Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde

Book V

Incipit liber quintus

Stanzas 1 through 10

Aprochen gan the fatal destyne Line 1 That Ioues hath in disposicioun, Line 2 And to ȝow, angry Parcas, sustren thre, Line 3 Committeth to don execucioun; Line 4 ffor which Criseyde moste out of the town, Line 5 And Troilus shal dwellen forth in pyne Line 6 Til Lachesis his thred no lenger twyne. Line 7

The goldetressed Phebus heighe on lofte Line 8 Thries hadde al with hise bemes clene Line 9 The snowes molte, and Ȝepherus as ofte Line 10 Ibrought aȝeyn the tendre leues grene, Line 11 Syn that the sone of Ecuba the queene Line 12 Bigan to loue hire first, for whom his sorwe Line 13 Was al that she deperte sholde amorwe. Line 14

fful redy was at prime Diomede, Line 15 Criseyde vn-to the Grekis oost to lede, Line 16 ffor sorwe of which she felt hire herte blede, Line 17 As she that nyste what was best to rede. Line 18 And trewely, as men in bokes rede, Line 19 Men wiste neuere womman han the care, Line 20 Ne was so loth out of a town to fare. Line 21

This Troilus, with-outen reed or loore, Line 22 As man that hath hise ioies ek forlore, Line 23 Was waytyng on his lady euere more, Line 24 As she that was the sothfast crop and more Line 25 Of al his lust or ioies here-bifore. Line 26 But Troilus, now far wel al thi ioie, Line 27 ffor shaltow neuere sen hire eft in Troie. Line 28

Soth is that while he bood in this manere, Line 29 He gan his wo ful manly forto hide, Line 30 That wel vnnethe it sene was in his chere. Line 31 But at the ȝate ther she sholde out ride, Line 32 With certeyn folk he houed hire tabide, Line 33 So wo-bigon, al wolde he naught hym pleyne, Line 34 That on his hors vnnethe he sat for peyne. Line 35

ffor ire he quook, so gan his herte gnawe, Line 36 Whan Diomede on horse gan hym dresse, Line 37 And seyde to hym self this ilke sawe: Line 38 "Allas," quod he, "thus foul a wrecchednesse, Line 39 Whi suffre ich it, whi nyl ich it redresse? Line 40 Were it nat bet atones for to dye Line 41 Than euere more in langour thus to drye?" Line 42

"Why nyl I make atones riche and pore Line 43 To haue inough to doone er that she go? Line 44 Why nyl I brynge al Troie vp-on a roore? Line 45 Why nyl I slen this Diomede also? Line 46 Why nyl I rather with a man or two Line 47 Stele hire away? Whi wol I this endure? Line 48 Whil nyl I helpen to myn owen cure?" Line 49

But why he nolde don so fel a dede, Line 50 That shal I seyn and whi hym liste it spare: Line 51 He hadde in herte alweyes a manere drede, Line 52 Lest that Criseyde in rumour of this fare Line 53 Sholde han ben slayn -- lo, this was al his care, Line 54 And ellis, certeyn, as I seyde ȝore, Line 55 He hadde it don with-outen wordes more. Line 56

Criseyde, whan she redy was to ride, Line 57 fful sorwfully she sighte and seyde "allas." Line 58 But forth she moot for aught that may bitide, Line 59 Ther nys non other remedie in this cas. Line 60 And forth she rit ful sorwfully a pas. Line 61 What wonder is though that hire sore smerte, Line 62 Whan she forgoth hire owen dere herte? Line 63

This Troilus, in wise of curteysie, Line 64 With hauke on honde and with an huge route Line 65 Of knyghtes, rood and did hire companye, Line 66 Passyng al the valeye fer with-oute, Line 67 And ferther wolde han riden out of doute Line 68 fful fayn, and wo was hym to gon so sone; Line 69 But torne he moste, and it was ek to done. Line 70

Stanzas 11 through 20

And right with that was Antenor ycome Line 71 Out of the Grekis oost, and euery wight Line 72 Was of it glad and seyde he was welcome. Line 73 And Troilus, al nere his herte light, Line 74 He peyned hym with al his fulle myght Line 75 Hym to withholde of wepyng atte leeste, Line 76 And Antenor he kiste and made feste. Line 77

And ther-with-al he moste his leue take, Line 78 And caste his eye vp-on hire pitously, Line 79 And neer he rood his cause forto make, Line 80 To take hire by the honde al sobrely; Line 81 And lord, so she gan wepen tendrely, Line 82 And he ful softe and sleighly gan hire seye, Line 83 "Now holde ȝoure day and do me nat to deye." Line 84

With that his courser torned he aboute Line 85 With face pale, and vnto Diomede Line 86 No word he spak, ne non of al his route; Line 87 Of which the sone of Tideus took hede, Line 88 As he that koude more than the Crede Line 89 In swich a craft, and by the reyne hire hente; Line 90 And Troilus to Troie homward he wente. Line 91

This Diomede that ledde hire by the bridel, Line 92 Whan that he saugh the folk of Troie aweye, Line 93 Thoughte, "al my labour shal nat ben on ydel, Line 94 If that I may, for somwhat shall I seye; Line 95 ffor at the werste it may ȝet shorte oure weye. Line 96 I haue herd seyd ek tymes twyes twelue, Line 97 "He is a fool that wol forȝete hym selue." Line 98

But natheles this thoughte he wel ynough, Line 99 That, "certeynlich I am aboute nought Line 100 If that I speke of loue or make it tough; Line 101 ffor douteles, if she haue in hire thought Line 102 Hym that I gesse, he may nat ben ybrought Line 103 So soon awey; but I shal fynde a meene Line 104 That she naught wite as ȝet shal what I mene.', Line 105

This Diomede, as he that koude his good, Line 106 Whan tyme was, gan fallen forth in speche Line 107 Of this and that, and axed whi she stood Line 108 In swich disese and gan hire ek biseche, Line 109 That if that he encresse myghte or eche Line 110 With any thyng hire ese, that she sholde Line 111 Comaunde it hym, and seyde he don it wolde. Line 112

ffor treweliche he swor hire as a knyght, Line 113 That ther nas thyng with which he myghte hire plese, Line 114 That he nolde don his peyne and al his myght Line 115 To don it for to don hire herte an ese; Line 116 And preyde hire she wolde hire sorwe apese, Line 117 And seyde, "I-wis, we Greekis kan haue ioie Line 118 To honouren ȝow as wel as folk of Troie." Line 119

He seyde ek thus, "I woot ȝow thynketh straunge -- Line 120 No wonder is, for it is to ȝow newe -- Line 121 Thaquayntaunce of thise Troians to chaunge Line 122 ffor folk of Grece that ȝe neuere knewe. Line 123 But wolde neuere god but if as trewe Line 124 A Grek ȝe sholde among vs alle fynde Line 125 As any Troian is and ek as kynde." Line 126

"And by the cause I swor ȝow right, lo, now, Line 127 To ben ȝoure frend and helply to my myght, Line 128 And for that more aquayntauace ek of ȝow Line 129 Haue ich had than another straunger wight, Line 130 So fro this forth I pray ȝow, day and nyght, Line 131 Comaundeth me, how soore that me smerte, Line 132 To don al that may like vnto ȝoure herte; Line 133

"And that ȝe me wolde as ȝoure brother trete, Line 134 And taketh naught my frendshipe in despite; Line 135 And though ȝoure sorwes be for thynges grete, Line 136 Not I nat whi, but out of more respite, Line 137 Myn herte hath for tamende it gret delite: Line 138 And if I may ȝoure harmes nat redresse, Line 139 I am right sory for ȝoure heuynesse. Line 140

Stanzas 21 through 30

"ffor though ȝe Troians with vs Grekes wrothe Line 141 Han many a day ben, alwey ȝet, parde, Line 142 O god of loue in soth we seruen bothe. Line 143 And for the loue of god, my lady fre, Line 144 Whom so ȝe hate, as beth nat wroth with me; Line 145 ffor trewely ther kan no wyght ȝow serue, Line 146 That half so loth ȝoure wratthe wold disserue. Line 147

"And nere it that we ben so neigh the tente Line 148 Of Calcas which that sen vs bothe may, Line 149 I wolde of this ȝow telle al myn entente; Line 150 But this enseled til anothir day. Line 151 Ȝeue me ȝoure honde; I am and shal ben ay, Line 152 God helpe me so, while that my lyf may dure, Line 153 Ȝoure owene abouen euery creature. Line 154

"Thus seyde I neuere er now to womman born; Line 155 ffor god myn herte as wisly glade so, Line 156 I loued neuere womman here-biforn Line 157 As paramours, ne neuere shal no mo. Line 158 And for the loue of god beth nat my fo, Line 159 Al kan I naught to ȝow, my lady deere, Line 160 Compleyne aright, for I am ȝet to leere. Line 161

"And wondreth nought, myn owen lady bright, Line 162 Though that I speke of loue to ȝow thus blyue; Line 163 ffor I haue herd er this of many a wight Line 164 Hath loued thyng he neuere saigh his lyue: Line 165 Ek I am nat of power forto stryue Line 166 Aȝeyns the god of loue, but hym obeye Line 167 I wole alwey, and mercye l ȝow preye. Line 168

"Ther ben so worthi knyghtes in this place, Line 169 And ȝe so fayre, that euerich of hem alle Line 170 Wol peynen hym to stonden in ȝoure grace. Line 171 But myghte me so faire a grace falle, Line 172 That ȝe me for ȝoure seruant wolde calle, Line 173 So lowely ne so trewely ȝow serue Line 174 Nil non of hem, as I shal, til I sterue." Line 175

Criseyde vn-to that purpos lite answerde, Line 176 As she that was with sorwe oppressed so Line 177 That in effect she naught hise tales herde Line 178 But here and ther, now here a word or two. Line 179 Hire thoughte hire sorwful herte brast atwo, Line 180 ffor whan she gan hire fader fer espie, Line 181 Wel neigh down of hire hors she gan to sye. Line 182

But natheles she thonketh Diomede Line 183 Of alle his trauaile and his goode cheere, Line 184 And that hym list his frendshipe hire to bede; Line 185 And she accepteth it in good manere, Line 186 And wol do fayn that is hym lief and dere, Line 187 And tristen hym she wolde, and wel she myghte, Line 188 As seyde she, and from hire hors shalighte. Line 189

Hire fader hath hire in hise armes nome, Line 190 And twenty tyme he kiste his doughter sweete, Line 191 And seyde, "O deere doughter myn, welcome." Line 192 She seyde ek she was fayn with hym to mete, Line 193 And stood forth muwet, milde and mansuete. Line 194 But here I leue hire with hire fader dwelle, Line 195 And forth I wol of Troilus ȝow telle. Line 196

To Troie is come this woful Troilus, Line 197 In sorwe abouen alle sorwes smerte, Line 198 With feloun look and face dispitous. Line 199 Tho sodeynly doun from his hors he sterte, Line 200 And thorugh his paleis with a swollen herte Line 201 To chaumbre he wente; of no wight took he hede, Line 202 Ne non to hym dar speke a word for drede. Line 203

And ther his sorwes that he spared hadde Line 204 He ȝaf an issue large and "deth" he criede; Line 205 And in his throwes frenetik and madde Line 206 He corseth Ioue, Appollo and ek Cupide, Line 207 He corseth Ceres, Bacus and Cipride, Line 208 His burthe, hym self, his fate and ek nature, Line 209 And, saue his lady, euery creature. Line 210

Stanzas 31 through 40

To bedde he goth, and walwith ther and torneth Line 211 In furie, as doth he Ixion in helle; Line 212 And in this wise he neigh til day soiorneth. Line 213 But tho bigan his herte a lite vnswelle Line 214 Thorugh teris which that gonnen vp to welle, Line 215 And pitously he cryde vpon Criseyde, Line 216 And to hym self right thus he spak and seyde: Line 217

Wher is hire white brest, wher is it, where? Line 218 "Wher is myn owene lady lief and deere? Line 219 Wher ben hire armes and hire eyen cleere, Line 220 That ȝesternyght this tyme with me were? Line 221 Now may I wepe allone many a teere, Line 222 And graspe aboute I may, but in this place, Line 223 Saue a pilowe, I fynde naught tenbrace. Line 224

"How shal I do? Whan shal she come aȝeyn? Line 225 I not, allas! whi lete ich hire to go? Line 226 As wolde god ich hadde as tho ben sleyn! Line 227 O herte myn, Criseyde, O swete fo! Line 228 O lady myn, that I loue and namo, Line 229 To whom for euermo myn herte I dowe, Line 230 Se how I dye -- ȝe nyl me nat rescowe. Line 231

"Who seth ȝow now, my righte lode sterre? Line 232 Who sit right now or stant in ȝoure presence? Line 233 Who kan conforten now ȝoure hertes werre? Line 234 Now I am gon, whom ȝeue ȝe audience? Line 235 Who speketh for me right now in myn absence? Line 236 Allas, no wight, and that is al my care, Line 237 ffor wel woot I as yuele as I ȝe fare. Line 238

"How sholde I thus ten dayes ful endure, Line 239 Whan I the firste nyght haue al this tene? Line 240 How shal she don ek, sorwful creature? Line 241 ffor tendernesse how shal she ek sustene Line 242 Swich wo for me? O pitous, pale and grene Line 243 Shal ben ȝoure fresshe wommanliche face Line 244 ffor langoure, er ȝe torne vnto this place." Line 245

And whan he fille in any slomberynges, Line 246 Anon bygynne he sholde forto grone, Line 247 And dremen of the dredefulleste thynges Line 248 That myghte ben: as mete he were allone Line 249 In place horrible, makyng ay his mone, Line 250 Or meten that he was amonges alle Line 251 His enemys and in hire hondes falle. Line 252

And therwith-al his body sholde sterte, Line 253 And with the sterte al sodeynliche awake, Line 254 And swiche a tremour fele aboute his herte, Line 255 That of the fere his body sholde quake; Line 256 And therwith-al he sholde a noyse make, Line 257 And seme as though he sholde falle depe Line 258 ffrom heighe o-lofte, and thanne he wolde wepe, Line 259

And rewen on hym self so pitously, Line 260 That wonder was to here his fantasie. Line 261 Another tyme he sholde myghtyly Line 262 Conforte hym self and sein it was folie, Line 263 So causeles swich drede forto drye; Line 264 And eft bygynne his aspre sorwes newe, Line 265 That euery man myght on his sorwes rewe. Line 266

Who koude telle aright or ful discryue Line 267 His wo, his pleynt, his langoure and his pyne? Line 268 Naught alle the men that han or ben on lyue. Line 269 Thow redere, maist thi self ful wel deuyne Line 270 That swich a wo my wit kan nat diffyne. Line 271 On ydel forto write it sholde I swynke, Line 272 Whan that my wit is wery it to thynke. Line 273

On heuene ȝet the sterres weren seene, Line 274 Al-though ful pale y-woxen was the moone, Line 275 And whiten gan the orisonte shene Line 276 Al estward as it wont is to doone; Line 277 And Phebus with his rosy carte soone Line 278 Gan after that to dresse hym vp to fare Line 279 Whan Troilus hath sent after Pandare. Line 280

Stanzas 41 through 50

This Pandare, that of al the day biforn Line 281 Ne myghte ham comen Troilus to se, Line 282 Al-though he on his hed it hadde sworn -- Line 283 ffor with the kyng Priam alday was he, Line 284 So that it lay nought in his libertee Line 285 Nowher to gon -- but on the morwe he wente Line 286 To Troilus whan that he for hym sente. Line 287

ffor in his herte he koude wel deuyne Line 288 That Troilus al nygh for sorwe wooke, Line 289 And that he wolde telle hym of his pyne-- Line 290 This knew he wel ynough with-oute booke. Line 291 ffor which to chaumbre streght the wey he tooke, Line 292 And Troilus tho sobrelich he grette, Line 293 And on the bed ful sone he gan hym sette. Line 294

"My Pandarus," quod Troilus, "the sorwe Line 295 Which that I drye, I may nat longe endure: Line 296 I trowe I shal nat lyuen tyl to-morwe. Line 297 ffor which I wolde alweys on auenture Line 298 To the deuysen of my sepulture Line 299 The fourme, and of my moeble thow dispone Line 300 Right as the semeth best is forto done. Line 301

"But of the fir and flaumbe funeral Line 302 In which my body brennen shal to glede, Line 303 And of the feste and pleyes palestral Line 304 At my vigile, I prey the tak good hede Line 305 That al be wel and offre Mars my steede, Line 306 My swerd, myn helm and, leue brother deere, Line 307 My sheld to Pallas ȝef, that shyneth cleere. Line 308

"The poudre in which myn herte y-brend shal torne, Line 309 That preye I the thow take and it conserue Line 310 In a vessell that men clepeth an vrne Line 311 Of gold, and to my lady that I serue, Line 312 ffor loue of whom thus pitouslich I sterue, Line 313 So ȝeue it hire and do me this plesaunce, Line 314 To preye hire kepe it for a remembraunce. Line 315

"ffor wele I fele by my maladie, Line 316 And by my dremes now and ȝore ago, Line 317 Al certeynly that I mot nedes dye: Line 318 The owle ek, which that hette Escaphilo, Line 319 Hath after me shright al thise nyghtes two. Line 320 And god Mercurye, of me now, woful wrecche, Line 321 The soule gyde and, whan the liste, it fecche." Line 322

Pandare answerde and seyde, "Troilus, Line 323 My deere frende, as I haue told the ȝore Line 324 That it is folye forto sorwen thus, Line 325 And causeles, for which I kan namore. Line 326 But who-so wil nought trowen reed ne loore, Line 327 I kan nat sen in hym no remedie, Line 328 But lat hym worthen with his fantasie. Line 329

"But Troilus, I prey the tel me now, Line 330 If that thow trowe er this that any wight Line 331 Hath loued paramours as wel as thow? Line 332 Ȝe, god woot, and fro many a worthi knyght Line 333 Hath his lady gon a fourtenyght, Line 334 And he nat ȝet made haluendel the fare. Line 335 What nede is the to maken al this care? Line 336

"Syn day by day thow maist thi seluen se Line 337 That from his loue, or ellis from his wif, Line 338 A man mote twynnen of necessite -- Line 339 Ȝe, though he loue hire as his owene lif; Line 340 Ȝet nyl he with hym self thus maken strif. Line 341 ffor wel thow woost, my leue brother deere, Line 342 That alwey frendes may nat ben yfeere. Line 343

"How don this folk that seen hire loues wedded Line 344 By frendes myght, as it bitit ful ofte, Line 345 And sen hem in hire spouses bed y-bedded? Line 346 God woot, they take it wisly, faire and softe, Line 347 ffor-whi good hope halt vp hire herte o-lofte. Line 348 And for they kan a tyme of sorwe endure, Line 349 As tyme hem hurt, a tyme doth hem cure. Line 350

Stanzas 51 through 60

"So shuldestow endure and laten slide Line 351 The tyme and fonde to ben glad and lighte; Line 352 Ten dayes nys so longe nought tabide. Line 353 And sen she the to comen hath bihyghte, Line 354 She nyl hire heste breken for no wighte. Line 355 ffor drede the nat that she nyl fynden weye Line 356 To come aȝein -- my lif that dorste I leye. Line 357

"Thi sweuennes ek and al swich fantasie Line 358 Drif out and lat hem faren to meschaunce, Line 359 ffor they procede of thi malencolie, Line 360 That doth the fele in slepe al this penaunce. Line 361 A straw for alle sweuenes signifiaunce! Line 362 God helpe me so, I counte hem nought a bene; Line 363 Ther woot noman aright what dremes mene. Line 364

ffor prestes of the temple tellen this, Line 365 That dremes ben the reuelaciouns Line 366 Of goddes, and as wel they telle, ywis, Line 367 That they ben infernals illusiouns; Line 368 And leches seyn that of complexiouns Line 369 Proceden they, or fast, or glotonye -- Line 370 Who woot in soth thus what thei signifie? Line 371

"Ek oother seyn that thorugh impressiouns, Line 372 As if a wight hath faste a thyng in mynde, Line 373 That ther-of cometh swiche auysiouns; Line 374 And other seyn, as they in bokes fynde, Line 375 That after tymes of the ȝere by kynde Line 376 Men dreme and that theffect goth by the moone -- Line 377 But leue no dreme, for it is nought to doone. Line 378

"Wel worthe of dremes ay thise olde wiues, Line 379 And treweliche ek augurye of thise fowles, Line 380 ffor fere of which men wenen lese here lyues, Line 381 As rauenes qualm, or shrichyng of thise owles: Line 382 To trowen on it bothe fals and foul is. Line 383 Allas, allas, so noble a creature Line 384 As is a man shal dreden swiche ordure! Line 385

"ffor which with al myn herte I the biseche Line 386 Unto thi self that al this thow forȝyue; Line 387 And ris now vp with-owten more speche, Line 388 And lat vs caste how forth may best be dryue Line 389 This tyme, and ek how fresshly we may lyue Line 390 Whan that she comth, the which shal be right soone. Line 391 God helpe me so, the beste is thus to doone. Line 392

"Ris, lat vs speke of lusty lif in Troie Line 393 That we han led and forth the tyme dryue; Line 394 And ek of tyme comyng vs reioie, Line 395 That bryngen shal oure blisse now so blyue; Line 396 And langour of thise twyes dayes fyue Line 397 We shal ther-with so forȝete or oppresse, Line 398 That wel vnneth it don shal vs duresse. Line 399

"This town is ful of lordes al aboute, Line 400 And trewes lasten al this mene while. Line 401 Go we pleye vs in som lusty route Line 402 To Sarpedoun, nat hennes but a myle. Line 403 And thus thow shall the tyme wel bygile, Line 404 And dryue it forth vnto that blisful morwe Line 405 That thow hire se that cause is of thi sorwe. Line 406

"Now ris, my deere brother Troilus, Line 407 ffor certes it non honour is to the Line 408 To wepe and in thi bedde to iouken thus; Line 409 ffor trewelich of o thyng truste me: Line 410 If thow thus ligge a day or two or thre, Line 411 The folk wol seyn that thow for cowardise Line 412 The feynest sik and that thow darst nat rise." Line 413

This Troilus answerde, "O brother deere, Line 414 This knowen folk that han ysuffred peyne, Line 415 That though he wepe and make sorwful cheere, Line 416 That feleth harm and smerte in euery veyne, Line 417 No wonder is; and though ich euere pleyne Line 418 Or alwey wepe, I am no thyng to blame, Line 419 Syn I haue lost the cause of al my game. Line 420

Stanzas 61 through 70

"But syn of fyne force I mote arise, Line 421 I shal arise as soone as euere I may;, Line 422 And god, to whom myn herte I sacrifice, Line 423 So sende vs hastely the tenthe day: Line 424 ffor was ther neuere fowel so fayn of May Line 425 As I shal ben whan that she comth in Troie, Line 426 That cause is of my torment and my ioie. Line 427

"But whider is thi reed," quod Troilus, Line 428 "That we may pleye vs best in al this town?" Line 429 "By god, my conseil is,' quod Pandarus, Line 430 "To ride and pleye vs with kyng Sarpedoun.' Line 431 So longe of this they speken vp and down, Line 432 Til Troilus gan at the laste assente Line 433 To rise, and forth to Sarpedoun they wente. Line 434

This Sarpedoun, as he that honourable Line 435 Was euere his lyue and ful of heigh largesse, Line 436 With al that myghte y-serued ben on table Line 437 That deynte was, al coste it gret richesse, Line 438 He fedde hem day by day, that swich noblesse, Line 439 As seyden bothe the mooste and ek the leeste, Line 440 Was neuere ere that day wist at any feste. Line 441

Nor in this world ther is non instrument Line 442 Delicious thorugh wynd or touche of corde, Line 443 As fer as any wight hath euere ywent, Line 444 That tonge telle or herte may recorde, Line 445 That at that feste it nas wel herd acorde; Line 446 Ne of ladys ek so faire a compaignie Line 447 On daunce er tho was neuere i-seye with ie. Line 448

But what auaileth this to Troilus, Line 449 That for his sorwe no thyng of it roughte? Line 450 ffor euere in on his herte pietous Line 451 fful bisyly Criseyde, his lady, soughte. Line 452 On hire was euere al that his herte thoughte, Line 453 Now this, now that, so faste ymagenynge, Line 454 That glade, i-wis, kan hym no festeyinge. Line 455

Thise ladies ek that at this feste ben, Line 456 Syn that he saugh his lady was aweye, Line 457 It was his sorwe vpon hem forto sen, Line 458 Or forto here on instrumentes so pleye: Line 459 ffor she that of his herte berth the keye Line 460 Was absent, lo, this was his fantasie -- Line 461 That no wight sholde maken melodie. Line 462

Nor ther nas houre in al the day or nyght, Line 463 Whan he was there as no wight myghte hym heere, Line 464 That he ne seyde, "O lufsom lady bryght, Line 465 How haue ȝe faren syn that ȝe were here? Line 466 Welcome, ywis, myn owne lady deere." Line 467 But weylaway, al this nas but a maze: Line 468 ffortune his howue entended bet to glaze. Line 469

The lettres ek that she of olde tyme Line 470 Hadde hym ysent, he wolde allone rede Line 471 An hondred sithe atwixen noon and prime, Line 472 Refiguryng hire shap, hire wommanhede, Line 473 With-inne his herte, and euery word or dede Line 474 That passed was; and thus he drof tanende Line 475 The ferthe day and seyde he wolde wende. Line 476

And seyde, "leue brother, Pandarus, Line 477 Intendestow that we shal here bleue Line 478 Til Sarpedoun wol forth congeyen vs? Line 479 Ȝet were it fairer that we toke oure leue. Line 480 ffor goddes loue, lat vs now soone at eue Line 481 Oure leue take, and homward lat vs torne, Line 482 ffor treweliche I nyl nat thus soiourne.' Line 483

Pandare answerde, "be we comen hider Line 484 To fecchen fire and rennen home aȝein? Line 485 God help me so, I kan nat tellen whider Line 486 We myghte gon, if I shal sothly seyn, Line 487 Ther any wight is of vs more feyn Line 488 Than Sarpedoun; and if we hennes hye Line 489 Thus sodeynly, I holde it vilanye. Line 490

Stanzas 71 through 80

"Syn that we seyden that we wolde bleue Line 491 With hym a wowke, and now, thus sodeynly, Line 492 The ferthe day to take of hym owre leue, Line 493 He wolde wondren on it trewely. Line 494 Lat vs holde forth oure purpos fermely; Line 495 And syn that ȝe bihighten hym to bide, Line 496 Holde forward now and after lat vs ride." Line 497

Thus Pandarus, with alle peyne and wo, Line 498 Made hym to dwelle, and at the wikes ende Line 499 Of Sarpedoun they toke hire leue tho, Line 500 And on hire wey they spedden hem to wende. Line 501 Quod Troilus, "now lord me grace sende Line 502 That I may fynden at myn hom comyng Line 503 Criseyde comen," and ther-with gan he syng. Line 504

"Ȝe, haselwode,' thoughte this Pandare, Line 505 And to hym self ful softeliche he seyde, Line 506 "God woot, refreyden may this hote fare Line 507 Er Calkas sende Troilus Criseyde." Line 508 But natheles he iaped thus and pleyde, Line 509 And swor, ywis, his herte hym wel bihighte Line 510 She wolde come as soone as euere she myghte. Line 511

Whan they vnto the paleys were ycomen Line 512 Of Troilus, they doun of hors alighte, Line 513 And to the chambre hire wey than han they nomen; Line 514 And in-to time that it gan to nyghte Line 515 They spaken of Criseyde the brighte; Line 516 And after this, whan that hem bothe leste, Line 517 They spedde hem fro the soper vnto reste. Line 518

On morwe, as soone as day bygan to clere, Line 519 This Troilus gan of his slepe tabrayde, Line 520 And to Pandare, his owen brother deere, Line 521 "ffor loue of god," ful pitously he sayde, Line 522 "As go we sen the palais of Criseyde; Line 523 ffor syn we ȝet may haue namore feste, Line 524 So lat vs sen hire paleys atte leeste." Line 525

And therwith-al his meyne forto blende, Line 526 A cause he fond in towne forto go, Line 527 And to Criseydes hous they gonnen wende, Line 528 But lord, this sely Troilus was wo! Line 529 Hym thoughte his sorwful herte braste atwo, Line 530 ffor whan he saugh hire dores spered alle, Line 531 Wel neigh for sorwe adoun he gan to falle. Line 532

Therwith whan he was war and gan biholde Line 533 How shet was euery wyndow of the place, Line 534 As frost hym thoughte his herte gan to colde; Line 535 ffor which, with chaunged dedlich pale face, Line 536 With-outen word he forthby gan to pace, Line 537 And as god wolde, he gan so faste ride Line 538 That no wight of his contenance espide. Line 539

Than seide he thus, "O paleys desolat, Line 540 O hous of houses whilom best i-hight, Line 541 O paleys empty and disconsolat, Line 542 O thow lanterne of which queynt is the light, Line 543 O paleys, whilom day, that now art nyght, Line 544 Wel oughtestow to falle and I to dye Line 545 Syn she is went that wont was vs to gye. Line 546

"O paleis, whilom crowne of houses alle, Line 547 Enlumyned with sonne of alle blisse, Line 548 O ryng fro which the rubie is out falle, Line 549 O cause of wo that cause hast ben of lisse, Line 550 Ȝet syn I may no bet, fayn wolde I kisse Line 551 Thy colde dores, dorste I for this route; Line 552 And far wel shryne, of which the seynt is oute." Line 553

Ther-with he caste on Pandarus his eye, Line 554 With chaunged face and pitous to biholde, Line 555 And whan he myghte his tyme aright aspie, Line 556 Ay as he rood to Pandarus he tolde Line 557 His newe sorwe and ek hise ioies olde Line 558 So pitously and with so dede an hewe Line 559 That euery wight myghte on his sorwe rewe. Line 560

Stanzas 81 through 91

ffro thennes forth he rideth vp and down, Line 561 And euery thyng com hym to remembraunce Line 562 As he rood forby places of the town Line 563 In which he whilom hadde al his plesaunce. Line 564 "Lo, ȝonder saugh ich last my lady daunce, Line 565 And in that temple with hire eyen clere Line 566 Me kaughte first my righte lady dere. Line 567

"And ȝonder haue I herd ful lustyly Line 568 My dere herte laugh and ȝonder pleye Line 569 Saugh ich hire ones ek ful blisfully; Line 570 And ȝonder ones to me gan she seye, Line 571 "Now goode swete, loue me wel, I preye'; Line 572 And ȝond so goodly gan she me biholde, Line 573 That to the deth myn herte is to hire holde. Line 574

"And at that corner in the ȝonder hous Line 575 Herde I myn alder-leuest lady deere, Line 576 So wommanly with vois melodious, Line 577 Syngen so wel, so goodly and so cleere, Line 578 That in my soule ȝet me thynketh ich here Line 579 The blisful sown; and in that ȝonder place Line 580 My lady first me took vnto hire grace." Line 581

Thanne thoughte he thus, "O blisful lord Cupide, Line 582 Whan I the processe haue in my memorie Line 583 How thow me hast wereyed on euery syde, Line 584 Men myght a book make of it lik a storie. Line 585 What nede is the to seke on me victorie, Line 586 Syn I am thyn and holly at thi wille? Line 587 What ioie hast thow thyn owen folk to spille? Line 588

"Wel hastow, lord, y-wroke on me thyn ire, Line 589 Thow myghty god and dredefull for to greue. Line 590 Now mercy, lord, thow woost wel I desire Line 591 Thi grace moost of alle lustes leeue, Line 592 And lyue and dye I wol in thy byleue; Line 593 ffor which I naxe in guerdoun but a bone -- Line 594 That thow Criseyde aȝein me sende sone. Line 595

"Destreyne hire herte as faste to retorne, Line 596 As thow doost myn to longen hire to see, Line 597 Than woot I wel that she nyl naught soiorne. Line 598 Now blisful lord, so cruel thow ne be Line 599 Unto the blood of Troie, I preye the, Line 600 As Iuno was vnto the blood Thebane, Line 601 ffor which the folk of Thebes caughte hire bane." Line 602

And after this he to the ȝates wente, Line 603 Ther as Criseyde out rood a ful good paas, Line 604 And vp and down ther made he many a wente, Line 605 And to hym self ful ofte he seyde, "allas, Line 606 ffro hennes rood my blisse and my solas; Line 607 As wolde blisful god now, for his ioie, Line 608 I myghte hire sen aȝeyn come in-to Troie. Line 609

"And to the ȝonder hille I gan hire gyde, Line 610 Allas, and ther I took of hire my leue; Line 611 And ȝond I saugh hire to hire fader ride, Line 612 ffor sorwe of which myn herte shal to-cleue; Line 613 And hider home I com whan it was eue, Line 614 And here I dwelle out cast from alle ioie, Line 615 And shal til I may sen hire eft in Troie." Line 616

And of hym self ymagened he ofte Line 617 To ben defet, and pale, and waxen lesse Line 618 Than he was wont, and that men seyden softe, Line 619 "What may it be? who kan the sothe gesse Line 620 Whi Troilus hath al this heuynesse?" Line 621 And al this nas but his malencolie, Line 622 That he hadde of hym self swich fantasie. Line 623

Another tyme ymaginen he wolde Line 624 That euery wight that wente by the weye Line 625 Hadde of hym routhe and that thay seyn sholde, Line 626 "I am right sory Troilus wol deye." Line 627 And thus he drof a day ȝet forth or tweye Line 628 As ȝe haue herd; swich lif right gan he lede, Line 629 As he that stood bitwixen hope and drede. Line 630

ffor which hym likede in his songes shewe Line 631 Thenchesoun of his wo, as he best myghte, Line 632 And made a song of wordes but a fewe, Line 633 Somwhat his woful herte for to lighte; Line 634 And whan he was from euery mannes syghte, Line 635 With softe vois he of his lady deere, Line 636 That absent was, gan synge as ȝe may heere. Line 637

Canticus Troili

"O sterre, of which I lost haue al the light, Line 638 With herte soore wel oughte I to biwaille, Line 639 That euere derk in torment nyght by nyght, Line 640 Toward my deth with wynd in steere I saille; Line 641 ffor which the tenthe nyght, if that I faille Line 642 The gydyng of thi bemes bright an houre, Line 643 My ship and me Caribdis wol deuoure.' Line 644

Stanzas 93 through 100

This song whan he thus songen hadde, soone Line 645 He fil aȝeyn in-to hise sikes olde; Line 646 And euery nyght, as was his wone to doone, Line 647 He stood the brighte moone to byholde, Line 648 And al his sorwe he to the moone tolde, Line 649 And seyde, "ywis, whan thow art horned newe, Line 650 I shal be glad, if al the world be trewe. Line 651

"I saugh thyn hornes olde ek by the morwe Line 652 Whan hennes rood my righte lady dere, Line 653 That cause is of my torment and my sorwe; Line 654 ffor which, O brighte Latona the clere, Line 655 ffor loue of god, ren faste aboute thy spere! Line 656 ffor whan thyne hornes newe gynnen sprynge, Line 657 Than shal she come that may my blisse brynge." Line 658

The dayes moore and lenger euery nyghte Line 659 Than they ben wont to be, hym thoughte tho, Line 660 And that the sonne went his cours vnrighte Line 661 Be lenger weye than it was wont to go; Line 662 And seyde, "ywis, me dredeth euere mo Line 663 The sonnes sone, Pheton, be on lyue, Line 664 And that his fader carte amys he dryue." Line 665

Up-on the walles faste ek wolde he walke, Line 666 And on the Grekis oost he wolde se, Line 667 And to hym self right thus he wolde talke, Line 668 "Lo, ȝonder is myn owene lady free, Line 669 Or ellis ȝonder ther tho tentes be, Line 670 And thennes comth this eyre that is so soote, Line 671 That in my soule I fele it doth me boote. Line 672

"And hardily this wynd, that more and moore Line 673 Thus stoundemele encresseth in my face, Line 674 Is of my ladis depe sikes soore. Line 675 I preue it thus, for in noon other place Line 676 Of al this town, saue onliche in this space, Line 677 ffele I no wynd that sowneth so lik peyne; Line 678 It seyth, "allas, whi twynned be we tweyne?" Line 679

This longe tyme he dryueth forth right thus, Line 680 Til fully passed was the nynthe nyghte; Line 681 And ay bisyde hym was this Pandarus, Line 682 That bisily did al his fulle myghte Line 683 Hym to conforte and make his herte lighte, Line 684 Ȝeuyng hym hope alwey the tenthe morwe Line 685 That she shal come and stynten al his sorwe. Line 686

Up-on that other syde ek was Criseyde, Line 687 With wommen fewe, among the Grekis stronge, Line 688 ffor which ful ofte a day, "allas," she seyde, Line 689 "That I was born! Wel may myn herte longe Line 690 After my deth, for now lyue I to longe. Line 691 Allas, and I ne may it nat amende, Line 692 ffor now is wors than euere ȝet I wende. Line 693

"My fader nyl for no thyng do me grace Line 694 To gon aȝeyn, for naught I kan hym queme; Line 695 And if so be that I my terme pace, Line 696 My Troilus shal in his herte deme Line 697 That I am fals, and so it may wel seme: Line 698 Thus shal ich haue vnthonk on euery side -- Line 699 That I was born, so weilaway the tide! Line 700

Stanzas 101 through 110

"And if that I me putte in iupertie Line 701 To stele awey by nyght, and it bifalle Line 702 That I be kaught, I shal be holde a spie; Line 703 Or elles, lo, this drede I moost of alle, Line 704 If in the hondes of som wrecche I falle, Line 705 I nam but lost, al be myn herte trewe -- Line 706 Now myghty god, thow on my sorwe rewe!" Line 707

fful pale ywexen was hire brighte face, Line 708 Hire lymes lene, as she that al the day Line 709 Stood whan she dorste and loked on the place Line 710 Ther she was born and ther she dwelt hadde ay; Line 711 And al the nyght wepyng, allas, she lay. Line 712 And thus despeired out of alle cure Line 713 She ladde hire lif, this woful creature. Line 714

fful ofte a day she sighte ek for destresse, Line 715 And in hire self she wente ay purtrayng Line 716 Of Troilus the grete worthynesse, Line 717 And al his goodly wordes recordyng Line 718 Syn first that day hire loue bigan to spring; Line 719 And thus she sette hire woful herte a-fire Line 720 Thorugh remembraunce of that she gan desire. Line 721

In al this world ther nys so cruel herte Line 722 That hire hadde herd compleynen in hire sorwe, Line 723 That nolde han wepen for hire peynes smerte; Line 724 So tendrely she wepte bothe eue and morwe, Line 725 Hire nedede no teris forto borwe. Line 726 And this was ȝet the werste of al hire peyne, Line 727 Ther was no wight to whom she dorste hire pleyne. Line 728

fful rewfully she loked vpon Troie, Line 729 Biheld the toures heigh and ek the halles, Line 730 "Allas," quod she, "the plesance and the ioie, Line 731 The which that now al torned into galle is, Line 732 Haue ich had ofte with-inne the ȝonder walles. Line 733 O Troilus, what dostow now?" she seyde; Line 734 "Lord, wheyther thow ȝet thenke vpon Criseyde? Line 735

"Allas, I ne hadde trowed on ȝoure loore, Line 736 And went with ȝow as ȝe me redde er this, Line 737 Than hadde I now nat siked half so soore. Line 738 Who myghte han seyd that I hadde don amys Line 739 To stele awey with swich oon as he ys? Line 740 But al to late comth the letuarie, Line 741 Whan men the cors vnto the graue carie. Line 742

"To late is now to speke of that matere; Line 743 Prudence, allas, oon of thyne eyen thre Line 744 Me lakked alwey er that I come here: Line 745 On tyme y-passed wel remembred me, Line 746 And present tyme ek koud ich wel i-se, Line 747 But future tyme, er I was in the snare, Line 748 Koude I nat sen; that causeth now my care. Line 749

"But natheles, bityde what bityde, Line 750 I shal to-morwe at nyght by est or west Line 751 Out of this oost stele on some manere syde, Line 752 And gon with Troilus where as hym lest: Line 753 This purpos wol ich holde, and this is best. Line 754 No fors of wikked tonges ianglerie, Line 755 ffor euere on loue han wrecches had enuye. Line 756

"ffor who-so wol of euery word take hede, Line 757 Or reulen hym by euery wightes wit, Line 758 Ne shal he neuere thryuen, out of drede: Line 759 ffor that that som men blamen euere ȝit, Line 760 Lo, other manere folk comenden it. Line 761 And as for me, for al swich variaunce, Line 762 ffelicite clepe I my suffissaunce. Line 763

"ffor which with-outen any wordes mo, Line 764 To Troie I wole, as for conclusioun." Line 765 But god it wot, er fully monthes two Line 766 She was ful fer fro that entencioun; Line 767 ffor bothe Troilus and Troie town Line 768 Shal knotteles thorugh-out hire herte slide, Line 769 ffor she wol take a purpos for tabide. Line 770

Stanzas 111 through 120

This Diomede, of whom ȝow telle I gan, Line 771 Goth now with-inne hym self ay arguyng, Line 772 With al the sleghte and al that euere he kan, Line 773 How he may best with shortest tarying Line 774 In-to his net Criseydes herte bryng. Line 775 To this entent he koude neuere fyne; Line 776 To fisshen hire he leyde out hook and lyne. Line 777

But natheles, wel in his herte he thoughte Line 778 That she nas nat with-oute a loue in Troie; Line 779 ffor neuere sythen he hire thennes broughte Line 780 Ne koude he sen hire laughe or maken ioie. Line 781 He nyst how best hire herte for tacoye, Line 782 "But for tasay," he seyde, "it naught ne greueth; Line 783 ffor he that naught nasaieth naught nacheueth." Line 784

Ȝet seyde he to hym self vp-on a nyght, Line 785 "Now am I nat a fool, that woot wel how Line 786 Hire wo for loue is of another wight, Line 787 And here-vpon to gon assaye hire now? Line 788 I may wel wite, it nyl nat ben my prow. Line 789 ffor wise folk in bookes it expresse, Line 790 'Men shal nat wowe a wight in heuynesse.' Line 791

"But who-so myghte wynnen swich a floure Line 792 ffrom hym for whom she morneth nyght and day, Line 793 He myghte seyn he were a conqueroure." Line 794 And right anon, as he that bold was ay, Line 795 Thoughte in his herte, "happe how happe may, Line 796 Al sholde I dye, I wol hire herte seche; Line 797 I shal namore lesen but my speche." Line 798

This Diomede, as bokes vs declare, Line 799 Was in his nedes prest and corageous, Line 800 With sterne vois and myghty lymes square, Line 801 Hardy, testif, strong and chiualrous Line 802 Of dedes lik his fader Tideus; Line 803 And som men seyn he was of tonge large, Line 804 And heir he was of Calydoigne and Arge. Line 805

Criseyde mene was of hire stature, Line 806 Therto of shap, of face and ek of cheere, Line 807 Ther myghte ben no fairer creature; Line 808 And ofte tyme this was hire manere, Line 809 To gon y-tressed with hire heres clere Line 810 Doun by hire coler at hire bak byhynde, Line 811 Which with a thred of gold she wolde bynde. Line 812

And saue hire browes ioyneden y-feere, Line 813 Ther nas no lakke in aught I kan espien; Line 814 But forto speken of hire eyen cleere, Line 815 Lo, trewely, they writen that hire syen, Line 816 That Paradis stood formed in hire eyen; Line 817 And with hire riche beaute euere more Line 818 Strof loue in hire ay which of hem was more. Line 819

She sobre was, ek symple, and wys with-al, Line 820 The best ynorisshed ek that myghte be, Line 821 And goodly of hire speche in general; Line 822 Charitable, estatlich, lusty and fre, Line 823 Ne neuere mo ne lakked hire pite: Line 824 Tendre herted, slydynge of corage -- Line 825 But trewely I kan nat telle hire age. Line 826

And Troilus wel woxen was in highte, Line 827 And complet formed by proporcioun Line 828 So wel that kynde it nought amenden myghte; Line 829 Ȝong, fressh, strong, and hardy as lyoun, Line 830 Trewe as stiel in ech condicioun, Line 831 Oon of the beste entecched creature Line 832 That is, or shal, whil that the world may dure. Line 833

And certeynly in storye it is yfounde, Line 834 That Troilus was neuere vnto no wight, Line 835 As in his tyme, in no degree secounde Line 836 In duryng don that longeth to a knyght, Line 837 Al myghte a geant passen hym of myght. Line 838 His herte ay with the first and with the beste Line 839 Stood peregal to durre don that hym leste. Line 840

Stanzas 121 through 130

But forto tellen forth of Diomede: Line 841 It fel that after, on the tenthe day Line 842 Syn that Criseyde out of the Citee ȝede, Line 843 This Diomede, as fressh as braunche in May, Line 844 Come to the tente ther as Calkas lay, Line 845 And feyned hym with Calkas han to doone; Line 846 But what he mente I shal ȝow tellen soone. Line 847

Criseyde, at shorte wordes forto telle, Line 848 Welcomed hym, and down hym by hire sette, Line 849 And he was ethe ynough to maken dwelle; Line 850 And after this, with-outen longe lette, Line 851 The spices and the wyne men forth hem fette, Line 852 And forth they speke of this and that y-feere Line 853 As frendes don, of which som shal ȝe heere. Line 854

He gan first fallen of the werre in speche Line 855 Bitwixe hem and the folk of Troie town, Line 856 And of thassege he gan hire ek biseche Line 857 To telle hym what was hire opynyoun; Line 858 ffro that demaunde he so descendeth down Line 859 To axen hire if that hire straunge thoughte Line 860 The Grekis gise and werkes that they wroughte; Line 861

And whi hire fader tarieth so longe Line 862 To wedden hire vnto som worthy wight. Line 863 Criseyde, that was in hire peynes stronge Line 864 ffor loue of Troilus, hire owen knyght, Line 865 As ferforth as she konnyng hadde or myght, Line 866 Answerde hym tho; but as of his entente, Line 867 It semed nat she wiste what he mente. Line 868

But natheles this ilke Diomede Line 869 Gan in hym self assure and thus he seyde, Line 870 "If ich aright haue taken of ȝow hede, Line 871 Me thynketh thus, O lady myn Criseyde, Line 872 That syn I first hond on ȝoure bridel leyde, Line 873 Whan ȝe out come of Troie by the morwe, Line 874 Ne koude I neuere sen ȝow but in sorwe. Line 875

"Kan I nat seyn what may the cause be Line 876 But if for loue of som Troian it were, Line 877 The which right sore wolde athynken me Line 878 That ȝe for any wight that dwelleth there Line 879 Sholden spille a quarter of a tere, Line 880 Or pitously ȝoure seluen so bigile -- Line 881 ffor dredeles, it is nought worth the while. Line 882

"The folk of Troie, as who seyth alle and some, Line 883 In prisoun ben, as ȝe ȝoure seluen se; Line 884 ffor thennes shal nat oon on lyue come Line 885 ffor al the gold atwixen sonne and se. Line 886 Trusteth wel and vnderstondeth me: Line 887 Ther shal nat oon to mercy gon on lyue, Line 888 Al were he lord of worldes twies fyue. Line 889

"Swich wreche on hem for fecchynge of Eleyne Line 890 Ther shal ben take er that we hennes wende, Line 891 That Manes, which that goddes ben of peyne, Line 892 Shal ben agast that Grekes wol hem shende; Line 893 And men shul drede, vnto the worldes ende, Line 894 ffrom hennes-forth to rauysshen any queene, Line 895 So cruel shal oure wreche on hem be seene. Line 896

"And but if Calkas lede vs with ambages -- Line 897 That is to seyn with double wordes slye, Line 898 Swich as men clepe a word with two visages -- Line 899 Ȝe shal wel knowen that I naught ne lye, Line 900 And al this thyng right sen it with ȝoure eye, Line 901 And that anon, ȝe nyl nat trowe how sone; Line 902 Now taketh hede, for it is forto doone. Line 903

"What wene ȝe ȝoure wise fader wolde Line 904 Han ȝeuen Antenor for ȝow anon, Line 905 If he ne wiste that the Cite sholde Line 906 Destroied ben? whi, nay, so mote I gon! Line 907 He knew ful wel ther shal nat scapen oon Line 908 That Troian is, and for the grete feere, Line 909 He dorste nat ȝe dwelte lenger there. Line 910

Stanzas 131 through 140

"What wol ȝe more, lufsom lady deere? Line 911 Lat Troie and Troian fro ȝoure herte pace. Line 912 Drif out that bittre hope and make good cheere, Line 913 And clepe aȝeyn the beaute of ȝoure face, Line 914 That ȝe with salte teris so de-face. Line 915 ffor Troie is brought in swich a iupertie, Line 916 That it to saue is now no remedie. Line 917

"And thenketh wel ȝe shal in Grekis fynde Line 918 A moore perfit loue er it be nyght, Line 919 Than any Troian is, and more kynde, Line 920 And bet to seruen ȝow wol don his myght; Line 921 And if ȝe vouche-sauf, my lady bright, Line 922 I wol ben he to seruen ȝow my selue, Line 923 Ȝee, leuere than be kyng of Greces twelue." Line 924

And with that word he gan to waxen rede, Line 925 And in his speche a litel wight he quoke, Line 926 And caste a-syde a litel wight his hede, Line 927 And stynte a while, and afterward he woke, Line 928 And sobreliche on hire he threw his loke, Line 929 And seyde, "I am, al be it ȝow no ioie, Line 930 As gentil man as any wight in Troie." Line 931

"ffor if my fader Tideus," he seyde, Line 932 "I-lyued hadde, ich hadde ben er this Line 933 Of Calydoyne and Arge a kyng, Criseyde, Line 934 And so hope I that I shal ȝet, i-wis, Line 935 But he was slayn, allas, the more harm is, Line 936 Unhappily at Thebes al to rathe, Line 937 Polymytes and many a man to scathe. Line 938

"But, herte myn, syn that I am ȝoure man, Line 939 And ben the first of whom I seche grace Line 940 To serue ȝow as hertely as I kan, Line 941 And euere shal whil I to lyue haue space, Line 942 So er that I deperte out of this place, Line 943 That ȝe me graunte that I may to-morwe Line 944 At bettre leyser telle ȝow my sorwe." Line 945

What sholde I telle his wordes that he seyde? Line 946 He spak i-nough for o day at the meeste. Line 947 It preueth wel, he spak so that Criseyde Line 948 Graunted on the morwe at his requeste Line 949 fforto speken with hym at the leeste, Line 950 So that he nolde speke of swich matere. Line 951 And thus to hym she seyde as ȝe may here, Line 952

As she that hadde hire herte on Troilus Line 953 So faste that ther may it non arace; Line 954 And strangely she spak and seyde thus, Line 955 "O Diomede, I loue that ilke place Line 956 Ther I was born, and Ioues for his grace Line 957 Delyuere it soone of al that doth it care: Line 958 God, for thy myght, so leue it wel to fare. Line 959

"That Grekis wolde hire wrath on Troie wreke Line 960 If that they myght, I knowe it wel, i-wis; Line 961 But it shal naught by-fallen as ȝe speke, Line 962 And god to-forn, and forther ouere this, Line 963 I woot my fader wys and redy is, Line 964 And that he me hath bought, as ȝe me tolde, Line 965 So deere, I am the more vnto hym holde. Line 966

"That Grekis ben of heigh condicioun Line 967 I woot ek wel, but certeyn, men shal fynde Line 968 As worthi folk with-inne Troie town, Line 969 As konnyng and as perfit and as kynde, Line 970 As ben bitwixen Orkades and Inde. Line 971 And that ȝe koude wel ȝowre lady serue, Line 972 I trowe ek wel, hire thank forto deserue. Line 973

"But as to speke of loue, ywis," she seyde, Line 974 "I hadde a lord to whom I wedded was, Line 975 The whos myn herte al was til that he deyde; Line 976 And other loue, as help me now Pallas, Line 977 Ther in myn herte nys ne neuere was -- Line 978 And that ȝe ben of noble and heigh kynrede, Line 979 I haue wel herd it tellen out of drede. Line 980

Stanzas 141 through 150

"And that doth me to han so grete a wonder, Line 981 That ȝe wol scornen any womman so; Line 982 Ek, god woot, loue and I ben fer asonder: Line 983 I am disposed bet, so mot I go, Line 984 Unto my deth to pleyne and maken wo. Line 985 What I shal after don I kan nat seye, Line 986 But trewelich, as ȝet me list nat pleye. Line 987

"Myn herte is now in tribulacioun, Line 988 And ȝe in armes bisy day by day; Line 989 Herafter, whan ȝe wonnen han the town, Line 990 Peraunter thanne so it happen may, Line 991 That whan I se that neuere ȝit I say, Line 992 Than wol I werke that I neuere wroughte: Line 993 This word to ȝow ynough suffisen oughte. Line 994

"To-morwe ek wol I speken with ȝow fayn, Line 995 So that ȝe touchen naught of this matere. Line 996 And whan ȝow list, ȝe may come here aȝayn; Line 997 And er ȝe gon, thus muche I sey ȝow here: Line 998 As help me Pallas with hire heres clere, Line 999 If that I sholde of any Grek han routhe, Line 1000 It sholde be ȝoure seluen, by my trouthe. Line 1001

"I say nat therfore that I wol ȝow loue, Line 1002 Ny say nat nay, but in conclusioun, Line 1003 I mene wel, by god that sit aboue." Line 1004 And ther-with-al she caste hire eyen down, Line 1005 And gan to sike and seyde, "O Troie town, Line 1006 Ȝet bidde I god in quiete and in reste Line 1007 I may ȝow sen, or do myn herte breste." Line 1008

But in effect, and shortly forto seye, Line 1009 This Diomede al fresshly new aȝeyn Line 1010 Gan presen on and faste hire mercy preye; Line 1011 And after this, the sothe forto seyn, Line 1012 Hire gloue he took, of which he was ful feyn, Line 1013 And finaly, whan it was woxen eue, Line 1014 And al was wel, he roos and tok his leue. Line 1015

The brighte Venus folwede and ay taughte Line 1016 The wey ther brode Phebus down a-lighte; Line 1017 And Cynthea hire chare-hors ouere-raughte Line 1018 To whirle out of the Leoun if she myghte; Line 1019 And Signifer hise candels sheweth brighte, Line 1020 Whan that Criseyde vnto hire bedde wente Line 1021 Inwith hire fadres faire brighte tente, Line 1022

Retornyng in hire soule ay vp and down Line 1023 The wordes of this sodeyn Diomede, Line 1024 His grete estat, and perel of the town, Line 1025 And that she was allone and hadde nede Line 1026 Of frendes help; and thus bygan to brede Line 1027 The cause whi, the sothe forto telle, Line 1028 That she took fully purpos forto dwelle. Line 1029

The morwen com and, gostly forto speke, Line 1030 This Diomede is come vnto Criseyde; Line 1031 And shortly lest that ȝe my tale breke, Line 1032 So wel he for hym seluen spak and seyde, Line 1033 That alle hire sikes soore adown he leyde; Line 1034 And finaly, the sothe forto seyne, Line 1035 He refte hire of the grete of alle hire peyne. Line 1036

And after this the storie telleth vs Line 1037 That she hym ȝaf the faire baye stede, Line 1038 The which he ones wan of Troilus; Line 1039 And ek a broche -- and that was litel nede -- Line 1040 That Troilus was, she ȝaf this Diomede; Line 1041 And ek the bet from sorwe hym to releue, Line 1042 She made hym were a pencel of hire sleue. Line 1043

I fynde ek in the stories elles-where, Line 1044 Whan thorugh the body hurt was Diomede Line 1045 Of Troilus, tho wep she many a teere, Line 1046 Whan that she saugh hise wyde wowndes blede, Line 1047 And that she took to kepen hym good hede; Line 1048 And forto hele hym of his sorwes smerte, Line 1049 Men seyn -- I not -- that she ȝaf hym hire herte. Line 1050

Stanzas 151 through 160

But trewely the storie telleth vs Line 1051 Ther made neuere womman moore wo Line 1052 Than she whan that she falsed Troilus: Line 1053 She seyde, "allas, for now is clene ago Line 1054 My name of trouthe in loue for euere mo, Line 1055 ffor I haue falsed oon the gentileste Line 1056 That euere was and oon the worthieste. Line 1057

"Allas, of me vnto the worldes ende Line 1058 Shal neyther ben ywriten nor ysonge Line 1059 No good word, for thise bokes wol me shende. Line 1060 O, rolled shal I ben on many a tonge; Line 1061 Thorugh-out the world my belle shal be ronge! Line 1062 And wommen moost wol haten me of alle -- Line 1063 Allas, that swich a cas me sholde falle. Line 1064

"Thei wol seyn, in as muche as in me is, Line 1065 I haue hem don deshonour, weylaway! Line 1066 Al be I nat the first that dide amys, Line 1067 What helpeth that to don my blame awey? Line 1068 But syn I se ther is no bettre way, Line 1069 And that to late is now for me to rewe, Line 1070 To Diomede algate I wol be trewe. Line 1071

"But Troilus, syn I no bettre may, Line 1072 And syn that thus deperten ȝe and I, Line 1073 Ȝet prey I god, so ȝeue ȝow right good day, Line 1074 As for the gentileste, trewely, Line 1075 That euere I say, to seruen feythfully, Line 1076 And best kan ay his lady honour kepe." Line 1077 And with that word she braste anon to wepe. Line 1078

"And certes, ȝow ne haten shal I neuere, Line 1079 And frendes loue, that shal ȝe han of me, Line 1080 And my good word, al sholde I lyuen euere. Line 1081 And trewely, I wolde sory be Line 1082 fforto seen ȝow in aduersitee; Line 1083 And gilteles, I woot wel, I ȝow leue -- Line 1084 But al shal passe, and thus take I my leue." Line 1085

But trewely, how longe it was bytwene Line 1086 That she forsok hym for this Diomede, Line 1087 Ther is non auctour telleth it, I wene. Line 1088 Take euery man now to his bokes heede; Line 1089 He shal no terme fynden, out of drede. Line 1090 ffor though that he bigan to wowe hire soone, Line 1091 Er he hire wan, ȝet was ther more to doone. Line 1092

Ne me ne list this sely womman chyde Line 1093 fforther than the storye wol deuyse: Line 1094 Hire name, allas, is punysshed so wide, Line 1095 That for hire gilt it oughte ynough suffise; Line 1096 And if I myghte excuse hire any wise, Line 1097 ffor she so sory was for hire vntrouthe, Line 1098 I-wis, I wolde excuse hire ȝet for routhe. Line 1099

This Troilus, as I byfore haue tolde, Line 1100 Thus driueth forth as wel as he hath myghte; Line 1101 But often was his herte hoot and colde, Line 1102 And namely that ilke nynthe nyghte, Line 1103 Which on the morwe she hadde hym bihighte Line 1104 To com aȝeyn -- god woot, ful litel reste Line 1105 Hadde he that nyght: nothyng to slepe hym leste. Line 1106

The laurer-crowned Phebus with his heete Line 1107 Gan in his cours ay vpward as he wente, Line 1108 To warmen of the Est se the wawes weete, Line 1109 And Nysus doughter song with fressh entente, Line 1110 Whan Troilus his Pandare after sente; Line 1111 And on the walles of the town they pleyde, Line 1112 To loke if they kan sen aught of Criseyde. Line 1113

Tyl it was noon they stoden forto se Line 1114 Who that ther come; and euery maner wight Line 1115 That com fro fer they seyden it was she, Line 1116 Til that thei koude knowen hym aright. Line 1117 Now was his herte dul, now was it light; Line 1118 And thus by-iaped stonden forto stare Line 1119 Aboute naught, this Troilus and Pandare. Line 1120

Stanzas 161 through 170

To Pandarus this Troilus tho seyde, Line 1121 ffor aught I woot, byfor noon, sikirly, Line 1122 In-to this town ne comth nat here Criseyde. Line 1123 She hath ynough to doone, hardyly, Line 1124 To wynnen from hire fader, so trowe I; Line 1125 Hire olde fader wol ȝet make hire dyne Line 1126 Er that she go; god ȝeue his herte pyne!" Line 1127

Pandare answerde, "it may wel be, certeyn; Line 1128 And forthi lat vs dyne, I the byseche, Line 1129 And after noon than maystow com aȝeyn." Line 1130 And hom they go with-oute more speche, Line 1131 And come aȝeyn; but longe may they seche Line 1132 Er that they fynde that they after cape: Line 1133 ffortune hem bothe thenketh forto iape. Line 1134

Quod Troilus, "I se wel now that she Line 1135 Is taried with hire olde fader so, Line 1136 That er she come it wol neigh euen be. Line 1137 Com forth, I wol vnto the ȝate go: Line 1138 Thise porters ben vnkonnyng euere mo, Line 1139 And I wol don hem holden vp the ȝate Line 1140 As naught ne were, al-though she come late." Line 1141

The day goth faste and after that com eue, Line 1142 And ȝet com nought to Troilus Criseyde. Line 1143 He loketh forth by hegge, by tre, by greue, Line 1144 And fer his hed ouere the walle he leyde, Line 1145 And at the laste he torned hym and seyde, Line 1146 "By god, I woot hire menyng now, Pandare -- Line 1147 Al-moost, ywys, al newe was my care. Line 1148

"Now douteles this lady kan hire goode; Line 1149 I woot she meneth riden pryuely. Line 1150 I comende hire wisdom, by myn hoode. Line 1151 She wol nat maken peple nycely Line 1152 Gaure on hire whan she comth, but softely Line 1153 By nyghte in-to the town she thenketh ride. Line 1154 And deere brother, thynk nat longe tabide. Line 1155

"We han naught elles forto don, y-wis, Line 1156 And Pandarus now woltow trowen me? Line 1157 Haue here my trouthe, I se hire, ȝond she is! Line 1158 Heue vp thyn eyen, man, maistow nat se?" Line 1159 Pandare answerde, "nay, so mote I the. Line 1160 Al wronge, by god; what saistow, man, where arte? Line 1161 That I se ȝond nys but a fare carte." Line 1162

"Allas, thou seyst right soth," quod Troilus; Line 1163 "But hardily it is naught al for nought Line 1164 That in myn herte I now reioysse thus; Line 1165 It is aȝeyns som good I haue a thought -- Line 1166 Not I nat how, but syn that I was wrought, Line 1167 Ne felte I swich a comfort, dar I seye; Line 1168 She comth to-nyght, my lif that dorste I leye." Line 1169

Pandare answerde, "it may be wel ynough," Line 1170 And helde with hym of al that euere he seyde. Line 1171 But in his herte he thought and softe lough, Line 1172 And to hym self ful sobreliche he seyde, Line 1173 "ffrom haselwode, there ioly Robyn pleyde, Line 1174 Shal come al that that thow abidest heere: Line 1175 Ȝe, fare-wel al the snow of ferne ȝere." Line 1176

The warden of the ȝates gan to calle Line 1177 The folk which that with-oute the ȝates were, Line 1178 And bad hem dryuen in hire bestes alle, Line 1179 Or all the nyght they moste bleuen there. Line 1180 And fer with-inne the nyght with many a teere Line 1181 This Troilus gan homward forto ride; Line 1182 ffor wel he seth it helpeth naught tabide. Line 1183

But natheles, he gladed hym in this: Line 1184 He thought he misacounted hadde his day, Line 1185 And seyde, "I vnderstonde haue al amys: Line 1186 ffor thilke nyght I last Criseyde say, Line 1187 She seyde, "I shal ben here, if that I may, Line 1188 Er that the moone, O deere herte swete, Line 1189 The Leoun passe, out of this Ariete." Line 1190

Stanzas 171 through 180

"ffor which she may ȝet holde al hire byheste." Line 1191 And on the morwe vnto the ȝate he wente, Line 1192 And vp and down, by west and ek by este, Line 1193 Upon the walles made he many a wente; Line 1194 But al for nought, his hope alwey hym blente; Line 1195 ffor which at nyght in sorwe and sikes sore, Line 1196 He wente hym hom with-outen any more. Line 1197

His hope al clene out of his herte fledde, Line 1198 He nath wher-on now lenger forto honge; Line 1199 But for the peyne hym thoughte his herte bledde, Line 1200 So were his throwes sharpe and wonder stronge. Line 1201 ffor whan he saugh that she abood so longe, Line 1202 He nyste what he iuggen of it myghte, Line 1203 Syn she hath broken that she hym bihighte. Line 1204

The thridde, ferthe, fifte, sexte day Line 1205 After tho dayes ten of whiche I tolde, Line 1206 Bitwixen hope and drede his herte lay, Line 1207 Ȝet somwhat trustyng on hire hestes olde. Line 1208 But whan he saugh she nolde hire terme holde, Line 1209 He kan now sen non other remedie Line 1210 But forto shape hym soone forto dye. Line 1211

Ther-with the wikked spirit, god vs blesse, Line 1212 Which that men clepeth woode ialousie, Line 1213 Gan in hym crepe in al his heuynesse; Line 1214 ffor which by-cause he wolde soone dye, Line 1215 He ne et ne drank for his malencolye, Line 1216 And ek from euery compaignye he fledde; Line 1217 This was the lif that al the tyme he ledde. Line 1218

He so defet was that no manere man Line 1219 Unneth hym myghte knowen ther he wente; Line 1220 So was he lene, and therto pale and wan, Line 1221 And feble, that he walketh by potente; Line 1222 And with his ire he thus hym selue shente. Line 1223 But who-so axed hym wher-of hym smerte, Line 1224 He seyde his harm was al aboute his herte. Line 1225

Priam ful ofte, and ek his moder deere, Line 1226 Hise bretheren and his sustren gon hym freyne Line 1227 Whi he so sorwful was in al his cheere, Line 1228 And what thyng was the cause of al his peyne -- Line 1229 But al for naught: he nolde his cause pleyne, Line 1230 But seyde he felte a greuous maladie Line 1231 Aboute his herte and fayn he wolde dye. Line 1232

[So on a day he leyde hym doun to slepe, Line 1233 And so byfel that yn his slep hym thoughte Line 1234 That in a forest faste he welk to wepe Line 1235 ffor loue of here that hym these peynes wroughte; Line 1236 And vp and doun as he the forest soughte, Line 1237 He mette he saugh a bor with tuskes grete, Line 1238 That slepte aȝeyn the bryghte sonnes hete. Line 1239

And by this bor, faste in his armes folde, Line 1240 Lay kyssyng ay his lady bryght, Criseyde -- Line 1241 ffor sorwe of which, whan he it gan byholde, Line 1242 And for despit, out of his slep he breyde, Line 1243 And loude he cride on Pandarus & seyde, Line 1244 "O Pandarus, now know I crop and roote -- Line 1245 I nam but ded; ther nys non other bote. Line 1246

"My lady bryght, Criseyde, hath me bytrayed, Line 1247 In whom I trusted most of ony wight; Line 1248 She ellis-where hath now here herte apayed. Line 1249 The blysful goddes thorugh here grete myght Line 1250 Han in my drem y-shewed it ful right; Line 1251 Thus yn my drem Criseyde I haue byholde." Line 1252 And al this thing to Pandarus he tolde. Line 1253

"O my Criseyde, allas, what subtilte, Line 1254 What newe lust, what beaute, what science, Line 1255 What wratthe of iuste cause haue ye to me? Line 1256 What gilt of me, what fel experience, Line 1257 Hath fro me raft, allas, thyn aduertence? Line 1258 O trust, O feyth, O depe aseuraunce, Line 1259 Who hath me reft Criseyde, al my plesaunce? Line 1260

Stanzas 181 through 188

"Allas, whi leet I you from hennes go, Line 1261 ffor which wel neigh out of my wit I breyde? Line 1262 Who shal now trowe on ony othes mo? Line 1263 God wot, I wende, O lady bright, Criseyde, Line 1264 That euery word was gospel that ye seyde. Line 1265 But who may bet bigile, yf hym lyste, Line 1266 Than he on whom men weneth best to triste? Line 1267

"What shal I don, my Pandarus, allas? Line 1268 I fele now so sharpe a newe peyne: Line 1269 Syn that ther lith no remedye in this cas, Line 1270 That bet were it I with myn hondes tweyne Line 1271 My seluen slowh than alwey thus to pleyne: Line 1272 ffor thorugh the deth my wo shold han an ende, Line 1273 Ther euery day with lyf my self I shende."] Line 1274

Pandare answerde and seyde, "allas, the while Line 1275 That I was born! Haue I nat seyd er this, Line 1276 That dremes many a maner man bigile? Line 1277 And whi? for folk expounden hem amys. Line 1278 How darstow seyn that fals thy lady ys, Line 1279 ffor any drem, right for thyn owene drede? Line 1280 Lat be this thought; thow kanst no dremes rede. Line 1281

"Peraunter ther thow dremest of this boor, Line 1282 It may so be that it may signifie Line 1283 Hire fader, which that old is and ek hoor, Line 1284 Aȝeyn the sonne lith o poynt to dye, Line 1285 And she for sorwe gynneth wepe and crie, Line 1286 And kisseth hym ther he lith on the grounde: Line 1287 Thus sholdestow thi dreme aright expounde." Line 1288

"How myghte I than don," quod Troilus, Line 1289 "To knowe of this, ȝee, were it neuere so lite?" Line 1290 "Now seystow wisly," quod this Pandarus. Line 1291 "My red is this, syn thow kanst wel endite, Line 1292 That hastily a lettre thow hire write, Line 1293 Thorugh which thow shalt wel bryngyn it aboute, Line 1294 To know a soth ther thow art now in doute. Line 1295

"And se now whi: for this I dar wel seyn, Line 1296 That if so is that she vntrewe be, Line 1297 I kan nat trowen that she wol write aȝeyn. Line 1298 And if she write, thow shalt ful sone yse Line 1299 As wheither she hath any liberte Line 1300 To come aȝeyn, or ellis in som clause, Line 1301 If she be let, she wol assigne a cause. Line 1302

"Thow hast nat writen hire syn that she wente, Line 1303 Nor she to the, and this I dorste lay, Line 1304 Ther may swich cause ben in hire entente, Line 1305 That hardily thow wolt thi seluen say Line 1306 That hire abod the best is for ȝow tway. Line 1307 Now write hire thanne and thow shalt feele sone Line 1308 A soth of al; ther is namore to done." Line 1309

Acorded ben to this conclusioun, Line 1310 And that anon, thise ilke lordes two: Line 1311 And hastily sit Troilus a-down, Line 1312 And rolleth in his herte to and fro, Line 1313 How he may best descryuen hire his wo; Line 1314 And to Criseyde, his owen lady deere, Line 1315 He wrot right thus and seyde as ȝe may here. Line 1316

Litera Troili

"Right fresshe flour whos I ben haue and shal Line 1317 With-outen parte of elles-where seruyse, Line 1318 With herte, body, lif, lust, thought and al, Line 1319 I, woful wyght, in euerich humble wise, Line 1320 That tonge telle or herte may deuyse, Line 1321 As ofte as matere occupieth place, Line 1322 Me recomaunde vnto ȝoure noble grace. Line 1323

"Liketh ȝow to witen, swete herte, Line 1324 As ȝe wel knowe how longe tyme agon Line 1325 That ȝe me lefte in aspre peynes smerte, Line 1326 Whan that ȝe wente, of which ȝet boote non Line 1327 Haue I non had, but euere wors bigon Line 1328 ffro day to day am I, and so mot dwelle, Line 1329 While it ȝow list, of wele and wo my welle. Line 1330

"ffor which to ȝow with dredful herte trewe Line 1331 I write, as he that sorwe drifth to write, Line 1332 My wo that euerich houre encresseth newe, Line 1333 Compleynyng as I dar or kan endite. Line 1334 And that defaced is, that may ȝe wite Line 1335 The teris which that fro myn eyen reyne, Line 1336 That wolden speke, if that they koude, and pleyne. Line 1337

"Ȝow first biseche I that ȝoure eyen clere Line 1338 To loke on this defouled ȝe nat holde, Line 1339 And ouere al this that ȝe, my lady deere, Line 1340 Wol vouche-sauf this lettre to byholde. Line 1341 And by the cause ek of my cares colde, Line 1342 That sleth my wit, if aught amys masterte, Line 1343 fforȝeue it me, myn owen swete herte. Line 1344

"If any seruant dorst or oughte of right Line 1345 Upon his lady pitously compleyne, Line 1346 Thanne wene I that ich oughte be that wight, Line 1347 Considered this, that ȝe thise monthes tweyne Line 1348 Han taried ther ȝe seyden, soth to seyne, Line 1349 But dayes ten ȝe nolde in oost soiourne -- Line 1350 But in two monthes ȝet ȝe nat retourne. Line 1351

"But for as muche as me moot nedes like Line 1352 Al that ȝow liste, I dar nat pleyne moore, Line 1353 But humblely, with sorwful sikes sike, Line 1354 Ȝow write ich myn vnresty sorwes soore, Line 1355 ffro day to day desiryng euere moore Line 1356 To knowen fully, if ȝoure wille it weere, Line 1357 How ȝe han ferd and don whil ȝe be theere; Line 1358

"The whos welfare and hele ek god encresse Line 1359 In honour swich that vpward in degree Line 1360 It growe alwey so that it neuere cesse; Line 1361 Right as ȝoure herte ay kan, my lady free, Line 1362 Deuyse, I prey to god so moot it be, Line 1363 And graunte it that ȝe soone vp-on me rewe, Line 1364 As wisly as in al I am ȝow trewe. Line 1365

"And if ȝow liketh knowen of the fare Line 1366 Of me whos wo ther may no wit discryue, Line 1367 I kan namore but, chiste of euery care, Line 1368 At wrytyng of this lettre I was on lyue, Line 1369 Al redy out my woful gost to dryue; Line 1370 Which I delaye and holde hym ȝet in honde, Line 1371 Up-on the sighte of matere of ȝoure sonde. Line 1372

"Myn eyen two, in veyn with whiche I se, Line 1373 Of sorwful teris salt arn waxen welles; Line 1374 My song, in pleynte of myn aduersitee; Line 1375 My good in harm, myn ese ek woxen helle is; Line 1376 My ioie in wo -- I kan sey ȝow naught ellis, Line 1377 But torned is, for which my lif I warie, Line 1378 Eueriche ioie or ese in his contrarie. Line 1379

"Which with ȝoure commyng hom aȝeyn to Troie Line 1380 Ȝe may redresse, and more a thousand sithe Line 1381 Than euere ich hadde, encressen in me ioie: Line 1382 ffor was ther neuere herte ȝet so blithe Line 1383 To han his lif as I shal ben as swithe Line 1384 As I ȝow se; and though no manere routhe Line 1385 Commeue ȝow, ȝet thynketh on ȝoure trouthe. Line 1386

"And if so be my gilt hath deth deserued, Line 1387 Or if ȝow list namore vp-on me se, Line 1388 In guerdoun ȝet of that I haue ȝow serued, Line 1389 Byseche I ȝow, myn hertes lady free, Line 1390 That here-vpon ȝe wolden write me, Line 1391 ffor loue of god, my righte lode sterre, Line 1392 That deth may make an ende of al my werre. Line 1393

"If other cause aught doth ȝow forto dwelle, Line 1394 That with ȝoure lettre ȝe me recomforte; Line 1395 ffor though to me ȝoure absence is an helle, Line 1396 With pacience I wol my wo comporte, Line 1397 And with ȝoure lettre of hope I wol desporte. Line 1398 Now writeth, swete, and lat me thus nat pleyne; Line 1399 With hope or deth deliuereth me fro peyne. Line 1400

"I-wis, myne owene deere herte trewe, Line 1401 I woot that whan ȝe next vpon me se, Line 1402 So lost haue I myn hele and ek myn hewe, Line 1403 Criseyde shal nought konne knowen me. Line 1404 I-wys, myn hertes day, my lady free, Line 1405 So thursteth ay myn herte to byholde Line 1406 Ȝoure beute that my lif vnnethe I holde. Line 1407

"I say namore, al haue I forto seye Line 1408 To ȝow wel more than I telle may; Line 1409 But wheither that ȝe do me lyue or deye, Line 1410 Ȝet praye I god, so ȝeue ȝow right good day. Line 1411 And fareth wel, goodly, faire, fresshe may, Line 1412 As she that lif or deth may me comande; Line 1413 And to ȝoure trouthe ay I me recomande. Line 1414

"With hele swich that, but ȝe ȝeuen me Line 1415 The same hele, I shal none hele haue. Line 1416 In ȝow lith, whan ȝow liste that it so be, Line 1417 The day in which me clothen shal my graue; Line 1418 In ȝow my lif, in ȝow myght forto saue Line 1419 Me fro disese of alle peynes smerte; Line 1420 And far now wel, myn owen swete herte. Line 1421

le vostre T."

Stanzas 204 through 210

This lettre forth was sent vnto Criseyde, Line 1422 Of which hire answere in effect was this: Line 1423 fful pitously she wroot aȝeyn and seyde, Line 1424 That also sone as that she myghte, y-wys, Line 1425 She wolde come and mende al that was mys; Line 1426 And fynaly she wroot and seyde hym thenne, Line 1427 She wolde come, ȝe, but she nyste whenne. Line 1428

But in hire lettre made she swich festes, Line 1429 That wonder was, and swerth she loueth hym best, Line 1430 Of which he fond but botmeles bihestes. Line 1431 But Troilus, thow maist now, est or west, Line 1432 Pipe in an ivy lef if that the lest. Line 1433 Thus goth the world; god shilde vs fro meschaunce, Line 1434 And euery wight that meneth trouthe auaunce. Line 1435

Encressen gan the wo fro day to nyght Line 1436 Of Troilus, for tarying of Criseyde, Line 1437 And lessen gan his hope and ek his myght, Line 1438 ffor which al down he in his bed hym leyde; Line 1439 He ne eet, ne dronk, ne slep, ne no word seyde, Line 1440 Ymagynyng ay that she was vnkynde, Line 1441 ffor which wel neigh he wex out of his mynde. Line 1442

This drem of which I told haue ek byforn, Line 1443 May neuere come out of his remembraunce: Line 1444 He thought ay wel he hadde his lady lorn, Line 1445 And that Ioues, of his purueyaunce, Line 1446 Hym shewed hadde in slep the signifiaunce Line 1447 Of hire vntrouthe and his disauenture, Line 1448 And that the boor was shewed hym in figure. Line 1449

ffor which he for Sibille his suster sente, Line 1450 That called was Cassandre ek al aboute, Line 1451 And al his drem he tolde hire er he stente, Line 1452 And hire bisoughte assoilen hym the doute Line 1453 Of the stronge boor with tuskes stoute; Line 1454 And fynaly with-inne a litel stounde, Line 1455 Cassandre hym gan right thus his drem expounde. Line 1456

She gan first smyle and seyde, "O brother deere, Line 1457 If thow a soth of this desirest knowe, Line 1458 Thow most a fewe of olde stories heere, Line 1459 To purpos how that fortune ouerthrowe Line 1460 Hath lordes olde, thorugh which with-inne a throwe Line 1461 Thow wel this boor shalt knowe, and of what kynde Line 1462 He comen is, as men in bokes fynde. Line 1463

"Diane, which that wroth was and in ire Line 1464 ffor Grekis nolde don hire sacrifice, Line 1465 Ne encens vpon hire auter sette afire, Line 1466 She, for that Grekis gonne hire so despise, Line 1467 Wrak hire in a wonder cruel wise: Line 1468 ffor with a boor as gret as ox in stalle, Line 1469 She made vp frete hire corn and vynes alle. Line 1470

Stanzas 211 through 220

"To sle this boor was al the contre raysed, Line 1471 Amonges which ther com this boor to se, Line 1472 A mayde, oon of this world the beste y-preysed; Line 1473 And Meleagre, lord of that contree, Line 1474 He loued so this fresshe mayden free, Line 1475 That with his manhod, er he wolde stente, Line 1476 This boor he slough and hire the hed he sente. Line 1477

"Of which as olde bokes tellen vs, Line 1478 Ther ros a contek and a gret enuye, Line 1479 And of this lord descended Tideus Line 1480 By ligne or ellis olde bookes lye; Line 1481 But how this Meleagre gan to dye Line 1482 Thorugh his moder wol I ȝow naught telle, Line 1483 ffor al to longe it were forto dwelle." Line 1484

She tolde ek how Tideus, er she stente, Line 1485 Unto the stronge citee of Thebes, Line 1486 To cleymen kyngdom of the citee wente Line 1487 ffor his felawe, daun Polymytes, Line 1488 Of which the brother, daun Ethiocles, Line 1489 fful wrongfully of Thebes held the strengthe: Line 1490 This tolde she by processe al by lengthe. Line 1491

She tolde ek how Hemonydes asterte Line 1492 Whan Tideus slough fifty knyghtes stoute; Line 1493 She tolde ek alle the prophecyes by herte, Line 1494 And how that seuen kynges with hire route Line 1495 Bysegeden the citee al aboute; Line 1496 And of the holy serpent and the welle Line 1497 And of the furies al she gan hym telle; Line 1498

Associat profugum Tideo primus Polymytem; Tidea legatum docet insidiasque secundus; Tercius Hemoduden canit et vates latitantes; Quartus habet reges ineuntes prelia septem; Mox furie Lenne quinto narratur et anguis; Archymory bustum sexto ludique leguntur; Dat Grayos Thebes et vatem septimus umbris; Octauo cecidit Tideus, spes, vita Pelasgis; Ypomedon nono moritur cum Parthenopea;eacute; ffulmine percussus, decimo Capaneus superatur; Undecimo sese perimunt per vulnera fratres; Argiua flentem narrat duodenus et ignem;

Of Archymoris burying and the pleyes, Line 1499 And how Amphiorax fil thorugh the grounde, Line 1500 How Tideus was sleyn, lord of Argeyes, Line 1501 And how Ypomedoun in litel stounde Line 1502 Was dreynt, and ded Parthonope of wownde; Line 1503 And also how Capaneus the proude Line 1504 With thonder dynt was slayn, that cride loude. Line 1505

She gan ek telle hym how that eyther brother, Line 1506 Ethiocles and Polymyte also, Line 1507 At a scarmuche ech of hem slough other, Line 1508 And of Argyues wepynge and hire wo, Line 1509 And how the town was brent she tolde ek tho; Line 1510 And so descendeth down from gestes olde Line 1511 To Diomede and thus she spak and tolde: Line 1512

"This ilke boor bitokneth Diomede, Line 1513 Tideus sone, that down descended is Line 1514 ffro Meleagre that made the boor to blede; Line 1515 And thy lady, wher-so she be, ywis, Line 1516 This Diomede hire herte hath and she his -- Line 1517 Wepe if thow wolt or lef, for out of doute, Line 1518 This Diomede is inne and thow art oute." Line 1519

"Thow seyst nat soth," quod he, "thow sorceresse. Line 1520 With al thy false goost of prophecye Line 1521 Thow wenest ben a gret deuyneresse. Line 1522 Now sestow nat this fool of fantasie Line 1523 Peyneth hire on ladys forto lye? Line 1524 Awey," quod he, "ther Ioues ȝeue the sorwe! Line 1525 Thow shalt be fals, peraunter, ȝet to-morwe. Line 1526

"As wel thow myghtest lien on Alceste, Line 1527 That was of creatures, but men lye, Line 1528 That euere weren, kyndest and the beste, Line 1529 ffor whan hire housbonde was in iupertye Line 1530 To dye hym self but if she wolde dye, Line 1531 She ches for hym to dye and gon to helle, Line 1532 And starf anon as vs the bokes telle." Line 1533

Stanzas 221 through 229

Cassandre goth, and he with cruel herte Line 1534 fforȝat his wo for angre of hire speche, Line 1535 And from his bedde al sodeynly he sterte, Line 1536 As though al hool hym hadde ymad a leche. Line 1537 And day by day he gan enquere and seche Line 1538 A sooth of this with al his fulle cure; Line 1539 And thus he drieth forth his auenture. Line 1540

ffortune -- which that permutacioun Line 1541 Of thynges hath, as it is hire comitted Line 1542 Thorugh purueyaunce and disposicioun Line 1543 Of heighe Ioue, as regnes shal be flitted Line 1544 ffro folk in folk or when they shal be smytted -- Line 1545 Gan pulle awey the fetheres brighte of Troie Line 1546 ffro day to day til they ben bare of ioie. Line 1547

Among al this, the fyn of the parodie Line 1548 Of Ector gan aprochen wonder blyue; Line 1549 The fate wolde his soule sholde vnbodye, Line 1550 And shapen hadde a mene it out to dryue, Line 1551 Aȝeyns which fate hym helpeth nat to stryue; Line 1552 But on a day to fighten gan he wende, Line 1553 At which, allas, he caughte his lyues ende. Line 1554

ffor which me thynketh euery manere wight Line 1555 That haunteth armes oughte to biwaille Line 1556 The deth of hym that was so noble a knyght; Line 1557 ffor as he drough a kyng by thauentaille, Line 1558 Unwar of this, Achilles thorugh the maille Line 1559 And thorugh the body gan hym forto ryue; Line 1560 And thus the worthi knyght was brought of lyue. Line 1561

ffor whom, as olde bokes tellen vs, Line 1562 Was made swich wo that tonge it may nat telle, Line 1563 And namely the sorwe of Troilus, Line 1564 That next hym was of worthynesse welle; Line 1565 And in this wo gan Troilus to dwelle, Line 1566 That, what for sorwe and loue and for vnreste, Line 1567 fful ofte a day he bad his herte breste. Line 1568

But natheles, though he gan hym dispaire, Line 1569 And dradde ay that his lady was vntrewe, Line 1570 Ȝet ay on hire his herte gan repaire, Line 1571 And as thise louers don, he soughte ay newe Line 1572 To gete aȝeyn Criseyde, brighte of hewe; Line 1573 And in his herte he wente hire excusyng, Line 1574 That Calkas caused al hire tariyng. Line 1575

And ofte tyme he was in purpos grete, Line 1576 Hym seluen like a pilgrym to desgise Line 1577 To seen hire; but he may nat contrefete Line 1578 To ben vnknowen of folk that weren wise, Line 1579 Ne fynde excuse aright that may suffise, Line 1580 If he amonge the Grekis knowen were; Line 1581 ffor which he wep ful ofte and many a tere. Line 1582

To hire he wroot ȝet ofte tyme al newe Line 1583 fful pitously -- he lefte it nought for slouthe -- Line 1584 Bisechyng hire that syn that he was trewe, Line 1585 That she wol come aȝeyn and holde hire trouthe; Line 1586 ffor which Criseyde vp-on a day for routhe -- Line 1587 I take it so -- touchyng al this matere, Line 1588 Wrot hym aȝeyn and seyde as ȝe may here. Line 1589

Litera Criseydis

"Cupides sone, ensample of goodly-heede, Line 1590 O swerd of knyghthod, sours of gentilesse, Line 1591 How myght a wight in torment and in drede, Line 1592 And heleles, ȝow sende as ȝet gladnesse? Line 1593 I herteles, I sik, I in destresse, Line 1594 Syn ȝe with me nor I with ȝow may dele, Line 1595 Ȝow neyther sende ich herte may nor hele. Line 1596

"Ȝoure lettres ful, the papir al ypleynted, Line 1597 Conceyued hath myn hertes pietee; Line 1598 I haue ek seyn with teris al depeynted Line 1599 Ȝoure lettre, and how that ȝe requeren me Line 1600 To come aȝeyn, which ȝet ne may nat be. Line 1601 But whi, lest that this lettre founden were, Line 1602 No mencioun ne make I now for feere. Line 1603

"Greuous to me, god woot, is ȝoure vnreste, Line 1604 Ȝoure haste, and that the goddes ordinaunce Line 1605 It semeth nat ȝe take it for the beste; Line 1606 Nor other thyng nys in ȝoure remembraunce, Line 1607 As thynketh me, but only ȝoure plesaunce. Line 1608 But beth nat wroth and that I ȝow biseche; Line 1609 ffor that I tarie is al for wikked speche. Line 1610

"ffor I haue herd wel moore than I wende, Line 1611 Touchyng vs two, how thynges han y-stonde, Line 1612 Which I shal with dissymelyng amende; Line 1613 And beth nat wroth, I haue ek vnderstonde Line 1614 How ȝe ne do but holden me in honde; Line 1615 But now no force, I kan nat in ȝow gesse Line 1616 But alle trouthe and alle gentilesse. Line 1617

"Come I wole, but ȝet in swich disioynte Line 1618 I stonde as now, that what ȝer or what day Line 1619 That this shal be, that kan I naught apoynte. Line 1620 But in effecte I pray ȝow as I may, Line 1621 Of ȝoure good word and of ȝoure frendship ay: Line 1622 ffor trewely, while that my lif may dure, Line 1623 As for a frend ȝe may in me assure. Line 1624

"Ȝet prey ich ȝow on yuel ȝe ne take Line 1625 That it is short which that I to ȝow write; Line 1626 I dar nat, ther I am, wel lettres make, Line 1627 Ne neuere ȝet ne koude I wel endite. Line 1628 Ek grete effect men write in place lite; Line 1629 Thentente is al and nat the lettres space. Line 1630 And fareth now wel, god haue ȝow in his grace. Line 1631

la vostre C."

Stanzas 235 through 240

This Troilus this lettre thoughte al straunge, Line 1632 Whan he it saugh and sorwfullich he sighte; Line 1633 Hym thoughte it lik a kalendes of chaunge. Line 1634 But fynaly he ful ne trowen myghte Line 1635 That she ne wolde hym holden that she hyghte; Line 1636 ffor with ful yuel wille list hym to leue, Line 1637 That loueth wel, in swich cas, though hym greue. Line 1638

But natheles men seyn that at the laste, Line 1639 ffor any thyng men shal the soothe se, Line 1640 And swich a cas bitidde and that as faste, Line 1641 That Troilus wel vnderstod that she Line 1642 Nas nought so kynde as that hire oughte be; Line 1643 And fynaly he woot now, out of doute, Line 1644 That al is lost that he hath ben aboute. Line 1645

Stood on a day in his malencolie Line 1646 This Troilus, and in suspecioun Line 1647 Of hire for whom he wende forto dye. Line 1648 And so bifel that thorugh-out Troye town, Line 1649 As was the gise, i-born was vp and down Line 1650 A manere cote-armure, as seith the storie, Line 1651 Byforn Deiphebe in signe of his victorie. Line 1652

The whiche cote, as telleth Lollius, Line 1653 Deiphebe it hadde rent fro Diomede Line 1654 The same day; and whan this Troilus Line 1655 It saugh, he gan to taken of it hede, Line 1656 Auysyng of the lengthe and of the brede, Line 1657 And al the werk; but as he gan byholde, Line 1658 fful sodeynly his herte gan to colde, Line 1659

As he that on the coler fond with-inne Line 1660 A broche that he Criseyde ȝaf that morwe Line 1661 That she from Troie moste nedes twynne, Line 1662 In remembraunce of hym and of his sorwe, Line 1663 And she hym leyde aȝeyn hire feith to borwe Line 1664 To kepe it ay -- but now ful wel he wiste Line 1665 His lady nas no lenger on to triste. Line 1666

He goth hym hom and gan ful soone sende Line 1667 ffor Pandarus; and al this newe chaunce Line 1668 And of this broche he tolde hym word and ende, Line 1669 Compleynyng of hire hertes variaunce, Line 1670 His longe loue, his trouthe and his penaunce; Line 1671 And after deth, with-outen wordes moore, Line 1672 fful faste he cride, his reste hym to restore. Line 1673

Stanzas 241 through 250

Than spak he thus, "O lady bright, Criseyde, Line 1674 Where is ȝoure feith and where is ȝoure biheste? Line 1675 Where is ȝoure loue, where is ȝoure trouthe?" he seyde. Line 1676 "Of Diomede haue ȝe now al this feeste; Line 1677 Allas, I wolde han trowed atte leeste Line 1678 That syn ȝe nolde in trouthe to me stonde, Line 1679 That ȝe thus nolde han holden me in honde. Line 1680

"Who shal now trowe on any othes mo? Line 1681 Allas, I neuere wolde han wend er this Line 1682 That ȝe, Criseyde, koude han chaunged so, Line 1683 Ne, but I hadde agilt and don amys. Line 1684 So cruel wende I nought ȝoure herte, ywis, Line 1685 To sle me thus; allas, ȝoure name of trouthe Line 1686 Is now fordon and that is al my routhe. Line 1687

"Was ther non other broche ȝow liste lete Line 1688 To feffe with ȝoure newe loue," quod he, Line 1689 "But thilke broche that I with teris wete Line 1690 Ȝow ȝaf as for a remembraunce of me? Line 1691 Non other cause, allas, ne hadde ȝe Line 1692 But for despit, and ek for that ȝe mente Line 1693 Al outrely to shewen ȝoure entente. Line 1694

"Thorugh which I se that clene out of ȝoure mynde Line 1695 Ȝe han me cast, and I ne kan nor may, Line 1696 ffor al this world, with-inne myn herte fynde Line 1697 To vnlouen ȝow a quarter of a day. Line 1698 In corsed tyme I born was, weilaway, Line 1699 That ȝow that doon me al this wo endure Line 1700 Ȝet loue I best of any creature. Line 1701

"Now god," quod he, "me sende ȝet the grace Line 1702 That I may meten with this Diomede; Line 1703 And trewely, if I haue myght and space, Line 1704 Ȝet shal I make, I hope, his sydes blede. Line 1705 O god," quod he, "that oughtest taken heede Line 1706 To fortheren trouthe and wronges to punyce, Line 1707 Whi nyltow don a vengeaunce of this vice? Line 1708

"O Pandare, that in dremes forto triste Line 1709 Me blamed hast and wont art oft vpbreyde, Line 1710 Now maistow sen thi self, if that the liste, Line 1711 How trewe is now thi Nece, brighte Criseyde. Line 1712 In sondry formes, god it woot," he seyde, Line 1713 "The goddes shewen bothe ioie and tene Line 1714 In slep, and by my drem it is now sene. Line 1715

"And certeynly, with-outen moore speche, Line 1716 ffrom hennes-forth as ferforth as I may, Line 1717 Myn owen deth in armes wol I seche, Line 1718 I recche nat how soone be the day. Line 1719 But trewely, Criseyde, swete may, Line 1720 Whom I haue ay with al my myghte y-serued, Line 1721 That ȝe thus doon, I haue it nat deserued." Line 1722

This Pandarus, that al thise thynges herde, Line 1723 And wiste wel he seyde a soth of this, Line 1724 He nought a word aȝeyn to hym answerde; Line 1725 ffor sory of his frendes sorwe he is, Line 1726 And shamed for his Nece hath don amys, Line 1727 And stant astoned of thise causes tweye, Line 1728 As stille as ston; a word ne kowde he seye. Line 1729

But at the laste thus he spak and seyde: Line 1730 "My brother deer, I may do the namore. Line 1731 What sholde I seyn? I hate, ywis, Criseyde, Line 1732 And god woot, I wol hate hire euermore. Line 1733 And that thow me bisoughtest don of ȝoore, Line 1734 Hauyng vn-to myn honour ne my reste Line 1735 Right no reward, I dide al that the leste. Line 1736

"If I dide aught that myghte liken the, Line 1737 It is me lief, and of this tresoun now, Line 1738 God woot that it a sorwe is vnto me; Line 1739 And dredeles, for hertes ese of ȝow, Line 1740 Right fayn I wolde amende it, wiste I how. Line 1741 And fro this world almyghty god I preye Line 1742 Deliuere hire soon, I kan namore seye." Line 1743

Stanzas 251 through 260

Gret was the sorwe and pleynte of Troilus; Line 1744 But forth hire cours fortune ay gan to holde. Line 1745 Criseyde loueth the sone of Tideus, Line 1746 And Troilus moot wepe in cares colde. Line 1747 Swich is this world, who-so it kan byholde; Line 1748 In ech estat is litel hertes reste; Line 1749 God leue vs forto take it for the beste. Line 1750

In many cruel bataille, out of drede, Line 1751 Of Troilus, this ilke noble knyght, Line 1752 As men may in thise olde bokes rede, Line 1753 Was seen his knyghthod and his grete myght; Line 1754 And dredeles, his ire day and nyght Line 1755 fful cruwely the Grekis ay aboughte, Line 1756 And alwey moost this Diomede he soughte. Line 1757

And ofte tyme I fynde that they mette Line 1758 With blody strokes and with wordes grete, Line 1759 Assayinge how hire speres weren whette; Line 1760 And god it woot, with many a cruel hete Line 1761 Gan Troilus vp-on his helm to bete. Line 1762 But natheles, fortune it naught ne wolde Line 1763 Of oothers hond that eyther deyen sholde. Line 1764

And if I hadde ytaken forto write Line 1765 The armes of this ilke worthi man, Line 1766 Than wolde ich of his batailles endite; Line 1767 But for that I to writen first bigan Line 1768 Of his loue, I haue seyd as I kan -- Line 1769 Hise worthi dedes, who-so list hem heere, Line 1770 Rede Dares, he kan telle hem alle i-feere -- Line 1771

Bysechyng euery lady bright of hewe, Line 1772 And euery gentil womman, what she be, Line 1773 That al be that Criseyde was vntrewe, Line 1774 That for that gilt she be nat wroth with me: Line 1775 Ȝe may hire gilt in other bokes se, Line 1776 And gladlier I wol write, if ȝow leste, Line 1777 Penelopes trouthe and good Alceste. Line 1778

Ny sey nat this al oonly for thise men, Line 1779 But moost for wommen that bitraised be Line 1780 Thorugh false folk; god ȝeue hem sorwe, amen! Line 1781 That with hire grete wit and subtilte Line 1782 Bytraise ȝow; and this commeueth me Line 1783 To speke, and in effect ȝow alle I preye, Line 1784 Beth war of men, and herkneth what I seye. Line 1785

Go, litel boke, go, litel myn tragedye, Line 1786 Ther god thi makere ȝet, er that he dye, Line 1787 So sende myght to make in some comedye; Line 1788 But litel book, no makyng thow nenvie, Line 1789 But subgit be to alle Poyesye, Line 1790 And kis the steppes where as thow seest space Line 1791 Uirgile, Ouide, Omer, Lucan and Stace. Line 1792

And for ther is so gret diuersite Line 1793 In Englissh and in writyng of oure tonge, Line 1794 So prey I god that non myswrite the, Line 1795 Ne the mysmetre for defaute of tonge. Line 1796 And red wher-so thow [MS ȝow] or elles songe, Line 1797 That thow be vnderstonde, god I biseche. Line 1798 But ȝet to purpos of my rather speche -- Line 1799

The wrath as I bigan ȝow for to seye Line 1800 Of Troilus the Grekis boughten deere; Line 1801 ffor thousandes hise hondes maden deye, Line 1802 As he that was with-outen any peere, Line 1803 Saue Ector in his tyme as I kan heere; Line 1804 But weilawey, saue only goddes wille, Line 1805 Despitously hym slough the fierse Achille. Line 1806

And whan that he was slayn in this manere, Line 1807 His lighte goost ful blisfully is went Line 1808 Up to the holughnesse of the eighthe spere, Line 1809 In conuers letyng euerich element; Line 1810 And ther he saugh with ful auysement Line 1811 The erratik sterres, herkenyng armonye Line 1812 With sownes ful of heuenyssh melodie. Line 1813

Stanzas 261 through 268

And down from thennes faste he gan auyse Line 1814 This litel spot of erthe that with the se Line 1815 Embraced is, and fully gan despise Line 1816 This wrecched world, and held al vanite Line 1817 To respect of the pleyn felicite Line 1818 That is in heuene aboue, and at the laste, Line 1819 Ther he was slayn his lokyng down he caste. Line 1820

And in hym self he lough right at the wo Line 1821 Of hem that wepten for his deth so faste, Line 1822 And dampned al oure werk that foloweth so Line 1823 The blynde lust, the which that may nat laste, Line 1824 And sholden al oure herte on heuen caste; Line 1825 And forth he wente, shortly forto telle, Line 1826 Ther as Mercurye sorted hym to dwelle. Line 1827

Swich fyn hath, lo, this Troilus for loue, Line 1828 Swich fyn hath al his grete worthynesse; Line 1829 Swich fyn hath his estat real aboue, Line 1830 Swich fyn his lust, swich fyn hath his noblesse; Line 1831 Swich fyn hath false worldes brotelnesse: Line 1832 And thus bigan his louyng of Criseyde, Line 1833 As I haue told, and in this wise he deyde. Line 1834

O ȝonge, fresshe folkes, he or she, Line 1835 In which that loue vp groweth with ȝoure age, Line 1836 Repeyreth hom fro worldly vanyte, Line 1837 And of ȝoure herte vp casteth the visage Line 1838 To thilke god that after his ymage Line 1839 Ȝow made, and thynketh al nys but a faire Line 1840 This world that passeth soone as floures faire. Line 1841

And loueth hym the which that right for loue Line 1842 Upon a Crois oure soules forto beye, Line 1843 ffirst starf and roos and sit in heuene aboue; Line 1844 ffor he nyl falsen no wight, dar I seye, Line 1845 That wol his herte al holly on hym leye. Line 1846 And syn he best to loue is and most meke, Line 1847 What nedeth feynede loues forto seke? Line 1848

Lo here, of payens corsed olde rites, Line 1849 Lo here, what alle hire goddes may auaille; Line 1850 Lo here, thise wrecched worldes appetites; Line 1851 Lo here, the fyn and guerdoun for trauaille Line 1852 Of Ioue, Appollo, of Mars, of swich rascaille; Line 1853 Lo here, the forme of olde clerkis speche Line 1854 In poetrie, if ȝe hire bokes seche. Line 1855

O moral Gower, this book I directe Line 1856 To the, and to the, philosophical Strode, Line 1857 To vouchen-sauf, ther nede is, to correcte, Line 1858 Of ȝoure benignites and zeles goode; Line 1859 And to that sothfast Crist that starf on rode, Line 1860 With al myn herte of mercy euere I preye, Line 1861 And to the lord right thus I speke and seye: Line 1862

Thow oon, and two, and thre, eterne on lyue, Line 1863 That regnest ay in thre, and two, and oon, Line 1864 Uncircumscript, and al maist circumscriue, Line 1865 Us from visible and in-visible foon Line 1866 Defende, and to thy mercye, euerichon, Line 1867 So make vs, Ihesus, for thi mercy digne, Line 1868 ffor loue of Mayde and moder thyn benigne. Amen. Line 1869