The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

R:OZLUSAND ~CRESSI A. 257
"Sir," quoth Cresside, "it is Pandare and I; Andsaid, "Woebegone2 be heares true,"
"Yea, sweete heart? alas, I may not rise A nd procurd 2' his:niece ever-new and new,
To kneel and do you honourin some wise." " Forlove of Godde, make of him anend,22
And dressed him upward, and she right tho 1 Or slay us both at ones, ere we wend."23
Gan both her handes soft upon him lay. " Eyi what?" quoth she; "by God and by
"0! for the love of God, do ye not so my truth,
Tome," quoth she;'ey! what is this to say? t know not what ye woulde that I say;"
For come I am to you for causes tway; 2 "By! what? " quoth he; "that ye have on
First you to thank, and of your lordship 3 eke him ruth,24
Continuance I woulde you beseek." 4 For Godde's love, and do him not to dey."'l8
This Troilus, that heard his lady pray " Now thenne thus," quoth she, "I would him
Him of lordship, wax'd neither quick nor dead; pray
Nor might one word for shame to it say,5 To telle me the fine of his intent; 2
Although men shoulde smiten off his head. Yet wist I never26 well what that he meant."
But, Lord! how he wax'd suddenly all red! "What that I meane, sweetB hearte dear? "
And, Sir, his lesson, that he ween'd have con,6 Quoth Troilus, " 0 goodly, fresh, and free!
To praye her, was through his wit y-run. That, with the streames 2 of your eyne so clear,
Cresside all this espied well. enow,- Ye woulde sometimes on me rue and see,28
For she was wise,-and lov'd him ne'er the less, And then agren 29 that I may be he,
All n' ere he malapert,7 nor made avow,8 Withoute branch of vice, in any wise,
Nor was so bold to sing a fool's mass; 9 In truth alway to do you my service,
But, when his shame began somewhat to pass, As to my lady chief, and right resort,
His wordes, as I may my rhymes hold, With all my wit and all my diligence;
I will you tell, as teache bookes old. And for tohave, right as you list, comf6rt;
In changed voice, right for his very dread, Under your yerd,30 equal to mine offence,
Which voice eke quak'd, and also his manndre As death,3' if that I break your defence; 32
-Goodly 0 abash'd, and now his hue is red, And that ye deigne me so much honofir,
Now pale, unto Cresside, his lady dear, Me to commanden aught in any hour.
With look downcast, and humble yielden "And I to be your very humble, true,
- cheer, 4 Secret, and in my paines 33 patient,
Lo! altherfirste word that him astert,l2 And evermore desire, freshly new,
Was twice: "Mercy, mercy, my dear heart! To serven, and be alike diligent,
And stent 3 a while; and when he miqht out And, with good h eart, all wholly your talent 34
bring,l4 Receive in gree,35 how sore that me smart;
The nexte was: "God wote, for I have, Lo, this mean I, mine owen sweete heart."
As farforthly as I have conning,15. -.
Been youres all, God so my soule save, With that she gan her eyen on him cast,
And shall, till that I, woeful wight, be grave;' Full easily and full debonairly,3
And though I dare not, cannot, to you plain,'Advising her, and hied not too fast,37
Y-wis, I suffer not the lesse pain. With ne'er a word, but said him softely,
"This much as now, O womanlike wife! "Mine honour safe, I will well trudey,
I may out bring,l4 and if it you displease, And in such form as ye can now devise,
That shall I wreak 7 upon mine owne life, Receive him 38 fully to my service;
Right soon, I trow, and do your heart an ease, "Beseeching him, for Godde's love, that he
If with my death your heart I may appease: Would, in honotir of truth and gentleness,
But, since that ye have heard me somewhat say, As I well mean, eke meane well to me;
Now reck I never how soon that I dey." 18 And mine honofir, with wit and business,39
Therewith his manly sorrow to behold Aye keep; and if I may do him gladness,
It might have made a heart of stone to rue; From henceforth, y-wis I will not feign:
And Pandare wept as he to water wo'ld,l9 Now be all whole, no longer do ye plain.
I Then. 2 Two. 22 Put him out of pain, by granting his desire.
3 Protection. 4 Beseech from you. 23 Go. 24 Pity.
5 Nor could he answer one word for shame (at the 25 Sum, end, of his desire.
stratagem that brought Cressida to implore his protec- 26 Never hitherto knew I.
tion). 6 Known by heart. 27 Beams, glances. 28 Have pity and look.
7 Though he was not over-forward. 29 Take it in good part, vouchsafe.'8 Confession (of his love). 30 Correction, chastisement.
9 That is, to be rash and ill-advised in his declara- 31 Even were it death.
tions of love and worship. 32 If I transgress in whatever you may forbid; French,
10 Becomingly. 11 Yielded, submissive. "defendre," to prohibit.
12 The first word of all that escaped him. 33 Sufferings. 34 Inclination, will.
13 Stopped. 14 Express. 35 With gladness, in good part.
15 As far as I am able. 16 Buried. 36 Full softly and full graciously.'
17 Avenge. 18 Die. 37 Bethinking her, and not making too great haste.
19 As if he would turn to water;'so, in The Squire's 38 Troilus. These lines and the succeeding stanza are
Tale, did Canace weep for the woes of the falcon'(note addressed to Pandarus, who had interposed some words
o1, page 120).:' of incitementto Cressida.
20 In woeful plight. 21 Urged, prompted. 39 Wisdom and zeal.
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