beere,
Line 1453
But al another thenketh his ledere.'
Line 1454
Ȝoure syre is wys, and seyd is out of drede:
Line 1455
"Men may the wise at-renne and naught atrede.'
Line 1456
"It is ful hard to halten vnespied
Line 1457
Byfore a crepel, for he kan the crafte;
Line 1458
Ȝoure fader is in sleght as Argus eyed;
Line 1459
ffor al be that his moeble is hym birafte,
Line 1460
His olde sleighte is ȝet so with hym lafte:
Line 1461
Ȝe shal nat blende hym for ȝoure wommanhede,
Line 1462
Ne feyne aright, and that is al my drede.
Line 1463
"I not if pees shal euere mo bitide;
Line 1464
But pees or no, for ernest ne for game,
Line 1465
I woot, syn Calkas on the Grekis syde
Line 1466
Hath ones ben, and lost so foule his name,
Line 1467
He dar nomore come here aȝeyn for shame;
Line 1468
ffor which that wey, for aught I kan espie,
Line 1469
To trusten on nys but a fantasie.
Line 1470
Stanzas 211 through 220
"Ȝe shal ek sen ȝoure fader shal ȝow glose
Line 1471
To ben a wif and, as he kan wel preche,
Line 1472
He shal som Grek so preyse and wel allose,
Line 1473
That rauysshen he shal ȝow with his speche,
Line 1474
Or do ȝow don by force as he shal teche;
Line 1475
And Troilus, of whom ȝe nyl han routhe,
Line 1476
Shal causeles so steruen in his trouthe.
Line 1477
"And ouere al this, ȝoure fader shal despise
Line 1478
Us alle and seyn this Cite nys but lorne,
Line 1479
And that thassege neuere shal aryse,
Line 1480
ffor whi the Grekis han it alle sworne,
Line 1481
Tyl we be slayn and down oure walles torne.
Line 1482
And thus he shal ȝow with his wordes fere,
Line 1483
That ay drede I that ȝe wol bleuen there.
Line 1484
"Ȝe shal ek seen so many a lusty knyghte
Line 1485
Amonge the Grekis, ful of worthynesse,
Line 1486
And ech of hem with herte, wit and myghte,
Line 1487
To plesen ȝow don al his bisynesse,
Line 1488
That ȝe shul dullen of the rudenesse
Line 1489
Of vs sely Troians, but if routhe
Line 1490
Remorde ȝow or vertue of ȝoure trouthe.
Line 1491
Page 432
"And this to me so greuous is to thynke,
Line 1492
That fro my brest it wol my soule rende;
Line 1493
Ne dredeles in me ther may nat synke
Line 1494
A good opynyoun if that ȝe wende;
Line 1495
ffor whi ȝoure fadres sleghte wol vs shende.
Line 1496
And if ȝe gon, as I haue told ȝow ȝore,
Line 1497
So thenk I nam but ded, with-oute more.
Line 1498
"ffor which with humble, trewe and pitous herte,
Line 1499
A thousand tymes mercy I ȝow preye;
Line 1500
So rueth on myn aspre peynes smerte,
Line 1501
And doth somwhat as that I shal ȝow seye,
Line 1502
And lat vs stele awey bitwixe vs tweye;
Line 1503
And thynk that folie is whan man may chese,
Line 1504
ffor accident his substaunce ay to lese.
Line 1505
"I mene thus, that syn we mowe er day
Line 1506
Wel stele awey and ben togidere so,
Line 1507
What wit were it to putten in assay,
Line 1508
In cas ȝe sholden to ȝoure fader go,
Line 1509
If that ȝe myghten come aȝeyn or no?
Line 1510
Thus mene I, that it were a gret folie
Line 1511
To putte that sikernesse in iupertie.
Line 1512
"And vulgarly to speken of substaunce,
Line 1513
Of tresour may we bothe with vs lede
Line 1514
I-nough to lyue in honour and plesaunce
Line 1515
Til in-to tyme that we shal ben dede;
Line 1516
And thus we may eschuen al this drede.
Line 1517
ffor euerich other wey ȝe kan recorde,
Line 1518
Myn herte, ywys, may therwith naught acorde.
Line 1519
"And hardily, ne dredeth no pouerte,
Line 1520
ffor I haue kyn and frendes elles-where,
Line 1521
That though we comen in oure bare sherte,
Line 1522
Us sholde neyther lakken gold ne gere,
Line 1523
But ben honured while we dwelten there.
Line 1524
And go we anon, for as in myn entente,
Line 1525
This is the beste, if that ȝe wol assente."
Line 1526
Criseyde, with a sik right in this wise,
Line 1527
Answerde, "y-wys, my deere herte trewe,
Line 1528
We may wel stele awey as ȝe deuyse,
Line 1529
And fynden swich vnthrifty weyes newe;
Line 1530
But afterward ful soore it wol vs rewe,
Line 1531
And helpe me god so at my mooste nede,
Line 1532
As causeles ȝe suffren al this drede.
Line 1533
Page 434
"ffor thilke day that I for cherisyng
Line 1534
Or drede of fader, or for other wight,
Line 1535
Or for estat, delit or for weddyng,
Line 1536
Be fals to ȝow, my Troilus, my knyght,
Line 1537
Saturnes doughter, Iuno, thorugh hire myght,
Line 1538
As wood as Athamante do me dwelle
Line 1539
Eternalich in Stix, the put of helle.
Line 1540
Stanzas 221 through 230
"And this on euery god celestial
Line 1541
I swere it ȝow and ek on eche goddesse,
Line 1542
On euery nymphe and deite infernal,
Line 1543
On satiry and fawny more and lesse,
Line 1544
That halue goddes ben of wildernesse;
Line 1545
And Attropos my thred of lif to-breste,
Line 1546
If I be fals -- now trowe me if ȝow leste.
Line 1547
"And thow Symois, that as an arwe clere
Line 1548
Thorugh Troie ay rennest downward to the se,
Line 1549
Ber witnesse of this word that seyd is here,
Line 1550
That thilke day that ich vntrewe be
Line 1551
To Troilus, myn owene herte fre,
Line 1552
That thow retourne bakward to thi welle,
Line 1553
And I with body and soule synke in helle.
Line 1554
"But that ȝe speke awey thus forto go
Line 1555
And leten alle ȝoure frendes, god forbede,
Line 1556
ffor any womman that ȝe sholden so,
Line 1557
And namely syn Troie hath now swich nede
Line 1558
Of help; and ek of o thyng taketh hede:
Line 1559
If this were wist, my lif lay in balaunce,
Line 1560
And ȝoure honour -- god shilde us fro meschaunce!
Line 1561
"And if so be that pees heere after take,
Line 1562
As alday happeth after anger game,
Line 1563
Whi, lord, the sorwe and wo ȝe wolden make,
Line 1564
That ȝe ne dorste come aȝeyn for shame;
Line 1565
And er that ȝe iuperten so ȝoure name,
Line 1566
Beth naught to hastif in this hoote fare --
Line 1567
ffor hastif man ne wanteth neuere care.
Line 1568
Page 436
"What trowe ȝe the peple ek al aboute
Line 1569
Wolde of it seye? It is ful light tarede:
Line 1570
They wolden seye and swere and it out of doute
Line 1571
That loue ne drof ȝow naught to don this dede,
Line 1572
But lust voluptuous and coward drede.
Line 1573
Thus were al lost, ywys, myn herte deere,
Line 1574
Ȝoure honour which that now shyneth so clere.
Line 1575
"And also thynketh on myn honeste,
Line 1576
That floureth ȝet, how foule I sholde it shende,
Line 1577
And with what filthe it spotted sholde be,
Line 1578
If in this forme I sholde with ȝow wende;
Line 1579
Ne though I lyued vnto the werldes ende,
Line 1580
My name sholde I neuere aȝeynward wynne:
Line 1581
Thus were I lost, and that were routhe and synne.
Line 1582
"And for-thi sle with resoun al this hete;
Line 1583
Men seyn, 'the suffrant ouercomith,' parde;
Line 1584
Ek 'who-so wole han lief, he lief moot lete.'
Line 1585
Thus maketh vertue of necessite
Line 1586
By pacience, and thynk that lord is he
Line 1587
Of fortune ay that naught wole of hire recche;
Line 1588
And she ne daunteth no wight but a wrecche.
Line 1589
Page 438
"And trusteth this, that certes, herte swete,
Line 1590
Er Phebus suster, Lucina the sheene,
Line 1591
The leoun passe out of this Ariete,
Line 1592
I wol ben here withouten any wene:
Line 1593
I mene, as helpe me Iuno, heuenes quene,
Line 1594
The tenthe day, but if that deth messaile,
Line 1595
I wol ȝow sen with-outen any faille."
Line 1596
"And now, so this be soth," quod Troilus,
Line 1597
"I shal wel suffre vnto the tenthe day,
Line 1598
Syn that I se that nede it mot be thus.
Line 1599
But for the loue of god, if it be may,
Line 1600
So late vs stelen priueliche away;
Line 1601
ffor euere in oon, as forto liue in reste,
Line 1602
Myn herte seyth that it wol be the beste."
Line 1603
"O mercy, god, what lif is this?" quod she,
Line 1604
"Allas, ȝe sle me thus for verray tene.
Line 1605
I se wel now that ȝe mystrusten me,
Line 1606
ffor by ȝoure wordes it is wel yseene.
Line 1607
Now for the loue of Cinthia the sheene,
Line 1608
Mistrust me nought thus causeles for routhe,
Line 1609
Syn to be trewe I haue ȝow plight my trouthe.
Line 1610
Stanzas 231 through 243
"And thynketh wel that som tyme it is wit
Line 1611
To spende a tyme a tyme forto wynne;
Line 1612
Ne, parde, lorn am I naught fro ȝow ȝit,
Line 1613
Though that we ben a day or two atwynne.
Line 1614
Drif out tho fantasies ȝow with-inne,
Line 1615
And trusteth me and leueth ek ȝoure sorwe,
Line 1616
Or here my trouthe, I wol naught lyue tyl morwe.
Line 1617
"ffor if ȝe wiste how soore it doth me smerte,
Line 1618
Ȝe wolde cesse of this; for god thow woste,
Line 1619
The pure spirit wepeth in myn herte
Line 1620
To se ȝow wepen that I loue moste,
Line 1621
And that I mot gon to the Grekis ooste.
Line 1622
Ȝe, nere it that I wiste remedie
Line 1623
To come aȝeyn, right here I wolde dye.
Line 1624
"But certes, I am naught so nyce a wight
Line 1625
That I ne kan ymaginen a wey
Line 1626
To come aȝeyn that day that I haue hight,
Line 1627
ffor who may holde a thing that wol awey?
Line 1628
My fader naught, for al his queynte pley.
Line 1629
And by my thrift, my wendyng out of Troie
Line 1630
A-nother day shal torne vs alle to ioie.
Line 1631
Page 440
"fforthi with al myn herte I ȝow biseke,
Line 1632
If that ȝow list don ought for my preyere,
Line 1633
And for that loue which that I loue ȝow eke,
Line 1634
That er that I deperte fro ȝow here,
Line 1635
That of so good a confort and a cheere
Line 1636
I may ȝow sen, that ȝe may brynge at reste
Line 1637
Myn herte which that is o poynt to breste.
Line 1638
"And ouere al this I prey ȝow," quod she tho,
Line 1639
"Myn owene hertes sothfast suffisaunce,
Line 1640
Syn I am thyn al hol with-outen mo,
Line 1641
That whil that I am absent no plesaunce
Line 1642
Of oother do me fro ȝoure remembraunce:
Line 1643
ffor I am euere agast, for why men rede
Line 1644
That loue is thyng ay ful of bisy drede.
Line 1645
"ffor in this world ther lyueth lady non,
Line 1646
If that ȝe were vntrewe, as god defende,
Line 1647
That so bitraised were or wo bigon
Line 1648
As I, that alle trouthe in ȝow entende.
Line 1649
And douteles, if that ich other wende,
Line 1650
I ner but ded, and er ȝe cause fynde,
Line 1651
ffor goddes loue, so beth me naught vnkynde."
Line 1652
To this answerde Troilus and seyde,
Line 1653
"Now god, to whom ther nys no cause y-wrye,
Line 1654
Me glad, as wys I neuere vnto Criseyde,
Line 1655
Syn thilke day I saugh hire first with ye,
Line 1656
Was fals ne neuere shal til that I dye.
Line 1657
At shorte wordes, wel ȝe may me leue;
Line 1658
I kan namore, it shal be founde at preue."
Line 1659
"Grant mercy, goode myn, i-wys," quod she,
Line 1660
"And blisful Venus lat me neuere sterue
Line 1661
Er I may stonde of plesaunce in degree
Line 1662
To quyte hym wel that so wel kan deserue;
Line 1663
And while that god my wit wol me conserue,
Line 1664
I shal so don, so trewe I haue ȝow founde,
Line 1665
That ay honour to meward shal rebounde.
Line 1666
"ffor trusteth wel that ȝoure estat roiale,
Line 1667
Ne veyn delit nor only worthinesse
Line 1668
Of ȝow in werre or torney marciale,
Line 1669
Ne pompe, array, nobleye or ek richesse,
Line 1670
Ne made me to rewe on ȝoure destresse;
Line 1671
But moral vertue grounded vp-on trouthe,
Line 1672
That was the cause I first hadde on ȝow routhe.
Line 1673
Page 442
"Eke gentil herte and manhod that ȝe hadde,
Line 1674
And that ȝe hadde, as me thoughte, in despit
Line 1675
Euery thyng that souned in-to badde,
Line 1676
As rudenesse and poeplissh appetit,
Line 1677
And that ȝoure resoun bridlede ȝoure delit;
Line 1678
This made, abouen euery creature,
Line 1679
That I was ȝoure and shal while I may dure.
Line 1680
"And this may lengthe of ȝeres naught fordo,
Line 1681
Ne remuable fortune deface;
Line 1682
But Iuppiter that of his myght may do
Line 1683
The sorwful to be glad, so ȝeue vs grace,
Line 1684
Or nyghtes ten to meten in this place,
Line 1685
So that it may ȝoure herte and myn suffise;
Line 1686
And fareth now wel, for tyme is that ȝe rise."
Line 1687
And after that they longe ypleyned hadde,
Line 1688
And ofte ykist and streite in armes folde,
Line 1689
The day gan rise and Troilus hym cladde,
Line 1690
And rewfullich his lady gan byholde,
Line 1691
As he that felte dethes cares colde,
Line 1692
And to hire grace he gan hym recomaunde:
Line 1693
Wher hym was wo, this holde I no demaunde.
Line 1694
ffor mannes hed ymagynen ne kan,
Line 1695
Nentendement considere, ne tonge telle
Line 1696
The cruele peynes of this sorwful man,
Line 1697
That passen euery torment down in helle.
Line 1698
ffor whan he saugh that she ne myghte dwelle,
Line 1699
Which that his soule out of his herte rente,
Line 1700
With-outen more out of the chaumbre he wente.
Line 1701
Explicit liber quartus.