1,1  The double sorwe of Troilus to tellen,
1,2  That was the kyng Priamus sone of Troye,
1,3  In louynge how his auentures fellen
1,4  ffro wo to wele, and after out of ioie,
1,5  My purpos is, er that I parte fro ye.
1,6  Thesiphone, thow help me for tendite
1,7  Thise woful vers that wepen as I write.

1,8  To the clepe I, thow goddesse of torment,
1,9  Thow cruwel furie, sorwynge euere in peyne,
1,10  Help me that am the sorwful instrument
1,11  That helpeth loueres, as I kan, to pleyne;
1,12  ffor wel sit it, the sothe for to seyne,
1,13  A woful wight to han a drery feere,
1,14  And to a sorwful tale a sory chere.

1,15  ffor I, that god of loues seruantz serue,
1,16  Ne dar to loue, for myn vnliklynesse,
1,17  Preyen for speed, al sholde I ther-fore sterue,
1,18  So fer am I from his help in derknesse;
1,19  But natheles, if this may don gladnesse
1,20  To any louere and his cause auaille,
1,21  Haue he my thonk, and myn be this trauaille.

1,22  But |e loueres that bathen in gladnesse,
1,23  If any drope of pyte in |ow be,
1,24  Remembreth |ow on passed heuynesse
1,25  That |e han felt, and on the aduersite
1,26  Of othere folk, and thynketh how that |e
1,27  Han felt that loue dorste |ow displese,
1,28  Or |e han wonne hym with to grete an ese.

1,29  And preieth for hem that ben in the cas
1,30  Of Troilus, as |e may after here,
1,31  That loue hem brynge in heuene to solas;
1,32  And ek for me preieth to god so dere
1,33  That I haue myght to shewe in som manere
1,34  Swich peyne and wo as loues folk endure,
1,35  In Troilus vnsely auenture.

1,36  And biddeth ek for hem that ben despeired
1,37  In loue that neuere nyl recouered be,
1,38  And ek for hem that falsly ben apeired
1,39  Thorugh wikked tonges, be it he or she;
1,40  Thus biddeth god, for his benignite,
1,41  So graunte hem soone owt of this world to pace,
1,42  That ben despeired out of loues grace.

1,43  And biddeth ek for hem that ben at ese.
1,44  That god hem graunte ay good perseueraunce,
1,45  And send hem myght hire ladies so to plese
1,46  That it to loue be worship and plesaunce;
1,47  ffor so hope I my sowle best auaunce,
1,48  To prey for hem that loues seruauntz be,
1,49  And write hire wo, and lyue in charite,

1,50  And for to haue of hem compassioun,
1,51  As though I were hire owne brother dere.
1,52  Now herkneth with a good entencioun,
1,53  ffor now wil I gon streght to my matere,
1,54  In which |e may the double sorwes here
1,55  Of Troilus in louynge of Criseyde,
1,56  And how that she forsook hym er she deyde.

1,57  Yt is wel wist how that the Grekes stronge
1,58  In armes with a thousand shippes wente
1,59  To Troiewardes, and the cite longe
1,60  Assegeden, neigh ten |er er they stente,
1,61  And in diuerse wise and oon entente,
1,62  The rauysshyng to wreken of Eleyne,
1,63  By Paris don, they wroughten al hir peyne.

1,64  Now fel it so that in the town ther was
1,65  Dwellynge a lord of gret auctorite.
1,66  A gret deuyn that clepid was Calkas,
1,67  That in science so expert was that he
1,68  Knew wel that Troie sholde destroied be,
1,69  By answere of his god that highte thus:
1,70  Daun Phebus or Appollo Delphicus.

1,71  So whan this Calkas knew by calkulynge,
1,72  And ek by answer of this Appollo.
1,73  That Grekes sholden swich a peple brynge
1,74  Thorugh which that Troie moste ben for-do,
1,75  He  caste anon out of the town to go;
1,76  ffor wel wiste he by sort that Troye sholde
1,77  Destroyed ben -- |e, wolde who-so nolde.

1,78  ffor which forto departen softely
1,79  Took purpos ful this for-knowynge wise,
1,80  And to the Grekes oost ful pryuely
1,81  He stal anon; and they in curteys wise
1,82  Hym diden bothe worship and seruyce,
1,83  In trust that he hath konnynge hem to rede
1,84  In euery peril which that is to drede.

1,85  The noise vp ros whan it was first aspied
1,86  Thorugh al the town and generaly was spoken
1,87  That Calkas traitour fled was and allied
1,88  With hem of Grece, and casten to be wroken
1,89  On hym that falsly hadde his feith so broken,
1,90  And seyden he and al his kyn atones
1,91  Ben worthi for to brennen, felle and bones

1,92  Now hadde Calkas left in this meschaunce,
1,93  Al vnwist of this false and wikked dede,
1,94  His doughter, which that was in gret penaunce,
1,95  ffor of hire lif she was ful sore in drede,
1,96  As she that nyste what was best to rede;
1,97  ffor bothe a widewe was she and allone
1,98  Of any frend to whom she dorste hir mone.

1,99  Criseyde was this lady name al right --
1,100  As to my doom in al Troies cite
1,101  Nas non so fair, for passynge euery wight
1,102  So aungelik was hir natif beaute
1,103  That lik a thing in-mortal semed she,
1,104  As doth an heuenyssh perfit creature
1,105  That down were sent in scornynge of nature.

1,106  This lady which that alday herd at ere
1,107  Hire fadres shame, his falsnesse and tresoun,
1,108  Wel neigh out of hir wit for sorwe and fere,
1,109  In widewes habet large of samyt broun,
1,110  On knees she fil biforn Ector adown
1,111  With pitous vois, and tendrely wepynge,
1,112  His mercy bad, hir seluen excusynge.

1,113  Now was this Ector pitous of nature,
1,114  And saugh that she was sorwfully bigon,
1,115  And that she was so faire a creature;
1,116  Of his goodnesse he gladede hire anon,
1,117  And seyde, "lat |oure fadres treson gon
1,118  fforth with meschaunce, and |e |oure self in ioie
1,119  Dwelleth with vs, whil |ow good list, in Troie.

1,120  "And al thonour that men may don |ow haue,
1,121  As ferforth as |oure fader dwelled here,
1,122  ^e shul haue, and |oure body shal men saue,
1,123  As fer as I may ought enquere or here."
1,124  And she hym thonked with ful humble chere,
1,125  And ofter wolde, and it hadde ben his wille.
1,126  And took hire leue, and hom, and held hir stille.

1,127  And in hire hous she abood with swich meyne
1,128  As til hire honour nede was to holde;
1,129  And whil she was dwellynge in that cite
1,130  Kepte hir estat, and both of |onge and olde
1,131  fful wel biloued, and wel men of hir tolde --
1,132  But wheither that she children hadde or noon,
1,133  I rede it naught, ther-fore I late it goon.

1,134  The thynges fellen as they don of werre
1,135  Bitwixen hem of Troie and Grekes ofte;
1,136  ffor som day boughten they of Troie it derre,
1,137  And eft the Grekes founden no thing softe
1,138  The folk of Troie; and thus fortune on lofte
1,139  And vnder eft gan hem to whielen bothe
1,140  Aftir hir cours, ay whil that thei were wrothe.

1,141  But how this town com to destruccion
1,142  Ne falleth naught to purpos me to telle;
1,143  ffor it were here a long digression
1,144  ffro my matere and |ow to long to dwelle;
1,145  But the Troian gestes as they felle,
1,146  In Omer or in Dares or in Dite,
1,147  Who-so that kan may rede hem as they write.

1,148  But though that Grekes hem of Troie shetten
1,149  And hir cite biseged al aboute,
1,150  Hire olde vsage nolde they nat letten,
1,151  As for to honour hir goddes ful deuoute;
1,152  But aldirmost in honour, out of doute,
1,153  Thei hadde a relik heet Palladion
1,154  That was hire trist abouen euerichon.

1,155  And so bifel whan comen was the tyme
1,156  Of Aperil, whan clothed is the mede
1,157  With newe grene, of lusty Veer the pryme,
1,158  And swote smellen floures white and rede,
1,159  In sondry wises shewed, as I rede,
1,160  The folk of Troie hire obseruaunces olde,
1,161  Palladiones feste forto holde.

1,162  And to the temple in al hir beste wise
1,163  In general ther wente many a wight
1,164  To herknen of Palladion the seruyce;
1,165  And namely, so many a lusty knyght,
1,166  So many a lady fressh and mayden bright,
1,167  fful wel arayed, both moeste, mene, and leste,
1,168  ^e, bothe for the seson and the feste.

1,169  Among thise othere folk was Criseyda,
1,170  In widewes habit blak, but natheles,
1,171  Right as oure firste lettre is now an A,
1,172  In beaute first so stood she makeles;
1,173  Hire goodly lokyng gladed al the prees.
1,174  Nas neuere |et seyn thyng to ben preysed derre,
1,175  Nor vnder cloude blak so bright a sterre,

1,176  As was Criseyde, as folk seyde euerichone,
1,177  That hir behelden in hir blake wede;
1,178  And |et she stood ful lowe and stille allone,
1,179  Byhynden other folk in litel brede,
1,180  And nei | the dore, ay vndre shames drede,
1,181  Simple of atire and debonaire of chere,
1,182  With ful assured lokyng and manere.

1,183  This Troilus, as he was wont to gide
1,184  His |onge knyghtes, lad hem vp and down
1,185  In thilke large temple on euery side,
1,186  Byholding ay the ladies of the town,
1,187  Now here, now there, for no deuocioun
1,188  Hadde he to non to reuen hym his reste,
1,189  But gan to preise and lakken whom hym leste.

1,190  And in his walk ful faste he gan to wayten
1,191  If knyght or squyer of his compaignie
1,192  Gan forto syke or lete his eighen baiten
1,193  On any womman that he koude espye;
1,194  He wolde smyle and holden it folye,
1,195  And seye hym thus, "god woot, she slepeth softe
1,196  ffor loue of the, whan thow turnest ful ofte.

1,197  "I haue herd told, perdieux, of |oure lyuynge,
1,198  ^e loueres, and |oure lewed obseruaunces,
1,199  And which a labour folk han in wynnynge
1,200  Of loue, and in the kepyng which doutaunces;
1,201  And whan |oure prey is lost, woo and penaunces.
1,202  O veray fooles, nyce and blynde be |e;
1,203  Ther nys nat oon kan war by other be."

1,204  And with that word he gan caste vp the browe,
1,205  Ascaunces, "loo, is this naught wisely spoken?"
1,206  At which the god of loue gan loken rowe
1,207  Right for despit, and shop forto ben wroken:
1,208  He kidde anon his bowe nas naught broken,
1,209  ffor sodeynly he hitte hym atte fulle,
1,210  And |et as proude a pekok kan he pulle.

1,211  O blynde world, O blynde entencioun!
1,212  How often falleth al the effect contraire
1,213  Of surquidrie and foul presumpcioun!
1,214  ffor kaught is proud, and kau |t is debonaire:
1,215  This Troilus is clomben on the staire
1,216  And litel weneth that he moot descenden --
1,217  But alday faileth thing that fooles wenden.

1,218  As proude Bayard gynneth forto skippe
1,219  Out of the weye, so pryketh him his corn,
1,220  Til he a lasshe haue of the longe whippe,
1,221  Than thynketh he, ""though I praunce al byforn
1,222  ffirst in the trays, ful fat and newe shorn,
1,223  ^et am I but an hors, and horses lawe
1,224  I moot endure, and with my feres drawe."

1,225  So ferde it by this fierse and proude knyght:
1,226  Though he a worthy kynges sone were,
1,227  And wende no thing hadde had swich myght
1,228  A |eyns his wille that shuld his herte stere,
1,229  ^et with a look his herte wax a-fere,
1,230  That he that now was moost in pride a-boue
1,231  Wax sodeynly moost subgit vnto loue.

1,232  fforthy ensample taketh of this man,
1,233  ^e wise, proude, and worthi folkes alle,
1,234  To scornen loue, which that so soone kan
1,235  The fredom of |oure hertes to him thralle --
1,236  ffor euere it was and euere it shal byfalle
1,237  That loue is he that alle thing may bynde
1,238  ffor may no man fordon the lawe of kynde.

1,239  That this be soth, hath preued and doth |it;
1,240  ffor this trowe I |e knowen alle or some:
1,241  Men reden nat that folk han gretter wit
1,242  Than they that han be most with loue ynome;
1,243  And strengest folk bien ther-with ouerecome,
1,244  The worthiest and grettest of degree --
1,245  This was, and is, and |et men shall it see.

1,246  And trewelich it sit wel to be so,
1,247  ffor alderwisest han ther-with ben plesed,
1,248  And they that han ben aldermost in wo
1,249  With loue han ben comforted moost and esed;
1,250  And ofte it hath the cruel herte apesed,
1,251  And worthi folk maad worthier of name,
1,252  And causeth moost to dreden vice and shame.

1,253  Now sith it may nat goodly ben with-stonde,
1,254  And is a thing so vertuouse in kynde,
1,255  Refuseth nat to loue forto ben bonde,
1,256  Syn as hym seluen liste he may |ow bynde:
1,257  The |erde is bet that bowen wole and wynde
1,258  Than that that brest; and therfore I |ow rede
1,259  To folowen hym that so wel kan |ow lede.

1,260  But forto tellen forth in special
1,261  As of this kynges sone of which I tolde,
1,262  And leten other thing collateral,
1,263  Of hym thenke I my tale forth to holde,
1,264  Both of his ioie and of his cares colde;
1,265  And al his werk as touching this matere,
1,266  ffor I it gan, I wol therto refere.

1,267  With-inne the temple he wente hym forth pleyinge,
1,268  This Troilus, of euery wight aboute,
1,269  On this lady, and now on that, lokynge,
1,270  Where so she were of town or of with-oute;
1,271  And vp-on cas bifel that thorugh a route
1,272  His eye percede, and so depe it wente,
1,273  Til on Criseyde it smote, and ther it stente.

1,274  And sodeynly he wax ther-with astoned,
1,275  And gan hir bet biholde in thrifty wise.
1,276  "O mercy god," thoughte he, "wher hastow woned,
1,277  That art so feyre and goodly to deuise?"
1,278  Therwith his herte gan to sprede and rise,
1,279  And softe sighed, lest men myghte hym here,
1,280  And cau |t a |eyn his firste pleyinge chere.

1,281  She nas nat with the leste of hire statore,
1,282  But alle hir lymes so wel answerynge
1,283  Weren to wommanhode, that creature
1,284  Was neuere lasse mannyssh in semynge;
1,285  And ek the pure wise of hire meuynge
1,286  Shewed wel that men myght in hire gesse
1,287  Honour, estat, and wommanly noblesse.

1,288  To Troilus right wonder wel with alle
1,289  Gan forto like hire meuynge and hire chere,
1,290  Which somdel deignous was, for she let falle
1,291  Hire look a lite a-side in swich manere
1,292  Ascaunces, "what, may I nat stonden here?"
1,293  And after that hir lokynge gan she lighte.
1,294  That neuere thoughte hym seen so good a syghte.

1,295  And of hire look in him ther gan to quyken
1,296  So gret desire and swich affeccioun,
1,297  That in his hertes botme gan to stiken
1,298  Of hir his fixe and depe impressioun;
1,299  And though he erst hadde poured vp and down,
1,300  He was tho glad his hornes in-to shrinke;
1,301  Unnethes wiste he how to loke or wynke.

1,302  Lo, he that leet hym seluen so konnynge,
1,303  And scorned hem that loues peynes dryen,
1,304  Was ful vnwar that loue hadde his dwellynge
1,305  With-inne the subtile stremes of hire eyen;
1,306  That sodeynly hym thoughte he felte deyen,
1,307  Right with hire look, the spirit in his herte --
1,308  Blissed be loue, that kan thus folk conuerte!

1,309  She, this in blak, likynge to Troilus
1,310  Ouer al thing, he stood forto biholde;
1,311  Ne his desire, ne wherfore he stood thus,
1,312  He neither chere made, ne worde tolde;
1,313  But from a-fer, his manere forto holde,
1,314  On other thing his look som tyme he caste,
1,315  And efte on hire, while that the seruyse laste.

1,316  And after this, nat fullich al awhaped,
1,317  Out of the temple al esilich he wente,
1,318  Repentynge hym that he hadde euere i-iaped
1,319  Of loues folk, lest fully the descente
1,320  Of scorn fille on hym self; but what he mente,
1,321  Lest it were wist on any manere syde,
1,322  His woo he gan dissimilen and hide.

1,323  Whan he was fro the temple thus departed,
1,324  He streght anon vnto his paleys torneth,
1,325  Hight with hire look thorugh-shoten and thorugh-darted,
1,326  Al feyneth he in lust that he soiourneth;
1,327  And al his chere and speche also he borneth,
1,328  And ay of loues seruantz euery while,
1,329  Hym self to wrey, at hem he gan to smyle.

1,330  And seyde, "lord, so |e lyue al in lest,
1,331  ^e loueres, for the konnyngeste of |ow,
1,332  That serueth most ententiflich and best,
1,333  Hym tit as often harm ther-of as prow:
1,334  ^oure hire is quyt a |eyn, |e, god woot how,
1,335  Nought wel for wel, but scorn for good seruyse;
1,336  In feith, |oure ordre is ruled in good wise.

1,337  "In noun-certeyn ben alle |oure obseruaunces,
1,338  But it a sely fewe pointes be;
1,339  Ne no thing asketh so gret attendaunces
1,340  As doth |oure lay, and that knowe alle |e;
1,341  But that is nat the worste, as mote I the;
1,342  But tolde I |ow the worste point, I leue,
1,343  Al seyde I soth, |e wolden at me greue.

1,344  "But take this: that |e loueres ofte eschuwe,
1,345  Or elles doon, of good entencioun,
1,346  fful ofte thi lady wol it mysconstruwe,
1,347  And deme it harm in hire oppynyoun;
1,348  And |et if she, for other enchesoun
1,349  Be wroth, than shaltow haue a groyne anon --
1,350  Lord, wel is hym that may of |ow ben oon!"

1,351  But for al this, whan that he say his tyme,
1,352  He held his pees, non other boote hym gayned;
1,353  ffor loue bigan his fetheres so to lyme,
1,354  That wel vnneth vn-til his folk he fayned
1,355  That other besy nedes hym destrayned;
1,356  ffor wo was hym, that what to doon he nyste,
1,357  But bad his folk to gon wher that hem liste.

1,358  And whan that he in chambre was allone,
1,359  He doun vp-on his beddes feet hym sette,
1,360  And first he gan to sike and eft to grone,
1,361  And thought ay on hire so with-outen lette,
1,362  That as he sat and wook, his spirit mette
1,363  That he hire sau|, and temple, and al the wise
1,364  Right of hire look, and gan it newe a-vise.

1,365  Thus gan he make a mirour of his mynde,
1,366  In which he saugh al holly hire figure;
1,367  And that he wel koude in his herte fynde,
1,368  It was to hym a right good auenture
1,369  To loue swich oon, and if he dede his cure
1,370  To seruen hir, |et myghte he falle in grace,
1,371  Or ellis for oon of hire seruantes pace.

1,372  Imagenynge that trauaille nor grame
1,373  Ne myghte for so goodly oon be lorn
1,374  As she, ne hym for his desire no shame,
1,375  Al were it wist, but in pris and vp born
1,376  Of alle louers wel more than biforn --
1,377  Thus argumented he in his gynnynge,
1,378  fful vnauysed of his woo comynge.

1,379  Thus took he purpos loues craft to suwe,
1,380  And thoughte he wolde werken pryuely,
1,381  ffirst to hiden his desire in muwe
1,382  ffrom euery wight yborn, al outrely,
1,383  But he myghte ought recouered be therby,
1,384  Remembryng hym that loue to wide yblowe
1,385  ^elt bittre fruyt, though swete seed be sowe.

1,386  And ouere al this |et muchel more he thoughte
1,387  What forto speke and what to holden inne,
1,388  And what to arten hire to loue he soughte,
1,389  And on a song anon right to bygynne,
1,390  And gan loude on his sorwe forto wynne;
1,391  ffor with good hope he gan fully assente
1,392  Criseyde forto loue and nought repente.

1,393  And of his song naught only the sentence,
1,394  As writ myn auctour called Lollius,
1,395  But pleinly, saue oure tonges difference,
1,396  I dar wel seyn in al that Troilus
1,397  Seyde in his song, loo, euery word right thus
1,398  As I shal seyn; and who-so list it here,
1,399  Loo, next this vers he may it fynden here.
          <1Canticus Troili>1
1,400  "If no loue is, O god, what fele I so?
1,401  And if loue is, what thing and which is he?
1,402  If loue be good, from whennes cometh my woo?
1,403  If it be wikke, a wonder thynketh me,
1,404  Whenne euery torment and aduersite
1,405  That cometh of hym may to me sauory thinke,
1,406  ffor ay thurst I the more that ich it drynke.

1,407  "And if that at myn owen lust I brenne,
1,408  ffrom whennes cometh may waillynge and my pleynte?
1,409  If harme a-gree me, wherto pleyne I thenne?
1,410  I noot, ne whi vn-wery that I feynte.
1,411  O quike deth, O swete harm so queynte,
1,412  How may of the in me swich quantite,
1,413  But if that I consente that it be?

1,414  "And if that I consente, I wrongfully
1,415  Compleyne, i-wis; thus possed to and fro,
1,416  Al sterelees with-inne a boot am I
1,417  Amydde the see, bitwixen wyndes two,
1,418  That inne contrarie stonden euere mo.
1,419  Allas, what is this wondre maladie?
1,420  ffor hete of cold, for cold of hete, I dye."

1,421  And to the god of loue thus seyde he
1,422  With pitous vois, "O lord, now |oures is
1,423  My spirit, which that oughte |oures be.
1,424  ^ow thanke I, lord, that han me brought to this;
1,425  But wheither goddesse or womman, i-wis,
1,426  She be, I not, which that |e do me serue;
1,427  But as hire man I wol ay lyue and sterue.

1,428  "^e stonden in hir eighen myghtily,
1,429  As in a place vnto |oure vertue digne;
1,430  Wherfore, lord, if my seruice or I
1,431  May liken |ow, so beth to me benigne;
1,432  ffor myn estat roial I here resigne
1,433  In-to hire hond, and with ful humble chere
1,434  Bicome hir man, as to my lady dere."

1,435  In hym ne deyned spare blood roial
1,436  The fyre of loue -- the wherfro god me blesse --
1,437  Ne him forbar in no degree for al
1,438  His vertue or his excellent prowesse,
1,439  But held hym as his thral lowe in destresse,
1,440  And brende hym so in soundry wise ay newe,
1,441  That sexti tyme a day he loste his hewe.

1,442  So muche, day by day, his owene thought
1,443  ffor lust to hire gan quiken and encresse,
1,444  That euery other charge he sette at nought;
1,445  fforthi ful ofte, his hote fire to cesse,
1,446  To sen hire goodly lok he gan to presse;
1,447  ffor ther-by to ben esed wel he wende,
1,448  And ay the ner he was, the more he brende.

1,449  ffor ay the ner the fire the hotter is --
1,450  This, trowe I, knoweth al this compaignye;
1,451  But were he fer or ner, I dar sey this:
1,452  By nyght or day, for wisdom or folye,
1,453  His herte, which that is his brestes eye,
1,454  Was ay on hire, that fairer was to sene
1,455  Than euere were Eleyne or Polixene

1,456  Ek of the day ther passed nou |t an houre
1,457  That to hym self a thousand tyme he seyde,
1,458  "Good goodly, to whom serue I and laboure
1,459  As I best kan, now wolde god, Criseyde,
1,460  ^e wolden on me rewe, er that I deyde;
1,461  My dere herte, allas, myn hele and hewe
1,462  And lif is lost, but |e wol on me rewe."

1,463  Alle other dredes weren from him fledde,
1,464  Both of thassege and his sauacioun;
1,465  Nyn him desire noon other fownes bredde
1,466  But argumentes to his conclusioun,
1,467  That she of him wolde han compassioun,
1,468  And he to ben hire man while he may dure --
1,469  Lo, here his lif, and from the deth his cure.

1,470  The sharpe shoures felle, of armes preue,
1,471  That Ector or his other brethren diden,
1,472  Ne made hym only therfore ones meue;
1,473  And |et was he, where so men wente or riden,
1,474  ffounde on the beste, and lengest tyme abiden
1,475  Ther peril was, and dide ek swich trauaille
1,476  In armes that to thenke it was merueille.

1,477  But for non hate he to the Grekes hadde,
1,478  Ne also for the rescous of the town,
1,479  Ne made hym thus in armes forto madde,
1,480  But only, lo, for this conclusioun:
1,481  To liken hire the bet for his renoun.
1,482  ffro day to day in armes so he spedde,
1,483  That the Grekes as the deth him dredde.

1,484  And fro this forth tho refte hym loue his slepe,
1,485  And made his mete his foo, and ek his sorwe
1,486  Gan multiplie, that, who-so tok kepe,
1,487  It shewed in his hewe both eue and morwe;
1,488  Therfor a title he gan him forto borwe
1,489  Of other siknesse, lest men of hym wende
1,490  That the hote fire of loue hym brende,

1,491  And seyde he hadde a feuere and ferd amys.
1,492  But how it was, serteyn, kan I nat seye,
1,493  If that his lady vnderstood nat this,
1,494  Or feynede hire she nyste, on of the tweye;
1,495  But wel I rede that by no manere weye
1,496  Ne semed it as that she of hym roughte,
1,497  Or of his peyne, or what so euere he thoughte.

1,498  But thanne felte this Troilus swich wo,
1,499  That he was wel neigh wood -- for ay his drede
1,500  Was this, that she som wight hadde loued so
1,501  That neuere of hym she wolde han taken hede,
1,502  ffor which hym thoughte he felte his herte blede,
1,503  Ne of his wo ne dorste he nat bygynne
1,504  To tellen hir, for al this world to wynne.

1,505  But whan he hadde a space from his care,
1,506  Thus to hym self ful ofte he gan to pleyne;
1,507  He seyde, "O fool, now artow in the snare,
1,508  That whilom iapedest at loues peyne;
1,509  Now artow hent, now gnaw thin owen cheyne;
1,510  Thow were ay wont eche louere reprehende
1,511  Of thing fro which thow kanst the nat defende.

1,512  "What wol now euery louere seyn of the
1,513  If this be wist, but euere in thin absence
1,514  Laughen in scorne and seyn, "loo, ther goth he
1,515  That is the man of so gret sapience,
1,516  That held vs loueres leest in reuerence.
1,517  Now, thanked be god, he may gon in the daunce
1,518  Of hem that loue list fiebli for to auaunce.

1,519  "But O thow woful Troilus, god wolde,
1,520  Sith thow most louen thorugh thi destine,
1,521  That thow be-set were on swich oon that sholde
1,522  Know al thi wo, al lakked hir pitee.
1,523  But also cold in loue towardes the
1,524  Thi lady is as frost in wynter moone,
1,525  And thow fordon as snow in fire is soone.

1,526  "God wold I were aryued in the porte
1,527  Of deth to which my sorwe wol me lede.
1,528  A, lord, to me it were a gret comforte --
1,529  Than were I quyt of languisshyng in drede;
1,530  ffor be myn hidde sorwe i-blowe on brede,
1,531  I shal by-iaped ben a thousand tyme
1,532  More than that fol of whos folie men ryme.

1,533  But now help, god, and |e, swete, for whom
1,534  I pleyne, i-kaught, |e, neuere wight so faste --
1,535  O mercy, dere herte, and help me from
1,536  The deth, for I, while that my lyf may laste,
1,537  More than my self wol loue |ow to my laste;
1,538  And with som frendly lok gladeth me, swete,
1,539  Though neuere more thing |e me byheete."

1,540  Thise wordes, and ful many an other to,
1,541  He spak, and called euere in his compleynte
1,542  Hire name, forto tellen hire his wo,
1,543  Til nei | that he in salte teres dreynte:
1,544  Al was for nought, she herde nat his pleynte.
1,545  And whan that he by-thought on that folie,
1,546  A thousand fold his wo gan multiplie.

1,547  By-wayling in his chambre thus allone,
1,548  A frend of his that called was Pandare
1,549  Com oones in vnwar and herd hym groone,
1,550  And say his frend in swich destresse and care:
1,551  "Allas," quod he, "who causeth al this fare?
1,552  O mercy, god, what vnhap may this meene?
1,553  Han now thus soone Grekes maad |ow leene?

1,554  "Or hastow som remors of conscience,
1,555  And art now falle in som deuocioun,
1,556  And wailest for thi synne and thin offence,
1,557  And hast for ferde caught attricioun?
1,558  God saue hem that biseged han oure town,
1,559  That so kan leye oure iolite on presse,
1,560  And bringe oure lusty folk to holynesse!"

1,561  Thise wordes seyde he for the nones alle,
1,562  That with swich thing he myght hym angry maken,
1,563  And with an angre don his wo to falle,
1,564  As for the tyme, and his corage awaken;
1,565  But wel he wist, as fer as tonges spaken,
1,566  Ther nas a man of gretter hardinesse
1,567  Thanne he, ne more desired worthinesse.

1,568  "What cas," quod Troilus, "or what auenture
1,569  Hath gided the to sen me langwisshinge,
1,570  That am refus of euery creature?
1,571  But for the loue of god, at my preyinge,
1,572  Go hennes awey, for certes my deyinge
1,573  Wol the disese and I mot nedes deye;
1,574  Therfore go wey, ther is na more to seye.

1,575  "But if thow wene I be thus sik for drede,
1,576  It is naught so, and therfore scorne nou |t;
1,577  Ther is another thing I take of hede
1,578  Wel more than aught the Grekes han |et wrought,
1,579  Which cause is of my deth for sorowe and thought;
1,580  But though that I now telle it the ne leste,
1,581  Be thow nau |t wroth, I hide it for the beste."

1,582  This Pandare that neigh malt for wo and routhe
1,583  fful ofte seyde, "allas, what may this be?
1,584  Now frend," quod he, "if euere loue or trouthe
1,585  Hath ben, or is, bitwixen the and me,
1,586  Ne do thow neuere swich a crueltee
1,587  To hiden fro thi frend so gret a care.
1,588  Wostow nau |t wel that it am I, Pandare?

1,589  "I wol parten with the al thi peyne,
1,590  If it be so I do the no comfort,
1,591  As it is frendes right, soth forto seyne,
1,592  To entreparten wo as glad desport.
1,593  I haue and shal, for trewe or fals report,
1,594  In wronge and right i-loued the al my lyue:
1,595  Hid nat thi wo fro me but telle it blyue."

1,596  Than gan this sorwful Troylus to syke,
1,597  And seide hym thus, "god leue it be my beste
1,598  To telle it the, for sith it may the like,
1,599  ^et wol I telle it, though myn herte breste;
1,600  And wel woot I thow mayst do me no reste;
1,601  But lest thow deme I truste nat to the,
1,602  Now herke, frend, for thus it stant with me.

1,603  "Loue, a |eins the which who-so defendeth
1,604  Hym seluen most, hym alderlest auaylleth,
1,605  With disespeyre so sorwfulli me offendeth,
1,606  That streight vn-to the deth myn herte sailleth;
1,607  Therto desire so brennyngly me assailleth,
1,608  That to ben slayn it were a gretter ioie
1,609  To me than kyng of Grece ben and Troye.

1,610  "Suffiseth this, my fulle frend Pandare,
1,611  That I haue seyd, for now wostow my wo;
1,612  And for the loue of god, my colde care
1,613  So hide it wel, I tolde it neuere to mo;
1,614  ffor harmes myghten folwen mo than two,
1,615  If it were wist; but be thow in gladnesse,
1,616  And lat me sterue, vnknowe, of my destresse."

1,617  "How hastow thus vnkyndely and longe
1,618  Hid this fro me, thow fol?" quod Pandarus;
1,619  "Peraunter thow myghte after swich oon longe
1,620  That myn auys anoon may helpen vs."
1,621  "This were a wonder thing," quod Troilus;
1,622  "Thow koudest neuere in loue thi seluen wisse;
1,623  How deuel maistow brynge me to blisse?',

1,624  "^e, Troilus, now herke," quod Pandare;
1,625  "Though I be nyce, it happeth often so
1,626  That oon that excesse doth ful yuele fare
1,627  By good counseil kan kepe his frend ther-fro.
1,628  I haue my self ek seyn a blynd man goo
1,629  Ther as he fel that couthe loken wide;
1,630  A fool may ek a wis man ofte gide.

1,631  "A wheston is no keruyng instrument,
1,632  But |et it maketh sharppe keruyng tolis;
1,633  And there thow woost that I haue au |t myswent,
1,634  Eschuwe thow that, for swich thing to =e scole is;
1,635  Thus often wise men ben war by foolys.
1,636  If thow do so, thi wit is wel bewared;
1,637  By his contrarie is euery thyng declared.

1,638  "ffor how myghte euere swetnesse han ben knowe
1,639  To him that neuere tasted bitternesse?
1,640  Ne no man may ben inly glad, I trowe,
1,641  That neuere was in sorwe or som destresse;
1,642  Eke whit by blak, by shame ek worthinesse,
1,643  Ech set by other, more for other semeth,
1,644  As men may se, and so the wyse it demeth.

1,645  "Sith thus of two contraries is o lore,
1,646  I, that haue in loue so ofte assayed
1,647  Greuances, oughte konne, and wel the more,
1,648  Counseillen the of that thow art amayed;
1,649  And ek the ne aughte nat ben yuel appayed,
1,650  Though I desyre with the forto bere
1,651  Thyn heuy charge; it shal the lasse dere.

1,652  "I woot wel that it fareth thus by me
1,653  As to thi brother, Paris, an herdesse,
1,654  Which that i-cleped was Oenone,
1,655  Wrote in a compleynte of hir heuynesse;
1,656  ^ee say the lettre that she wrote, I gesse?"
1,657  "Nay, neuere |et, ywys," quod Troilus.
1,658  "Now," quod Pandare, "herkne, it was thus:

1,659  "'Phebus, that first fond art of medicyne,'
1,660  Quod she, 'and couthe in euery wightes care
1,661  Remedye and rede by herbes he knew fyne,
1,662  ^et to hym self his konnyng was ful bare;
1,663  ffor loue hadde hym so bounden in a snare,
1,664  Al for the doughter of the kyng Amete,
1,665  That al his craft ne koude his sorwes bete.'

1,666  "Right so fare I, vnhappyly for me;
1,667  I loue one best, and that me smerteth sore;
1,668  And |et, peraunter, kan I reden the,
1,669  And nat my self -- repreue me na more.
1,670  I haue no cause, I woot wel, forto sore
1,671  As doth an hauk that listeth forto pleye;
1,672  But to thin help |et somwhat kan I seye.

1,673  "And of o thing right siker maistow be,
1,674  That certein, forto dyen in the peyne,
1,675  That I shal neuere mo discoueren the;
1,676  Ne, by my trouthe, I kepe nat restreyne
1,677  The fro thi loue, theigh that it were Eleyne
1,678  That is thi brother wif, if ich it wiste;
1,679  Be what she be, and loue hire as the liste.

1,680  "Therfore, as frend fullich in me assure,
1,681  And telle me plat now what is thenchesoun
1,682  And final cause of wo that |e endure;
1,683  ffor douteth no thyng, myn entencioun
1,684  Nis nat to |ow of reprehencioun
1,685  To speke as now, for no wight may byreue
1,686  A man to loue, tyl that hym list to leue.

1,687  "And witteth wel that bothe two ben vices:
1,688  Mistrusten alle, or elles alle leue.
1,689  But wel I woot, the mene of it no vice is:
1,690  ffor for to trusten som wight is a preue
1,691  Of trouth, and forthi wolde I fayn remeue
1,692  Thi wronge conseyte and do the som wyght triste
1,693  Thi wo to telle; and tel me if the liste.

1,694  "The wise seith, "wo hym that is allone,
1,695  ffor, and he falle, he hath non helpe to ryse';
1,696  And sith thow hast a felawe, tel thi mone;
1,697  ffor this nys naught, certein, the nexte wyse
1,698  To wynnen loue, as techen vs the wyse,
1,699  To walwe and wepe as Nyobe the queene,
1,700  Whos teres |et in marble ben yseene.

1,701  "Lat be thy wepyng and thi drerynesse,
1,702  And lat vs lissen wo with oother speche;
1,703  So may thy woful tyme seme lesse;
1,704  Delyte nat in wo thi wo to seche,
1,705  As don thise foles that hire sorwes eche
1,706  With sorwe, whan thei han mysauenture,
1,707  And listen naught to seche hem other cure.

1,708  "Men seyn, "to wrecche is consolacioun
1,709  To haue another felawe in hys peyne.'
1,710  That owghte wel ben oure opynyoun,
1,711  ffor bothe thow and I of loue we pleyne:
1,712  So ful of sorwe am I, soth forto seyne,
1,713  That certeinly namore harde grace
1,714  May sitte on me, for why ther is no space.

1,715  "If god wol, thow art nat agast of me,
1,716  Lest I wolde of thi lady the bygyle;
1,717  Thow woost thy self whom that I loue, parde,
1,718  As I best kan, gon sithen longe while;
1,719  And sith thow woost I do it for no wyle,
1,720  And seyst I am he that thow trustest mooste,
1,721  Telle me somwhat, syn al my wo thow wooste."

1,722  ^et Troilus for al this no worde seyde,
1,723  But longe he ley as stylle as he ded were;
1,724  And after this with sikynge he abreyde,
1,725  And to Pandarus vois he lente his ere,
1,726  And vp hise eighen caste he, that in feere
1,727  Was Pandarus lest that in frenesie
1,728  He sholde falle, or elles soone dye;

1,729  And cryde "awake," ful wonderlich and sharpe,
1,730  "What! slombrestow as in a litargie?
1,731  Or artow lik an asse to the harpe,
1,732  That hereth sown whan men the strynges plye,
1,733  But in his mynde of that no melodie
1,734  May sinken hym to gladen, for that he
1,735  So dul ys of his bestialite?"

1,736  And with that, Pandare of his wordes stente;
1,737  And Troilus |et hym no thyng answerde,
1,738  ffor why to tellen nas nat his entente
1,739  To neuere no man, for whom that he so ferde.
1,740  ffor it is seyd, "men maketh ofte a |erde
1,741  With which the maker is hym self ybeten
1,742  In sondry manere," as thise wyse treten;

1,743  And namelich in his counseil tellynge
1,744  That toucheth loue that oughte ben secree;
1,745  ffor of him self it wol ynough out sprynge,
1,746  But if that it the bet gouerned be;
1,747  Ek som tyme it is a craft to seme fle
1,748  ffro thyng whych in effect men hunte faste --
1,749  Al this gan Troilus in his herte caste.

1,750  But natheles whan he hadde herd hym crye
1,751  "Awake," he gan to syken wonder soore,
1,752  And seyde, "frende, though that I stylle lye,
1,753  I am nat deef; now pees, and crye namore,
1,754  ffor I haue herd thi wordes and thi lore;
1,755  But suffre me my meschief to bywaille,
1,756  ffor thy prouerbes may me naught auaille.

1,757  Nor other cure kanstow non for me;
1,758  Ek I nyl nat ben cured, I wol deye.
1,759  What knowe I of the queene Nyobe?
1,760  Lat be thyne olde ensaumples, I the preye."
1,761  "No," quod tho Pandarus, "therfore I seye,
1,762  Swych is delit of foles to by-wepe
1,763  Hire wo, but seken bote they ne kepe.

1,764  "Now knowe I that ther reson in the failleth;
1,765  But telle me if I wiste what she were
1,766  ffor whom that the al this misaunter ailleth:
1,767  Dorste thow that I tolde in hire ere
1,768  Thi wo, sith thow darst naught thi self for feere,
1,769  And hire bysoughte on the to han som routhe?"
1,770  "Why nay," quod he, "by god and by my trouthe."

1,771  "What, nat as bisyly," quod Pandarus,
1,772  "As though myn owene lyf lay on this nede?"
1,773  "No, certes, brother," quod this Troilus.
1,774  "And whi?" -- "for that thow scholdest neuere spede."
1,775  "Wostow that wel?" -- " |e, that is out of drede,"
1,776  Quod Troilus, "for al that euere |e konne,
1,777  She nyl to noon swich wrecche as I ben wonne."

1,778  Quod Pandarus, "allas, what may this be,
1,779  That thow dispeired art thus causeles?
1,780  What, lyueth nat thi lady, bendiste?
1,781  How wostow so that thow art graceles?
1,782  Swich yuel is nat alwey booteles.
1,783  Why, put nat impossible thus thi cure,
1,784  Syn thyng to come is oft in auenture.

1,785  "I graunte wel that thow endurest wo,
1,786  As sharp as doth he Ticius in helle,
1,787  Whos stomak foughles tiren euere moo
1,788  That hightyn volturis, as bokes telle.
1,789  But I may nat endure that thow dwelle
1,790  In so vnskilful an oppynyoun
1,791  That of thi wo is no curacioun.

1,792  "But oones nyltow, for thy coward herte,
1,793  And for thyn ire and folissh wilfulnesse,
1,794  ffor wantrust, tellen of thy sorwes smerte,
1,795  Ne to thyn owen help don bysynesse
1,796  As muche as speke a reson moore or lesse?
1,797  But list as he that lest of no thyng recche --
1,798  What womman koude louen swich a wrecche?

1,799  "What may she demen oother of thy deeth,
1,800  If thow thus deye and she not why it is,
1,801  But that for feere is |olden vp thy breth
1,802  ffor Grekes han biseged vs, i-wys?
1,803  Lord, which a thonk than shaltow han of this!
1,804  Thus wol she seyn, and al the town attones,
1,805  "The wrecche is ded, the deuel haue his bones.'

1,806  "Thow mayst allone here wepe and crye and knele --
1,807  But loue a womman that she woot it nought,
1,808  And she wol quyte it that thow shalt nat fele:
1,809  Unknow, vnkist, and lost, that is vnsought.
1,810  What! many a man hath loue ful deere ybought
1,811  Twenty wynter that his lady wiste,
1,812  That neuere |et his lady mouth he kiste.

1,813  "What sholde he ther-fore fallen in dispayre,
1,814  Or be recreant for his owne tene,
1,815  Or slen hym self, al be his lady faire?
1,816  Nay, nay, but euere in oon be fresshe and grene
1,817  To serue and loue his deere hertes queene,
1,818  And thynk it is a guerdon hire to serue
1,819  A thousand fold moore than he kan deserue."

1,820  And of that word took hede Troilus,
1,821  And thoughte a-non what folie he was inne,
1,822  And how that soth hym seyde Pandarus,
1,823  That forto slen hym self myght he nat wynne,
1,824  But bothe don vnmanhod and a synne,
1,825  And of his deth his lady naught to wite;
1,826  ffor of his wo, god woot, she knew ful lite.

1,827  And with that thought he gan ful sore syke,
1,828  And seyde, "allas, what is me best to do?"
1,829  To whom Pandare answered, "if the like,
1,830  The beste is that thow telle me al thi wo;
1,831  And haue my trouthe, but thow it fynde so
1,832  I be thy boote er that it be ful longe,
1,833  To pieces do me drawe and sithen honge."

1,834  "^e, so thow seyst," quod Troilus tho, "allas,
1,835  But, god woot, it is naught the rather so.
1,836  fful hard were it to helpen in this cas,
1,837  ffor wel fynde I that fortune is my fo;
1,838  Ne al the men that riden konne or go
1,839  May of hire cruel whiel the harm withstonde;
1,840  ffor as hire list she pleyeth with free and bonde."

1,841  Quod Pandarus, "than blamestow fortune
1,842  ffor thow art wroth, |e, now at erst I see;
1,843  Woost thow nat wel that fortune is comune
1,844  To eueri manere wight in som degree?
1,845  And |et thow hast this comfort, lo, perde,
1,846  That as hire ioies moten ouergone,
1,847  So mote hire sorwes passen euerychone.

1,848  "ffor if hire whiel stynte any thyng to torne,
1,849  Than cessed she fortune anon to be.
1,850  Now sith hire whiel by no way may soiourne,
1,851  What woostow if hire mutabilite
1,852  Right as thy seluen list wol don by the,
1,853  Or that she be naught fer fro thyn helpynge?
1,854  Paraunter thow hast cause forto synge.

1,855  "And therfore wostow what I the biseche?
1,856  Lat be thy wo and tornyng to the grounde;
1,857  ffor who-so list haue helyng of his leche,
1,858  To hym byhoueth first vnwre his wownde.
1,859  To Cerberus in helle ay be I bownde,
1,860  Were it for my suster, al thy sorwe,
1,861  By my wil she sholde al be thyn to-morwe.

1,862  "Look vp, I seye, and telle me what she is
1,863  Anon, that I may gon aboute thy nede.
1,864  Knowe ich hire aught? for my loue, telle me this;
1,865  Thanne wolde I hopen rather for to spede."
1,866  Tho gan the veyne of Troilus to blede,
1,867  ffor he was hit and wax al reed for shame.
1,868  "A ha!" quod Pandare, "here bygynneth game."

1,869  And with that word he gan hym for to shake,
1,870  And seyde, "thef, thow shalt hyre name telle."
1,871  But tho gan sely Troilus for to quake,
1,872  As though men sholde han led hym in to helle,
1,873  And seyde, "allas, of al my wo the welle,
1,874  Thanne is my swete fo called Criseyde."
1,875  And wel neigh with the word for feere he deide.

1,876  And whann that Pandare herde hire name neuene,
1,877  Lord, he was glad, and seyde, "frende so deere,
1,878  Now fare aright, for Ioues name in heuene,
1,879  Loue hath byset the wel; be of good cheere,
1,880  ffor of good name and wisdom and manere
1,881  She hath ynough, and ek of gentilesse --
1,882  If she be fayre, thow woost thy self, I gesse.

1,883  "Ny neuere saugh a more bountevous
1,884  Of hire estat, na gladder, ne of speche
1,885  A frendlyer, na more gracious
1,886  ffor to do wel, ne lasse hadde nede to seche
1,887  What for to don; and al this bet to eche,
1,888  In honour, to as fer as she may strecche,
1,889  A kynges herte semeth by hyrs a wrecche.

1,890  ["And forthi loke of good comfort thow be;
1,891  ffor certeinly the ferste poynt is this
1,892  Of noble corage and wel ordeyne,
1,893  A man to haue pees with hym self, y-wis;
1,894  So oghtist thow, for nought but good it is
1,895  To loue wel, and in a worthy place;
1,896  The oughte not to clepe it hap but grace.]

1,897  "And also thynk, and ther-with glade the,
1,898  That sith thy lady vertuous is al,
1,899  So foloweth it that there is som pitee
1,900  Amonges alle thise other in general;
1,901  And forthi se that thow in special
1,902  Requere naught that is a |eyns hyre name,
1,903  ffor vertue streccheth naught hym self to shame.

1,904  "But wel is me that euere that I was borne,
1,905  That thow biset art in so good a place;
1,906  ffor by my trouthe, in loue I dorste haue sworne
1,907  The sholde neuere han tid thus fayre a grace;
1,908  And wostow why? for thow were wont to chace
1,909  At loue in scorn, and for despit hym calle
1,910  "Seynt Idiot, lord of thise foles alle.'

1,911  "How often hastow maad thi nyce iapes,
1,912  And seyd that loues seruantz euerichone
1,913  Of nycete ben verray goddes apes;
1,914  And some wolde mucche hire mete allone,
1,915  Liggyng abedde, and make hem for to grone;
1,916  And som, thow seydest, hadde a blaunche feuere,
1,917  And preydest god he sholde neuere keuere.

1,918  "And som of hem took on hem for the colde
1,919  More than ynough, so seydestow ful ofte;
1,920  And som han feyned ofte tyme, and tolde
1,921  How that they waken whan thei slepen softe;
1,922  And thus they wolde han brought hem self a-lofe,
1,923  And natheles were vnder at the laste --
1,924  Thus seydestow, and iapedest ful faste.

1,925  "^et seydestow that for the moore parte,
1,926  Thise loueres wolden speke in general,
1,927  And thoughten that it was a siker arte,
1,928  ffor faylyng for tassaien ouere al.
1,929  Now may I iape of the, if that I shal;
1,930  But natheles, though that I sholde deye,
1,931  That thow art non of tho, I dorste saye.

1,932  "Now bet thi brest and sey to god of loue
1,933  Thy grace, lord, for now I me repente
1,934  If I mysspak, for now my self I loue' --
1,935  Thus sey with al thyn herte in good entente."
1,936  Quod Troilus, "a, lord, I me consente,
1,937  And preye to the my iapes thow for |iue,
1,938  And I shal neuere more whyle I liue."

1,939  "Thow seist wel," quod Pandare, "and now I hope
1,940  That thow the goddes wrathe hast al apesed;
1,941  And sithen thow hast wopen many a drope,
1,942  And seyd swych thyng wher-with thi god is plesed,
1,943  Now wolde neuere god but thow were esed;
1,944  And thynk wel, she of whom rist al thi wo
1,945  Here-after may thy comfort be also.

1,946  "ffor thilke grownde that bereth the wedes wikke
1,947  Bereth ek thise holsom herbes as ful ofte:
1,948  Next the foule netle, rough and thikke,
1,949  The rose waxeth swoote and smothe and softe;
1,950  And next the valeye is the hill o-lofte;
1,951  And next the derke nyght the glade morwe;
1,952  And also ioie is next the fyn of sorwe.

1,953  "Now loke that a-tempre be thi bridel,
1,954  And for the beste ay suffre to the tyde,
1,955  Or elles al oure laboure is on ydel;
1,956  He hasteth wel that wisely kan abyde.
1,957  Be diligent and trewe, and ay wel hide;
1,958  Be lusty, fre, perseuere in thy seruyse --
1,959  And al is wel, if thow werke in this wyse.

1,960  "But he that parted is in eueri place
1,961  Is nowher hol, as writen clerkes wyse.
1,962  What wonder is though swich oon haue no grace?
1,963  Ek wostow how it fareth of som seruise,
1,964  As plaunte a tree or herbe in sondry wyse
1,965  And on the morwe pulle it vp as blyue,
1,966  No wonder is though it may neuere thryue.

1,967  "And sith that god of loue hath the bistowed
1,968  In place digne vnto thi worthinesse,
1,969  Stond faste, for to good port hastow rowed;
1,970  And of thi self, for any heuynesse,
1,971  Hope alwey wel; for but if drerinesse,
1,972  Or ouere-haste, oure bothe labour shende,
1,973  I hope of this to maken a good ende.

1,974  "And wostow why I am the lasse afered
1,975  Of this matere with my Nece trete?
1,976  ffor this haue I herd seyd of wyse lered,
1,977  'Was neuere man or womman |et bigete
1,978  That was vnapt to suffren loues hete,
1,979  Celestial, or elles loue of kynde.'
1,980  fforthy som grace I hope in hire to fynde.

1,981  "And for to speke of hire in specyal,
1,982  Hire beaute to bithynken and hire youthe,
1,983  It sit hire naught to ben celestial
1,984  As |et, though that hire liste bothe and kowthe;
1,985  But trewely, it sate hire wel right nowthe
1,986  A worthi knyght to louen and cherice --
1,987  And but she do, I holde it for a vice.

1,988  "Wher-fore I am and wol ben ay redy
1,989  To peyne me to do |ow this seruyse;
1,990  ffor bothe |ow to plese thus hope I
1,991  Her-afterward; for |e ben bothe wyse,
1,992  And konne it counseil kepe in swych a wyse
1,993  That no man shal the wiser of it be --
1,994  And so we may ben gladed alle thre.

1,995  "And, by my trouthe, I haue right now of the
1,996  A good conceyte in my wit, as I gesse,
1,997  And what it is, I wol now that thow se:
1,998  I thenke, sith that loue of his goodnesse
1,999  Hath the conuerted out of wikkednesse,
1,1000  That thow shalt ben the beste post, I leue,
1,1001  Of al his lay, and moost his foos to greue.

1,1002  "Ensample why, se now thise wise clerkes,
1,1003  That erren aldermost a |eyn a lawe,
1,1004  And ben conuerted from hire wikked werkes
1,1005  Thorugh grace of god that list hem to hym drawe,
1,1006  Thanne arn they folk that han moost god in awe,
1,1007  And strengest feythed ben, I vndirstonde,
1,1008  And konne an errowre alderbest withstonde."

1,1009  Whan Troilus hadde herd Pandare assented
1,1010  To ben his help in louyng of Cryseyde,
1,1011  Weex of his wo, as who seith, vntormented,
1,1012  But hotter weex his loue and thus he seyde,
1,1013  With sobre chere, although his herte pleyde:
1,1014  "Now blisful Venus help, er that I sterue,
1,1015  Of the, Pandare, I mowe som thank deserue.

1,1016  "But deere frende, how shal my wo be lesse
1,1017  Til this be doon? and, good, ek telle me this:
1,1018  How wiltow seyn of me and my destresse,
1,1019  Lest she be wroth -- this drede I moost, ywys --
1,1020  Or nyl nat here or trowen how it is?
1,1021  Al this drede I, and ek for the manere
1,1022  Of the, hire Em, she nyl no swich thyng here."

1,1023  Quod Pandarus, "thow hast a ful gret care
1,1024  Lest that the Cherl may falle out of the moone.
1,1025  Whi, lord, I hate of the thi nyce fare.
1,1026  Whi, entremete of that thow hast to doone!
1,1027  ffor goddes loue, I bidde the a boone:
1,1028  So lat malone, and it shal be thi beste."
1,1029  "Whi, frende," quod he, "now do right as the leste.

1,1030  "But herke, Pandare, o word, for I nolde
1,1031  That thow in me wendest so gret folie,
1,1032  That to my lady I desiren sholde
1,1033  That toucheth harm or any vilenye;
1,1034  ffor dredeles me were leuere dye
1,1035  Than she of me aught elles vnderstode
1,1036  But that that myghte sownen in-to goode."

1,1037  Tho lough this Pandare, and anon answerde,
1,1038  "And I thi borugh? fy, no wight doth but so;
1,1039  I roughte naught though that she stood and herde
1,1040  How that thow seist; but fare wel, I wol go.
1,1041  A-dieu, be glad, god spede vs bothe two!
1,1042  ^ef me this labour and this bisynesse,
1,1043  And of my spede be thyn al that swetnesse."

1,1044  Tho Troilus gan doun on knees to falle,
1,1045  And Pandare in his armes hente faste,
1,1046  And seyde, "now, fy on the Grekes alle!
1,1047  ^et, parde, god shal helpe vs atte laste;
1,1048  And dredelees, if that my lyf may laste,
1,1049  And god to-forn, lo, som of hem shal smerte;
1,1050  And |et mathenketh that this auant masterte.

1,1051  "Now, Pandare, I kan namore seye,
1,1052  But thow wis, thow woost, thow maist, thow art al.
1,1053  Mi lif, my deth, hol in thyn honde I leye;
1,1054  Help now!" Quod he, " |is, by my trowthe, I shal."
1,1055  "God |elde the, frend, and this in special,"
1,1056  Quod Troilus, "that thow me recomande
1,1057  To hire that to the deth me may comande."

1,1058  This Pandarus, tho desirous to serue
1,1059  His fulle frende, than seyde in this manere:
1,1060  "ffarwell, and thenk I wol thi thank deserue,
1,1061  Haue here my trowthe, and that thow shalt wel here,"
1,1062  And went his wey thenkyng on this matere,
1,1063  And how he best myghte hire biseche of grace,
1,1064  And fynde a tyme therto and a place.

1,1065  ffor eueri wight that hath an hous to founde
1,1066  Ne renneth naught the werk for to bygynne
1,1067  With rakel hond, but he wol bide a stounde,
1,1068  And sende his hertes line out fro with-inne
1,1069  Aldirfirst his purpos forto wynne.
1,1070  Al this Pandare in his herte thoughte,
1,1071  And caste his werk ful wisely or he wroughte.

1,1072  But Troilus lay tho no lenger down,
1,1073  But vp anon vpon his stede bay,
1,1074  And in the feld he pleyde the leoun;
1,1075  Wo was that Grek that with hym mette a-day!
1,1076  And in the town his manere tho forth ay
1,1077  So goodly was, and gat hym so in grace,
1,1078  That ecch hym loued that loked on his face.

1,1079  ffor he bicom the frendlieste wight,
1,1080  The gentilest, and ek the mooste fre,
1,1081  The thriftiest, and oon the beste knyght,
1,1082  That in his tyme was or myghte be:
1,1083  Dede were his iapes and his cruelte,
1,1084  His heighe port and his manere estraunge,
1,1085  And ecch of tho gan for a vertue chaunge.

1,1086  Now lat vs stynte of Troilus a stounde,
1,1087  That fareth like a man that hurt is soore,
1,1088  And is som deel of akyngge of his wownde
1,1089  Y-lissed wel, but heeled no deel moore,
1,1090  And, as an esy pacyent, the loore
1,1091  Abit of hym that gooth aboute his cure;
1,1092  And thus he dryeth forth his auenture.

       <1Explicit liber primus.>1
       <1Incipit prohemium secundi libri>1
2,1  Owt of thise blake wawes forto saylle,
2,2  O wynde, O wynde, the weder gynneth clere,
2,3  ffor in this see the boot hath swych trauaylle
2,4  Of my konnyng that vnneth I it steere:
2,5  This see clepe I the tempestous matere
2,6  Of disespeir that Troilus was inne --
2,7  But now of hope the kalendes bygynne.

2,8  O lady myn, that called art Cleo,
2,9  Thow be my speed fro this forth, and my Muse,
2,10  To ryme wel this book til I haue do;
2,11  Me nedeth here noon othere art to vse.
2,12  ffor-whi to euery louere I me excuse
2,13  That of no sentement I this endite,
2,14  But out of Latyn in my tonge it write.

2,15  Wherfore I nyl haue neither thank ne blame
2,16  Of al this werk, but prey |ow mekely,
2,17  Disblameth me if any word be lame,
2,18  ffor as myn auctour seyde, so sey I;
2,19  Ek though I speeke of loue vnfelyngly,
2,20  No wondre is, for it no thyng of newe is:
2,21  A blynd man kan nat iuggen wel in hewis.

2,22  ^e knowe ek that in fourme of speche is chaunge
2,23  With-inne a thousand |eer, and wordes tho
2,24  That hadden pris now wonder nyce and straunge
2,25  Us thenketh hem, and |et thei spake hem so,
2,26  And spedde as wel in loue as men now do,
2,27  Ek forto wynnen loue in sondry ages,
2,28  In sondry londes, sondry ben vsages.

2,29  And forthi if it happe in any wyse,
2,30  That here be any louere in this place
2,31  That herkneth, as the storie wol deuise,
2,32  How Troilus com to his lady grace,
2,33  And thenketh, "so nold I nat loue purchace,"
2,34  Or wondreth on his speche or his doynge,
2,35  I noot, but it is me no wonderynge.

2,36  ffor euery wight which that to Rome wente
2,37  Halt nat o path or alwey o manere;
2,38  Ek in som lond were al the game shente
2,39  If that they ferde in loue as men don here,
2,40  As thus, in opyn doyng or in chere,
2,41  In visityng in forme or seyde hire sawes;
2,42  ffor-thi men seyn, ecch contree hath hise lawes.

2,43  Ek scarsly ben ther in this place thre
2,44  That haue in loue seid like and don in al,
2,45  ffor to thi purpos this may liken the,
2,46  And the right nought, |et al is seid, or schal;
2,47  Ek som men graue in tree, som in ston wal,
2,48  As it bitit; but syn I haue bigonne,
2,49  Myn auctour shal I folwen if I konne.
      <1Explicit prohemium secundi libri>1
      <1Incipit liber secundus>1
2,50  In May, that moder is of monthes glade,
2,51  That fresshe floures blew and white and rede
2,52  Ben quike agayn, that wynter dede made,
2,53  And ful of bawme is fletyng euery mede;
2,54  Whan Phebus doth his bryghte bemes sprede
2,55  Right in the white Bole, it so bitidde,
2,56  As I shal synge, on Mayes day the thrydde,

2,57  That Pandarus, for al his wise speche,
2,58  ffelt ek his parte of loues shotes keene,
2,59  That koude he neuere so wel of louyng preche,
2,60  It made his hewe a-day ful ofte greene;
2,61  So shop it that hym fil that day a teene
2,62  In loue, for which in wo to bedde he wente,
2,63  And made er it was day ful many a wente.

2,64  The swalowe Proigne with a sorowful lay
2,65  Whan morwen com gan make hire waymentyng
2,66  Whi she forshapen was, and euere lay
2,67  Pandare a-bedde half in a slomberyng,
2,68  Til she so neigh hym made hire cheteryng,
2,69  How Tereus gan forth hire suster take,
2,70  That with the noyse of hire he gan awake,

2,71  And gan to calle, and dresse hym vp to ryse,
2,72  Remembryng hym his erand was to doone
2,73  ffrom Troilus, and ek his grete emprise,
2,74  And caste and knewe in good plit was the moone
2,75  To doon viage, and took his way ful soone
2,76  Unto his Neces palays ther biside;
2,77  Now Ianus, god of entree, thow hym gyde!

2,78  Whan he was come vnto his Neces place,
2,79  "Wher is my lady?" to hire folk quod he;
2,80  And they hym tolde and he forth in gan pace
2,81  And fond two othere ladys sete, and she,
2,82  With-inne a paued parlour, and they thre
2,83  Herden a mayden reden hem the geste
2,84  Of the siege of Thebes while hem leste.

2,85  Quod Pandarus, "ma dame, god |ow see,
2,86  With al |oure book and al the compaignie."
2,87  "Ey, vncle myn, welcome i-wis," quod she;
2,88  And vp she roos and by the hond in hye
2,89  She took hym faste and seyde, "this nyght thrie --
2,90  To goode mot it turne -- of |ow I mette."
2,91  And with that word she doun on benche hym sette.

2,92  '"^e, Nece, |ee shal faren wel the bet,
2,93  If god wol, al this |eere," quod Pandarus;
2,94  "But I am sory that I haue |ow let
2,95  To herken of |oure book |e preysen thus.
2,96  ffor goddes loue, what seith it? telle it vs;
2,97  Is it of loue? O, som good |e me leere!,,
2,98  "Uncle," quod she, " |oure maistresse is nat here."

2,99  With that thei gonnen laughe, and tho she seyde,
2,100  "This romaunce is of Thebes that we rede;
2,101  And we han herd how that kyng Layus deyde,
2,102  Thorugh Edippus his sone, and al that dede;
2,103  And here we stynten at thise lettres rede,
2,104  How the bisshop, as the book kan telle,
2,105  Amphiorax, fil thorugh the grounde to helle."

2,106  Quod Pandarus, "al this knowe I my selue,
2,107  And al thassege of Thebes and the care,
2,108  ffor her-of ben ther maked bookes twelue;
2,109  But lat be this and telle me how |e fare;
2,110  Do wey |oure barbe and shew |oure face bare;
2,111  Do wey |oure book, rys vp, and lat vs daunce,
2,112  And lat vs don to May som obseruaunce."

2,113  "I, god forbede!" quod she, "be |e madde?
2,114  Is that a widewes lif, so god |ow saue?
2,115  By god, |e maken me ryght soore adradde,
2,116  ^e ben so wylde, it semeth as |e raue.
2,117  It satte me wel bet ay in a caue
2,118  To bidde and rede on holy seyntes lyues;
2,119  Lat maydens gon to daunce and |onge wyues."

2,120  "As euere thriue I," quod this Pandarus,
2,121  "^et koude I telle a thyng to doon |ow pleye."
2,122  "Now Uncle deere," quod she, "telle it vs
2,123  ffor goddes loue: is than thassege aweye?
2,124  I am of Grekes so fered that I deye."
2,125  "Nay, nay," quod he, "as euere mote I thryue,
2,126  "It is a thing wel bet than swyche fyue."

2,127  "^e, holy god," quod she, "what thyng is that?
2,128  What, bet than swyche fyue? I! nay, ywys.
2,129  ffor al this world ne kan I reden what
2,130  It sholde ben; som iape I trowe is this;
2,131  And but |oure seluen telle vs what it is,
2,132  My wit is for tarede it al to leene;
2,133  As help me god, I not nat what |e meene."

2,134  "And I |oure borugh, ne neuere shal, for me,
2,135  This thyng be told to |ow, as mote I thryue."
2,136  "And whi so, vncle myn, whi so?" quod she.
2,137  "By god," quod he, "that wol I telle as blyue;
2,138  ffor proudder womman is ther noon on lyue,
2,139  And |e it wist, in al the town of Troye;
2,140  I iape nought, as euere haue I ioye."

2,141  Tho gan she wondren moore than biforne
2,142  A thousand fold, and down hire eyghen caste;
2,143  ffor neuere sith the tyme that she was borne
2,144  To knowe thyng desired she so faste;
2,145  And with a syk, she seyde hym atte laste,
2,146  "Now, Uncle myn, I nyl |ow nought displese,
2,147  Nor axen more that may do |ow disese.',

2,148  So after this, with many wordes glade,
2,149  And frendly tales and with merie chiere,
2,150  Of this and that they pleide and gonnen wade
2,151  In many an vnkouth, gladde, and depe matere,
2,152  As frendes doon whan thei ben mette y-fere,
2,153  Tyl she gan axen hym how Ector ferde,
2,154  That was the townes wal and Grekes |erde.

2,155  "fful wel, I thonk it god," quod Pandarus,
2,156  "Saue in his arme he hath a litel wownde,
2,157  And ek his fresshe brother, Troilus,
2,158  The wise, worthi Ector the secounde,
2,159  In whom that alle vertue list habounde,
2,160  As alle trouthe and alle gentilesse,
2,161  Wisdom, honour, fredom, and worthinesse."

2,162  "In good feith, Em," quod she, "that liketh me
2,163  Thei faren wel, god saue hem bothe two;
2,164  ffor trewelich I holde it gret deynte,
2,165  A kynges sone in armes wel to do,
2,166  And ben of good condiciouns therto;
2,167  ffor grete power and moral vertue here
2,168  Is selde yseyn in o persone y-feere."

2,169  "In good faith, that is soth," quod Pandarus,
2,170  "But, by my trouthe, the kyng hath sones tweye --
2,171  That is to mene Ector and Troilus --
2,172  That certeynly, though that I sholde deye,
2,173  Thei ben as voide of vices, dar I seye,
2,174  As any men that lyuen vndre the sonne;
2,175  Hire myght is wyde i-knowe, and what they konne.

2,176  "Of Ector nedeth it namore forto telle:
2,177  In al this world ther nys a bettre knyght
2,178  Than he that is of worthynesse welle,
2,179  And he wel moore vertue hath than myght;
2,180  This knoweth many a wise and worthi wight.
2,181  The same pris of Troilus I seye;
2,182  God help me so, I knowe nat swiche tweye."

2,183  "By god," quod she, "of Ector that is sooth;
2,184  "Of Troilus the same thyng trowe I;
2,185  ffor dredeles, men tellen that he doth
2,186  In armes day by day so worthily,
2,187  And bereth hym here at hom so gentily
2,188  To eueri wight, that alle pris hath he
2,189  Of hem that me were leuest preysed be."

2,190  "^e sey right sooth, y-wys," quod Pandarus;
2,191  "ffor |esterday who-so hadde with hym ben,
2,192  He myghte han wondred vp-on Troilus;
2,193  ffor neuere |et so thikke a swarm of been
2,194  Ne fleigh as Grekes fro hym gonne fleen;
2,195  And thorugh the feld in eueri wightes eere
2,196  Ther nas no cry but 'Troilus is there!'

2,197  "Now here, now ther, he hunted hem so faste,
2,198  Ther nas but Grekes blood and Troilus.
2,199  Now hym he hurte and hym al down he caste;
2,200  Ay wher he wente it was arayed thus:
2,201  He was hire deth, and sheld and lif for vs,
2,202  That, as that day, ther dorste non withstonde,
2,203  Whil that he held his blody swerd in honde.

2,204  "Therto he is the frendlieste man
2,205  Of gret estat that euere I saugh my lyue,
2,206  And wher hym lest, best felawshipe kan
2,207  To swich as hym thynketh able forto thryue."
2,208  And with that word tho Pandarus as blyue
2,209  He took his leue and seyde, "I wol gon henne."
2,210  "Nay, blame haue I, myn Uncle," quod she thenne.

2,211  "What aileth |ow to be thus wery soone,
2,212  And namelich of wommen? wol |e so?
2,213  Nay, sitteth down; by god, I haue to doone
2,214  With |ow to speke of wisdom er |e go."
2,215  And eueri wight that was aboute hem tho,
2,216  That herde that, gan fer a-wey to stonde,
2,217  Whil they two hadde al that hem liste in honde.

2,218  Whan that hire tale al brought was to an ende,
2,219  Of hire estat and of hire gouernaunce,
2,220  Quod Pandarus, "now is it tyme I wende;
2,221  But |et I say, ariseth, lat vs daunce,
2,222  And cast |oure widewes habit to mischaunce.
2,223  What list |ow thus |oure self to disfigure,
2,224  Sith |ow [MS thow] is tid thus faire an auenture?"

2,225  "A, wel bithought, for loue of god," quod she,
2,226  "Shal I nat witen what |e meene of this?"
2,227  "No, this thing axeth leyser," tho quod he,
2,228  "And eke me wolde muche greue, i-wis,
2,229  If I it tolde and |e it toke amys.
2,230  ^et were it bet my tonge forto stille
2,231  Than seye a soth that were a |eyns |oure wille.

2,232  "ffor, Nece, by the goddesse Mynerue,
2,233  And Iupiter, that maketh the thondre rynge,
2,234  And by the blisful Venus that I serue,
2,235  ^e ben the womman in this world lyuynge --
2,236  With-outen paramours to my wyttynge --
2,237  That I best loue and lothest am to greue,
2,238  And that |e weten wel |oure self, I leue."

2,239  "I-wis, myn vncle," quod she, "grant mercy;
2,240  ^oure frendshipe haue I founden euere |it;
2,241  I am to no man holden, trewely,
2,242  So muche as |ow, and haue so litel quyt;
2,243  And with the grace of god, emforth my wit,
2,244  As in my gylt I shall |ow neuere offende,
2,245  And if I haue er this, I wol amende.

2,246  "But for the loue of god, I |ow biseche,
2,247  As |e ben he that I moost loue and triste,
2,248  Lat be to me |oure fremde manere speche,
2,249  And sey to me, |oure Nece, what |ow liste."
2,250  And with that word hire uncle anoon hire kiste
2,251  And seyde, "gladly, leue Nece dere --
2,252  Tak it for good that I shal sey |ow here."

2,253  With that she gan hire eighen down to caste,
2,254  And Pandarus to coghe gan a lite,
2,255  And seyde, "Nece, alwey, lo, to the laste,
2,256  How so it be that som men hem delite
2,257  With subtyl art hire tales forto endite,
2,258  ^et for al that, in hire entencioun,
2,259  Hire tale is al for som conclusioun.

2,260  "And sithen thende is euery tales strengthe,
2,261  And this matere is so bihouely,
2,262  What sholde I peynte or drawen it on lengthe
2,263  To |ow that ben my frend so feythfully?"
2,264  And with that word he gan right inwardly
2,265  Byholden hire and loken on hire face
2,266  And seyde, "on swich a mirour goode grace!"

2,267  Than thought he thus, "if I my tale endite
2,268  Aught harde, or make a proces any whyle,
2,269  She shal no sauour haue ther-in but lite,
2,270  And trowe I wolde hire in my wil bigyle;
2,271  ffor tendre wittes wenen al be wyle
2,272  Ther as thei kan nought pleynly vnderstonde;
2,273  fforthi hire wit to seruen wol I fonde."

2,274  And loked on hire in a bysi wyse,
2,275  And she was war that he byheld hire so,
2,276  And seyde, "lord, so faste |e mauise!
2,277  Sey |e me neuere er now? what sey |e? no?"
2,278  "^is, |ys," quod he, "and bet wol er I go;
2,279  But be my trouthe, I thoughte now if |e
2,280  Be fortunat, for now men shal it se.

2,281  "fforto euery wight som goodly auenture
2,282  Som tyme is shape, if he it kan receyuen,
2,283  And if that he wol take of it no cure,
2,284  Whan that it commeth, but wilfully it weyuen,
2,285  Lo, neyther cas ne fortune hym deceyuen,
2,286  But ryght his verray slouthe and wrecchednesse;
2,287  And swich a wight is forto blame, I gesse.

2,288  "Good auenture, O beele Nece, haue |e
2,289  fful lightly founden, and |e konne it take;
2,290  And for the loue of god and ek of me,
2,291  Cache it anon, lest auenture slake.
2,292  What sholde I lenger proces of it make?
2,293  ^if me |oure hond, for in this world is noon,
2,294  If that |ow list, a wight so wel bygon.

2,295  "And sith I speke of good entencioun,
2,296  As I to |ow haue told wel here byforn,
2,297  And loue as wel |oure honour and renoun
2,298  As creature in al this world yborn,
2,299  By alle the othes that I haue |ow sworn,
2,300  And |e be wrooth therfore, or wene I lye,
2,301  Ne shal I neuere sen |ow eft with eye.

2,302  "Beth naught agast, ne quaketh naught; wherto?
2,303  Ne chaungeth naught for feere so |oure hewe;
2,304  ffor hardely, the werst of this is do,
2,305  And though my tale as now be to |ow newe,
2,306  ^et trist alwey |e shal me fynde trewe;
2,307  And were it thyng that me thoughte vnsittynge,
2,308  To |ow wolde I no swiche tales brynge."

2,309  "Now, my good Em, for goddes loue I preye,"
2,310  Quod she, "come of and telle me what it is;
2,311  ffor both I am agast what |e wol seye,
2,312  And ek me longeth it to wite, ywis;
2,313  ffor whethir it be wel or be amys,
2,314  Say on, lat me nat in this feere dwelle.',
2,315  "So wol I doon; now herkeneth, I shall telle.

2,316  "Now, Nece myn, the kynges deere sone,
2,317  The goode, wise, worthi, fresshe and free,
2,318  Which alwey for to don wel is his wone,
2,319  The noble Troilus, so loueth the,
2,320  That, but |e helpe, it wol his bane be.
2,321  Lo, here is al -- what sholde I moore sey?
2,322  Do what |ow lest to make hym lyue or dey.

2,323  "But if |e late hym deyen, I wol sterue --
2,324  Haue here my trouthe, Nece, I nyl nat lyen --
2,325  Al sholde I with this knyf my throte kerue."
2,326  With that the teris breste out of his eyen,
2,327  And seyde, "if that |e don vs bothe dyen,
2,328  Thus gilteles, than haue |e fisshed fayre;
2,329  What mende |e, though that we booth appaire?

2,330  "Allas, he which that is my lord so deere,
2,331  That trewe man, that noble, gentil knyght,
2,332  That naught desireth but |oure frendly cheere,
2,333  I se hym deyen ther he goth vp-ryght,
2,334  And hasteth hym with al his fulle myght
2,335  fforto ben slayn, if his fortune assente;
2,336  Allas, that god |ow swich a beaute sente!

2,337  "If it be so that |e so cruel be,
2,338  That of his deth |ow liste nought to recche,
2,339  That is so trewe and worthi as |e se,
2,340  Namoore than of a iaper or a wrecche --
2,341  If |e be swich |oure beaute may nat strecche
2,342  To make amendes of so cruel a dede:
2,343  Auysement is good byfore the nede.

2,344  "Wo worth the faire gemme vertuelees!
2,345  Wo worth that herbe also that dooth no boote!
2,346  Wo worth that beaute that is routheles!
2,347  Wo worth that wight that tret ech vndir foote!
2,348  And |e that ben of beaute crop and roote,
2,349  If therwith-al in |ow ther be no routhe,
2,350  Than is it harm |e lyuen, by my trouthe.

2,351  "And also think wel that this is no gaude;
2,352  ffor me were leuere thow and I and he
2,353  Were hanged, than I sholde ben his baude,
2,354  As heigh as men myghte on vs alle y-see;
2,355  I am thyn Em, the shame were to me
2,356  As wel as the if that I sholde assente,
2,357  Thorugh myn abet, that he thyn honour shente.

2,358  "Now vnderstond, for I |ow nought requere
2,359  To bynde |ow to hym thorugh no byheste,
2,360  But only that |e make hym bettre chiere
2,361  Than |e han doon er this and moore feste,
2,362  So that his lif be saued atte leeste;
2,363  This al and som, and pleynly, oure entente;
2,364  God help me so, I neuere other mente.

2,365  "Lo this requeste is naught but skylle, ywys,
2,366  Ne doute of resoun, pardee, is ther noon.
2,367  I sette the worste that |e dreden this:
2,368  Men wolde wondren sen hym com or goon;
2,369  There-a |eins answere I thus anoon,
2,370  That euery wight, but he be fool of kynde,
2,371  Wol deme it loue of frendshipe in his mynde.

2,372  "What, who wol demen, though he se a man
2,373  To temple go, that he thymages eteth?
2,374  Thenk ek how wel and wisely that he kan
2,375  Gouerne hym self that he nothyng for |eteth,
2,376  That where he cometh he pris and thank hym geteth;
2,377  And ek therto he shal come here so selde,
2,378  What fors were it though al the town byhelde?

2,379  "Swych loue of frendes regneth al this town,
2,380  And wry |ow in that mantel euere moo;
2,381  And, god so wys be my sauacioun,
2,382  As I haue seyd, |oure beste is to do soo;
2,383  But alwey, goode Nece, to stynte his woo,
2,384  So lat |oure daunger sucred ben a lite,
2,385  That of his deth |e be naught forto wite."

2,386  Criseyde, which that herde hym in this wise,
2,387  Thought, "I shal felen what he meneth, y-wis."
2,388  "Now, Em," quod she, "what wolde |e deuise?
2,389  What is |oure rede I sholde don of this?"
2,390  "That is wel seyd," quod he, "certein, best is
2,391  That |e hym loue a |eyn for his louynge,
2,392  As loue for loue is skilful guerdonynge.

2,393  "Thenk ek how elde wasteth euery houre
2,394  In eche of |ow a partie of beautee;
2,395  And therfore, er that age the deuoure,
2,396  Go loue, for old, ther wol no wight of the;
2,397  Lat this prouerbe a loore vn-to |ow be:
2,398  "To late ywar, quod beaute, whan it paste';,
2,399  And elde daunteth daunger at the laste.

2,400  "The kynges fool is wont to crien loude,
2,401  Whan that hym thinketh a womman berth hire hye,
2,402  "So longe mote |e lyue, and alle proude,
2,403  Tyl crowes feet be growe vnder |oure eye,
2,404  And sende |ow than a myrour in-to prye,
2,405  In which that |e may se |oure face a morwe.,
2,406  Nece, I bidde wisshe |ow namore sorwe."

2,407  With this he stynte and caste a-down the hede,
2,408  And she began to breste a-wepe a-noon,
2,409  And seyde, "allas, for wo why nere I deede?
2,410  ffor of this world the feyth is al agoon.
2,411  Allas, what sholden straunge to me doon,
2,412  Whan he that for my beste frende I wende
2,413  Ret me to loue, and sholde it me defende?

2,414  "Allas, I wolde han trusted, douteles,
2,415  That if that I thorugh my disauenture
2,416  Hadde loued outher hym or Achilles,
2,417  Ector, or any mannes creature,
2,418  ^e nolde han had no mercy ne mesure
2,419  On me, but alwey had me in repreue.
2,420  This false worlde, allas, who may it leue?

2,421  "What! is this al the ioye and al the feste?
2,422  Is this |oure reed? is this my blisful cas?
2,423  Is this the verray mede of |oure byheeste?
2,424  Is al this paynted proces seyd, allas,
2,425  Right for this fyn? O lady myn, Pallas,
2,426  Thow in this dredful cas for me purueye,
2,427  ffor so astoned am I that I deye."

2,428  Wyth that she gan ful sorwfully to syke.
2,429  "A! may it be no bet?" quod Pandarus,
2,430  "By god, I shal namore come here this wyke,
2,431  And god toforn, that am mystrusted thus.
2,432  I se ful wel that |e sette lite of vs,
2,433  Or of oure deth; allas, I woful wrecche!
2,434  Might he |et lyue, of me is nought to recche.

2,435  "O cruel god, O dispitouse Marte,
2,436  O furies thre of helle, on |ow I crye!
2,437  So lat me neuere out of this hous departe,
2,438  If that I mente harm or vilenye.
2,439  But sith I se my lord mot nedes dye,
2,440  And I with hym, here I me shryue and seye
2,441  That wikkedly |e don vs bothe deye.

2,442  "But sith it liketh |ow that I be dede,
2,443  By Neptunus, that god is of the see,
2,444  ffro this forth shal I neuere eten brede,
2,445  Til I myn owen herte blood may see;
2,446  ffor certeyn I wol deye as soone as he."
2,447  And vp he sterte and on his wey he raughte,
2,448  Tyl she agayn hym by the lappe kaughte.

2,449  Criseyde, which that wel neigh starf for feere,
2,450  So as she was the ferfulleste wight
2,451  That myghte be, and herde ek with hire ere,
2,452  And saugh the sorwful ernest of the knyght,
2,453  And in his preier ek saugh noon vnryght,
2,454  And for the harm that myghte ek fallen moore,
2,455  She gan to rewe and dredde hire wonder soore.

2,456  And thoughte thus: "vnhappes fallen thikke
2,457  Alday for loue, and in swych manere cas,
2,458  As men ben cruel in hem self and wikke;
2,459  And if this man sle here hym self, allas,
2,460  In my presence, it wol be no solas.
2,461  What men wolde of it deme I kan nat seye;
2,462  It nedeth me ful sleighly forto pleie.";

2,463  And with a sorwful sik she sayde thrie,
2,464  "A, lord, what me is tid a sory chaunce!
2,465  ffor myn estat lith now in iupartie,
2,466  And ek myn Emes lif is in balaunce;
2,467  But natheles, with goddes gouernaunce,
2,468  I shal so doon, myn honour shal I kepe,
2,469  And ek his lif" -- and stynte forto wepe.

2,470  "Of harmes two the lesse is forto chese;
2,471  ^et haue I leuere maken hym good chere
2,472  In honour than myn Emes lyf to lese. --
2,473  ^e seyn |e no-thyng elles me requere?"
2,474  "No, wis," quod he, "myn owen Nece dere."
2,475  "Now wel," quod she, "and I wol doon my peyne;
2,476  I shal myn herte a |eins my lust constreyne.

2,477  "But that I nyl nat holden hym in honde,
2,478  Ne loue a man ne kan I naught ne may
2,479  A |eins my wyl, but elles wol I fonde,
2,480  Myn honour sauf, plese hym fro day to day;
2,481  Therto nolde I nat ones han seyd nay,
2,482  But that I drede, as in my fantasye;
2,483  But cesse cause, ay cesseth maladie.

2,484  "And here I make a protestacioun,
2,485  That in this proces if |e depper go,
2,486  That certeynly, for no saluacioun
2,487  Of |ow, though that |e steruen bothe two,
2,488  Though al the world on o day be my fo,
2,489  Ne shal I neuere of hym han other routhe."
2,490  I graunte wel,  quod Pandare, "by my trowthe."

2,491  "But may I truste wel therto," quod he,
2,492  "That of this thyng that |e han hight me here,
2,493  ^e wole it holden trewely vn-to me?"
2,494  "^e, doutelees," quod she, "myn vncle deere."
2,495  "Ne that I shal han cause in this matere,"
2,496  Quod he, "to pleyn or ofter |ow to preche?"
2,497  "Why no, perde; what nedeth moore speche?"

2,498  Tho fillen they in other tales glade,
2,499  Tyl at the laste, "O good Em," quod she tho,
2,500  "ffor his loue which that vs bothe made,
2,501  Tel me how first |e wisten of his wo?
2,502  Woot noon of it but |e?" He seyde, "no."
2,503  "Kan he wel speke of loue," quod she, "I preye?"
2,504  "Tel me, for I bet me shal purueye."

2,505  Tho Pandarus a litel gan to smyle,
2,506  And seyde, "by my trouthe, I shal |ow telle.
2,507  This other day, naught gon ful longe while,
2,508  In-with the paleis gardyn by a welle,
2,509  Gan he and I wel half a day to dwelle,
2,510  Right forto speken of an ordinaunce,
2,511  How we the Grekes myghten disauaunce.

2,512  "Soon after that bigonne we to lepe,
2,513  And casten with oure dartes to and fro,
2,514  Tyl at the laste he seyde he wolde slepe,
2,515  And on the gres adoun he leyde hym tho;
2,516  And I afer gan romen to and fro,
2,517  Til that I herde, as that I welk alone,
2,518  How he bigan ful wofully to grone.

2,519  "Tho gan I stalke hym softely byhynde,
2,520  And sikirly, the soothe forto seyne,
2,521  As I kan clepe a |ein now to my mynde,
2,522  Right thus to loue he gan hym forto pleyne:
2,523  He seyde, "lord haue routhe vp-on my peyne,
2,524  Al haue I ben rebell in myn entente,
2,525  Now <1mea culpa,>1 lord, I me repente.

2,526  "'O god that at thi disposicioun
2,527  Ledest the fyn, by iuste purueiaunce
2,528  Of euery wight, my lowe confessioun
2,529  Accepte in gree, and sende me swich penaunce
2,530  As liketh the, but from disesperaunce,
2,531  That may my goost departe awey fro the,
2,532  Thow be my sheld, for thi benignite.

2,533  "'ffor certes, lord, so soore hath she me wounded,
2,534  That stood in blak, with lokyng of hire eyen,
2,535  That to myn hertes botme it is y-sounded,
2,536  Thorugh which I woot that I moot nedes deyen:
2,537  This is the werste, I dar me nat bywreyen,
2,538  And wel the hotter ben the gledes rede,
2,539  That men hem wrien with asshen pale and dede."

2,540  "Wyth that he smot his hed adown a-non,
2,541  And gan to motre I noot what, trewely.
2,542  And I with that gan stille awey to goon,
2,543  And leet ther-of as no thing wist had I,
2,544  And com a |ein anon and stood hym by,
2,545  And seyde, "awake, |e slepen al to longe;
2,546  It semeth nat that loue doth |ow longe,

2,547  "That slepen so that no man may |ow wake.
2,548  Who sey euere or this so dul a man?"
2,549  "^e, frende," quod he, "do |e |oure hedes ake
2,550  ffor loue, and lat me lyuen as I kan."
2,551  But though that he for wo was pale and wan,
2,552  ^et made he tho as fresshe a countenaunce
2,553  As though he sholde haue led the newe daunce.

2,554  "This passed forth til now, this other day,
2,555  It fel that I com romyng al allone
2,556  In-to his chaumbre and fond how that he lay
2,557  Vp-on his bed, but man so soore grone
2,558  Ne herde I neuere, and what that was his mone
2,559  Ne wist I nought, for as I was comyng,
2,560  Al sodeynly he lefte his complaynyng.

2,561  "Of which I took somwhat suspecioun,
2,562  And ner I com and fond he wepte soore;
2,563  And god so wys be my sauacioun,
2,564  As neuere of thyng hadde I no routhe moore,
2,565  ffor neither with engyn, ne with no loore,
2,566  Unnethes myghte I fro the deth hym kepe,
2,567  That |et fele I myn herte for hym wepe.

2,568  "And god woot, neuere sith that I was born
2,569  Was I so besy no man forto preche,
2,570  Ne neuere was to wight so depe i-sworn,
2,571  Or he me told who myghte ben his leche.
2,572  But now to |ow rehercen al his speche,
2,573  Or all his woful wordes forto sowne,
2,574  Ne bid me naught, but |e wol se me swowne.

2,575  "But forto saue his lif, and elles nought,
2,576  And to noon harm of |ow, thus am I dryuen;
2,577  And for the loue of god that vs hath wrought,
2,578  Swich cheer hym dooth that he and I may lyuen.
2,579  Now haue I plat to |ow myn herte shryuen,
2,580  And sith |e woot that myn entent is cleene,
2,581  Take heede therof, for I non yuel meene.

2,582  "And right good thrifte, I prey to god, haue |e
2,583  That han swich oon y-kaught withouten net;
2,584  And be |e wis as |e be faire to see,
2,585  Wel in the rynge than is the rubie set.
2,586  Ther were neuere two so wel y-met,
2,587  Whan |e ben his al hool, as he is |oure:
2,588  Ther myghty god |it graunte vs see that houre."

2,589  "Nay, therof spak I nought, ha, ha!" quod she;
2,590  "As helpe me god, |e shenden euery deel."
2,591  "O, mercy, dere Nece," anon quod he,
2,592  "What so I spak, I mente naught but wel,
2,593  By Mars, the god that helmed is of steel;
2,594  Now beth naught wroth, my blood, my Nece dere."
2,595  "Now wel," quod she, "for |euen be it here."

2,596  With this he took his leue and home he wente;
2,597  And lord, so he was glad and wel bygon!
2,598  Criseyde aros, no lenger she ne stente,
2,599  But streght in-to hire closet wente anon,
2,600  And set hire doun as stylle as any ston,
2,601  Aad euery word gan vp and down to wynde,
2,602  That he had seyd, as it com hire to mynde,

2,603  And wax somdel astoned in hire thoughte,
2,604  Right for the newe cas, but whan that she
2,605  Was ful auysed, tho fond she right noughte
2,606  Of peril why she ought afered be.
2,607  ffor man may loue, of possibilite,
2,608  A womman so his herte may to-breste,
2,609  And she naught loue a |ein but if hire leste.

2,610  But as she sat allone and thoughte thus,
2,611  Ascry aros at scarmuch al with-oute,
2,612  And men criden in the strete, "se, Troilus
2,613  Hath right now put to flight the Grekes route!"
2,614  With that gan al hire meigne forto shoute,
2,615  "A, go we se, caste vp the |ates wyde,
2,616  ffor thorwgh this strete he moot to paleys ride;

2,617  "ffor other wey is fro the |ate noon
2,618  Of Dardanus, there opyn is the cheyne."
2,619  With that com he and al his folk anoon
2,620  An esy pas rydyng in routes tweyne,
2,621  Right as his happy day was, sooth to seyne,
2,622  ffor which, men seyn, may nought destourbed be
2,623  That shal bityden of necessitee.

2,624  This Troilus sat on his baye steede,
2,625  Al armed, saue his hed, ful richely,
2,626  And wownded was his hors, and gan to blede,
2,627  On which he rood a pas ful softely;
2,628  But swich a knyghtly sighte, trewely,
2,629  As was on hym was nought, withouten faille,
2,630  To loke on Mars that god is of bataille.

2,631  So lik a man of armes and a knyght
2,632  He was to seen, fulfilled of heigh prowesse,
2,633  ffor bothe he hadde a body and a myght
2,634  To don that thing, as wel as hardynesse,
2,635  And ek to seen hym in his gere hym dresse,
2,636  So fressh, so |ong, so weldy semed he,
2,637  It was an heuen vp-on hym forto see.

2,638  His helm to-hewen was in twenty places,
2,639  That by a tyssew heng his bak byhynde;
2,640  His sheeld to-dasshed was with swerdes and maces,
2,641  In which men myghte many an arwe fynde
2,642  That thirled hadde horn and nerf and rynde;
2,643  And ay the peple cryde, "here cometh oure ioye,
2,644  And, next his brother, holder vp of Troye."

2,645  ffor which he wex a litel reed for shame,
2,646  When he the peple vp-on hym herde cryen,
2,647  That to byholde it was a noble game,
2,648  How sobrelich he caste down his eyen.
2,649  Criseyda gan al his chere aspien,
2,650  And leet it so softe in hire synke,
2,651  That to hire self she seyde, "who |af me drynke?"
2,652  ffor of hire owen thought she wex al reed,
2,653  Remembryng hire right thus, "lo, this is he
2,654  Which that myn vncle swerith he moot be deed,
2,655  But I on hym haue mercy and pitee."
2,656  And with that thought for pure ashamed she
2,657  Gan in hire hed to pulle and that as faste,
2,658  While he and al the peple forby paste;

2,659  And gan to caste and rollen vp and down
2,660  With-inne hire thought his excellent prowesse,
2,661  And his estat and also his renown,
2,662  His wit, his shap and ek his gentilesse,
2,663  But moost hire fauour was for his distresse
2,664  Was al for hire, and thought it was a routhe
2,665  To sleen swich oon if that he mente trouthe.

2,666  Now myghte som envious iangle thus:
2,667  "This was a sodeyn loue; how myght it be
2,668  That she so lightly loued Troilus
2,669  Right for the firste syghte, |e, parde?"
2,670  Now whoso seith so, mote he neuere y-the;
2,671  ffor euery thyng a gynnyng hath it nede
2,672  Er al be wrought, with-owten any drede.

2,673  ffor I sey nought that she so sodeynly
2,674  ^af hym hire loue, but that she gan enclyne
2,675  To like hym first, and I haue told |ow whi;
2,676  And after that his manhod and his pyne
2,677  Made loue with-inne hire herte forto myne,
2,678  ffor which by proces and by good seruyse
2,679  He gat hire loue, and in no sodeyn wyse.

2,680  And also blisful Venus, wel arrayed,
2,681  Sat in hire seuenthe hous of heuene tho,
2,682  Disposed wel, and with aspectes payed,
2,683  To helpen sely Troilus of his woo;
2,684  And soth to seyne, she nas nat al a foo
2,685  To Troilus in his natiuitee;
2,686  God woot that wel the sonner spedde he.

2,687  Now lat vs stynte of Troilus a throwe,
2,688  That rideth forth, and lat vs torne faste
2,689  Unto Criseyde that heng hire hed ful lowe,
2,690  Ther as she sat allone and gan to caste
2,691  Where on she wolde apoynte hire atte laste,
2,692  If it so were hire Em ne wolde cesse
2,693  ffor Troilus vp-on hire forto presse.

2,694  And lord, so she gan in hire thought argue
2,695  In this matere of which I haue |ow tolde,
2,696  And what to doone best were and what eschewe,
2,697  That plited she ful ofte in many folde;
2,698  Now was hire herte warme, now was it colde;
2,699  And what she thoughte, somwhat shal I write,
2,700  As to myn auctour listeth for tendite.

2,701  She thoughte wel that Troilus persone
2,702  She knew by syghte and ek his gentilesse,
2,703  And thus she seyde, "al were it nat to doone
2,704  To graunte hym loue, |it, for his worthynesse,
2,705  It were honour with pleye and with gladnesse
2,706  In honestee with swich a lord to deele,
2,707  ffor myn estat and also for his heele.

2,708  "Ek wel woot I my kynges sone is he,
2,709  And sith he hath to se me swich delite,
2,710  If I wolde outreliche his sighte flee,
2,711  Peraunter he myghte haue me in dispite,
2,712  Thorugh whicch I myghte stonde in worse plite,
2,713  Now were I wis me hate to purchace,
2,714  With-outen nede, ther I may stonde in grace?

2,715  "In euery thyng, I woot, ther lith mesure,
2,716  ffor though a man forbede dronkenesse,
2,717  He naught forbet that euery creature
2,718  Be drynkeles for alwey, as I gesse.
2,719  Ek sith I woot for me is his destresse,
2,720  I ne aughte naught for that thing hym despise,
2,721  Sith it is so he meneth in good wyse.

2,722  "And ek I knowe, of longe tyme agon,
2,723  His thewes goode, and that he is nat nyce;
2,724  Nauantour, seith men, certein is he noon --
2,725  To wis is he to doon so get a vice;
2,726  Ne als I nyl hym neuere so cherice,
2,727  That he may make auaunt by iuste cause;
2,728  He shal me neuere bynde in swich a clause.

2,729  "Now sette a caas: the hardest is, y-wys,
2,730  Men myghten demen that he loueth me;
2,731  What dishonour were it vn-to me this?
2,732  May ich hym lette of that? why nay, parde.
2,733  I knowe also, and alday heere and se,
2,734  Men louen wommen al biside hire leue,
2,735  And whan hem leste namore, lat hem byleue.

2,736  "I thenk ek how he able is forto haue
2,737  Of al this noble towne the thriftieste
2,738  To ben his loue, so she hire honour saue;
2,739  ffor out and out he is the worthieste,
2,740  Saue only Ector, which that is the beste;
2,741  And |et his lif al lith now in my cure.
2,742  But swich is loue and ek myn auenture.

2,743  "Ne me to loue, a wonder is it nought;
2,744  ffor wel woot I my self, so god me spede --
2,745  Al wolde I that noon wiste of this thought --
2,746  I am oon the faireste, out of drede,
2,747  And goodlieste, whoso taketh hede,
2,748  And so men seyn, in al the town of Troie:
2,749  What wonder is though he of me haue ioye?

2,750  "I am myn owene womman, wel at ese,
2,751  I thank it god, as after myn estate,
2,752  Right |ong, and stonde vnteyd in lusty leese,
2,753  With-outen ialousie or swich debate;
2,754  Shal noon housbonde seyn to me 'chek mate.'
2,755  ffor either they ben ful of ialousie,
2,756  Or maisterfull, or louen nouelrie.

2,757  "What shal I doon? to what fyn lyue I thus?
2,758  Shal I nat loue, in cas if that me leste?
2,759  What, pardieux! I am naught religious.
2,760  And though that I myn herte sette at reste
2,761  Upon this knyght, that is the worthieste,
2,762  And kepe awey myn honour and my name,
2,763  By alle right, it may do me no shame."

2,764  But right as when the sonne shyneth bright,
2,765  In March, that chaungeth ofte tyme his face,
2,766  And that a cloude is put with wynd to flight,
2,767  Which ouersprat the sonne as for a space,
2,768  A cloudy thought gan thorugh hire soule pace,
2,769  That ouerspradde hire brighte thoughtes alle,
2,770  So that for feere almost she gan to falle.

2,771  That thought was this: "allas, syn I am free,
2,772  Sholde I now loue, and put in iupertie
2,773  My sikernesse and thrallen libertee?
2,774  Allas, how dorst I thenken that folie?
2,775  May I naught wel in other folk aspie
2,776  Hire dredfull ioye, hire constreinte and hire peyne?
2,777  Ther loueth noon that she nath wey to pleyne.

2,778  "ffor loue is |et the mooste stormy lyf,
2,779  Right of hym self, that euere was bigonne;
2,780  ffor euere som mystrust or nice strif
2,781  Ther is in loue, som cloude is ouere that sonne.
2,782  Therto we wrecched wommen no-thing konne,
2,783  Whan vs is wo, but wepe and sitte and thinke;
2,784  Oure wrecche is this, oure owen wo to drynke.

2,785  "Also thise wikked tonges ben so preste
2,786  To speke vs harm, ek men ben so vntrewe,
2,787  That right anon as cessed is hire leste
2,788  So cesseth loue, and forth to loue a newe;
2,789  But harm y-doon is doon, who-so it rewe:
2,790  ffor though thise men for loue hem first to-rende,
2,791  fful sharp bygynnyng breketh ofte at ende.

2,792  "How ofte tyme hath it y-knowen be,
2,793  The tresoun that to wommen hath ben do;
2,794  To what fyn is swich loue I kan nat see,
2,795  Or wher bycometh it whan it is ago.
2,796  Ther is no wight that woot, I trowe so,
2,797  Where it bycometh; lo, no wight on it sporneth:
2,798  That erst was no thing, in-to nought it torneth.

2,799  "How bisy, if I loue, ek most I be
2,800  To plesen hem that iangle of loue and dremen,
2,801  And coye hem, that they seye noon harm of me;
2,802  ffor though ther be no cause, |et hem semen
2,803  Al be for harm that folk hire frendes quemen;
2,804  And who may stoppen euery wikked tonge,
2,805  Or sown of belles whil that thei ben ronge?"

2,806  And after that, hire thought gan forto clere,
2,807  And seide, "he which that nothing vndertaketh,
2,808  No thyng nacheueth, be hym looth or deere."
2,809  And with an other thought hire herte quaketh;
2,810  Than slepeth hope, and after drede awaketh;
2,811  Now hoot, now cold; but thus bitwixen tweye,
2,812  She rist hire vp, and wente hire forto pleye.

2,813  Adown the steyre anon right tho she wente
2,814  In-to the gardyn with hire neces thre,
2,815  And vp and down ther made many a wente --
2,816  fflexippe, she, Tharbe and Antigone --
2,817  To pleyen, that it ioye was to see;
2,818  And other of hire wommen a gret route
2,819  Hire folwede in the gardyn al aboute.

2,820  This |erd was large and rayled alle thaleyes,
2,821  And shadewed wel with blosmy bowes grene,
2,822  And benched newe, and sonded alle the weyes,
2,823  In which she walketh arm in arm bitwene;
2,824  Til at the laste, Antigone the shene
2,825  Gan on a Troian song to singen cleere,
2,826  That it an heuen was hire vois to here.
         <1Cantus Antigone>1
2,827  She seyde, "O loue, to whom I haue and shal
2,828  Ben humble subgit, trewe in myn entente,
2,829  As I best kan, to |ow, lord, |eue ich al,
2,830  ffor euere mo, myn hertes lust to rente.
2,831  ffor neuere |et thi grace no wight sente
2,832  So blisful cause as me, my lif to lede
2,833  In alle ioie and seurte out of drede.

2,834  "^e, blisful god, han me so wel byset
2,835  In loue, i-wys, that al that bereth lif
2,836  Ymagynen ne kouthe how to ben bet;
2,837  ffor, lord, withouten jalousie or strif,
2,838  I loue oon which that moost is ententif
2,839  To seruen wel, vnweri or vnfeyned,
2,840  That euere was, and leest with harm desteyned.

2,841  "As he that is the welle of worthynesse,
2,842  Of trouthe grownd, mirour of goodlihede,
2,843  Of wit Apollo, stoon of sikernesse,
2,844  Of vertue roote, of lust fynder and hede,
2,845  Thorugh which is alle sorwe fro me dede --
2,846  I-wis, I loue hym best, so doth he me;
2,847  Now good thrifte haue he, wher-so that he be!

2,848  "Whom shulde I thanken but |ow, god of loue,
2,849  Of al this blisse in which to bathe I gynne?
2,850  And thanked be |e, lord, for that I loue.
2,851  This is the righte lif that I am inne,
2,852  To flemen alle manere vice and synne;
2,853  This dooth me so to vertue for tentende,
2,854  That day by day I in my wille amende.

2,855  "And whoso seith that forto loue is vice,
2,856  Or thraldom, though he feele in it destresse,
2,857  He outher is enuyous or right nyce,
2,858  Or is vnmyghty for his shrewednesse
2,859  To louen; for swich manere folk, I gesse,
2,860  Defamen loue as nothing of it knowe:
2,861  They speken, but thei benten neuere his bowe.

2,862  "What is the sonne wers, of kynde right,
2,863  Though that a man for fieblesse of his eyen
2,864  May nought endure on it to see for bright?
2,865  Or loue the wers, though wrecches on it crien?
2,866  No wele is worth that may no sorwe dryen;
2,867  And forthi, who that hath an hed of verre,
2,868  ffro caste of stones war hym in the werre.

2,869  "But I with al myn herte and al my myghte,
2,870  As I haue seyd, wol loue vn-to my laste
2,871  My deere herte and al myn owen knyghte,
2,872  In which myn herte growen is so faste,
2,873  And his in me, that it shal euere laste:
2,874  Al dredde I first to loue hym to bigynne,
2,875  Now woot I wel ther is no peril inne."

2,876  And of hir song right with that word she stente,
2,877  And ther-with-al, "now Nece," quod Cryseyde,
2,878  "Who made this song now with so good entente?"
2,879  Antygone answerde anoon and seyde,
2,880  "Madame, y-wys, the goodlieste mayde
2,881  Of gret estat in al the town of Troye,
2,882  And let hire lif in moste honour and ioye."

2,883  "ffor-sothe, so it semeth by hire songe,"
2,884  Quod tho Criseyde, and gan therwith to sike,
2,885  And seyde, "lord, is ther swych blisse amonge
2,886  Thise loueres, as they konne faire endite?"
2,887  "^e, wis," quod fresshe Antigone the white,
2,888  "ffor al the folk that han or ben on lyue
2,889  Ne konne wel the blisse of loue discryue.

2,890  "But wene |e that euery wrecche woot
2,891  The parfit blisse of loue? why nay, i-wys;
2,892  They wenen all be loue if oon be hoot;
2,893  Do wey, do wey, they woot nothyng of this.
2,894  Men mosten axe at seyntes if it is
2,895  Aught faire in heuene -- why? for they kan telle --
2,896  And axen fendes is it foule in helle."

2,897  Criseyde vnto that purpos naught answerde,
2,898  But seyde, "ywys, it wol be nyght as faste."
2,899  But euery word which that she of hire herde,
2,900  She gan to prenten in hire herte faste,
2,901  And ay gan loue hire lasse for tagaste
2,902  Than it dide erst and synken in hire herte,
2,903  That she wex somwhat able to conuerte.

2,904  The dayes honour and the heuenes eye,
2,905  The nyghtes foo -- al this clepe I the sonne --
2,906  Gan westren faste and downward forto wrye,
2,907  As he that hadde his dayes cours yronne,
2,908  And white thynges wexen dymme and donne
2,909  ffor lakke of lyght and sterres for tapere,
2,910  That she and alle hire folk in went yfeere.

2,911  So whan it liked hire to go to reste,
2,912  And voided weren thei that voiden oughte,
2,913  She seyde that to slepen wel hire leste;
2,914  Hire wommen soon vnto hire bed hire broughte.
2,915  Whan al was hust, than lay she stille and thoughte
2,916  Of al this thing the manere and the wise;
2,917  Reherce it nedeth nought, for |e ben wise.

2,918  A nyghtyngale vpon a cedre grene,
2,919  Under the chambre wal ther as she lay,
2,920  fful loude song a|ein the moone shene
2,921  Peraunter in his briddes wise a lay
2,922  Of loue that made hire herte fressh and gay,
2,923  That herkned she so longe in good entente,
2,924  Til at the laste the dede slepe hire hente.

2,925  And as she slep, anon right tho hire mette
2,926  How that an egle fethered whit as bone
2,927  Under hire brest his longe clawes sette,
2,928  And out hire herte he rente, and that anone,
2,929  And dide his herte in-to hire brest to gone --
2,930  Of which she nought agroos ne nothyng smerte --
2,931  And forth he fleigh with herte left for herte.

2,932  Now lat hire slepe, and we oure tales holde
2,933  Of Troilus that is to paleis riden
2,934  ffro the scarmuch of the which I tolde,
2,935  And in his chaumbre sit and hath abiden
2,936  Til two or thre of his messages |eden
2,937  ffor Pandarus and soughten hym ful faste,
2,938  Til they him founde and broughte hym at the laste.

2,939  This Pandarus com lepyng in attones,
2,940  And seyde thus, "who hath ben wel i-bete
2,941  To-day with swerdes and with slynge stones
2,942  But Troilus, that hath caught hym an hete?
2,943  And gan to iape and seyde, "lord, so |e swete!
2,944  But ris and lat vs soupe and go to reste."
2,945  And he answerd hym, "do we as the leste."

2,946  With al the haste goodly that they myghte,
2,947  They spedde hem fro the soper vnto bedde,
2,948  And euery wight out at the dore hym dyghte,
2,949  And where hym liste vp-on his wey him spedde;
2,950  But Troilus, that thoughte his herte bledde
2,951  ffor wo til that he herde som tydyng,
2,952  He seyde, "frend, shal I now wepe or syng?"

2,953  Quod Pandarus, "ly stille and lat me slepe,
2,954  And don thyn hood, thy nedes spedde be,
2,955  And chese if thow wolt synge or daunce or lepe.
2,956  At shorte wordes, thow shalt trowen me.
2,957  Sire, my Nece wol do wel by the,
2,958  And loue the best, by god and by my trouthe,
2,959  By lakke of pursuyt make it in thi slouthe.

2,960  "ffor thus ferforth I haue thi werk bigonne,
2,961  ffro day to day til this day by the morwe,
2,962  Hire loue of frendshipe haue I to the wonne,
2,963  And therto hath she leyd hire feyth to borwe;
2,964  Algate a foot is hameled of thi sorwe."
2,965  What sholde I lenger sermoun of it holde?
2,966  As |e han herd byfore, al he hym tolde.

2,967  But right as floures, thorugh the colde of nyght
2,968  Iclosed, stoupen on hire stalkes lowe,
2,969  Redressen hem a|ein the sonne bright,
2,970  And spreden on hire kynde cours by rowe,
2,971  Right so gan tho his eighen vp to throwe
2,972  This Troilus and seyde, "O Venus deere,
2,973  Thi myght, thi grace, y-heried be it here."

2,974  And to Pandare he held vp bothe his hondes,
2,975  And seyde, "lord, al thyn be that I haue,
2,976  ffor I am hool, al brosten ben my bondes;
2,977  A thousand Troyes who-so that me |aue,
2,978  Ech after other, god so wys me saue,
2,979  Ne myghte me so gladen; lo, myn herte,
2,980  It spredeth so for ioie it wol to-sterte.

2,981  "But lord, how shal I doon, how shal I lyuen?
2,982  Whan shal I next my deere herte see?
2,983  How shal this longe tyme awey be dryuen
2,984  Til that thow be a|ein at hire fro me?
2,985  Thow maist answer, "abid, abid," but he
2,986  That hangeth by the nekke, soth to seyne,
2,987  In gret disese abideth for the peyne."

2,988  "Al esily, now, for the loue of Marte,"
2,989  Quod Pandarus, "for euery thing hath tyme
2,990  So longe abid til that the nyght departe;
2,991  ffor also siker as thow list here by me,
2,992  And god to-forn, I wol be ther at pryme;
2,993  And for-thi, werk som-what as I shal seye,
2,994  Or on som other wight this charge leye.

2,995  ffor pardee, god woot, I haue euere |it
2,996  Den redy the to serue, and to this nyght
2,997  Haue I naught feyned, but emforth my wit
2,998  Don al thi lust, and shal with al my myght.
2,999  Do now as I shal seyn and fare aright;
2,1000  And if thow nylt, wite al thi self thi care:
2,1001  On me is nought a-long thyn yuel fare.

2,1002  "I woot wel that thow wiser art than I
2,1003  A thousand fold, but if I were as thow,
2,1004  God help me so, as I wolde outrely
2,1005  Right of myn owen hond write hire right now
2,1006  A lettre, in which I wolde hire tellen how
2,1007  I ferd amys, and hire biseche of routhe;
2,1008  Now help thi self and leue it nought for slouthe-

2,1009  "And I my self wol therwith to hire gon;
2,1010  And whan thow woost that I am with hire there,
2,1011  Worth thow vp-on a courser right anon,
2,1012  ^e, hardily, right in thi beste gere,
2,1013  And ryd forth by the place as nought ne were,
2,1014  And thow shalt fynde vs, if I may, sittyng
2,1015  At som wyndow in-to the strete lokyng.

2,1016  "And if the list, than maystow vs salue,
2,1017  And vp-on me make thow thi countenaunce,
2,1018  But by thi lif be war and faste eschue
2,1019  To tarien ought -- god shilde vs fro meschaunce!
2,1020  Rid forth thi wey and hold thi gouernaunce,
2,1021  And we shal speek of the somwhat, I trowe,
2,1022  Whan thow art gon, to don thyn eris glowe.

2,1023  "Towchyng thi lettre, thou art wys ynough;
2,1024  I woot thow nylt it dygneliche endite,
2,1025  As make it with thise argumentes tough,
2,1026  Ne scryuenyssh or craftily thow it write;
2,1027  Biblotte it with thi teris ek a lite,
2,1028  And if thow write a goodly word al softe,
2,1029  Though it be good, reherce it nought to ofte.

2,1030  "ffor though the beste harpour vp-on lyue
2,1031  Wolde on the beste sowned ioly harpe
2,1032  That euere was with alle his fyngres fyue
2,1033  Touche ay o stryng or ay o werbul harpe,
2,1034  Were his nayles poynted neuere so sharpe,
2,1035  It sholde maken euery wight to dulle
2,1036  To here his glee and of his strokes fulle.

2,1037  "Ne iompre ek no discordant thyng y-feere,
2,1038  As thus, to vsen termes of Phisik
2,1039  In loues termes; hold of thi matere
2,1040  The forme alwey and do that it be lik;
2,1041  ffor if a peyntour wolde peynte a pyk
2,1042  With asses feet and hedde it as an ape,
2,1043  It cordeth naught, so nere it but a iape."

2,1044  This counseil liked wel to Troilus,
2,1045  But as a dredful louere he seyde this,
2,1046  "Allas, my deere brother Pandarus,
2,1047  I am ashamed forto write, ywis,
2,1048  Lest of myn innocence I seyde amys,
2,1049  Or that she nolde it for despit receyue;
2,1050  Than were I ded, ther myght it nothying weyue."

2,1051  To that Pandare answerde, "if the leste,
2,1052  Do that I seye, and lat me therwith gon;
2,1053  ffor by that lord that formed est and weste,
2,1054  I hope of it to brynge answere anon
2,1055  Right of hire hond, and if that thow nylt noon,
2,1056  Lat be, and sory mote he ben his lyue
2,1057  A|eins thi lust that helpeth the to thryue."

2,1058  Quod Troilus, "depardieux, ich assente,
2,1059  Sith that the list, I wil arise and write;
2,1060  And blisful god prey ich with good entente,
2,1061  The viage and the lettre I shal endite,
2,1062  So spede it, and thow, Minerua the white,
2,1063  Yif thow me wit my lettre to deuyse."
2,1064  And sette hym down and wrot right in this wyse.

2,1065  ffirst he gan hire his righte lady calle,
2,1066  His hertes lif, his lust, his sorwes leche,
2,1067  His blisse, and ek thise other termes alle,
2,1068  That in swich cas thise loueres alle seche;
2,1069  And in ful humble wise, as in his speche,
2,1070  He gan hym recomaunde vnto hire grace;
2,1071  To telle al how, it axeth muchel space.

2,1072  And after this ful lowly he hire preyde
2,1073  To be nought wroth, thogh he, of his folie,
2,1074  So hardy was to hire to write, and seyde
2,1075  That loue it made or elles most he die;
2,1076  And pitousli gan mercy forto crye;
2,1077  And after that he seyde -- and leigh ful loude --
2,1078  Hym self was litel worth, and lasse he koude;

2,1079  And that she sholde han his konnyng excused,
2,1080  That litel was, and ek he dredde hire soo,
2,1081  And his vnworthynesse ay he acused;
2,1082  And after that than gan he telle his woo--
2,1083  But that was endeles, with-outen hoo --
2,1084  And seyde he wolde in trouth alwey hym holde;
2,1085  And radde it ouer and gan the lettre folde.

2,1086  And with hise salte teris gan he bathe
2,1087  The rubie in his signet and it sette
2,1088  Up-on the wex deliuerliche and rathe;
2,1089  Therwith a thousand tymes, er he lette,
2,1090  He kiste tho the lettre that he shette,
2,1091  And seyde, "lettre, a blisful destine
2,1092  The shapyn is, my lady shal the see."

2,1093  This Pandare tok the lettre, and that by-tyme
2,1094  A-morwe, and to his Neces paleis sterte;
2,1095  And faste he swor that it was passed prime,
2,1096  And gan to iape and seyde, "ywys, myn herte,
2,1097  So fresshe it is, al-though it sore smerte,
2,1098  I may naught slepe neuere a Mayes morwe;
2,1099  I haue a ioly wo, a lusty sorwe."

2,1100  Criseyde, whan that she hire vncle herde,
2,1101  With dredful herte and desirous to here
2,1102  The cause of his comynge, thus answerde,
2,1103  "Now by |oure fey, myn vncle," quod she, "dere,
2,1104  What manere wyndes gydeth |ow now here?
2,1105  Tel vs |oure ioly wo and |oure penaunce --
2,1106  How ferforth be |e put in loues daunce?"

2,1107  "By god," quod he, "I hoppe alwey by-hynde."
2,1108  And she to laughe, it thought hire herte brest.
2,1109  Quod Pandarus, "loke alwey that |e fynde
2,1110  Game in myn hood, but herkneth, if |ow lest:
2,1111  Ther is right now come in-to town a gest,
2,1112  A Greek espie, and telleth newe thinges,
2,1113  ffor which I come to telle |ow tydynges.

2,1114  "In-to the gardyn go we and |e shal here
2,1115  Al pryuely of this a longe sermoun."
2,1116  With that they wenten arm in arm yfeere,
2,1117  In-to the gardyn from the chaumbre down,
2,1118  And whan that he so fer was that the sown
2,1119  Of that he spake no man heren myghte,
2,1120  He seyde hire thus, and out the lettre plighte:

2,1121  "Lo, he that is al holy |oures free
2,1122  Hym recomaundeth lowely to |oure grace,
2,1123  And sente |ow this lettre here by me.
2,1124  Auyseth |ow on it, whan |e han space,
2,1125  And of som goodly answere |ow purchace;
2,1126  Or helpe me god, so pleynly forto seyne,
2,1127  He may nat longe lyuen for his peyne."

2,1128  fful dredfully tho gan she stonden stylle,
2,1129  And took it naught, but al hire humble chere
2,1130  Gan forto chaunge, and seyde, "scrit ne bille,
2,1131  ffor loue of god, that toucheth swich matere
2,1132  Ne brynge me noon; and also, vncle deere,
2,1133  To myn estat haue more rewarde, I preye,
2,1134  Than to his lust -- what sholde I more seye?

2,1135  "And loketh now if this be resonable,
2,1136  And letteth nought for fauour ne for slouthe
2,1137  To seyn a sooth; now were it couenable
2,1138  To myn estat, by god and by |oure trouthe,
2,1139  To taken it or to han of hym routhe
2,1140  In harmyng of my self or in repreue?
2,1141  Ber it a|ein for hym that |e on leue."

2,1142  This Pandarus gan on hire forto stare,
2,1143  And seyde, "now is this the grettest wondre
2,1144  That euere I seigh -- lat be this nyce fare!
2,1145  To dethe mot I smyten be with thondre,
2,1146  If for the citee which that stondeth |ondre,
2,1147  Wolde I a lettre vnto |ow brynge or take
2,1148  To harm of |ow; what list |ow thus it make?

2,1149  "But thus |e faren, wel neigh alle and some,
2,1150  That he that most desireth |ow to serue,
2,1151  Of hym |e recche leest wher he by-come,
2,1152  And whethir that he lyue or elles sterue.
2,1153  But for al that that euer I may deserue,
2,1154  Refuse it naught," quod he and hente hire faste,
2,1155  And in hire bosom the lettre down he thraste,

2,1156  And seyde hire, "now cast it awey anon,
2,1157  That folk may seen and gauren on vs tweye."
2,1158  Quod she, "I kan abyde til they be gon,
2,1159  And gan to smyle and seyde hym, "Em, I preye,
2,1160  Swich answere as |ow list |oure self purueye,
2,1161  ffor trewely I nyl no lettre write."
2,1162  "No? than wol I," quod he, "so |e endite."

2,1163  Therwith she lough and seyde, "go we dyne."
2,1164  And he gan at hym self to iape faste,
2,1165  And seyde, "Nece, I haue so grete a pyne
2,1166  ffor loue that euerich other day I faste,"
2,1167  And gan his beste iapes forth to caste,
2,1168  And made hire so to laughe at his folye,
2,1169  That she for laughter wende for to dye.

2,1170  And whan that she was comen in-to halle,
2,1171  "Now Em," quod she, "we wol go dyne anon,"
2,1172  And gan some of hire wommen to hire calle,
2,1173  And streght in-to hire chambre gan she gon,
2,1174  But of hire besynesses this was on,
2,1175  Amonges othere thynges out of drede,
2,1176  fful pryuely this lettre forto rede.

2,1177  Auysed word by word in euery lyne,
2,1178  And fond no lakke, she thoughte he koude good;
2,1179  And vp it putte and wente hire in-to dyne;
2,1180  But Pandarus, that in a studye stood,
2,1181  Er he was war, she took hym by the hood,
2,1182  And seyde, "|e were caught er that |e wist."
2,1183  "I vouche-sauf," quod he, "do what |ou list."

2,1184  Tho wesshen they and sette hem down and ete;
2,1185  And after noon ful sleighly Pandarus
2,1186  Gan drawe hym to the wyndowe next the strete,
2,1187  And seyde, "Nece, who hath araied thus
2,1188  The |onder hous that stant afor|eyn vs?"
2,1189  "Which hous?" quod she, and gan forto byholde,
2,1190  And knew it wel, and whos it was hym tolde.

2,1191  And fillen forth in speche of thynges smale,
2,1192  And seten in the windowe bothe tweye,
2,1193  Whan Pandarus saugh tyme vn-to his tale,
2,1194  And saugh wel that hire folk were alle aweye,
2,1195  "Now, Nece myn, tel on," quod he, "I seye,
2,1196  How liketh |ow the lettre that |e woot?
2,1197  Kan he ther-on? for by my trouthe, I noot."

2,1198  Therwith al rosy hewed tho wex she,
2,1199  And gan to homme and seyde, "so I trowe."
2,1200  "Acquite hym wel, for goddes loue," quod he;
2,1201  "My self to medes wol the lettre sowe."
2,1202  And held his hondes vp and sat on knowe;
2,1203  "Now, goode Nece, be it neuere so lite,
2,1204  ^if me the labour it to sowe and plite."

2,1205  "^e, for I kan so writen," quod she tho,
2,1206  "And ek I noot what I sholde to hym seye."
2,1207  "Nay, Nece," quod Pandare, "sey nat so;
2,1208  ^et at the leeste thonketh hym, I preye,
2,1209  Of his good wille and doth hym nat to deye.
2,1210  Now for the loue of me, my Nece deere,
2,1211  Refuseth nat at this tyme my prayere."

2,1212  "Depardieux," quod she, "god leue al be wel!
2,1213  God help me so, this is the firste lettre
2,1214  That euere I wroot, |e, al or any del."
2,1215  And in-to a closet for tauise hire bettre
2,1216  She wente allone, and gan hire herte vnfettre
2,1217  Out of desdaynes prisoun but a lite,
2,1218  And sette hire down and gan a lettre write.

2,1219  Of which to telle in short is myn entente
2,1220  Theffect as fer as I kan vnderstonde:
2,1221  She thanked hym of al that he wel mente
2,1222  Towardes hire, but holden hym in honde
2,1223  She nolde nought, ne make hire seluen bonde
2,1224  In loue, but as his suster hym to plese
2,1225  She wolde ay fayn, to doon his herte an ese.

2,1226  She shette it and to Pandare in gan goon,
2,1227  Ther as he sat and loked in-to the strete,
2,1228  And down she sette hire by hym on a stoon
2,1229  Of iaspre, vp-on a quysshyn gold y-bete,
2,1230  And seyde, "as wisly help me god the grete,
2,1231  I neuere dide a thing with more peyne
2,1232  Than writen this, to which |e me constreyne" --

2,1233  And took it hym. He thonked hire and seyde,
2,1234  "God woot, of thyng ful often looth bygonne
2,1235  Comth ende good, and, Nece myn, Criseyde,
2,1236  That |e to hym of hard now ben y-wonne
2,1237  Oughte he be glad, by god and |onder sonne;
2,1238  ffor whi men seith, "Impressiounes lighte
2,1239  fful lightly ben ay redy to the flighte."

2,1240  "But |e han played the tirant neigh to longe,
2,1241  And hard was it |oure herte forto graue;
2,1242  Now stynte, that |e no lenger on it honge,
2,1243  Al wolde |e the forme of daunger saue,
2,1244  But hasteth |ow to doon hym ioye haue;
2,1245  ffor trusteth wel, to long y-doon hardnesse
2,1246  Causeth despit ful often for destresse."

2,1247  And right as they declamed this matere,
2,1248  Lo, Troilus, right at the stretes ende,
2,1249  Com rydyng with his tenthe somme y-fere,
2,1250  Al softely, and thiderward gan bende
2,1251  Ther as they sete, as was his way to wende
2,1252  To paleis-ward, and Pandare hym aspide
2,1253  And seyde, "Nece, i-see who comth here ride.

2,1254  "O fle naught in -- he seeth vs, I suppose --
2,1255  Lest he may thynken that |e hym eschuwe."
2,1256  "Nay, nay," quod she, and wex as rede as rose.
2,1257  With that he gan hire humbly to saluwe,
2,1258  With dredful chere and oft his hewes muwe,
2,1259  And vp his look debonairly he caste,
2,1260  And bekked on Pandare and forth he paste.

2,1261  God woot if he sat on his hors aright,
2,1262  Or goodly was biseyn that ilke day!
2,1263  God woot wher he was lik a manly knyght!
2,1264  What sholde I drecche or telle of his aray?
2,1265  Criseyde, which that alle thise thynges say,
2,1266  To telle in short, hire liked al in fere,
2,1267  His persoun, his aray, his look, his chere,

2,1268  His goodly manere, and his gentilesse,
2,1269  So wel that neuere, sith that she was born,
2,1270  Ne hadde she swych routh of his destresse;
2,1271  And how so she hath hard ben here byforn,
2,1272  To god hope I she hath now kaught a thorn,
2,1273  She shal nat pulle it out this nexte wyke --
2,1274  God sende mo swich thornes on to pike.

2,1275  Pandare, which that stood hire faste by,
2,1276  ffelte iren hoot and he bygan to smyte,
2,1277  And seyde, "Nece, I pray |ow hertely,
2,1278  Tel me that I shal axen |ow a lite:
2,1279  A womman that were of his deth to wite,
2,1280  With-outen his gilt, but for hire lakked routhe,
2,1281  Were it wel doon?" Quod she, "nay, by my trouthe."

2,1282  "God help me so," quod he, "|e sey me soth.
2,1283  ^e felen wel |oure self that I nought lye.
2,1284  Lo, |ond he rit!" "|e," quod she, "so he doth."
2,1285  "Wel," quod Pandare, "as I haue told |ow thrie,
2,1286  Lat be |oure nyce shame and |oure folie,
2,1287  And spek with hym in esyng of his herte;
2,1288  Lat nycete nat do |ow bothe smerte."

2,1289  But ther-on was to heuen and to doone,
2,1290  Considered al thing, it may nat be;
2,1291  And whi? for shame, and it were ek to soone
2,1292  To graunten hym so grete a libertee.
2,1293  ffor pleynly hire entente, as seyde she,
2,1294  Was forto loue hym vnwist if she myghte,
2,1295  And guerdoun hym with no thing but with sighte.

2,1296  But Pandarus thought, "it shal nought be so,
2,1297  ^if that I may, this nyce opynyoun
2,1298  Shal nought be holden fully |eres two."
2,1299  What sholde I make of this a long sermoun?
2,1300  He moste assente on that conclusioun
2,1301  As for the tyme, and whan that it was eue,
2,1302  And al was wel, he roos and toke his leue.

2,1303  And on his wey ful faste homward he spedde,
2,1304  And right for ioye he felte his herte daunce;
2,1305  And Troilus he fond allone a-bedde,
2,1306  That lay as do thise louers in a traunce,
2,1307  Bitwixen hope and derk disesperaunce.
2,1308  But Pandarus, right at his in comynge,
2,1309  He song, as who seyth, "somwhat I brynge."

2,1310  And seyde, "who is in his bed so soone
2,1311  I-buried thus?" "It am I, frend," quod he.
2,1312  "Who, Troilus? nay, help me so the moone,"
2,1313  Quod Pandarus, "thow shalt arise and see
2,1314  A charme that was sent right now to the,
2,1315  The which kan helen the of thyn accesse,
2,1316  If thow do forth-with al thi bisynesse.",

2,1317  "^e, thorugh the myght of god," quod Troilus.
2,1318  And Pandarus gan hym the lettre take,
2,1319  And seyde, "parde, god hath holpen vs;
2,1320  Haue here a light and loke on al this blake."
2,1321  But ofte gan the herte glade and quake
2,1322  Of Troilus, whil that he gan it rede,
2,1323  So as the wordes |aue hym hope or drede.

2,1324  But finaly he took al for the beste
2,1325  That she hym wroot, for somwhat he byhelde
2,1326  On which hym thoughte he myghte his herte reste,
2,1327  Al couered she the wordes vnder shelde.
2,1328  Thus to the more worthi part he helde,
2,1329  That what for hope and Pandarus byheste,
2,1330  His grete wo for|ede he at the leste.

2,1331  But as we may alday oure seluen see,
2,1332  Thorugh more wode or col the more fire,
2,1333  Right so encrees of hope, of what it be,
2,1334  Therwith ful ofte encresseth ek desire;
2,1335  Or as an ook comth of a litil spire,
2,1336  So thorugh this lettre which that she hym sente
2,1337  Encrescen gan desire of which he brente.

2,1338  Wherfore I seye alwey that day and nyght
2,1339  This Troilus gan to desiren moore
2,1340  Thanne he did erst, thorugh hope, and did his myght
2,1341  To preessen on as by Pandarus loore,
2,1342  And writen to hire of his sorwes soore;
2,1343  ffro day to day he leet it nought refreyde,
2,1344  That by Pandare he wroot somwhat or seyde;

2,1345  And dide also his other obseruaunces,
2,1346  That til a louere longeth in this cas;
2,1347  And after that his dees torned on chaunces,
2,1348  So was he outher glad or seyde "allas."
2,1349  And held after his gistes ay hid pas;
2,1350  And after swiche answeres as he hadde,
2,1351  So were his dayes sory outher gladde.

2,1352  But to Pandare alwey was his recours,
2,1353  And pitously gan ay to hym to pleyne,
2,1354  And hym bisoughte of reed and som socours;
2,1355  And Pandarus, that sey his woode peyne,
2,1356  Wex wel neigh ded for routhe, sooth to seyne,
2,1357  And bisily with al his herte cast
2,1358  Som of his wo to slen, and that as faste;

2,1359  And seyde, "lord and frend and brother dere,
2,1360  God woot that thi disese doth me wo.
2,1361  But wiltow stynten al this woful cheere,
2,1362  And by my trouthe, er it be dayes two,
2,1363  And god to-forn, |et shal I shape it so,
2,1364  That thow shalt come in-to a certeyn place,
2,1365  There as thow mayst thi self hire preye of grace.

2,1366  "And certeynly -- I noot if thow it woost,
2,1367  But tho that ben expert in loue it seye --
2,1368  It is oon of the thynges forthereth most
2,1369  A man to han a layser forto preye,
2,1370  And siker place his wo forto bywreye;
2,1371  ffor in good herte it mot som routhe impresse
2,1372  To here and see the giltlees in distresse.

2,1373  "Peraunter thynkestow: though it be so,
2,1374  That kynde wolde don hire to bygynne
2,1375  To haue a manere routhe vpon my woo,
2,1376  Seyth daunger, "nay, thow shalt me neuere wynne."
2,1377  So reulith hire hir hertes gost with-inne,
2,1378  That though she bende, |eet she stant on roote;
2,1379  What in effect is this vnto my boote?

2,1380  "Thenk here a|eins: whan that the stordy ook,
2,1381  On which men hakketh ofte for the nones,
2,1382  Receyued hath the happy fallyng strook,
2,1383  The greete sweigh doth it come al at ones,
2,1384  As don thise rokkes or thise milnestones;
2,1385  ffor swifter cours comth thyng that is of wighte,
2,1386  Whan it descendeth, than don thynges lighte.

2,1387  "And reed that boweth down for euery blaste,
2,1388  fful lightly, cesse wynd, it wol aryse;
2,1389  But so nyl nought an ook whan it is caste;
2,1390  It nedeth me nought the longe to forbise.
2,1391  Men shal reioissen of a grete empryse
2,1392  Acheued wel, and stant with-outen doute,
2,1393  Al han men ben the lenger ther-aboute.

2,1394  "But Troilus, |et telle me if the lest
2,1395  A thing now which that I shal axen the:
2,1396  Which is thi brother that thow louest best,
2,1397  As in thi verray hertes priuetee?"
2,1398  "I-wis, my brother Deiphebus," quod he.
2,1399  "Now," quod Pandare, "er houres twyes twelue,
2,1400  He shal the ese, vnwist of it hym selue.

2,1401  "Now lat malone and werken as I may,"
2,1402  Quod he; and to Deiphebus wente he tho,
2,1403  Which hadde his lord and grete frend ben ay;
2,1404  Saue Troilus, no man he loued so.
2,1405  To telle in short, withouten wordes mo,
2,1406  Quod Pandarus, "I pray |ow that |e be
2,1407  ffrend to a cause which that toucheth me."

2,1408  "^is, perde," quod Deiphebus, "wel thow woost,
2,1409  In al that euere I may, and god to-fore,
2,1410  Al nere it but for man I loue moost,
2,1411  My brother Troilus; but sey wherfore
2,1412  It is, for sith that day that I was bore,
2,1413  I nas, ne neuere mo to ben I thynke,
2,1414  A|eins a thing that myghte the forthynke."

2,1415  Pandare gan hym thank and to hym seyde,
2,1416  "Lo, sire, I haue a lady in this town,
2,1417  That is my Nece and called is Criseyde,
2,1418  Which som men wolden don oppressioun;
2,1419  And wrongfully han hire possessioun;
2,1420  Wherfore I of |oure lordship |ow biseche
2,1421  To ben oure frend, withouten more speche."

2,1422  Deiphebus hym answerde, "O, is nat this,
2,1423  That thow spekest of to me thus straungely,
2,1424  Criseyda, my frend?" He seyde, "|is."
2,1425  "Than nedeth," quod Deiphebus, "hardyly,
2,1426  Namore to speke, for trusteth wel that I
2,1427  Wol be hire champioun with spore and |erde;
2,1428  I roughte nought though alle hire foos it herde.

2,1429  "But telle me, thow that woost al this matere,
2,1430  How I myght best auaylen." -- "Now lat se,"
2,1431  Quod Pandarus, "if |e, my lord so dere,
2,1432  Wolden as now do this honour to me,
2,1433  To preyen hire to-morwe, lo, that she
2,1434  Come vn-to |ow, hire pleyntes to deuise,
2,1435  Hire aduersaries wolde of it agrise.

2,1436  "And |if I more dorste prey |ow as now,
2,1437  And chargen |ow to han so gret trauaille,
2,1438  To han som of |oure bretheren here with |ow,
2,1439  That myghten to hire cause bet auaille,
2,1440  Than wot I wel she myghte neuere faille
2,1441  fforto ben holpen, what at |oure instaunce,
2,1442  What with hire other frendes gouernaunce."

2,1443  Deiphebus, which that comen was of kynde
2,1444  To alle honour and bounte to consente,
2,1445  Answerd, "it shal be don, and I kan fynde
2,1446  ^et grettere help to this in myn entente.
2,1447  What wiltow seyn if I for Eleyne sente
2,1448  To speke of this? I trowe it be the beste,
2,1449  ffor she may leden Paris as hire leste.

2,1450  "Of Ector, which that is my lord, my brother,
2,1451  It nedeth naught to preye hym frend to be;
2,1452  ffor I haue herd hym, o tyme and ek oother,
2,1453  Speke of Cryseyde swich honour that he
2,1454  May seyn no bet, swich hap to hym hath she:
2,1455  It nedeth naught his helpes forto craue;
2,1456  He shal be swich right as we wol hym haue.

2,1457  "Speke thow thi self also to Troilus
2,1458  On my byhalue, and prey hym with vs dyne."
2,1459  "Syre, al this shal be don," quod Pandarus,
2,1460  And took his leue and neuere gan to fyne,
2,1461  But to his Neces hous as streyght as lyne
2,1462  He come, and fond hire fro the mete arise,
2,1463  And sette hym down and spak right in this wise.

2,1464  He seide, "O verray god, so haue I ronne!
2,1465  Lo, Nece myn, se |e nought how I swete?
2,1466  I not wheither |e the more thank me konne.
2,1467  Be |e naught war how false Poliphete
2,1468  Is now aboute eftsones forto plete
2,1469  And brynge on |ow aduocacies newe?"
2,1470  "I? no," quod she, and chaunged al hire hewe.

2,1471  "What is he more aboute me to drecche
2,1472  And don me wrong? what shal I doon, allas?
2,1473  ^et of hym self nothing ne wolde I recche,
2,1474  Nere it for Antenor and Eneas,
2,1475  That ben his frendes in swich manere cas.
2,1476  But for the loue of god, myn vncle deere,
2,1477  No fors of that, lat hym han al yfeere.

2,1478  "With-outen that I haue ynough for vs."
2,1479  "Nay," quod Pandare, "it shal no thing be so,
2,1480  ffor I haue ben right now at Deiphebus,
2,1481  At Ector, and myn oother lordes moo,
2,1482  And shortly maked eche of hem his foo,
2,1483  That, by my thrift, he shal it neuere wynne,
2,1484  ffor aught he kan, whan that so he bygynne."

2,1485  And as thei casten what was best to doone,
2,1486  Deiphebus of his owen curteisie
2,1487  Com hire to preye, in his propre persone,
2,1488  To holde hym on the morwe compaignie,
2,1489  At dyner, which she nolde nought denye,
2,1490  But goodly gan to his preier obeye.
2,1491  He thonked hire and went vp-on his weye.

2,1492  Whan this was don, this Pandare vp anon,
2,1493  To telle in short, and forth gan forto wende
2,1494  To Troilus, as stille as any ston,
2,1495  And al this thyng he tolde hym worde and ende,
2,1496  And how that he Deiphebus gan to blende,
2,1497  And seyde hym, "now is tyme, if that thow konne,
2,1498  To bere the wel to-morwe, and al is wonne.

2,1499  "Now spek, now prey, now pitously compleigne;
2,1500  Lat nought for nyce shame or drede or slouthe.
2,1501  Som tyme a man mot telle his owen peyne;
2,1502  Bileue it, and she shal han on the routhe;
2,1503  Thow shalt be saued by thi feyth in trouthe.
2,1504  But wel woot I that thow art now in deede,
2,1505  And what it is I leye I kan arede.

2,1506  "Thow thynkest now, "how sholde I don al this?
2,1507  ffor by my cheres mosten folk aspie
2,1508  That for hire loue is that I fare amys;
2,1509  ^et hadde I leuere vnwist for sorwe dye."
2,1510  Now thynk nat so, for thow dost gret folie,
2,1511  ffor I right now haue founden o manere
2,1512  Of sleyghte forto coueren al thi cheere.

2,1513  "Thow shalt gon ouer nyght, and that bylyue,
2,1514  Unto Deiphebus hous as the to pleye,
2,1515  Thi maladie awey the bet to dryue,
2,1516  ffor whi thow semest sik, soth forto seye.
2,1517  Soone after that, down in thi bed the leye,
2,1518  And sey thow mayst no lenger vp endure,
2,1519  And lie right there and bide thyn auenture.

2,1520  "Sey that thi fevre is wont the forto take
2,1521  The same tyme, and lasten til a-morwe;
2,1522  And lat se now how wel thow kanst it make,
2,1523  ffor perde, sik is he that is in sorwe.
2,1524  Go now, far-wel; and Venus here to borwe,
2,1525  I hope, and thow this purpos holde ferme,
2,1526  Thi grace she shal fully ther conferme."

2,1527  Quod Troilus, "i-wis, thow nedeles
2,1528  Conseilest me that siklich I me feyne,
2,1529  ffor I am sik in ernest, douteles,
2,1530  So that wel neigh I sterue for the peyne."
2,1531  Quod Pandarus, "thow shalt the bettre pleyne,
2,1532  And hast the lasse nede to countrefete,
2,1533  ffor hym men demen hoot that men seen swete.

2,1534  "Lo, hold the at thi triste cloos, and I
2,1535  Shal wel the deer vnto thi bowe dryue."
2,1536  Therwith he took his leue al softely,
2,1537  And Troilus to paleis wente blyue;
2,1538  So glad ne was he neuere in al his lyue,
2,1539  And to Pandarus reed gan al assente,
2,1540  And to Deiphebus hous at nyght he wente.

2,1541  What nedeth |ow to tellen al the cheere
2,1542  That Deiphebus vnto his brother made,
2,1543  Or his accesse or his siklich manere --
2,1544  How men gan hym with clothes forto lade,
2,1545  Whan he was leyd, and how men wolde hym glade?
2,1546  But al for nought: he held forth ay the wyse
2,1547  That |e han herd Pandare er this deuyse.

2,1548  But certayn is, er Troilus hym leyde,
2,1549  Deiphebus had hym preied ouer nyght
2,1550  To ben a frend and helpyng to Criseyde.
2,1551  God woot that he it graunted a-non right,
2,1552  To ben hire fulle frend with al his myght;
2,1553  But swich a nede was to preye hym thenne,
2,1554  As forto bidde a wood man forto renne.

2,1555  The morwen com and neighen gan the tyme
2,1556  Of meeltide that the faire queene Eleyne
2,1557  Shoop hire to ben, an houre after the prime,
2,1558  With Deiphebus, to whom she nolde feyne;
2,1559  But as his suster, homly, soth to seyne,
2,1560  She com to dyner in hire pleyne entente --
2,1561  But god and Pandare wist al what this mente.

2,1562  Com ek Criseyde, al innocent of this,
2,1563  Antigone, hire suster Tarbe also,
2,1564  But fle we now prolixitee best is,
2,1565  ffor loue of god, and lat vs faste go
2,1566  Right to theffect, withouten tales mo,
2,1567  Whi al this folk assembled in this place;
2,1568  And lat vs of hire saluynges pace.

2,1569  Gret honour did hem Deiphebus, certeyn,
2,1570  And fedde hem wel with al that myghte like,
2,1571  But euere mo, "allas," was his refreyn,
2,1572  "My goode brother, Troilus, the syke,
2,1573  Lith |et" -- and therwithal he gan to sike;
2,1574  And after that he peyned hym to glade
2,1575  Hem as he myghte and cheere good he made.

2,1576  Compleyned ek Eleyne of his siknesse
2,1577  So feythfully that pite was to here;
2,1578  And euery wight gan waxen for accesse
2,1579  A leche anon and seyde, "in this manere
2,1580  Men curen folk; this charme I wol |ow leere";
2,1581  But ther sat oon, al list hire nought to teche,
2,1582  That thoughte, "best koude I |et ben his leche."

2,1583  After compleynte, hym gonnen they to preyse,
2,1584  As folk don |et whan som wight hath bygonne
2,1585  To preise a man, and vp with pris hym reise
2,1586  A thousand fold |et heigher than the sonne:
2,1587  "He is, he kan, that fewe lordes konne."
2,1588  And Pandarus, of that they wolde afferme,
2,1589  He naught forgat hire preisynge to conferme.

2,1590  Herde al this thyng Criseyde wel i-nough,
2,1591  And euery word gan forto notifie,
2,1592  ffor which with sobre cheere hire herte lough;
2,1593  ffor who is that ne wolde hire glorifie,
2,1594  To mowen swich a knyght don lyue or dye?
2,1595  But al passe I, lest |e to longe dwelle;
2,1596  ffor for o fyn is al that euere I telle.

2,1597  The tyme com fro dyner forto ryse,
2,1598  And as hem aughte arisen euerichone,
2,1599  And gonne a while of this and that deuise;
2,1600  But Pandarus brak al this speche anone,
2,1601  And seide to Deiphebus, "wol |e gone,
2,1602  If it |oure wille be, as I |ow preyde,
2,1603  To speke here of the nedes of Criseyde?"

2,1604  Eleyne, which that by the hond hire helde,
2,1605  Took first the tale and seyde, "go we blyue";
2,1606  And goodly on Criseyde she bihelde,
2,1607  And seyde, "Ioues lat hym neuere thryue,
2,1608  That doth |ow harm, and brynge hym soone of lyue,
2,1609  And |eue me sorwe but he shal it rewe,
2,1610  If that I may, and alle folk be trewe."

2,1611  "Tel thow thi Neces cas," quod Deiphebus
2,1612  To Pandarus, "for thow kanst best it telle."
2,1613  "My lordes and my ladyes, it stant thus:
2,1614  What sholde I lenger," quod he, "do |ow dwelle?"
2,1615  He rong hem out a proces lik a belle
2,1616  Up-on hire foo, that highte Poliphete,
2,1617  So heynous that men myghte on it spete.

2,1618  Answerde of this eche werse of hem than other,
2,1619  And Poliphete they gonnen thus to warien:
2,1620  "Anhonged be swich oon, were he my brother,
2,1621  And so he shal, for it ne may nought varien."
2,1622  What shold I lenger in this tale tarien?
2,1623  Pleynliche alle at ones they hire highten
2,1624  To ben hire help in al that euere they myghten.

2,1625  Spak than Eleyne and seyde, "Pandarus,
2,1626  Woot ought my lord my brother this matere,
2,1627  I meene Ector? or woot it Troilus?"
2,1628  He seyde, "|e, but wole |e now me here?
2,1629  Me thynketh this, sith that Troilus is here,
2,1630  It were good, if that |e wolde assente,
2,1631  She tolde hire self hym al this er she wente.

2,1632  "ffor he wol haue the more hir grief at herte,
2,1633  By-cause, lo, that she a lady is,
2,1634  And, by |oure leue, I wol but in right sterte
2,1635  And do |ow wyte, and that anon, i-wys,
2,1636  If that he slepe, or wol ought here of this."
2,1637  And in he lepte, and seyde hym in his ere,
2,1638  "God haue thi soule, i-brought haue I thi beere!"

2,1639  To smylen of this gan tho Troilus,
2,1640  And Pandarus, withouten rekenyng,
2,1641  Out wente anon to Eleyne and Deiphebus,
2,1642  And seyde hem, "so ther be no tarying,
2,1643  Ne moore prees, he wol wel that |e bryng
2,1644  Criseyda, my lady, that is here,
2,1645  And as he may enduren, he wol here.

2,1646  "But wel |e woot, the chaumbre is but lite,
2,1647  And fewe folk may lightly make it warme;
2,1648  Now loketh |e -- for I wol haue no wite,
2,1649  To brynge in prees that myghte don hym harme,
2,1650  Or hym disesen, for my bettre arme --
2,1651  Wher it be bet she bide til eft-sonys?
2,1652  Now loketh |e, that knowen what to doon is.

2,1653  "I sey for me, best is, as I kan knowe,
2,1654  That no wight in ne wente but |e tweye,
2,1655  But it were I, for I kan in a throwe
2,1656  Reherce hire cas vnlik that she kan seye;
2,1657  And after this she may hym ones preye
2,1658  To ben good lord, in short, and take hire leue;
2,1659  This may nought muchel of his ese hym reue-

2,1660  "And ek for she is straunge, he wol forbere
2,1661  His ese which that hym thar nought for |ow;
2,1662  Ek oother thing that toucheth nought to here
2,1663  He wol |ow telle--I woot it wel, right now --
2,1664  That secret is, and for the townes prow."
2,1665  And they that nothyng knewe of his entente,
2,1666  With-outen more, to Troilus in they wente.

2,1667  Eleyne in al hire goodly, softe wyse
2,1668  Gan hym salue, wommanly to pleye,
2,1669  And seyde, "I-wys, |e moste algate arise;
2,1670  Now, faire brother, beth al hool, I preye."
2,1671  And gan hire arm right ouer his shulder leye,
2,1672  And hym with al hire wit to reconforte;
2,1673  As she best koude, she gan hym to disporte.

2,1674  So after this quod she, "we |ow biseke,
2,1675  My deere brother, Deiphebus and I,
2,1676  ffor loue of god, and so doth Pandare eke,
2,1677  To ben good lord and frend right hertely
2,1678  Unto Criseyde, which that certeynly
2,1679  Receyueth wrong, as woot weel here Pandare,
2,1680  That kan hire cas wel bet than I declare."

2,1681  This Pandarus gan newe his tong affile,
2,1682  And al hire cas reherce and that anon.
2,1683  Whan it was seyd, soone after in a while,
2,1684  Quod Troilus. "as sone as I may gon,
2,1685  I wol right fayn with al my myght ben oon,
2,1686  Haue god my trouthe, hire cause to sustene."
2,1687  "Good thrift haue |e," quod Eleyne the queene."

2,1688  Quod Pandarus, "and it |oure wille be,
2,1689  That she may take hire leue er that she go?"
2,1690  "O, elles god forbede it," tho quod he,
2,1691  If that she vouche sauf forto do so."
2,1692  And with that word quod Troilus, "|e two,
2,1693  Deiphebus and my suster lief and deere,
2,1694  To |ow haue I to speke of o matere,

2,1695  "To ben auysed by |oure reed the bettre."
2,1696  And fond, as hap was, at his beddes hede,
2,1697  The copie of a tretys and a lettre
2,1698  That Ector hadde hym sent to axen rede
2,1699  If swych a man was worthi to ben dede --
2,1700  Woot I nought who -- but in a grisly wise
2,1701  He preyede hem anon on it auyse.

2,1702  Deiphebus gan this lettre for tonfolde
2,1703  In ernest greet; so did Eleyne the queene;
2,1704  And romyng outward faste it gonne byholde,
2,1705  Downward a steire, in-to an herber greene,
2,1706  This ilke thing they redden hem bitwene;
2,1707  And largely, the mountance of an houre,
2,1708  Thei gonne on it to reden and to poure.

2,1709  Now lat hem rede, and torne we anon
2,1710  To Pandarus, that gan ful faste prye
2,1711  That al was wel, and out he gan to gon
2,1712  In-to the grete chaumbre, and that in hye,
2,1713  And seyde, "god saue al this compaynye!
2,1714  Come, Nece myn, my lady queene Eleyne
2,1715  Abideth |ow and ek my lordes tweyne.

2,1716  "Rys, take with |ow |oure Nece, Antigone,
2,1717  Or whom |ow list -- or no fors, hardyly
2,1718  The lesse prees the bet -- com forth with me,
2,1719  And loke that |e thonken humblely
2,1720  Hem alle thre, and whan |e may goodly
2,1721  ^oure tyme se, taketh of hem |oure leeue,
2,1722  Lest we to longe hise restes hym byreeue.",

2,1723  Al innocent of Pandarus entente,
2,1724  Quod tho Criseyde, "go we, vncle deere."
2,1725  And arm in arm inward with hym she wente,
2,1726  Auysed wel hire wordes and hire cheere;
2,1727  And Pandarus in ernestful manere
2,1728  Seyde, "We folk, for goddes loue, I preye,
2,1729  Stynteth right here, and softely |ow pleye.

2,1730  "Auyseth |ow what folk ben here with-inne,
2,1731  And in what plit oon is, god hym amende!"
2,1732  And inward thus, "ful softely bygynne,
2,1733  Nece, I coniure and heighly |ow defende,
2,1734  On his half which that soule vs alle sende,
2,1735  And in the vertue of corones tweyne,
2,1736  Sle naught this man that hath for |ow this peyne.

2,1737  "ffy on the deuel! thynk which oon he is,
2,1738  And in what plit he lith; com of anon!
2,1739  Thynk al swich taried tyde but lost it nys --
2,1740  That wol |e bothe seyn whan |e ben oon.
2,1741  Secoundely, ther |et deuyneth noon
2,1742  Upon |ow two; come of now, if |e konne --
2,1743  While folk is blent, lo, al the tyme is wonne.

2,1744  "In titeryng and pursuyte and delayes
2,1745  The folk deuyne at waggyng of a stree;
2,1746  And though |e wolde han after mirye dayes,
2,1747  Than dar |e naught; and whi? for she and she
2,1748  Spak swych a word, thus loked he and he;
2,1749  Las tyme i-loste, I dar nought with |ow dele;
2,1750  Com of, therfore, and bryngeth hym to hele."

2,1751  But now to |ow, |e loueres that ben here,
2,1752  Was Troilus nought in a kankedort,
2,1753  That lay and myghte whisprynge of hem here,
2,1754  And thoughte, "O lord, right now renneth my sort
2,1755  ffully to deye or han anon comfort,"
2,1756  And was the firste tyme he shulde hire preye
2,1757  Of loue? O myghty god, what shal he seye?
       <1Explicit secundus liber.>1
     <1Incipit prohemium tercii libri>1
3,1  O blisful light, of which the bemes clere
3,2  Adorneth al the thridde heuen faire;
3,3  O sonnes lief, O Ioues doughter deere,
3,4  Plesance of loue, O goodly debonaire,
3,5  In gentil hertes ay redy to repaire;
3,6  O veray cause of heele and of gladnesse,
3,7  I-heryed be thy myghte and thi goodnesse.

3,8  In heuene and helle, in erthe and salte see,
3,9  Is felt thi myght, if that I wel descerne;
3,10  As man, brid, beste, fisshe, herbe, and grene tree
3,11  The fele in tymes with vapour eterne.
3,12  God loueth, and to loue wol nought werne,
3,13  And in this world no lyues creature
3,14  With-outen loue is worth, or may endure.

3,15  ^e Ioues first to thilke effectes glade,
3,16  Thorugh which that thynges lyuen alle and be,
3,17  Comeueden, and amorous hem made
3,18  On mortal thyng, and as |ow list ay |e
3,19  ^eue hym in loue ese or aduersitee,
3,20  And in a thousand formes down hym sente
3,21  ffor loue in erthe, and whom |ow liste he hente.

3,22  ^e fierse Mars apaisen of his ire,
3,23  And as |ow list |e maken hertes digne;
3,24  Algates hem that |e wol sette a-fyre,
3,25  They dreden shame, and vices they resygne;
3,26  ^e do hem cortays be, fresshe and benigne;
3,27  And heighe or lowe, after a wight entendeth,
3,28  The ioies that he hath, |oure myght it sendeth.

3,29  ^e holden regne and hous in vnitee;
3,30  ^e sothfast cause of frendshipe ben also;
3,31  ^e knowe al thilke couered qualitee
3,32  Of thynges, which that folk on wondren so,
3,33  Whan they kan nought construe how it may jo
3,34  She loueth hym, or whi he loueth here,
3,35  As whi this fissh, and naught that, comth to were.

3,36  ^e folk a lawe han set in vniverse,
3,37  And this knowe I by hem that louers be,
3,38  That who-so stryueth with |ow hath the werse.
3,39  Now lady bryght, for thi benignite,
3,40  At reuerence of hem that seruen the,
3,41  Whos clerc I am, so techeth me deuyse
3,42  Som ioye of that is felt in thi seruyse.

3,43  ^e in my naked herte sentement
3,44  In-hielde, and do me shewe of thy swetnesse.
3,45  Caliope, thi vois be now present,
3,46  ffor now is nede: sestow nought my destresse,
3,47  How I mot telle a-non right the gladnesse
3,48  Of Troilus, to Venus heryinge?
3,49  To which gladnesse who nede hath god hym brynge!
      <1Explicit prohemium tercii libri>1
      <1Incipit liber tercius>1
3,50  Lay al this mene while Troilus,
3,51  Recordyng his lesson in this manere:
3,52  "Mafay," thoughte he, "thus wol I sey and thus;
3,53  Thus wol I pleyne vn-to my lady dere;
3,54  That word is good, and this shal be my cheere;
3,55  This nyl I nought for|eten in no wise."
3,56  God leue hym werken as he kan deuyse.

3,57  And lord, so that his herte gan to quappe,
3,58  Heryng hire come, and shorte forto sike;
3,59  And Pandarus that ledde hire by the lappe,
3,60  Com ner and gan in at the curtyn pike,
3,61  And seyde, "god do boot on alle syke!
3,62  Se who is here |ow comen to visite;
3,63  Lo, here is she that is |oure deth to wite."

3,64  Ther-with it semed as he wepte almoste.
3,65  "Ha, a," quod Troilus so reufully,
3,66  "Wher me be wo, O myghty god, thow wooste;
3,67  Who is al ther? I se nought trewely."
3,68  "Sire," quod Criseyde, "it is Pandare and I."
3,69  "^e, swete herte? allas, I may nought rise,
3,70  To knele and do |ow honour in som wyse";

3,71  And dressed hym vpward, and she right tho
3,72  Gan bothe hire hondes softe vpon hym leye,
3,73  "O, for the loue of god, do |e nought so
3,74  To me," quod she, "I! what is this to seye?
3,75  Sire, comen am I to |ow for causes tweye:
3,76  ffirst, |ow to thonke, and of |oure lordshipe eke
3,77  Continuance I wolde |ow biseke."

3,78  This Troilus that herde his lady preye
3,79  Of lordshipe hym, wax neither quyk ne dede,
3,80  Ne myghte o word for shame to it seye,
3,81  Al-though men sholde smyten of his hede;
3,82  But lord, so he wex sodeynliche rede,
3,83  And sire, his lessoun that he wende konne
3,84  To preyen hire is thorugh his wit i-ronne.

3,85  Criseyde al this aspied wel ynough,
3,86  ffor she was wis and loued hym neuere the lasse,
3,87  Al ner he malapert, or made it tough,
3,88  Or was to bold to synge a fool a masse;
3,89  But whan his shame gan somwhat to passe,
3,90  His resons, as I may my rymes holde,
3,91  I wol |ow telle as techen bokes olde.

3,92  In chaunged vois, right for his verray drede,
3,93  Which vois ek quook, and therto his manere
3,94  Goodly abaist, and now his hewes rede,
3,95  Now pale, vnto Criseyde, his lady dere,
3,96  With look down cast and humble i-|olden chere,
3,97  Lo, the alderfirste word that hym asterte
3,98  Was twyes, "mercy, mercy, swete herte."

3,99  And stynte a while, and whan he myghte out brynge,
3,100  The nexte word was, "god woot, for I haue,
3,101  As ferforthly as I haue had konnynge,
3,102  Ben |oures al, god so my soule saue,
3,103  And shal, til that I, woful wight, be graue;
3,104  And though I dar ne kan vnto |ow pleyne,
3,105  I-wis, I suffre nought the lasse peyne.

3,106  "Thus muche as now, O wommanliche wif,
3,107  I may out brynge, and if this |ow displese,
3,108  That shal I wreke vp-on myn owen lif
3,109  Right soone, I trowe, and do |oure herte an ese,
3,110  If with my deth |oure wreththe may apese.
3,111  But syn that |e han herd me somwhat seye
3,112  Now recche I neuere now soone that I deye.

3,113  Ther-with his manly sorwe to biholde,
3,114  It myghte han made an herte of stoon to rewe,
3,115  And Pandare wep as he to water wolde,
3,116  And poked euere his Nece new and newe,
3,117  And seyde, "wo bygon ben hertes trewe;
3,118  ffor loue of god, make of this thinge an ende,
3,119  Or sle vs both at ones, er |e wende."

3,120  "I, what?' quod she, "by god and by my trouthe,
3,121  I not nat what |e wilne that I seye."
3,122  "I, what?" quod he, "that |e han on hym routhe,
3,123  ffor goddes loue, and doth him nought to deye."
3,124  "Now thanne thus," quod she, "I wolde hym preye
3,125  To telle me the fyn of his entente;
3,126 |et wist I neuere wel what that he mente."

3,127  "What that I mene, O swete herte deere?"
3,128  Quod Troilus, "O goodly fresshe free,
3,129  That with the stremes of |oure eyen cleere
3,130  ^e wolde som-tyme frendly on me see,
3,131  And thanne agreen that I may ben he,
3,132  With-outen braunche of vice on any wise,
3,133  In trouthe alwey to don |ow my seruise,

3,134  "As to my lady right and chief resorte,
3,135  With al my wit and al my diligence;
3,136  And I to han, right as |ow list, comforte,
3,137  Under yowre yerde egal to myn offence,
3,138  As deth, if that I breke |oure defence;
3,139  And that |e deigne me so muche honoure
3,140  Me to comanden aught in any houre;

3,141  "And I to ben |oure verray, humble, trewe,
3,142  Secret, and in myn paynes pacient,
3,143  And euere mo desiren fresshly newe
3,144  To serue and ben ay ylike diligent,
3,145  And with good herte al holly |oure talent
3,146  Receyuen wel, how sore that me smerte --
3,147  Lo, this mene I, myn owen swete herte."

3,148  Quod Pandarus, "lo, here an hard requeste,
3,149  And resonable, a lady forto werne!
3,150  Now Nece myn, by natal Ioues feste,
3,151  Were I a god |e sholden sterue as |erne,
3,152  That heren wel this man wol no thing |erne
3,153  But |oure honour, and sen hym al-most sterue,
3,154  And ben so loth to suffren hym |ow serue."

3,155  With that she gan hire eyen on hym caste
3,156  fful esily and ful debonairly,
3,157  Auysyng hire, and hied nought to faste
3,158  With neuere a word but seyde hym softely,
3,159  "Myn honour sauf, I wol wel trewly,
3,160  And in swich forme as he gan now deuyse,
3,161  Receyuen hym fully to my seruyse,

3,162  "Bysechyng hym for goddes loue, that he
3,163  Wolde in honour of trouthe and gentilesse,
3,164  As I wel mene, ek menen wel to me,
3,165  And myn honour with wit and bisynesse
3,166  Ay kepe, and if I may don hym gladnesse,
3,167  ffrom hennes-forth, i-wys, I nyl nought feyne.
3,168  Now beth al hool, no lenger |e ne pleyne.

3,169  "But natheles, this warne I |ow," quod she,
3,170  "A kynges sone al-though |e be, ywys,
3,171  ^e shal namore han souereignete
3,172  Of me in loue than right in that cas is;
3,173  Ny nyl forbere, if that |e don amys,
3,174  To wratthe |ow, and whil that |e me serue,
3,175  Chericen |ow right after |e disserue.

3,176  "And shortly, deere herte and al my knyght,
3,177  Beth glad and draweth |ow to lustinesse,
3,178  And I shal trewely with al my myght
3,179  ^oure bittre tornen al in-to swetenesse;
3,180  If I be she that may |ow do gladnesse,
3,181  ffor euery wo |e shal recouere a blisse."
3,182  And hym in armes took and gan hym kisse.

3,183  ffil Pandarus on knees and vp his eyen
3,184  To heuen threw and held hise hondes highe,
3,185  "Immortal god," quod he, "that mayst nought deyen,
3,186  Cupide I mene, of this mayst glorifie;
3,187  And Venus, thow mayst maken melodie;
3,188  With-outen hond me semeth that in towne
3,189  ffor this merueille ich here ech belle sowne.

3,190  "But ho, namore as now of this matere;
3,191  ffor whi this folk wol comen vp anon,
3,192  That han the lettre red -- lo, I hem here;
3,193  But I coniure the, Criseyde, and oon,
3,194  And two, thow Troilus, whan thow mayst goon,
3,195  That at myn hous |e ben at my warnyng,
3,196  ffor I ful well shal shape |oure comyng;

3,197  "And eseth there |oure hertes right ynough;
3,198  And lat se which of |ow shal bere the belle
3,199  To speke of loue aright," -- therwith he lough --
3,200  "ffor ther haue |e a leiser forto telle."
3,201  Quod Troilus, "how longe shalle I dwelle,
3,202  Er this be don?" Quod he, "whan thow mayst ryse,
3,203  This thyng shal be right as I |ow deuyse."

3,204  With that Eleyne and also Deiphebus
3,205  Tho comen vpward, right at the steires ende;
3,206  And lord, so thanne gan gronen Troilus,
3,207  His brother and his suster forto blende.
3,208  Quod Pandarus, "it tyme is that we wende;
3,209  Tak, Nece myn, |oure leue at alle thre,
3,210  And lat hem speke and cometh forth with me."

3,211  She took hire leue at hem ful thriftily,
3,212  As she wel koude, and they hire reuerence
3,213  Unto the fulle diden hardyly,
3,214  And wonder wel speken in hire absence
3,215  Of hire in preysing of hire excellence --
3,216  Hire gouernaunce, hire wit, and hire manere
3,217  Comendeden, it ioie was to here.

3,218  Now lat hire wende vnto hire owen place,
3,219  And torne we to Troilus a|ein,
3,220  That gan ful lightly of the lettre pace,
3,221  That Deiphebus hadde in the gardyn seyn;
3,222  And of Eleyne and hym he wolde feyn
3,223  Deliuered ben, and seyde that hym leste
3,224  To slepe and after tales haue reste.

3,225  Eleyne hym kiste and took hire leue blyue,
3,226  Deiphebus ek, and hom wente euery wight;
3,227  And Pandarus, as faste as he may dryue,
3,228  To Troilus tho com as lyne right;

3,229  And on a paillet al that glade nyght
3,230  By Troilus he lay with mery chere
3,231  To tale, and wel was hem they were yfeere.

3,232  Whan euery wight was voided but they two,
3,233  And alle the dores weren faste yshette,
3,234  To telle in short with-outen wordes mo,
3,235  This Pandarus with-outen any lette
3,236  Up roos and on his beddes syde hym sette,
3,237  And gan to speken in a sobre wyse
3,238  To Troilus, as I shal |ow deuyse.

3,239  "Myn alderleuest lord and brother deere,
3,240  God woot, and thow, that it sat me so soore,
3,241  Whan I the saugh so langwisshyng to-|ere
3,242  ffor loue, of which thi wo wax alwey moore,
3,243  That I, with al my myght and al my loore
3,244  Haue euere sithen don my bisynesse
3,245  To brynge the to ioye out of distresse;

3,246  "And haue it brought to swich plit as thow wooste,
3,247  So that thorugh me thow stondest now in weye
3,248  To faren wel -- I sey it for no boste,
3,249  And wostow whi? for shame it is to seye:
3,250  ffor =e haue I bigonne a gamen pleye
3,251  Which that I neuere do shal eft for other,
3,252  Al-though he were a thousand fold my brother.

3,253  "That is to seye, for the am I bicomen,
3,254  Bitwixen game and ernest, swich a meene
3,255  As maken wommen vn-to men to comen --
3,256  Al sey I nought, thow wost wel what I meene:
3,257  ffor the haue I my Nece, of vices cleene,
3,258  So fully maad thi gentilesse triste,
3,259  That al shal ben right as thi seluen liste.

3,260  "But god, that al woot, take I to witnesse,
3,261  That neuere I this for coueitise wroughte,
3,262  But oonly for tabregge that distresse,
3,263  ffor which wel neigh thow deidest, as me thoughte.
3,264  But goode brother, do now as the oughte,
3,265  ffor goddes loue, and kepe hire out of blame,
3,266  Syn thow art wys, and saue alwey hire name.

3,267  "ffor wel thow woost, the name as |et of here
3,268  Among the peeple, as who seyth, halwed is;
3,269  ffor that man is vnbore, I dar wel swere,
3,270  That euere wiste that she dide amys.
3,271  But wo is me that I, that cause al this,
3,272  May thynken that she is my Nece deere,
3,273  And I hire em and traitour ek y-feere.

3,274  "And were it wist that I, thorugh myn engyn,
3,275  Hadde in my Nece yput this fantasie,
3,276  To doon thi lust and holly to ben thyn,
3,277  Whi, al the world vpon it wolde crie,
3,278  And seyn that I the werste trecherie
3,279  Dide in this cas that euere was bigonne,
3,280  And she forlost, and thow right nought y-wonne.

3,281  "Wher-fore, er I wol ferther gon a pas,
3,282  The preye ich eft, althogh thow shuldest deye,
3,283  That priuete go with vs in this cas --
3,284  That is to seyn, that thow vs neuere wreye;
3,285  And be nought wroth though I the ofte preye
3,286  To holden secree swich an heigh matere,
3,287  ffor skilfull is, thow woost wel, my praiere.

3,288  "And thynk what wo ther hath bitid er this,
3,289  ffor makyng of auantes, as men rede;
3,290  And what meschaunce in this world |et ther is,
3,291  ffro day to day, right for that wikked dede;
3,292  ffor which thise wise clerkes that ben dede
3,293  Han euere |et prouerbed to vs |onge
3,294  That 'firste vertue is to kepe tonge.'

3,295  "And nere it that I wilne as now tabregge
3,296  Diffusioun of speche, I koude al-moost
3,297  A thousand olde stories the allegge
3,298  Of wommen lost thorugh fals and foles bost;
3,299  Prouerbes kanst thi self inowe and woost
3,300  A|eins that vice for to ben a labbe,
3,301  Al seyde men soth as often as thei gabbe.

3,302  "O tonge, allas, so often here byforne
3,303  Hath mad ful many a lady bright of hewe
3,304  Seyd, 'weilaway, the day that I was borne!'
3,305  And many a maydes sorwe forto newe;
3,306  And, for the more part, al is vntrewe
3,307  That men of |elp, and it were brought to preue --
3,308  Of kynde non auauntour is to leue.

3,309  "Auauntour and a lyere, al is on;
3,310  As thus: I pose a womman graunte me
3,311  Hire loue and seith that other wol she non,
3,312  And I am sworn to holden it secree,
3,313  And after I go telle it two or thre --
3,314  I-wis, I am auauntour at the leeste,
3,315  And lyere, for I breke my biheste.

3,316  "Now loke thanne if they be nought to blame,
3,317  Swich manere folk -- what shal I klepe hem, what? --
3,318  That hem auaunte of wommen, and by name,
3,319  That neuere |et bihyghte hem this ne that,
3,320  Ne knewe hem more than myn olde hat.
3,321  No wonder is, so god me sende hele,
3,322  Though wommen dreden with vs men to dele.

3,323  "I sey nought this for no mistrust of |ow,
3,324  Ne for no wise men, but for foles nyce,
3,325  And for the harm that in the werld in now,
3,326  As wel for folie ofte as for malice;
3,327  ffor wel woot I in wise folk that vice
3,328  No womman drat, if she be wel auised;
3,329  ffor wyse ben by foles harm chastised.

3,330  "But now to Purpos, leue brother deere,
3,331  Haue al this thyng that I haue seyd in mynde,
3,332  And kepe the clos and be now of good cheere,
3,333  ffor at thi day thow shalt me trewe fynde.
3,334  I shal thi proces set in swych a kynde,
3,335  And god to-forn, that it shal the suffise,
3,336  ffor it shal be right as thow wolt deuyse.

3,337  "ffor wel I woot, thow menest wel, parde;
3,338  Ther-fore I dar this fully vndertake.
3,339  Thow woost ek what thi lady graunted the,
3,340  And day is set, the chartres vp to make.
3,341  Haue now good nyght, I may no lenger wake;
3,342  And bid for me syn thow art now in blysse,
3,343  That god me sende deth or soone lisse."

3,344  Who myghte tellen half the ioie or feste
3,345  Which that the soule of Troilus tho felte,
3,346  Heryng theffect of Pandarus byheste?
3,347  His olde wo, that made his herte swelte,
3,348  Gan tho for ioie wasten and to-melte,
3,349  And al the richesse of hise sikes sore
3,350  At ones fledde, he felte of hem namore.

3,351  But right so as thise holtes and thise hayis,
3,352  That han in wynter dede ben and dreye,
3,353  Reuesten hem in grene whan that May is,
3,354  Whan euery lusty liketh best to pleye,
3,355  Right in that selue wise, soth to seye,
3,356  Wax sodeynliche his herte ful of ioie,
3,357  That gladder was ther neuere man in Troie.

3,358  And gan his look on Pandarus vp caste
3,359  fful sobrely and frendly forto se,
3,360  And seyde, "frend, in Aperil the laste --
3,361  As wel thow woost if it remembre the --
3,362  How neigh the deth for wo thow fownde me,
3,363  And how thow dedest al thi bisynesse
3,364  To knowe of me the cause of my destresse.

3,365  "Thow woost how longe ich it forbar to seye
3,366  To the that art the man that I best triste;
3,367  And peril non was it to the bywreye,
3,368  That wist I wel; but telle me, if the liste,
3,369  Sith I so loth was that thi self it wiste,
3,370  How dorst I mo tellen of this matere,
3,371  That quake now and no wight may vs here?

3,372  "But natheles, by that god I the swere,
3,373  That as hym list may al this world gouerne --
3,374  And if I lye, Achilles with his spere
3,375  Myn herte cleue, al were my lif eterne,
3,376  As I am mortal, if I late or |erne
3,377  Wolde it be-wreye, or dorst, or sholde konne,
3,378  ffor al the good that god made vnder sonne --

3,379  "That rather dey I wolde and determyne,
3,380  As thynketh me, now stokked in prisoun,
3,381  In wrecchidnesse, in filthe, and in vermyne,
3,382  Caytif to cruel kyng Agamenoun;
3,383  And this in all the temples of this town,
3,384  Up-on the goddes alle, I wol the swere
3,385  To-morwe day, if that it liketh the here.

3,386  "And that thow hast so muche i-do for me
3,387  That I ne may it neuere more disserue,
3,388  This know I wel, al myghte I now for the
3,389  A thousand tymes on a morwe sterue;
3,390  I kan namore but that I wol the serue
3,391  Right as thi sclaue, whider so thow wende,
3,392  ffor euere more vn-to my lyues ende.

3,393  "But here, with al myn herte, I the biseche,
3,394  That neuere in me thow deme swich folie
3,395  As I shal seyn: me thoughte by thi speche
3,396  That this, which thow me dost for compaignie,
3,397  I sholde wene it were a bauderye --
3,398  I am nought wood, al if I lewed be;
3,399  It is nought so, that woot I wel, parde.

3,400  "But he that gooth for gold or for ricchesse
3,401  On swich message, calle hym what the liste;
3,402  And this that thow doost, calle it gentilesse,
3,403  Compassioun, and felawship, and triste;
3,404  Departe it so, for wyde wher is wiste
3,405  How that ther is diuersite requered
3,406  Bytwixen thynges lik, as I haue lered.

3,407  "And that thow knowe I thynke nought, ne wene,
3,408  That this seruise a shame be or iape,
3,409  I haue my faire suster, Polixene,
3,410  Cassandre, Eleyne, or any of the frape;
3,411  Be she neuere so faire or wel y-shape,
3,412  Tel me which thow wilt of euerychone,
3,413  To han for thyn, and lat me thanne allone.

3,414  "But sith thow hast i-don me this seruyse,
3,415  My lif to saue, and for non hope of mede,
3,416  So, for the loue of god, this grete emprise
3,417  Perfourme it out, for now is moste nede;
3,418  ffor heigh and lough, with-owten any drede,
3,419  I wol alwey thyn hestes alle kepe;
3,420  Haue now good nyght, and lat vs bothe slepe."

3,421  Thus held hym eche of other wel apayed,
3,422  That al the world ne myghte it bet amende;
3,423  And on the morwe, whan they were arayed,
3,424  Eche to his owen nedes gan entende.
3,425  But Troilus, though as the fire he brende
3,426  ffor sharp desire of hope and of plesaunce,
3,427  He nought forgat his wise gouernaunce.

3,428  But in hym self with manhod gan restreyne
3,429  Ech racle dede and ech vnbridled cheere,
3,430  That alle tho that lyuen, soth to seyne,
3,431  Ne sholde han wist, by word or by manere,
3,432  What that he mente as touchyng this matere:
3,433  ffrom euery wight as fer as is the cloude
3,434  He was, so wel dissimulen he koude.

3,435  And al the while which that I |ow deuyse,
3,436  This was his lif: with all his fulle myght
3,437  By day he was in Martes heigh seruyse --
3,438  This is to seyn in armes as a knyght;
3,439  And for the more part, the longe nyght
3,440  He lay and thoughte how that he myghte serue
3,441  His lady best, hire thonk forto disserue.

3,442  Nil I naught swere, al-though he lay ful softe,
3,443  That in his thought he nas somwhat disesed,
3,444  Ne that he torned on his pilwes ofte,
3,445  And wold of that hym missed han ben sesed.
3,446  But in swich cas men ben nought alwey plesed,
3,447  ffor aught I woot, namore than was he;
3,448  That kan I deme of possibilitee.

3,449  But certeyn is, to purpos for to go,
3,450  That in this while, as writen is in geeste,
3,451  He say his lady som tyme and also
3,452  She with hym spak whan that she dorst or leste;
3,453  And by hire both auys as was the beste
3,454  Apoynteden full warly in this nede,
3,455  So as they durste, how they wolde procede.

3,456  But it was spoken in so short a wise,
3,457  In swich a-wait alwey and in swich feere,
3,458  Lest any wight deuynen or deuyse
3,459  Wold of hem two or to it laye an ere,
3,460  That al this world so leef to hem ne were
3,461  As that Cupide wolde hem grace sende
3,462  To maken of hire speche aright an ende.

3,463  But thilke litel that they spake or wroughte,
3,464  Hise wise goost took ay of al swych heede,
3,465  It semed hire he wiste what she thoughte
3,466  With-outen word, so that it was no nede
3,467  To bidde hym ought to doon or ought for-beede;
3,468  ffor which hir thought that loue, al come it late,
3,469  Of alle ioie hadde opned hire the |ate.

3,470  And shortly of this proces forto pace,
3,471  So wel his werk and wordes he bisette.
3,472  That he so ful stood in his lady grace,
3,473  That twenty thousand tymes, er she lette,
3,474  She thonked god that euere she with hym mette;
3,475  So koude he hym gouerne in swich seruyse,
3,476  That al the world ne myght it bet deuyse.

3,477  ffor whi she fond hym so discret in al,
3,478  So secret, and of swich obeisaunce,
3,479  That wel she felte he was to hire a wal
3,480  Of stiel and sheld from euery displesaunce;
3,481  That to ben in his goode gouernaunce,
3,482  So wis he was, she was namore afered --
3,483  I mene as fer as oughte ben requered.

3,484  And Pandarus, to quike alwey the fire,
3,485  Was euere y-like prest and diligent;
3,486  To ese his frend was set al his desire.
3,487  He shof ay on, he to and fro was sent,
3,488  He lettres bar whan Troilus was absent,
3,489  That neuere man, as in his frendes nede,
3,490  Ne bar hym bet than he with-outen drede.

3,491  But now, parauntour, som man wayten wolde
3,492  That euery word, or soonde, or look, or cheere
3,493  Of Troilus that I rehercen sholde,
3,494  In al this while vnto his lady deere:
3,495  I trowe it were a long thyng forto here,
3,496  Or of what wight that stant in swich disioynte,
3,497  Hise wordes alle, or euery look, to poynte.

3,498  ffor sothe I haue naught herd it don er this
3,499  In story non, ne no man here, I wene;
3,500  And though I wolde, I koude nought, y-wys;
3,501  ffor ther was som epistel hem bitwene,
3,502  That wolde, as seyth myn auctour, wel contene
3,503  Neigh half this book, of which hym liste nought write;
3,504  How sholde I thanne a lyne of it endite?

3,505  But to the grete effect: than sey I thus,
3,506  That stondyng in concord and in quiete
3,507  Thise ilke two, Criseyde and Troilus,
3,508  As I haue told, and in this tyme swete --
3,509  Saue only often myghte they nought mete,
3,510  Ne leiser haue hire speches to fulfelle --
3,511  That it bifel right as I shal |ow telle,

3,512  That Pandarus, that euere dide his myght
3,513  Right for the fyn that I shal speke of here,
3,514  As forto bryngen to his hows som nyght
3,515  His faire Nece and Troilus yfere,
3,516  Wher-as at leiser al this heighe matere,
3,517  Touchyng here loue, were at the fulle vp-bounde,
3,518  Hadde out of doute a tyme to it founde.

3,519  ffor he with gret deliberacioun
3,520  Hadde euery thyng that herto myght auaille
3,521  fforncast and put in execucioun,
3,522  And neither left for cost ne for trauaille;
3,523  Come if hem list, hem sholde no thyng faille;
3,524  And forto ben in ought aspied there,
3,525  That wiste he wel an impossible were.

3,526  Dredeles it clere was in the wynde
3,527  Of euery pie and euery lette-game;
3,528  Now al is wel, for al the world is blynde
3,529  In this matere, bothe fremed and tame.
3,530  This tymbur is al redy vp to frame;
3,531  Us lakketh nought but that we witen wolde
3,532  A certeyn houre in which she comen sholde.

3,533  And Troilus, that al this purueiaunce
3,534  Knew at the fulle and waited on it ay,
3,535  Hadde here vpon ek mad gret ordinaunce,
3,536  And found his cause, and therto al the aray,
3,537  If that he were missed, nyght or day,
3,538  Ther while he was aboute this seruyse,
3,539  That he was gon to don his sacrifise,

3,540  And moste at swich a temple allone wake,
3,541  Answered of Apollo forto be,
3,542  And first to sen the holy laurer quake
3,543  Er that Apollo spak out of the tree
3,544  To telle hym next whan Grekes sholde flee --
3,545  And forthy lette hym no man, god forbede,
3,546  But prey Apollo helpen in this nede.

3,547  Now is ther litel more forto doone,
3,548  But Pandare vp and, shortly forto seyne,
3,549  Right sone vp-on the chaungynge of the moone,
3,550  Whan lightles is the world a nyght or tweyne,
3,551  And that the wolken shop hym forto reyne,
3,552  He streght o morwe vn-to his Nece wente --
3,553  ^e han wel herd the fyn of his entente.

3,554  Whan he was come, he gan anon to pleye
3,555  As he was wont, and of hym self to iape;
3,556  And finaly he swor and gan hire seye,
3,557  By this and that, she sholde hym nought escape,
3,558  Ne lenger don hym after hire to cape;
3,559  But certeynly she moste, by hire leue,
3,560  Come soupen in his hous with hym at eue.

3,561  At which she lough and gan hire faste excuse,
3,562  And seyde, "it reyneth, lo, how sholde I gon?"
3,563  "Lat be," quod he, "ne stant nought thus to muse;
3,564  This moot be don, |e shal be ther anon."
3,565  So at the laste herof they fille aton,
3,566  Or elles, softe he swor hire in hire ere,
3,567  He nolde neuere comen ther she were.

3,568  Soone after this she to hym gan to rowne,
3,569  And axed hym if Troilus were there.
3,570  He swor hire nay, for he was out of towne,
3,571  And seyde, "Nece, I pose that he were,
3,572  ^ow thurste neuere han the more fere;
3,573  ffor rather than men myghte hym ther aspie,
3,574  Me were leuere a thousand fold to dye."

3,575  Nought list myn auctour fully to declare
3,576  What that she thoughte whan he seyde so,
3,577  That Troilus was out of towne y-fare,
3,578  As if he seyde ther-of soth or no;
3,579  But that, with-owten await, with hym to go
3,580  She graunted hym, sith he hire that bisoughte,
3,581  And as his Nece obeyed as hire oughte.

3,582  But natheles |et gan she hym biseche,
3,583  Al-though with hym to gon it was no fere,
3,584  ffor to ben war of goosissh poeples speche,
3,585  That dremen thynges which that neuere were,
3,586  And wel auyse hym whom he broughte there;
3,587  And seyde hym, "Em, syn I most on |ow triste,
3,588  Loke al be wel and do now as |ow liste."

3,589  He swor hire |es, by stokkes and by stones,
3,590  And by the goddes that in heuene dwelle,
3,591  Or elles were hym leuere, soule and bones,
3,592  With Pluto kyng as depe ben in helle
3,593  As Tantalus -- what sholde I more telle?
3,594  Whan al was wel, he roos and took his leue;
3,595  And she to soper com whan it was eue.

3,596  With a certein of hire owen men,
3,597  And with hire faire nece Antigone,
3,598  And other of hire wommen nyne or ten;
3,599  But who was glad now, who, as trowe |e,
3,600  But Troilus, that stood and myght it se
3,601  Thorugh-out a litel wyndow in a stewe,
3,602  Ther he bishet syn mydnyght was in mewe,

3,603  Unwist of euery wight but of Pandare?
3,604  But to the point: now whan that she was come,
3,605  With alle ioie and alle frendes fare,
3,606  Hire Em anon in armes hath hire nome,
3,607  And after to the soper, alle and some,
3,608  Whan tyme was, ful softe they hem sette --
3,609  God woot, ther was no deynte forto fette.

3,610  And after soper gonnen they to rise,
3,611  At ese wel, with hertes fresshe and glade,
3,612  And wel was hym that koude best deuyse
3,613  To liken hire or that hire laughen made:
3,614  He song; she pleyde; he tolde tale of Wade.
3,615  But at the laste, as euery thyng hath ende,
3,616  She took hire leue and nedes wolde wende.

3,617  But O fortune, executrice of wyerdes,
3,618  O influences of thise heuenes hye,
3,619  Soth is that vnder god |e ben oure hierdes,
3,620  Though to vs bestes ben the causes wrie.
3,621  This mene I now, for she gan homward hye,
3,622  But execut was al bisyde hire leue
3,623  The goddes wil, for which she moste bleue.

3,624  The bente moone with hire hornes pale,
3,625  Saturne, and loue in Cancro ioyned were,
3,626  That swych a reyn from heuen gan auale,
3,627  That euery maner womman that was there
3,628  Hadde of that smoky reyn a verray feere;
3,629  At which Pandare tho lough and seyde thenne,
3,630  "Now were it tyme a lady to gon henne!"

3,631  "But goode Nece, if I myghte euere plese
3,632  ^ow any thyng, than prey ich |ow," quod he,
3,633  "To don myn herte as now so grete an ese
3,634  As forto dwelle here al this nyght with me,
3,635  ffor whi this is |oure owen hous, parde.
3,636  ffor by my trouthe, I sey it nought a-game,
3,637  To wende as now, it were to me a shame."

3,638  Criseyde, which that koude as muche good
3,639  As half a world, took hede of his preiere;
3,640  And syn it ron and al was on a flod,
3,641  She thoughte, "as good chep may I dwellen here,
3,642  And graunte it gladly with a frendes chere,
3,643  And haue a thonk, as grucche and thanne a-bide --
3,644  ffor hom to gon, it may nought wel bitide."

3,645  "I wol," quod she, "myn vncle lief and deere,
3,646  Syn that |ow list, it skile is to be so;
3,647  I am right glad with |ow to dwellen here;
3,648  I seyde but a game I wolde go."
3,649  "I-wys, graunt mercy, Nece," quod he tho,
3,650  "Were it a game or no, soth forto telle,
3,651  Now am I glad, syn that |ow list to dwelle."

3,652  Thus al is wel; but tho bigan aright
3,653  The newe ioie and al the feste agayn;
3,654  But Pandarus, if goodly hadde he myght,
3,655  He wolde han hyed hire to bedde fayn,
3,656  And seyde, "lord, this is an huge rayn!
3,657  This were a weder for to slepen inne --
3,658  And that I rede vs soone to bygynne.

3,659  "And Nece, woot |e wher I wol |ow leye,
3,660  ffor that we shul nat liggen far a-sonder,
3,661  And for |e neither shullen, dar I seye,
3,662  Heren noyse of reynes nor of thonder?
3,663  By god, right in my litel closet |onder.
3,664  And I wol in that outer hous allone
3,665  Be wardein of |oure wommen euerichone.

3,666  "And in this myddel chambre that |e se
3,667  Shal |oure wommen slepen wel and softe;
3,668  And there I seyde shal |oure seluen be;
3,669  And if |e liggen wel to-nyght, com ofte,
3,670  And careth nought what weder is a-lofte.
3,671  The wyn anon, and whan so that |ow leste,
3,672  So go we slepe, I trowe it be the beste."

3,673  Ther nys no more, but here-after soone,
3,674  The voide dronke, and trauers drawe anon,
3,675  Gan euery wight that hadde nought to done
3,676  More in the place out of the chaumbre gon;
3,677  And euere mo so sterneliche it ron,
3,678  And blew ther-with so wondirliche loude,
3,679  That wel neigh no man heren other koude.

3,680  Tho Pandarus, hire Em, right as hym oughte,
3,681  With wommen swiche as were hire most aboute,
3,682  fful glad vnto hire beddes syde hire broughte,
3,683  And took his leue and gan ful lowe loute,
3,684  And seyde, "here at this closet dore with-oute,
3,685  Right ouere-thwart, |oure wommen liggen alle,
3,686  That whom |ow list of hem |e may hire calle."

3,687  So whan that she was in the closet leyde,
3,688  And alle hire wommen forth by ordinaunce
3,689  Abedde weren, ther as I haue seyde,
3,690  Ther was nomore to skippen nor to traunce,
3,691  But boden go to bedde, with meschaunce,
3,692  If any wight was steryng any where,
3,693  And lat hem slepen that a-bedde were.

3,694  But Pandarus that wel koude ech a deel
3,695  The olde daunce and euery point ther-inne,
3,696  Whan that he sey that alle thyng was wel,
3,697  He thought he wolde vp-on his werk bigynne,
3,698  And gan the stuwe doore al softe vnpynne,
3,699  And stille as stoon, with-outen lenger lette,
3,700  By Troilus a-down right he hym sette.

3,701  And shortly to the point right forto gon,
3,702  Of al this werk he tolde hym word and ende,
3,703  And seyde, "make the redy right anon,
3,704  ffor thow shalt in-to heuene blisse wende."
3,705  "Now blisful Venus, thow me grace sende,"
3,706  Quod Troilus, "for neuere |et no nede
3,707  Hadde ich er now, ne haluendel the drede."

3,708  Quod Pandarus, "ne drede the neuere a deel,
3,709  ffor it shal be right as thow wolt desire;
3,710  So thryue I, this nyght shal I make it weel,
3,711  Or casten al the gruwel in the fire."
3,712  "^et, blisful Venus, this nyght thow me enspire,"
3,713  Quod Troilus, "as wys as I the serue,
3,714  And euere bet and bet shal til I sterue.

3,715  "And if ich hadde, O Venus ful of myrthe,
3,716  Aspectes badde of Mars or of Saturne,
3,717  Or thow combust or let were in my birthe,
3,718  Thy fader prey al thilke harm disturne
3,719  Of grace and that I glad a|ein may turne,
3,720  ffor loue of hym thow louedest in the shawe --
3,721  I meene Adoun, that with the boor was slawe.

3,722  "O Ioue ek, for the loue of faire Europe,
3,723  The which in forme of bole awey thow fette,
3,724  Now help; O Mars, thow with thi blody cope,
3,725  ffor loue of Cipres, thow me nought ne lette;
3,726  O Phebus, thynk whan Dane hire seluen shette
3,727  Under the bark and laurer wax for drede,
3,728  ^et for hire loue, O help now at this nede.

3,729  "Mercurie, for the loue of Hierse eke,
3,730  ffor which Pallas was with Aglawros wroth,
3,731  Now helpe, and ek Diane, I the biseke,
3,732  That this viage be nought to the looth;
3,733  O fatal sustren, which er any cloth
3,734  Me shapen was, my destine me sponne,
3,735  So helpeth to this werk that is bygonne."

3,736  Quod Pandarus, "thow wrecched mouses herte,
3,737  Artow agast so that she wol the bite?
3,738  Why, don this furred cloke vp-on thy sherte,
3,739  And folwe me, for I wol haue the wite;
3,740  But bide, and lat me gon biforn a lite,"
3,741  And with that word he gan vndon a trappe,
3,742  And Troilus he brought in by the lappe.

3,743  The sterne wynd so loude gan to route,
3,744  That no wight oother noise myghte heere;
3,745  And they that layen at the dore with-oute
3,746  fful sikerly they slepten alle y-fere;
3,747  And Pandarus with a ful sobre cheere
3,748  Goth to the dore anon, with-outen lette,
3,749  Ther as they laye, and softely it shette.

3,750  And as he com a|eynward pryuely,
3,751  His Nece a-wook and axed, "who goth there?"
3,752  "My dere Nece," quod he, "it am I.
3,753  Ne wondreth nought, ne haue of it no fere."
3,754  And ner he com and seyde hire in hire ere,
3,755  "No word, for loue of god, I |ow biseche:
3,756  Lat no wight rise and heren of oure speche."

3,757  "What, which wey be |e comen, benedicite?"
3,758  Quod she, "and how thus vnwist of hem alle?"
3,759  "Here at this secre trappe dore," quod he.
3,760  Quod tho Criseyde, "lat me som wight calle."
3,761  "I, god forbede that it sholde falle,"
3,762  Quod Pandarus, "that |e swich folye wrought;
3,763  They myghte demen thyng they neuere er thought.

3,764  "It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake,
3,765  Ne |eue a wight a cause to deuyne;
3,766  ^oure wommen slepen alle, I vndertake,
3,767  So that for hem the hous men myghte myne,
3,768  And slepen wollen til the sonne shyne;
3,769  And whan my tale brought is to an ende,
3,770  Unwist, right as I com, so wol I wende.

3,771  "Now Nece myn, |e shul wel vnderstonde,"
3,772  Quod he, "so as |e wommen demen alle,
3,773  That forto holde in loue a man in honde,
3,774  And hym hire lief and deere herte calle,
3,775  And maken hym an howue aboue a calle --
3,776  I meene, as loue another in this while --
3,777  She doth hire self a shame and hym a gyle.

3,778  "Now wherby that I telle |ow al this:
3,779  ^e woot |oure self as wel as any wight
3,780  How that |oure loue al fully graunted is
3,781  To Troilus, the worthieste knyght,
3,782  Oon of this world, and therto trouthe y-plight,
3,783  That, but it were on hym alonge, |e nolde
3,784  Hym neuere falsen while |e lyuen sholde.

3,785  "Now stant it thus, that sith I fro |ow wente,
3,786  This Troilus, right platly forto seyn,
3,787  Is thorugh a goter by a pryue wente,
3,788  In-to my chaumbre come in al this reyn,
3,789  Unwist of euery manere wight, certeyn,
3,790  Saue of my self, as wisly haue I ioye,
3,791  And by that feith I shal Priam of Troie.

3,792  "And he is come in swich peyne and distresse
3,793  That, but he be al fully wood by this,
3,794  He sodeynly mot falle in-to woodnesse,
3,795  But if god helpe, and cause whi this is:
3,796  He seith hym told is of a frend of his,
3,797  How that |e sholden louen oon that hatte Horaste,
3,798  ffor sorwe of which this nyght shal ben his laste."

3,799  Criseyde, which that all this wonder herde,
3,800  Gan sodeynly aboute hire herte colde,
3,801  And with a sik she sorwfully answerde,
3,802  "Allas, I wende, who-so tales tolde,
3,803  My deere herte wolde me nought holde
3,804  So lightly fals -- allas, conceytes wronge,
3,805  What harm they don! for now lyue I to longe.

3,806  "Horaste! allas, and falsen Troilus?
3,807  I knowe hym nowt, god helpe me so," quod she,
3,808  "Allas, what wikked spirit tolde hym thus?
3,809  Now certes, Em, to-morwe and I hym se,
3,810  I shal therof as ful excusen me
3,811  As euere dide womman, if hym like."
3,812  And with that word she gan ful soore sike.

3,813  "O god," quod she, "so worldly selynesse,
3,814  Which clerkes callen fals felicitee,
3,815  I-medled is with many a bitternesse!
3,816  fful angwissous than is, god woot," quod she,
3,817  "Condicioun of veyn prosperitee;
3,818  ffor either ioies comen nought yfeere,
3,819  Or elles no wight hath hem alwey here.

3,820  "O brotel wele of mannes ioie vnstable!
3,821  With what wight so thow be or how thow pleye,
3,822  Either he woot that thow, ioie, art muable,
3,823  Or woot it nought, it mot ben oon of tweye.
3,824  Now if he woot it nought, how may he seye
3,825  That he hath verray ioie and selynesse,
3,826  That is of ignoraunce ay in derknesse?

3,827  "Now if he woot that ioie is transitorie,
3,828  As euery ioye of worldly thyng mot flee,
3,829  Than euery tyme he that hath in memorie,
3,830  The drede of lesyng maketh hym that he
3,831  May in no perfit selynesse be;
3,832  And if to lese his ioie he sette a myte,
3,833  Than semeth it that ioie is worth ful lite.

3,834  "Wherfore I wol diffyne in this matere,
3,835  That trewely, for aught I kan espie-
3,836  Ther is no verray weele in this world heere.
3,837  But O thow wikked serpent, ialousie,
3,838  Thow mysbyleued, enuyous folie,
3,839  Why hastow Troilus made to me vntriste,
3,840  That neuere |et agylt hym that I wiste?"

3,841  Quod Pandarus, "thus fallen is this cas."
3,842  "Why, Uncle myn," quod she, "who tolde hym this?
3,843  Why doth my deere herte thus, allas?"
3,844  "^e woot, |e, Nece myn," quod he, "what is.
3,845  I hope al shal be wel that is amys;
3,846  ffor |e may quenche al this if that |ow leste --
3,847  And doth right so, for I holde it the beste."

3,848  "So shal I do to-morwe, ywys," quod she,
3,849  "And god to-forn, so that it shal suffise."
3,850  "To-morwe? allas, that were a faire," quod he;
3,851  "Nay, nay, it may nat stonden in this wise.
3,852  ffor, Nece myn, thus writen clerkes wise,
3,853  That peril is with drecchyng in y-drawe --
3,854  Nay, swiche abodes ben nought worth an hawe.

3,855  "Nece, alle thyng hath tyme, I dar avowe,
3,856  ffor whan a chaumbre a-fire is, or an halle,
3,857  Wel more nede is it sodeynly rescowe
3,858  Than to dispute and axe amonges alle
3,859  How this candele in the strawe is falle.
3,860  A, benedicite, for al among that fare
3,861  The harm is don, and fare-wel feldefare!

3,862  "And Nece myn, ne take it naught a-grief:
3,863  If that |e suffre hym al nyght in this wo,
3,864  God help me so, |e hadde hym neuere lief,
3,865  That dar I seyn now ther is but we two.
3,866  But wel I woot that |e wol nat do so--
3,867  ^e ben to wys to doon so gret folie,
3,868  To putte his lif al nyght in iupertie."

3,869  "Hadde I hym neuere lief? by god, I weene
3,870  ^e hadde neuere thyng so lief," quod she.
3,871  "Now, by my thrift," quod he, "that shal be seene;
3,872  ffor syn |e make this ensaumple of me,
3,873  If ich al nyght wolde hym in sorwe se,
3,874  ffor al the tresour in the town of Troie,
3,875  I bidde god I neuere mote haue ioie.

3,876  "Now loke thanne, if |e that ben his loue
3,877  Shul putte his lif al night in iupertie
3,878  ffor thyng of nought, now, by that god aboue,
3,879  Naught oonly this delay comth of folie,
3,880  But of malice, if that I shal naught lie.
3,881  What! platly, and |e suffre hym in destresse,
3,882  ^e neyther bounte don ne gentilesse."

3,883  Quod tho Criseyde, "wol |e don o thyng,
3,884  And |e ther-with shal stynte al his disese?
3,885  Haue heere and bereth hym this blewe ryng,
3,886  ffor ther is no thyng myghte hym bettre plese,
3,887  Saue I my self, ne more his herte a-pese;
3,888  And sey my deere herte that his sorwe
3,889  Is causeles, that shal be sen to-morwe."

3,890  "A ryng?" quod he, "|e, haselwodes shaken!
3,891  ^e, Nece myn, that ryng moste han a stoon
3,892  That myghte dede men alyue maken,
3,893  And swich a ryng trowe I that |e haue non:
3,894  Discrecioun out of |oure hed is gon,
3,895  That fele I now," quod he, "and that is routhe--
3,896  O tyme i-lost, wel maistow corsen slouthe!

3,897  "Woot |e not wel that noble and heigh corage
3,898  Ne sorweth nought, ne stynteth ek, for lite?
3,899  But if a fool were in a ialous rage,
3,900  I nolde setten at his sorwe a myte,
3,901  But feffe hym with a fewe wordes white
3,902  A-nothir day, whan that I myghte hym fynde;
3,903  But this thyng stant al in another kynde.

3,904  "This is so gentil and so tendre of herte,
3,905  That with his deth he wol his sorwes wreke;
3,906  ffor trusteth wel, how sore that hym smerte,
3,907  He wol to |ow no ialous wordes speke.
3,908  And forthi, Nece, er that his herte breke,
3,909  So speke |oure self to hym of this matere --
3,910  ffor with a word |e may his herte stere.

3,911  "Now haue I told what peril he is inne,
3,912  And his comynge vnwist is to euery wight;
3,913  Ne, parde, harm may ther be non, ne synne --
3,914  I wol my self be with |ow al this nyght.
3,915  ^e knowe ek how it is |oure owen knyght,
3,916  And that bi right |e moste vp-on hym triste --
3,917  And I al prest to fecche hym whan |ow liste."

3,918  This accident so pitous was to here,
3,919  And ek so like a sooth at prime face,
3,920  And Troilus hire knyght to hir so deere,
3,921  His priue commyng and the siker place,
3,922  That though that she did hym as thanne a grace,
3,923  Considered alle thynges as they stoode,
3,924  No wonder is, syn she did al for goode.

3,925  Criseyde answerde, "as wisly god at reste
3,926  My soule brynge, as me is for hym wo;
3,927  And Em, i-wis, fayn wolde I don the beste,
3,928  If that ich hadde grace to do so.
3,929  But whether that |e dwelle or for hym go,
3,930  I am, til god me bettre mynde sende,
3,931  At dulcarnoun, right at my wittes ende."

3,932  Quod Pandarus, "|ee, Nece, wol |e here?
3,933  Dulcarnoun called is 'flemyng of wrecches.'
3,934  It semeth hard, for wrecches wol nought lere,
3,935  ffor verray slouthe or other wilfull tecches.
3,936  This seyd by hem that ben nought worth two fecches;
3,937  But |e ben wis, and that we han on honde
3,938  Nis neither hard ne skilful to withstonde."

3,939  "Than Em," quod she, "doth her-of as |ow liste;
3,940  But er he come, I wil vp first arise;
3,941  And, for the loue of god, syn al my triste
3,942  Is on |ow two, and |e ben bothe wise,
3,943  So werketh now in so discret a wise
3,944  That I honour may haue and he plesaunce;
3,945  ffor I am here al in |oure gouernaunce."

3,946  "That is wel seyd," quod he, "my Nece deere.
3,947  Ther good thrift on that wise gentil herte!
3,948  But liggeth stille and taketh hym right here --
3,949  It nedeth nought no ferther for hym sterte.
3,950  And ech of |ow ese otheres sorwes smerte,
3,951  ffor loue of god, and Venus I the herye,
3,952  ffor soone hope I we shul ben alle merye."

3,953  This Troilus ful soone on knees hym sette
3,954  fful sobrely, right be hyre beddes hede,
3,955  And in his beste wyse his lady grette;
3,956  But lord, so she wex sodeynliche rede!
3,957  Ne though men sholde smyten of hire hede,
3,958  She kouthe nought a word a-right out brynge
3,959  So sodeynly, for his sodeyn comynge.

3,960  But Pandarus, that so wel koude feele
3,961  In euery thyng, to pleye anon bigan,
3,962  And seyde, "Nece, se how this lord kan knele:
3,963  Now, for |oure trouthe, se this gentil man."
3,964  And with that word he for a quysshen ran,
3,965  And seyde, "kneleth now, while that |ow leste,
3,966  %ere god |oure hertes brynge soone at reste."

3,967  Kan I naught seyn, for she bad hym nought rise,
3,968  If sorwe it putte out of hire remembraunce,
3,969  Or elles that she took it in the wise
3,970  Of dewete, as for his obseruaunce;
3,971  But wel fynde I she dede hym this plesaunce,
3,972  That she hym kiste, al-though she siked sore,
3,973  And bad hym sitte adown with-outen more.

3,974  Quod Pandarus, "now wol |e wel bigynne;
3,975  Now doth hym sitte, goode Nece deere,
3,976  Up-on |oure beddes syde al ther with-inne,
3,977  That eche of |ow the bet may other heere."
3,978  And with that word he drow hym to the feere,
3,979  And took a light and fond his contenaunce,
3,980  As forto looke vpon an old romaunce.

3,981  Criseyde, that was Troilus lady right,
3,982  And clere stood on a grounde of sikernesse,
3,983  Al thoughte she hire seruant and hire knyght
3,984  Ne sholde of right non vntrouthe in hire gesse,
3,985  ^et natheles, considered his distresse,
3,986  And that loue is in cause of swich folie,
3,987  Thus to hym spak she of his ialousie:

3,988  "Lo, herte myn, as wolde the excellence
3,989  Of loue, a|eins the which that no man may,
3,990  Ne oughte ek goodly, make resistence,
3,991  And ek by-cause I felte wel and say
3,992 |oure grete trouthe and seruise euery day,
3,993  And that |oure herte al myn was, soth to seyne,
3,994  This drof me forto rewe vp-on |oure peyne.

3,995  "And |oure goodnesse haue I founde alwey |it,
3,996  Of which, my deere herte and al my knyght,
3,997  I thonke it |ow as fer as I haue wit,
3,998  Al kan I nought as muche as it were right;
3,999  And I emforth my connyng and my might
3,1000  Haue, and ay shal, how sore that me smerte,
3,1001  Ben to |ow trewe and hool with al myn herte;

3,1002  "And dredeles that shal be founde at preue.
3,1003  But herte myn, what al this is to seyne
3,1004  Shal wel be told, so that |e nought |ow greue,
3,1005  Though I to |ow right on |oure self compleyne;
3,1006  ffor therwith mene I fynaly the peyne,
3,1007  That halt |oure herte and myn in heuynesse,
3,1008  ffully to slen and euery wrong redresse.

3,1009  "My goode myn, noot I for why ne how
3,1010  That ialousie, allas, that wikked wyuere,
3,1011  Thus causeles is cropen in-to |ow,
3,1012  The harm of which I wolde fayn delyuere.
3,1013  Allas, that he, al hool or of hym slyuere,
3,1014  Shuld han his refut in so digne a place --
3,1015  Ther loue hym sone out of |oure herte arace!

3,1016  "But O thow Ioue, O auctour of nature,
3,1017  Is this an honour to thi deyte,
3,1018  That folk vngiltif suffren hire iniure,
3,1019  And who that giltif is al quyt goth he?
3,1020  O, were it lefull forto pleyn on the,
3,1021  That vndeserued suffrest ialousie,
3,1022  Of that I wolde vp-on the pleyne and crie.

3,1023  "Ek al my wo is this, that folk now vsen
3,1024  To seyn right thus: '|e, ialousie is loue';
3,1025  And wolde a busshel venym al excusen,
3,1026  ffor that o greyn of loue is on it shoue.
3,1027  But that woot heighe god that sit a-boue,
3,1028  If it be likkere loue or hate or grame --
3,1029  And after that it oughte bere his name.

3,1030  "But certeyn is, som manere ialousie
3,1031  Is excusable more than som, i-wys,
3,1032  As whan cause is, and som swich fantasie
3,1033  With piete so wel repressed is
3,1034  That it vnnethe doth or seyth amys,
3,1035  But goodly drynketh vp al his distresse --
3,1036  And that excuse I for the gentilesse.

3,1037  "And som so full of furie is and despit
3,1038  That it sourmounteth his repressioun;
3,1039  But, herte myn, |e be nat in that plit,
3,1040  That thonke I god, for which |oure passioun
3,1041  I wol nought calle it but illusioun,
3,1042  Of habundaunce of loue and besy cure,
3,1043  That doth |oure herte this disese endure.

3,1044  "Of which I am right sory but nought wrothe;
3,1045  But, for my deuoir and |oure hertes reste,
3,1046  Wher so |ow list, by ordal or by othe,
3,1047  By sort, or in what wise so |ow leste,
3,1048  ffor loue of god lat preue it for the beste;
3,1049  And if that I be giltif, do me deye.
3,1050  Allas, what myght I more don or seye?"

3,1051  With that a fewe brighte teris newe
3,1052  Owt of hire eighen fille, and thus she seyde:
3,1053  "Now god, thow woost, in thought ne dede vntrewe
3,1054  To Troilus was neuere |et Criseyde."
3,1055  With that here heed down in the bed she leyde,
3,1056  And with the sheete it wreigh and sighte soore,
3,1057  And held hire pees; nought o word spak she more-

3,1058  But now help god to quenchen al this sorwe:
3,1059  So hope I that he shal for he best may;
3,1060  ffor I haue seyn of a ful misty morwe
3,1061  ffolowen ful ofte a myrie someris day,
3,1062  And after wynter foloweth grene May;
3,1063  Men sen alday, and reden ek in stories,
3,1064  That after sharpe shoures ben victories.

3,1065  This Troilus, whan he hire wordes herde,
3,1066  Haue |e no care, hym liste nought to slepe;
3,1067  ffor it thought hym no strokes of a |erde
3,1068  To heere or seen Criseyde, his lady, wepe;
3,1069  But wel he felt aboute his herte crepe
3,1070  ffor eueri tere which that Criseyde asterte,
3,1071  The crampe of deth, to streyne hym by the herte.

3,1072  And in his mynde he gan the tyme acorse
3,1073  That he com there, and that he was born;
3,1074  ffor now is wikke torned in-to worse,
3,1075  And al that labour he hath don by-forn,
3,1076  He wende it lost, he thought he nas but lorn.
3,1077  "O Pandarus," thoughte he, "allas, thi wile
3,1078  Serueth of nought, so weylaway the while."

3,1079  And therwith-al he heng adown the hede,
3,1080  And fil on knees, and sorwfully he sighte;
3,1081  What myghte he seyn? he felte he nas but dede,
3,1082  ffor wroth was she that sholde hise sorwes lighte.
3,1083  But natheles, whan that he speken myghte,
3,1084  Than seyde he thus, "god woot that of this game,
3,1085  Whan al is wist, than am I nought to blame."

3,1086  Ther-with the sorwe so his herte shette
3,1087  That from his eyen fil ther nought a tere,
3,1088  And euery spirit his vigour in knette,
3,1089  So they astoned or oppressed were;
3,1090  The felyng of his sorwe or of his fere,
3,1091  Or of aught elles, fled was out of towne,
3,1092  And down he fel al sodeynly a-swowne.

3,1093  This was no litel sorwe forto se;
3,1094  But al was hust, and Pandare vp as faste,
3,1095  "O Nece, pes, or we be lost," quod he,
3,1096  "Beth naught agast"; but certeyn, at the laste,
3,1097  ffor this or that, he in-to bed hym caste,
3,1098  And seyde, "O thef, is this a mannes herte?"
3,1099  And of he rente al to his bare sherte,

3,1100  And seyde, "Nece, but |e helpe vs now,
3,1101  Allas, |oure owen Troilus is lorn."
3,1102  "I-wis, so wolde I, and I wiste how,
3,1103  fful fayn," quod she, "allas, that I was born."
3,1104  "^ee, Nece, wol |e pullen out the thorn
3,1105  That stiketh in his herte?" quod Pandare,
3,1106  "Sey 'al for|eue,' and stynt is al this fare."

3,1107  "^e, that to me," quod she, "ful leuere were
3,1108  Than al the good the sonne a-boute gooth."
3,1109  And therwith-al she swor hym in his ere,
3,1110  "I-wys, my deere herte, I am nought wroth,
3,1111  Haue here my trouthe," and many an other oth;
3,1112  "Now speke to me, for it am I, Criseyde" --
3,1113  But al for nought; |it myght he nought a-breyde.

3,1114  Therwith his pous and paumes of his hondes
3,1115  They gan to frote, and wete his temples tweyne;
3,1116  And to deliueren hym fro bittre bondes,
3,1117  She ofte hym kiste and, shortly forto seyne,
3,1118  Hym to reuoken she did al hire peyne.
3,1119  So at the laste, he gan his breth to drawe,
3,1120  And of his swough sone after that adawe,

3,1121  And gan bet mynde and reson to hym take,
3,1122  But wonder soore he was abayst, i-wis;
3,1123  And with a sik, whan he gan bet a-wake,
3,1124  He seyde, "O mercy, god, what thyng is this?"
3,1125  "Why do |e with |oure seluen thus amys?"
3,1126  Quod tho Criseyde, "is this a mannes game?
3,1127  What, Troilus, wol |e do thus for shame?"

3,1128  And therwith-al hire arme ouere hym she leyde,
3,1129  And al for|af and ofte tyme hym keste.
3,1130  He thonked hire and to hire spak and seyde
3,1131  As fil to purpos for his hertes reste;
3,1132  And she to that answerde hym as hire leste,
3,1133  And with hire goodly wordes hym disporte
3,1134  She gan, and ofte his sorwes to comforte.

3,1135  Quod Pandarus, "for aught I kan aspien,
3,1136  This light nor I ne seruen here of nought;
3,1137  Light is nought good for sike folkes yen;
3,1138  But for the loue of god, syn |e ben brought
3,1139  In thus good plit, lat now no heuy thought
3,1140  Ben hangyng in the hertes of |ow tweye" --
3,1141  And bar the candel to the chymeneye.

3,1142  Soone after this, though it no nede were,
3,1143  Whan she swiche othes as hire leste deuyse
3,1144  Hadde of hym take, hire thoughte tho no fere,
3,1145  Ne cause ek non, to bidde hym thennes rise.
3,1146  ^et lasse thyng than othes may suffise
3,1147  In many a cas; for euery wyght, I gesse,
3,1148  That loueth wel meneth but gentilesse.

3,1149  But in effect she wolde wite anon
3,1150  Of what man, and ek wheer, and also why,
3,1151  He ialous was, syn ther was cause non,
3,1152  And ek the sygne that he took it by,
3,1153  She badde hym that to telle hire bisily;
3,1154  Or elles, certeyn, she bar hym on honde,
3,1155  That this was don of malice, hire to fonde.

3,1156  Withouten more, shortly forto seyne,
3,1157  He most obeye unto his lady heste;
3,1158  And for the lasse harm he moste feyne.
3,1159  He seyde hire, whan she was at swiche a feste,
3,1160  She myght on hym han loked at the leste --
3,1161  Noot I nought what, al deere ynough a rysshe,
3,1162  As he that nedes most a cause fisshe.

3,1163  And she answerde, "swete, al were it so,
3,1164  What harm was that, syn I non yvel mene?
3,1165  ffor, by that god that bought vs bothe two,
3,1166  In alle thyng is myn entente cleene.
3,1167  Swiche argumentes ne ben naught worth a beene.
3,1168  Wol |e the childissh ialous contrefete?
3,1169  Now were it worthi that |e were y-bete."

3,1170  Tho Troilus gan sorwfully to sike;
3,1171  Lest she be wroth hym thoughte his herte deyde,
3,1172  And seyde, "allas, vp-on my sorwes sike
3,1173  Haue mercy, swete herte myn, Criseyde.
3,1174  And if that in tho wordes that I seyde
3,1175  Be any wrong, I wol nomore trespace.
3,1176  Doth what |ow list, I am al in |oure grace."

3,1177  And she answerde, "of gilt misericorde --
3,1178  That is to seyn, that I for|eue al this;
3,1179  And euere more on this nyght |ow recorde,
3,1180  And beth wel war |e do namore amys."
3,1181  "Nay, dere herte myn," quod he, "i-wys."
3,1182  "And now," quod she, "that I haue don |ow smerte,
3,1183  ffor-|eue it me, myn owene swete herte."

3,1184  This Troilus, with blisse of that supprised,
3,1185  Putte al in goddes hand, as he that mente
3,1186  No thing but wel, and sodeynly auysed,
3,1187  He hire in armes faste to hym hente.
3,1188  And Pandarus with a ful good entente
3,1189  Leyde hym to slepe and seyde, "if |e be wise,
3,1190  Swouneth nought now, lest more folk arise."

3,1191  What myghte or may the sely larke seye,
3,1192  Whan that the sperhauk hath it in his foot?
3,1193  I kan namore, but of thise ilke tweye --
3,1194  To whom this tale sucre be or soot --
3,1195  Though that I tarie a |er, som tyme I moot,
3,1196  After myn auctour, tellen hire gladnesse,
3,1197  As wel as I haue told hire heuynesse.

3,1198  Criseyde, which that felte hire thus i-take --
3,1199  As writen clerkes in hire bokes olde --
3,1200  Right as an aspes leef she gan to quake,
3,1201  Whan she hym felte hire in his armes folde.
3,1202  But Troilus, all hool of cares colde,
3,1203  Gan thanken tho the blisful goddes seuene:
3,1204  Thus sondry peynes bryngen folk to heuene.

3,1205  This Troilus in armes gan hire streyne,
3,1206  And seyde,"O swete, as euere mot I gon,
3,1207  Now be |e kaught, now is ther but we tweyne,
3,1208  Now |eldeth |ow, for other bote is non."
3,1209  To that Criseyde answerde thus anon,
3,1210  "Ne hadde I er now, my swete herte deere,
3,1211  Ben |olde, i-wis, I were now nought heere."

3,1212  O sooth is seyd, that heled forto be,
3,1213  As of a fevre or other gret siknesse,
3,1214  Men moste drynke, as men may ofte se,
3,1215  fful bittre drynke; and forto han gladnesse,
3,1216  Men drynken ofte peyne and gret distresse --
3,1217  I mene it here as for this auenture,
3,1218  That thorugh a peyne hath founden al his cure.

3,1219  And now swetnesse semeth more swete,
3,1220  That bitternesse assaied was byforn;
3,1221  ffor out of wo in blisse now they flete,
3,1222  Non swich they felten syn they were born.
3,1223  Now is this bet than bothe two be lorn:
3,1224  ffor loue of god, take euery woman heede
3,1225  To werken thus, if it comth to the neede.

3,1226  Criseyde, al quyt from euery drede and tene,
3,1227  As she that iuste cause hadde hym to triste,
3,1228  Made hym swich feste it ioye was to seene,
3,1229  Whan she his trouthe and clene entente wiste;
3,1230  And as aboute a tree with many a twiste
3,1231  Bytrent and writhe the swote wodebynde,
3,1232  Gan ech of hem in armes other wynde.

3,1233  And as the newe abaysed nyghtyngale,
3,1234  That stynteth first whan she bygynneth to synge,
3,1235  Whan that she hereth any herde tale,
3,1236  Or in the hegges any wyght stirynge,
3,1237  And after siker doth hire vois out rynge,
3,1238  Right so Criseyde, whan hire drede stente,
3,1239  Opned hire herte and tolde hym hire entente.

3,1240  And right as he that seth his deth y-shapen,
3,1241  And dyen mot in ought that he may gesse,
3,1242  And sodeynly rescous doth hym escapen,
3,1243  And from his deth is brought in sykernesse,
3,1244  ffor al this world, in swych present gladnesse,
3,1245  Was Troilus, and hath his lady swete:
3,1246  With worse hap god lat vs neuere mete.

3,1247  Hire armes smale, hire streghte bak and softe,
3,1248  Hire sydes longe, flesshly, smothe, and white
3,1249  He gan to stroke, and good thrift bad ful ofte
3,1250  Hire snowissh throte, hire brestes rounde and lite;
3,1251  Thus in this heuene he gan hym to delite,
3,1252  And ther-with-al a thousand tyme hire kiste,
3,1253  That what to don for ioie vnnethe he wiste.

3,1254  Than seyde he thus, "O Loue, O Charite,
3,1255  Thi moder ek, Citheria the swete,
3,1256  After thi self next heried be she --
3,1257  Venus mene I, the wel-willy planete;
3,1258  And next that, Imeneus, I the grete:
3,1259  ffor neuere man was to |ow goddes holde
3,1260  As I, which |e han brought fro cares colde.

3,1261  "Benigne loue, thow holy bond of thynges,
3,1262  Who-so wol grace and list the nought honouren,
3,1263  Lo, his desire wol fle with-outen wynges;
3,1264  ffor noldestow of bownte hem socouren
3,1265  That seruen best, and most alwey labouren,
3,1266  ^et were al lost, that dar I wel seyn certes,
3,1267  But if thi grace passed oure desertes.

3,1268  "And for thow me, that koude leest disserue
3,1269  Of hem that noumbred ben vn-to thi grace,
3,1270  Hast holpen, ther I likly was to sterue,
3,1271  And me bistowed in so heigh a place
3,1272  That thilke boundes may no blisse pace,
3,1273  I kan namore, but laude and reuerence
3,1274  Be to thy bounte and thyn excellence."

3,1275  And therwith-al Criseyde anon he kiste,
3,1276  Of which certein she felte no disese;
3,1277  And thus seyde he, "now wolde god I wiste,
3,1278  Myn herte swete, how I |ow myghte plese.
3,1279  What man," quod he, "was euere thus at ese
3,1280  As I, on which the faireste and the beste
3,1281  That euere I say deyneth hire herte reste?

3,1282  "Here may men seen that mercy passeth right;
3,1283  Thexperience of this is felt in me,
3,1284  That am vnworthi to so swete a wight.
3,1285  But, herte myn, of |oure benignite,
3,1286  So thynketh, though that I vnworthi be,
3,1287  ^et mot I nede amenden in som wyse,
3,1288  Right thorugh the vertue of |oure heigh seruyse.

3,1289  "And for the loue of god, my lady deere,
3,1290  Syn god hath wrought me for I shall |ow serue --
3,1291  As thus I mene, he wol |e be my steere,
3,1292  To do me lyue, if that |ow liste, or sterue --
3,1293  So techeth me how that I may disserue
3,1294  ^oure thonk, so that I thorugh myn ignoraunce
3,1295  Ne do no thyng that |ow be displesaunce.

3,1296  "ffor certes, fresshe wommanliche wif,
3,1297  This dar I seye, that trouth and diligence,
3,1298  That shal |e fynden in me al my lif;
3,1299  Ny wol nat, certein, breken |oure defence;
3,1300  And if I do, present or in absence,
3,1301  ffor loue of god, lat sle me with the dede,
3,1302  If that it like vnto |oure wommanhede."

3,1303  "I-wys," quod she, "myn owen hertes list,
3,1304  My ground of ese, and al myn herte deere,
3,1305  Gramercy, for on that is al my trist;
3,1306  But lat vs falle awey fro this matere,
3,1307  ffor it suffiseth this that seyd is heere,
3,1308  And at o word, with-outen repentaunce,
3,1309  Welcome my knyght, my pees, my suffisaunce."

3,1310  Of hire delit or ioies oon the leeste
3,1311  Were impossible to my wit to seye;
3,1312  But iuggeth |e that han ben at the feste
3,1313  Of swich gladnesse, if that hem liste pleye.
3,1314  I kan namore, but thus thise ilke tweye
3,1315  That nyght bitwixen drede and sikernesse
3,1316  ffelten in loue the grete worthynesse.

3,1317  O blisful nyght of hem so longe i-soughte,
3,1318  How blithe vnto hem bothe two thow weere!
3,1319  Why nad I swich oon with my soule y-boughte,
3,1320  ^e, or the leeste ioie that was theere?
3,1321  Awey, thow foule daunger and thow feere,
3,1322  And lat hem in this heuene blisse dwelle,
3,1323  That is so heigh that al ne kan I telle.

3,1324  But sooth is, though I kan nat tellen all,
3,1325  As kan myn auctour of his excellence,
3,1326  ^et haue I seyd, and god to-forn, and shal
3,1327  In euery thyng al holly his sentence;
3,1328  And if that ich, at loues reuerence,
3,1329  Haue eny word in-eched for the beste,
3,1330  Doth therwith-al right as |oure seluen leste.

3,1331  ffor myne wordes, heere and euery parte,
3,1332  I speke hem alle vnder correccioun
3,1333  Of |ow that felyng han in loues arte,
3,1334  And putte it al in |oure discrecioun
3,1335  To encresse or maken dymynucioun
3,1336  Of my langage, and that I |ow biseche --
3,1337  But now to purpos of my rather speche.

3,1338  Thise ilke two, that ben in armes lafte,
3,1339  So loth to hem a-sonder gon it were,
3,1340  That ech from other wenden ben birafte,
3,1341  Or elles, lo, this was hir mooste feere:
3,1342  That al this thyng but nyce dremes were;
3,1343  ffor which ful ofte ech of hem seyde, "O swete,
3,1344  Clippe ich |ow thus or elles I it meete?"

3,1345  And lord, so he gan goodly on hire se,
3,1346  That neuere his look ne bleynte from hire face,
3,1347  And seyde, "O deere herte, may it be
3,1348  That it be soth, that |e ben in this place?"
3,1349  "^ee, herte myn, god thank I of his grace,"
3,1350  Quod tho Criseyde, and ther-with-al hym kiste,
3,1351  That where his spirit was for ioie he nyste.

3,1352  This Troilus ful ofte hire eyen two
3,1353  Gan forto kisse and seyde, "O eyen clere,
3,1354  It weren |e that wroughte me swich wo,
3,1355  ^e humble nettes of my lady deere.
3,1356  Though ther be mercy writen in |oure cheere,
3,1357  God woot the text ful hard is, soth, to fynde;
3,1358  How koude |e with-outen bond me bynde?"

3,1359  Therwith he gan hire faste in armes take,
3,1360  And wel a thousand tymes gan he syke,
3,1361  Naught swiche sorwfull sikes as men make
3,1362  ffor wo, or elles when that folk ben sike,
3,1363  But esy sykes, swiche as ben to like,
3,1364  That shewed his affeccioun with-inne;
3,1365  Of swiche sikes koude he nought blynne.

3,1366  Soone after this they spake of sondry thynges,
3,1367  As fel to purpos of this auenture,
3,1368  And pleyinge entrechaungeden hire rynges,
3,1369  Of whiche I kan nought tellen no scripture;
3,1370  But wel I woot a broche, gold and asure,
3,1371  In which a rubye set was lik an herte
3,1372  Criseyde hym |af, and stak it on his sherte.

3,1373  Lord, trowe |e a coueytous or a wrecche,
3,1374  That blameth loue and halt of it despite,
3,1375  That of tho pens that he kan mokre and cretche,
3,1376  Was euere |it y-|euen hym swich delite,
3,1377  As is in loue, in o poynt, in som plite?
3,1378  Nay, douteles, for also god me saue,
3,1379  So perfit ioie may no nygard haue.

3,1380  They wol seyn "|is," but lord, so that they lye,
3,1381  Tho besy wrecches, ful of wo and drede!
3,1382  Thei callen loue a woodnesse or folie;
3,1383  But it shall falle hem as I shal |ow rede:
3,1384  They shal forgon the white and ek the rede,
3,1385  And lyue in wo, ther god |eue hem meschaunce,
3,1386  And euery louere in his trouthe auaunce.

3,1387  As wolde god tho wrecches that dispise
3,1388  Seruise of loue hadde erys also longe
3,1389  As hadde Mida, ful of coueytise,
3,1390  And therto dronken hadde as hoot and stronge
3,1391  As Crassus didde for his affectis wronge,
3,1392  To techen hem that they ben in the vice,
3,1393  And loueres nought, al-though they holde hem nyce.

3,1394  Thise ilke two of whom that I |ow seye,
3,1395  Whan that hire hertes wel assured were,
3,1396  Tho gonne they to speken and to pleye,
3,1397  And ek rehercen how and whan and where
3,1398  Thei knewe hem first, and euery wo or feere
3,1399  That passed was; but al swich heuynesse,
3,1400  I thank it god, was torned to gladnesse.

3,1401  And euere mo when that hem fel to speke
3,1402  Of any wo of swich a tyme agoon,
3,1403  With kissyng al that tale sholde breke
3,1404  And fallen in a newe ioye anoon,
3,1405  And diden al hire myght, syn they were oon,
3,1406  ffor to recoueren blisse and ben at eise,
3,1407  And passed wo with ioie contrepeise.

3,1408  Resoun wol nought that I speke of slepe.
3,1409  ffor it acordeth nought to my matere --
3,1410  God woot they took of that ful litel kepe;
3,1411  But lest this nyght, that was to hem so deere,
3,1412  Ne sholde in veyn escape in no manere,
3,1413  It was byset in ioie and bisynesse
3,1414  Of al that souneth in-to gentilesse.

3,1415  But whan the cok, comune astrologer,
3,1416  Gan on his brest to bete and after crowe,
3,1417  And Lucyfer, the dayes messanger,
3,1418  Gan for to rise and out hire bemes throwe,
3,1419  And estward roos, to hym that koude it knowe,
3,1420  ffortuna Maior, that anoon Criseyde,
3,1421  With herte soor to Troilus thus seide,

3,1422  "Myn hertes lif, my trist and my plesaunce,
3,1423  That I was born, allas, what me is wo,
3,1424  That day of vs moot make disseueraunce;
3,1425  ffor tyme it is to ryse and hennes go,
3,1426  Or ellis I am lost for euere mo.
3,1427  O nyght, allas, why nyltow ouere vs houe,
3,1428  As longe as whan Almena lay by Ioue?

3,1429  "O blake nyght, as folk in bokes rede,
3,1430  That shapen art by god this world to hide
3,1431  At certeyn tymes wyth thi derke wede,
3,1432  That vnder that men myghte in reste abide,
3,1433  Wel oughten bestes pleyne and folk the chide,
3,1434  That there as day wyth labour wolde vs breste,
3,1435  That thow thus fleest and deynest vs nought reste.

3,1436  "Thow doost, allas, to shortly thyn office,
3,1437  Thow rakle nyght, ther god, maker of kynde,
3,1438  The for thyn haste and thyn vnkynde vice
3,1439  So faste ay to oure hemysperie bynde,
3,1440  That neuere more vnder the ground thow wynde:
3,1441  ffor now, for thow so hiest out of Troie,
3,1442  Haue I forgon thus hastili my ioie."

3,1443  This Troilus, that with tho wordes felte,
3,1444  As thoughte hym tho, for pietous distresse
3,1445  The blody teris from his herte melte,
3,1446  As he that neuere |et swich heuynesse
3,1447  Assayed hadde, out of so gret gladnesse,
3,1448  Gan ther-with-al Criseyde, his lady deere,
3,1449  In armes streyne and seyde in this manere:

3,1450  "O cruel day, accusour of the ioie
3,1451  That nyght and loue han stole and faste i-wryen,
3,1452  Acorsed be thi comyng in-to Troye,
3,1453  ffor euery bore hath oon of thi bryghte yen.
3,1454  Enuyous day, what list the so to spien?
3,1455  What hastow lost, why sekestow this place,
3,1456  Ther god thi light so quenche for his grace?

3,1457  "Allas, what haue thise loueris the agylte,
3,1458  Dispitous day? thyn be the peyne of helle!
3,1459  ffor many a louere hastow slayn and wilte:
3,1460  Thy pourynge in wol nowher lat hem dwelle.
3,1461  What profrestow thi light here forto selle?
3,1462  Go selle it hem that smale selys graue --
3,1463  We wol the nought, vs nedeth no day haue."

3,1464  And ek the sonne, Titan, gan he chide,
3,1465  And seyde, "O fool, wel may men the dispise,
3,1466  That hast the dawyng al nyght by thi syde,
3,1467  And suffrest hire so soone vp fro the rise,
3,1468  fforto disesen loueris in this wyse.
3,1469  What, holde |oure bed ther, thow, and ek thi Morwe,
3,1470  I bidde god, so |eue |ow bothe sorwe."

3,1471  Ther-with ful soore he syghte and thus he seyde,
3,1472  "My lady right, and of my wele or wo
3,1473  The welle and roote, O goodly myn, Criseyde,
3,1474  And shal I rise, allas, and shal I so?
3,1475  Now fele l that myn herte moot a-two,
3,1476  ffor how sholde I my lif an houre saue,
3,1477  Syn that with |ow is al the lif ich haue?

3,1478  "What shal I don? for certes I not how,
3,1479  Ne whan, allas, I shal the tyme see,
3,1480  That in this plit I may ben eft with |ow;
3,1481  And of my lif, god woot how that shal be,
3,1482  Syn that desire right now so biteth me,
3,1483  That I am ded anon, but I retourne.
3,1484  How sholde I longe, allas, fro |ow soiourne?

3,1485  "But natheles, myn owen lady bright,
3,1486  ^it were it so that I wiste outrely,
3,1487  That I, |oure humble seruant and |oure knyght,
3,1488  Were in |oure herte i-set so fermely
3,1489  As |e in myn -- the which thyng, trewely,
3,1490  Me leuere were than thise worldes tweyne --
3,1491  ^et sholde I bet enduren al my peyne."

3,1492  To that Criseyde answerde right anon,
3,1493  And with a sik she seyde, "O herte deere,
3,1494  The game, y-wys, so ferforth now is gon,
3,1495  That first shal Phebus fallen fro his speere,
3,1496  And euerich egle ben the dowues feere,
3,1497  And euerich roche out of his place sterte,
3,1498  Er Troilus out of Criseydes herte.

3,1499  "^e ben so depe in-with myn herte graue,
3,1500  That, though I wolde it torne out of my thought,
3,1501  As wisly verray god my soule saue,
3,1502  To dyen in the peyne, I koude nought;
3,1503  And for the loue of god that vs hath wrought,
3,1504  Lat in |oure brayn non other fantasie
3,1505  So crepe that it cause me to dye.

3,1506  "And that |e me wolde han as faste in mynde
3,1507  As I haue |ow, that wolde I |ow biseche;
3,1508  And if I wiste sothly that to fynde,
3,1509  God myghte nought a poynt my ioies eche.
3,1510  But herte myn, with-outen more speche,
3,1511  Beth to me trewe, or ellis were it routhe,
3,1512  ffor I am thyn, by god and by my trouthe.

3,1513  "Beth glad forthy, and lyue in sikernesse;
3,1514  Thus seyde I neuere er this, ne shal to mo;
3,1515  And if to |ow it were a gret gladnesse
3,1516  To torne a|geyn soone after that |e go,
3,1517  As fayn wolde I as |e that it were so,
3,1518  As wisly god myn herte brynge at reste" --
3,1519  And hym in armes tok and ofte keste.

3,1520  Agayns his wil, sith it mot nedes be,
3,1521  This Troilus vp ros and faste hym cledde,
3,1522  And in his armes took his lady free
3,1523  An hondred tyme and on his wey hym spedde,
3,1524  And with swich voys as though his herte bledde
3,1525  He seyde, "fare wel, dere herte swete,
3,1526  Ther god vs graunte sownde and soone to mete."

3,1527  To which no word for sorwe she answerde,
3,1528  So soore gan his partyng hire distreyne;
3,1529  And Troilus vn-to his paleys ferde,
3,1530  As wo-bygon as she was, soth to seyne;
3,1531  So harde hym wrong of sharp desire the peyne
3,1532  fforto ben eft there he was in plesaunce,
3,1533  Thut it may neuere out of his remembraunce.

3,1534  Retorned to his real paleys soone,
3,1535  He softe in-to his bed gan forto slynke,
3,1536  To slepe longe, as he was wont to doone;
3,1537  But al for nought -- he may wel ligge and wynke,
3,1538  But slep ne may ther in his herte synke,
3,1539  Thynkyng how she, for whom desire hym brende,
3,1540  A thousand fold was worth more than he wende.

3,1541  And in his thought gan vp and down to wynde
3,1542  Hire wordes alle, and euery countenaunce,
3,1543  And fermely impressen in his mynde
3,1544  The leeste point that to him was plesaunce;
3,1545  And verraylich of thilke remembraunce
3,1546  Desire al newe hym brende, and lust to brede
3,1547  Gan more than erst, and |et took he non hede.

3,1548  Criseyde also, right in the same wyse,
3,1549  Of Troilus gan in hire herte shette
3,1550  His worthynesse, his lust, hise dedes wise,
3,1551  His gentilesse, and how she with hym mette,
3,1552  Thonkyng loue he so wel hire bisette,
3,1553  Desiryng eft to han hire herte deere
3,1554  In swich a plit she dorste make hym cheere.

3,1555  Pandare, o-morwe which that comen was
3,1556  Unto his Nece and gan hire faire grete,
3,1557  Seyde, "al this nyght so reyned it, allas,
3,1558  That al my drede is that |e, Nece swete,
3,1559  Han litel laiser had to slepe and mete;
3,1560  Al nyght," quod he, "hath reyn so do me wake,
3,1561  That som of vs, I trowe, hire hedes ake."

3,1562  And ner he com and seyde, "how stant it now
3,1563  This mury morwe, Nece, how kan |e fare?"
3,1564  Criseyde answerde, "neuere the bet for |ow,
3,1565  ffox that |e ben, god |eue |oure herte kare!
3,1566  God help me so, |e caused al this fare,
3,1567  Trowe I," quod she; "for al |oure wordes white,
3,1568  O, who-so seeth |ow, knoweth |ow ful lite."

3,1569  With that she gan hire face forto wrye
3,1570  With the shete, and wax for shame al reede;
3,1571  And Pandarus gan vnder forto prie,
3,1572  And seyde, "Nece, if that I shal be dede,
3,1573  Haue here a swerd and smyteth of myn hede."
3,1574  With that his arm al sodeynly he thriste
3,1575  Under hire nekke and at the laste hire kyste.

3,1576  [I passe al that which chargeth nought to seye --
3,1577  What! god for-yaf his deth, and she al-so
3,1578  ffor-yaf, and with here vncle gan to pleye,
3,1579  ffor other cause was ther noon than so.
3,1580  But of this thing right to the effect to go,
3,1581  Whan tyme was, hom to here hous she wente,
3,1582  And Pandarus hath fully his entente.]

3,1583  Now torne we a|eyn to Troilus,
3,1584  That resteles ful longe a-bedde lay,
3,1585  And pryuely sente after Pandarus
3,1586  To hym to com in al the haste he may;
3,1587  He com anon, nought ones seyde he nay,
3,1588  And Troilus ful sobrely he grette,
3,1589  And down vp-on his beddes syde hym sette.

3,1590  This Troilus, with al thaffeccioun
3,1591  Of frendes loue that herte may deuyse,
3,1592  To Pandarus on knowes fil a-down,
3,1593  And er that he wolde of the place arise,
3,1594  He gan hym thonken in his beste wise
3,1595  An hondred sythe, and gan the tyme blesse
3,1596  That he was born to brynge hym fro destresse.

3,1597  He seyde, "O frend of frendes the alderbeste
3,1598  That euere was, the sothe for to telle,
3,1599  Thow hast in heuene y-brought my soule at reste
3,1600  ffro Flegitoun, the fery flood of helle;
3,1601  That, though I myght a thousand tymes selle
3,1602  Up-on a day my lif in thi seruise,
3,1603  It myghte naught a moote in that suffise.

3,1604  "The sonne, which that al the world may se,
3,1605  Saugh neuere |et my lif, that dar I leye,
3,1606  So inly faire and goodly as is she,
3,1607  Whos I am al, and shal, tyl that I deye.
3,1608  And that I thus am hires, dar I seye,
3,1609  That thanked be the heighe worthynesse
3,1610  Of loue, and ek thi kynde bysynesse.

3,1611  "Thus hastow ne no litel thing y-|iue,
3,1612  ffor which to the obliged be for ay
3,1613  My lif, and whi? for thorugh thyn helpe I lyue,
3,1614  Or elles ded hadde I ben many a day."
3,1615  And with that word down in his bed he lay,
3,1616  And Pandarus ful sobrely hym herde,
3,1617  Tyl al was seyd, and than he thus answerde:

3,1618  "My deere frend, if I haue don for the
3,1619  In any cas, god wot, it is me lief;
3,1620  And am as glad as man may of it be,
3,1621  God help me so; but take it nat a-grief
3,1622  That I shal seyn: be war of this meschief,
3,1623  That, there as thow now brought art in thy blisse,
3,1624  That thow thi self ne cause it nat to misse.

3,1625  "ffor of fortunes sharpe aduersitee
3,1626  The worste kynde of infortune is this,
3,1627  A man to han ben in prosperitee,
3,1628  And it remembren whan it passed is.
3,1629  Thart wis ynough, forthi do nat amys;
3,1630  Be naught to rakel, theigh thow sitte warme,
3,1631  ffor if thow be, certeyn, it wol the harme.

3,1632  "Thow art at ese and holde the wel ther-inne,
3,1633  ffor also seur as reed is euery fire,
3,1634  As gret a craft is kepe wel as wynne.
3,1635  Bridle alwey wel thi speche and thi desire;
3,1636  ffor worldly ioie halt nought but by a wire.
3,1637  That preueth wel, it brest al day so ofte;
3,1638  ffor-thi nede is to werken with it softe.

3,1639  Quod Troilus, "I hope, and god toforn,
3,1640  My deere frend, that I shal so me beere
3,1641  That in my gilt ther shal no thyng be lorn,
3,1642  Ny nyl nought rakle as forto greuen heere.
3,1643  It nedeth naught this matere ofte steere;
3,1644  ffor wystestow myn herte wel, Pandare,
3,1645  God woot of this thow woldest litel care."

3,1646  Tho gan he telle hym of his glade nyght,
3,1647  And wher-of first his herte dred, and how,
3,1648  And seyde, "frend, as I am trewe knyght,
3,1649  And by that feyth I shal to god and |ow,
3,1650  I hadde it neuere half so hote as now;
3,1651  And ay the more that desire me biteth
3,1652  To loue hire best the more it me deliteth.

3,1653  "I not my self naught wisly what it is,
3,1654  But now I feele a newe qualitee,
3,1655  ^ee, al a-nother than I didde er this."
3,1656  Pandare answerd and seyde thus, that "he
3,1657  That ones may in heuene blisse be,
3,1658  He feleth other weyes, dar I leye,
3,1659  Than thilke tyme he first herde of it seye."

3,1660  This is a word for al: this Troilus
3,1661  Was neuere ful to speke of this matere,
3,1662  And forto preisen vnto Pandarus
3,1663  The bounte of his righte lady deere,
3,1664  And Pandarus to thanke and maken cheere;
3,1665  This tale was ay span newe to bygynne,
3,1666  Til that the nyght departed hem atwynne.

3,1667  Soon after this, for that fortune it wolde,
3,1668  I-comen was the blisful tyme swete,
3,1669  That Troilus was warned that he sholde,
3,1670  There he was erst, Criseyde his lady mete;
3,1671  ffor which he felte his herte in ioie flete,
3,1672  And feithfully gan alle the goddes herie --
3,1673  And lat se now if that he kan be merie.

3,1674  And holden was the forme and al the wise
3,1675  Of hire commyng, and ek of his also,
3,1676  As it was erst, which nedeth nought deuyse.
3,1677  But pleynly to theffect right for to go,
3,1678  In ioie and suerte Pandarus hem two
3,1679  A-bedde brought whan that hem bothe leste,
3,1680  And thus they ben in quyete and in reste.

3,1681  Nought nedeth it to |ow, syn they ben mette,
3,1682  To axe at me if that they blithe were,
3,1683  ffor if it erst was wel, tho was it bette
3,1684  A thousand fold, this nedeth nought enquere.
3,1685  A-gon was euery sorwe and euery feere,
3,1686  And bothe, y-wys, they hadde, and so they wende,
3,1687  As muche ioie as herte may comprende.

3,1688  This is no litel thyng of for to seye;
3,1689  This passeth euery wit for to deuyse;
3,1690  ffor ech of hem gan otheres lust obeye.
3,1691  ffelicite, which that thise clerkes wise
3,1692  Comenden so, ne may nought here suffise;
3,1693  This ioie may nought writen be with inke;
3,1694  This passeth al that herte may bythynke.

3,1695  But cruel day, so wailaway the stounde,
3,1696  Gan for taproche, as they by sygnes knewe,
3,1697  ffor which hem thoughte feelen dethis wownde;
3,1698  So wo was hem that chaungen gan hire hewe,
3,1699  And day they gonnen to despise al newe,
3,1700  Callyng it traitour, enuyous, and worse,
3,1701  And bitterly the dayes light thei corse.

3,1702  Quod Troilus, "allas, now am I war
3,1703  That Pirous and tho swifte steedes thre,
3,1704  Which that drawen forth the sonnes char,
3,1705  Han gon som bipath in dispit of me;
3,1706  That maketh it so soone day to be;
3,1707  And for the sonne hym hasteth thus to rise,
3,1708  Ne shal I neuere don hym sacrifise."

3,1709  But nedes day depert hem moste soone,
3,1710  And whan hire speche don was and hire cheere,
3,1711  They twynne anon as they were wont to doone,
3,1712  And setten tyme of metyng eft y-feere;
3,1713  And many a nyght they wroughte in this manere.
3,1714  And thus fortune a tyme ledde in ioie
3,1715  Criseyde and ek this kynges sone of Troie.

3,1716  In suffisaunce, in blisse, and in singynges,
3,1717  This Troilus gan al his lif to lede;
3,1718  He spendeth, iousteth, maketh festeyinges;
3,1719  He |eueth frely ofte, and chaungeth wede,
3,1720  And held aboute hym alwey, out of drede,
3,1721  A world of folk, as com hym wel of kynde,
3,1722  The fresshest and the beste he koude fynde;

3,1723  That swich a vois of hym was and a steuene
3,1724  Thorugh-out the world, of honour and largesse,
3,1725  That it vp rong vnto the |ate of heuene.
3,1726  And as in loue he was in swich gladnesse,
3,1727  That in his herte he demed, as I gesse,
3,1728  That ther nys louere in this world at ese
3,1729  So wel as he, and thus gan loue hym plese.

3,1730  The goodlihede or beaute which that kynde
3,1731  In any other lady hadde ysette
3,1732  Kan nought the montance of a knotte vnbynde,
3,1733  Aboute his herte of al Criseydes nette;
3,1734  He was so narwe y-masked and y-knette,
3,1735  That it vndon on any manere syde,
3,1736  That nyl naught ben, for aught that may bitide.

3,1737  And by the hond ful ofte he wolde take
3,1738  This Pandarus, and in-to gardyn lede,
3,1739  And swich a feste and swich a proces make
3,1740  Hym of Criseyde, and of hire wommanhede,
3,1741  And of hire beaute, that, with-outen drede,
3,1742  It was an heuene his wordes forto here;
3,1743  And thanne he wolde synge in this manere:
        <1Canticus Troili>1
3,1744  "Loue that of erthe and se hath gouernaunce,
3,1745  Loue, that his hestes hath in heuenes hye,
3,1746  Loue, that with an holsom alliaunce
3,1747  Halt peples ioyned, as hym lest hem gye,
3,1748  Loue, that knetteth lawe of compaignie,
3,1749  And couples doth in vertue forto dwelle,
3,1750  Bynd this acord that I haue told and telle.

3,1751  "That that the world with feith which that is stable,
3,1752  Diuerseth so his stowndes concordyng,
3,1753  That elementz that ben so discordable
3,1754  Holden a bond perpetuely duryng,
3,1755  That Phebus mote his rosy day forth bryng,
3,1756  And that the mone hath lordshipe ouer the nyghtes --
3,1757  Al this doth loue, ay heried be his myghtes!

3,1758  "That that the se, that gredy is to flowen,
3,1759  Constreyneth to a certeyn ende so
3,1760  His flodes that so fiersly they ne grow
3,1761  To drenchen erthe and al for euere mo;
3,1762  And if that loue aught lete his bridel go,
3,1763  Al that now loueth asondre sholde lepe,
3,1764  And lost were al that loue halt now to hepe.

3,1765  "So wolde god, that auctour is of kynde,
3,1766  That with his bond loue of his vertue liste
3,1767  To cerclen hertes alle and faste bynde,
3,1768  That from his bond no wight the wey out wiste;
3,1769  And hertes colde, hem wolde I that he twiste
3,1770  To make hem loue, and that hem liste ay rewe
3,1771  On hertes sore, and kepe hem that ben trewe."

3,1772  In alle nedes, for the townes werre,
3,1773  He was, and ay, the first in armes dyght,
3,1774  And certeynly, but if that bokes erre,
3,1775  Saue Ector, most y-dred of any wight;
3,1776  And this encresse of hardynesse and myght
3,1777  Com hym of loue, his ladies thank to wynne,
3,1778  That altered his spirit so with-inne.

3,1779  In tyme of trewe, on haukyng wolde he ride,
3,1780  Or elles honte boor, beer, or lyoun --
3,1781  The smale bestes leet he gon biside;
3,1782  And whan that he com ridyng in-to town,
3,1783  fful ofte his lady from hire wyndow down,
3,1784  As fresshe as faukoun comen out of muwe,
3,1785  fful redy was hym goodly to saluwe.

3,1786  And moost of loue and vertue was his speche,
3,1787  And in despit hadde alle wrecchednesse;
3,1788  And douteles, no nede was hym biseche
3,1789  To honouren hem that hadde worthynesse,
3,1790  And esen hem that weren in destresse;
3,1791  And glad was he if any wyght wel ferde,
3,1792  That louere was, whan he it wiste or herde.

3,1793  ffor soth to seyne, he lost held euery wyght
3,1794  But if he were in loues heigh seruise --
3,1795  I mene folk that oughte it ben of right.
3,1796  And ouere al this, so wel koude he deuyse
3,1797  Of sentement, and in so vnkouths wise
3,1798  Al his array, that euery louere thoughte
3,1799  That al was wel what so he seyde or wroughte.

3,1800  And though that he be come of blood roial,
3,1801  Hym liste of pride at no wight for to chace;
3,1802  Benigne he was to ech in general,
3,1803  ffor which he gat hym thank in euery place.
3,1804  Thus wolde loue, y-heried be his grace,
3,1805  That pride, enuye, ire, and auarice
3,1806  He gan to fle, and euerich other vice.

3,1807  Thow lady bright, the doughter to Dyone,
3,1808  Thy blynde and wynged sone ek, daun Cupide,
3,1809  ^ee sustren nyne ek, that by Elicone
3,1810  In hil Pernaso listen for tabide,
3,1811  That ^e thus fer han deyned me to gyde,
3,1812  I kan namore, but syn that |e wol wende,
3,1813  ^e heried ben for ay with-outen ende.

3,1814  Thorugh |ow haue I seyd fully in my songe
3,1815  Theffect and ioie of Troilus seruise,
3,1816  Al be that ther was som disese amonge,
3,1817  As to myn auctour listeth to deuise.
3,1818  My thridde boke now ende ich in this wyse;
3,1819  And Troilus in luste and in quiete
3,1820  Is with Criseyde, his owen herte swete.
          <1Explicit liber tercius.>1
      <1Incipit prohemium quarti libri>1
4,1  But al to litel, weylaway the whyle,
4,2  Lasteth swich ioie, y-thonked be fortune,
4,3  That semeth trewest whan she wol bygyle,
4,4  And kan to fooles so hire song entune,
4,5  That she hem hent and blent, traitour comune;
4,6  And whan a wight is from hire whiel y-throwe,
4,7  Than laugheth she and maketh hym the mowe.

4,8  ffrom Troilus she gan hire brighte face
4,9  Awey to writhe and tok of hym non heede,
4,10  But caste hym clene out of his lady grace,
4,11  And on hire whiel she sette vp Diomede;
4,12  ffor which right now myn herte gynneth blede,
4,13  And now my penne, allas, with which I write,
4,14  Quaketh for drede of that I moste endite.

4,15  ffor how Criseyde Troilus for-sook --
4,16  Or at the leeste how that she was vnkynde --
4,17  Moot hennes-forth ben matere of my book,
4,18  As writen folk thorugh which it is in mynde.
4,19  Allas, that they sholde euere cause fynde
4,20  To speke hire harm, and if they on hire lye,
4,21  I-wis, hem self sholde han the vilanye.

4,22  O |e Herynes, Nyghtes doughtren thre,
4,23  That endeles compleignen euere in pyne,
4,24  Megera, Alete, and ek Thesiphone,
4,25  Thow cruel Mars ek, fader to Quyryne,
4,26  This ilke ferthe book me helpeth fyne,
4,27  So that the losse of lyf and loue y-feere
4,28  Of Troilus be fully shewed heere.
       <1Explicit prohemium quarti libri>1
       <1Incipit liber quartus>1
4,29  Liggyng in oost, as I haue seyd er this,
4,30  The Grekes stronge a-boute Troie town,
4,31  Byfel that whan that Phebus shynyng is
4,32  Upon the breste of Ercules lyoun,
4,33  That Ector, with ful many a bold baroun,
4,34  Caste on a day with Grekis forto fighte,
4,35  As he was wont to greue hem what he myghte.

4,36  Not I how longe or short it was bitwene
4,37  This purpos and that day they fighten mente;
4,38  But on a day, wel armed brighte and shene,
4,39  Ector and many a worthi wight out wente,
4,40  With spere in honde and bigge bowes bente;
4,41  And in the berd, with-outen lenger lette,
4,42  Hire fomen in the felde anon hem mette.

4,43  The longe day, with speres sharpe i-grounde,
4,44  With arwes, dartes, swerdes, maces felle,
4,45  They  fighte and bringen hors and man to grounde,
4,46  And with hire axes out the braynes quelle;
4,47  But in the laste shour, soth for to telle,
4,48  The folk of Troie hem seluen so mysledden
4,49  That with the wors at nyght homward they fledden.

4,50  At whiche day was taken Antenore,
4,51  Maugre Polydamas or Monesteo,
4,52  Santippe, Sarpedoun, Polynestore,
4,53  Polite, or ek the Troian daun Rupheo,
4,54  And other lasse folk as Phebuseo;
4,55  So that for harm that day the folk of Troie
4,56  Dredden to lese a gret part of hire ioie.

4,57  Of Priamus was |eue at Grekes requeste
4,58  A tyme of trewe, and tho they gonnen trete
4,59  Hire prisoners to chaungen, meste and leste,
4,60  And for the surplus |euen sommes grete.
4,61  This thing anon was couth in euery strete,
4,62  Bothe in thassege, in town and euery where,
4,63  And with the firste it com to Calkas ere.

4,64  Whan Calkas knew this tretis sholde holde,
4,65  In consistorie among the Grekes soone
4,66  He gan in thringe forth with lordes olde,
4,67  And sette hym there as he was wont to doone,
4,68  And with a chaunged face hem bad a boone,
4,69  ffor loue of god, to don that reuerence,
4,70  To stynte noyse and |eue hym audience.

4,71  Than seyde he thus, "lo, lordes myn, ich was
4,72  Troian, as it is knowen out of drede;
4,73  And if that |ow remembre, I am Calkas,
4,74  That alderfirst |af comfort to |oure nede,
4,75  And tolde wel how that |e shulden spede --
4,76  ffor dredeles, thorugh |ow shal in a stownde
4,77  Ben Troie y-brend and beten down to grownde.

4,78  "And in what fourme or in what manere wise
4,79  This town to shende and al |oure lust tacheue,
4,80  ^e han er this wel herd me |ow deuyse;
4,81  This knowe |e, my lordes, as I leue.
4,82  And for the Grekis weren me so leeue,
4,83  I com my self in my propre persone,
4,84  To teche in this how |ow was best to doone,

4,85  "Hauyng vn-to my tresore ne my rente
4,86  Right no resport to respect of |oure ese;
4,87  Thus al my good I lefte and to |ow wente,
4,88  Wenyng in this, my lordes, |ow to plese.
4,89  But al that los ne doth me no disese --
4,90  I vouche-sauf as wisly haue I ioie,
4,91  ffor |ow to lese al that I haue in Troie,

4,92  "Saue of a doughter that I lefte, allas,
4,93  Slepyng at hom whan out of Troie I sterte.
4,94  O sterne, O cruel fader that I was!
4,95  How myghte I haue in that so hard an herte?
4,96  Allas, I ne hadde i-brought hire in hire sherte!
4,97  ffor sorwe of whiche I wol nought lyue to-morwe,
4,98  But if |e lordes rewe vp-on my sorwe.

4,99  "ffor by that cause I say no tyme er now
4,100  Hire to deliuere, ich holden haue my pees;
4,101  But now or neuere, if that it like |ow,
4,102  I may hire haue right soone, douteles;
4,103  O help and grace amonges al this prees --
4,104  Rewe on this olde caytif in destresse,
4,105  Syn I thorugh |ow haue al this heuynesse.

4,106  "^e haue now kaught and fetered in prisoun
4,107  Troians ynowe, and if |oure willes be,
4,108  My child with oon may han redempcioun.
4,109  Now for the loue of god and of bounte,
4,110  Oon of so fele, allas, so |eue hym me.
4,111  What nede were it this preiere forto werne,
4,112  Syn |e shul bothe han folk and town as |erne?

4,113  "On peril of my lif I shal nat lye,
4,114  Appollo hath me told it feithfullye;
4,115  I haue ek founde it be astronomye,
4,116  By sort and by augurye ek trewelye,
4,117  And dar wel say the tyme is faste by
4,118  That fire and flaumbe on al the town shal sprede,
4,119  And thus shal Troie torne to asshen dede.

4,120  "ffor certein, Phebus and Neptunus bothe,
4,121  That makeden the walles of the town,
4,122  Ben with the folk of Troie alwey so wrothe,
4,123  That they wol brynge it to confusioun,
4,124  Right in despit of kyng Lameadoun:
4,125  By-cause he nolde payen hem here hire,
4,126  The town of Troie shal ben set on fire."

4,127  Tellyng his tale alwey, this olde greye,
4,128  Humble in his speche and in his lokyng eke,
4,129  The salte teris from his eyen tweye
4,130  fful faste ronnen down by either cheke.
4,131  So longe he gan of socour hem biseke,
4,132  That forto hele hym of his sorwes soore,
4,133  They |aue hym Antenor with-outen moore.

4,134  But who was glad ynough but Calkas tho?
4,135  And of this thyng ful soone hise nedes leyde
4,136  On hem that sholden for the tretis go;
4,137  And hem for Antenor ful ofte preyde
4,138  To bryngen hom kyng Toas and Criseyde;
4,139  And whan Priam his saue garde sente,
4,140  Thembassadours to Troie streight they wente.

4,141  The cause i-tolde of hire comyng, the olde
4,142  Priam the kyng ful soone in general
4,143  Let her-vpon his perlement to holde,
4,144  Of which theffect rehercen |ow I shal:
4,145  Thembassadours ben answerd for fynal,
4,146  Theschaunge of prisoners and al this nede
4,147  Hem liketh wel, and forth in they procede.

4,148  This Troilus was present in the place,
4,149  Whan axed was for Antenor Criseyde,
4,150  ffor which ful soone chaungen gan his face,
4,151  As he that with tho wordes wel neigh deyde;
4,152  But natheles he no word to it seyde,
4,153  Lest men sholde his affeccioun espye;
4,154  With mannes herte he gan his sorwes drye,

4,155  And ful of angwissh and of grisly drede
4,156  Abod what lordes wolde vnto it seye;
4,157  And if they wolde graunte, as god forbede,
4,158  Theschaunge of hire, than thoughte he thynges tweye:
4,159  ffirst, how to saue hire honour, and what weye
4,160  He myghte best theschaunge of hire withstonde;
4,161  fful faste he caste how al this myghte stonde.

4,162  Loue hym made al prest to don hire byde,
4,163  And rather dyen than she sholde go;
4,164  But resoun seyde hym on that other syde:
4,165  "With-outen assent of hire ne do nat so,
4,166  If thow debate it, lest she be thy fo,
4,167  And seyn that thorugh thy medlynge is i-blowe
4,168  ^oure bother loue, ther it was erst vnknowe.'

4,169  ffor which he gan deliberen for the beste,
4,170  That though the lordes wolde that she wente,
4,171  He wolde lat hem graunte what hem leste,
4,172  And telle his lady first what that they mente;
4,173  And whan that she hadde seyd hym hire entente,
4,174  Ther-after wolde he werken also blyue,
4,175  Theigh al the world a|eyn it wolde stryue.

4,176  Ector, which that wel the Grekes herde,
4,177  ffor Antenor how they wolde han Criseyde,
4,178  Gan it withstonde and sobrely answerde:
4,179  "Syres, she nys no prisonere," he seyde;
4,180  "I not on |ow who that this charge leyde,
4,181  But on my part |e may eft-sones hem telle,
4,182  We vsen here no wommen forto selle."

4,183  The noyse of peple vp stirte thanne at ones,
4,184  As breme as blase of straw i-set on fire;
4,185  ffor infortune it wolde for the nones
4,186  They sholden hire confusioun desire.
4,187  "Ector," quod they, "what goost may |ow enspyre,
4,188  This womman thus to shilde and don vs leese
4,189  Daun Antenor -- a wrong wey now |e chese --

4,190  "That is so wys and ek so bold baroun?
4,191  And we han nede of folk, as men may se:
4,192  He is ek on the grettest of this town.
4,193  O Ector, lat tho fantasies be.
4,194  O kyng Priam,' quod they, "thus sygge we,
4,195  That al oure vois is to forgon Criseyde."
4,196  And to deliueren Antenor they preyde.

4,197  O Iuuenal, lord, soth is thy sentence,
4,198  That litel wyten folk what is to |erne,
4,199  That they ne fynde in hire desire offence;
4,200  ffor cloude of errour lat hem nat discerne
4,201  What best is; and lo, here ensample as |erne:
4,202  This folk desiren now deliueraunce
4,203  Of Antenor that brought hem to meschaunce.

4,204  ffor he was after traitour to the town
4,205  Of Troye; allas, they quytte hym out to rathe.
4,206  O nyce world, lo thy discrecioun!
4,207  Criseyde, which that neuere dide hem scathe,
4,208  Shal now no lenger in hire blisse bathe;
4,209  But Antenor, he shal com hom to towne,
4,210  And she shal out; thus seyde here and howne.

4,211  ffor which delibered was by perlement,
4,212  ffor Antenor to |elden out Criseyde,
4,213  And it pronounced by the president,
4,214  Al-theigh that Ector nay ful ofte preyde.
4,215  And fynaly, what wight that it with-seyde,
4,216  It was for nought; it moste ben and sholde,
4,217  ffor substaunce of the perlement it wolde.

4,218  Deperted out of parlement echone,
4,219  This Troilus with-outen wordes mo
4,220  Into his chambre spedde hym faste allone,
4,221  But if it were a man of his or two,
4,222  The which he bad out faste forto go,
4,223  By-cause he wolde slepen as he seyde,
4,224  And hastily vp-on his bedde hym leyde.

4,225  And as in wynter leues ben birafte,
4,226  Ech after other til the tree be bare,
4,227  So that ther nys but bark and braunche i-lafte,
4,228  Lith Troilus byraft of eche welfare,
4,229  I-bounden in the blake bark of care,
4,230  Disposed wood out of his wit to breyde,
4,231  So sore hym sat the chaungynge of Criseyde.

4,232  He rist hym vp, and euery dore he shette
4,233  And wyndow ek, and tho this sorwful man
4,234  Up-on his beddes syde adown hym sette,
4,235  fful like a dede ymage, pale and wan;
4,236  And in his brest the heped wo bygan
4,237  Out breste, and he to werken in this wise
4,238  In his woodnesse, as I shal |ow deuyse.

4,239  Right as the wylde bole bygynneth sprynge,
4,240  Now her, now ther, i-darted to the herte,
4,241  And of his deth roreth in compleynynge,
4,242  Right so gan he aboute the chambre sterte,
4,243  Smytyng his brest ay with his fistes smerte;
4,244  His hed to the wal, his body to the grounde,
4,245  fful ofte he swapte, hym seluen to confounde.

4,246  His eyen two, for piete of herte,
4,247  Out stremeden as swifte welles tweye;
4,248  The heighe sobbes of his sorwes smerte
4,249  His speche hym refte; vnnethes myghte he seye,
4,250  "O deth, allas, why nyltow do me deye?
4,251  Acorsed be that day which that nature
4,252  Shop me to ben a lyues creature."

4,253  But after, whan the furie and al the rage
4,254  Which that his herte twiste and faste threste,
4,255  By lengthe of tyme somwhat gan aswage,
4,256  Upon his bed he leyde hym down to reste;
4,257  But tho bygonne his teeris more out breste,
4,258  That wonder is the body may suffise
4,259  To half this wo which that I |ow deuyse.

4,260  Than seyde he thus, "fortune, allas the while!
4,261  What haue I don, what haue I thus a-gylte?
4,262  How myghtestow for rowthe me by-gile?
4,263  Is ther no grace, and shal I thus be spilte?
4,264  Shal thus Creiseyde awey for that thow wilte?
4,265  Allas, how maistow in thyn herte fynde
4,266  To ben to me thus cruwel and vnkynde?

4,267  "Haue I the nought honoured al my lyue,
4,268  As thow wel woost, aboue the goddes alle?
4,269  Whi wiltow me fro ioie thus depriue?
4,270  O Troilus, what may men now the calle
4,271  But wrecche of wrecches, out of honour falle
4,272  Into miserie, in which I wol be-waille
4,273  Creiseyde, allas, til that the breth me faille?

4,274  "Allas, fortune, if that my lif in ioie
4,275  Displesed hadde vnto thi foule enuye,
4,276  Why ne haddestow my fader, kyng of Troye,
4,277  Byraft the lif or don my bretheren dye,
4,278  Or slayn my self that thus compleyne and crye,
4,279  I, combre-world, that may of no thyng serue,
4,280  But euere dye and neuere fulli sterue?

4,281  If that Criseyde allone were me laft,
4,282  Nought roughte I whider thow woldest me steere;
4,283  And hire, allas, than hastow me biraft.
4,284  But euere more, lo, this is thi manere,
4,285  To reue a wight that most is to hym deere,
4,286  To preue in that thi gerful violence:
4,287  Thus am I lost, ther helpeth no diffence.

4,288  "O verrey lord of loue, O god, allas,
4,289  That knowest best myn herte and al my thoughte,
4,290  What shal my sorwful lif don in this cas,
4,291  If I for-go that I so deere haue boughte?
4,292  Syn |e Criseyde and me han fully broughte
4,293  In-to |oure grace and bothe oure hertes seled,
4,294  How may |e suffre, allas, it be repeled?

4,295  "What shal I don? I shal, while I may dure
4,296  On lyue in torment and in cruwel peyne,
4,297  This in-fortune or this disauenture
4,298  Allone as I was born, i-wys, compleyne;
4,299  Ne neuere wol I seen it shyne or reyne,
4,300  But ende I wol as Edippe in derknesse
4,301  My sorwful lif and dyen in distresse.

4,302  "O wery goost that errest to and fro,
4,303  Why nyltow fleen out of the wofulleste
4,304  Body that euere myghte on grounde go?
4,305  O soule, lurkynge in this wo, vnneste,
4,306  ffle forth out of myn herte and lat it breste,
4,307  And folwe alwey Criseyde, thi lady dere;
4,308  Thi righte place is now no lenger here.

4,309  "O woful eyen two, syn |oure disport
4,310  Was al to sen Criseydes eyen brighte,
4,311  What shal |e don but, for my discomfort,
4,312  Stonden for naught and wepen out |oure sighte,
4,313  Syn she is queynt that wont was |ow to lighte?
4,314  In vayn fro this forth haue ich eyen tweye
4,315  I-fourmed, syn |oure vertue is aweye.

4,316  "O my Criseyde, O lady souereigne
4,317  Of thilke woful soule that thus crieth,
4,318  Who shal now |euen comfort to the peyne?
4,319  Allas, no wight; but whan myn herte dieth,
4,320  My spirit, which that so vnto |ow hieth,
4,321  Receyue in gree, for that shal ay |ow serue;
4,322  ffor-thi no fors is though the body sterue.

4,323  "O |e loueris, that heigh vp on the whiel
4,324  Ben set of fortune in good auenture,
4,325  God leue that |e fynde ay loue of stiel,
4,326  And longe mote |oure lif in ioie endure!
4,327  But whan |e comen by my sepulture,
4,328  Remembreth that |oure felawe resteth there,
4,329  ffor I loued ek, though ich vnworthi were.

4,330  "O oold, vnholsom and myslyued man --
4,331  Calkas I mene -- allas, what eiled the
4,332  To ben a Grek, syn thow art born Troian?
4,333  O Calkas, which that wolt my bane be,
4,334  In corsed tyme was thow born for me.
4,335  As wolde blisful Ioue for his ioie
4,336  That I the hadde wher I wolde in Troie."

4,337  A thousand sikes hotter than the gleede
4,338  Out of his brest ech after other wente,
4,339  Medled with pleyntes new his wo to feede,
4,340  ffor which his woful teris neuere stente;
4,341  And shortly, so his peynes hym to-rente
4,342  And wex so mat, that ioie nor penaunce
4,343  He feleth non, but lith forth in a traunce.

4,344  Pandare, which that in the parlement
4,345  Hadde herd what euery lord and burgeys seyde,
4,346  And how ful graunted was by oon assent
4,347  ffor Antenor to |elden so Criseyde,
4,348  Gan wel neigh wood out of his wit to breyde,
4,349  So that for wo he nyste what he mente,
4,350  But in a rees to Troilus he wente.

4,351  A certeyn knyght that for the tyme kepte
4,352  The chambre door vndid it hym anon;
4,353  And Pandare, that ful tendreliche wepte,
4,354  In-to the derke chambre, as stille as ston,
4,355  Toward the bed gan softely to gon,
4,356  So confus that he nyste what to seye --
4,357  ffor verray wo his wit was neigh aweye.

4,358  And with his chiere and lokyng al to-torne
4,359  ffor sorwe of this, and with his armes folden,
4,360  He stood this woful Troilus by-forne,
4,361  And on his pitous face he gan byholden;
4,362  But, lord, so ofte gan his herte colden,
4,363  Seyng his frend in wo, whos heuynesse
4,364  His herte slough, as thoughte hym, for destresse.

4,365  This woful wight, this Troilus, that felte
4,366  His frend Pandare y-comen hym to se,
4,367  Gan as the snow a|eyn the sonne melte,
4,368  ffor which this sorwful Pandare of pitee
4,369  Gan forto wepe as tendreliche as he;
4,370  And specheles thus ben thise ilke tweye,
4,371  That neither myghte o word for sorwe seye.

4,372  But at the laste this woful Troilus,
4,373  Neigh ded for smert gan bresten out to rore,
4,374  And with a sorwful noise he seyde thus,
4,375  Amonge hise sobbes and his sikes sore:
4,376  "Lo, pandare, I am ded with-outen more.
4,377  Hastow nat herd at parlement," he seyde,
4,378  "ffor Antenore how lost is my Criseyde?"

4,379  This Pandarus, ful dede and pale of hewe,
4,380  fful pitously answerde and seyde, "|is,
4,381  As wisly were it fals as it is trewe,
4,382  That I haue herd and woot al how it is.
4,383  O mercy, god, who wolde haue trowed this?
4,384  Who wolde haue wend that in so litel a throwe
4,385  ffortune oure ioie wold han ouere-throwe?

4,386  "ffor in this world ther is no creature,
4,387  As to my dome, that euere saugh ruyne
4,388  Straunger than this thorugh cas or auenture.
4,389  But who may all eschue or al deuyne?
4,390  Swich is this world; forthi I thus diffyne:
4,391  Ne trust no wight to fynden in fortune
4,392  Ay propretee -- hire |iftes ben comune.

4,393  "But telle me this, whi thow art now so mad
4,394  To sorwen thus? Whi listow in this wise,
4,395  Syn thi desire al holly hastow had,
4,396  So that by right it oughte ynough suffise?
4,397  But I that neuere felte in my seruyse
4,398  A frendly cheere or lokyng of an eye,
4,399  Lat me thus wepe and wailen til I deye.

4,400  "And ouere al this, as thow wel woost thi selue,
4,401  This town is ful of ladys al aboute;
4,402  And to my doom, fairer than swiche twelue
4,403  As euere she was shal I fynde in some route,
4,404  ^ee, on or two, with-outen any doute.
4,405  ffor-thi be glad, myn owen deere brother;
4,406  If she be lost, we shal recouere an other.

4,407  "What, god forbede alwey that eche plesaunce
4,408  In o thing were and in non other wight:
4,409  If oon kan synge, an other kan wel daunce;
4,410  If this be goodly, she is glad and light;
4,411  And this is faire, and that kan good aright:
4,412  Eche for his vertue holden is for deere,
4,413  Both herouner and faucoun for ryuere.

4,414  "And ek as writ Zanzis, that was ful wys,
4,415  'The newe loue out chaceth ofte the olde',;
4,416  And vp-on newe cas lith newe auys.
4,417  Thenk ek thi lif to sauen artow holde.
4,418  Swich fir by proces shal of kynde colde;
4,419  ffor syn it is but casuel plesaunce,
4,420  Som cas shal putte it out of remembraunce.

4,421  "ffor also seur as day comth after nyght,
4,422  The newe loue, labour, or oother wo,
4,423  Or elles selde seynge of a wight,
4,424  Don olde affecciouns alle ouere-go.
4,425  And for thi part thow shalt haue oon of tho
4,426  Tabregge with thi bittre peynes smerte;
4,427  Absence of hire shal dryue hire out of herte."

4,428  Thise wordes seyde he for the nones alle,
4,429  To help his frend lest he for sorwe deyde;
4,430  ffor douteles to don his wo to falle
4,431  He roughte nought what vnthrift that he seyde.
4,432  But Troilus, that neigh for sorwe deyde,
4,433  Took litel heede of al that euere he mente;
4,434  Oon ere it herde, at tother out it wente.

4,435  But at the laste he answerde and seyde, "frende,
4,436  This lechecraft, or heeled thus to be,
4,437  Were wel sittyng if that I were a fende --
4,438  To traysen a wight that trewe is vnto me.
4,439  I pray god lat this conseil neuere y-the;
4,440  But do me rather sterue anon right here,
4,441  Er I thus do as thow me woldest leere.

4,442  "She that I serue, i-wis, what so thow seye,
4,443  To whom myn herte enhabit is by right,
4,444  Shal han me holly hires til that I deye.
4,445  ffor Pandarus, syn I haue trouthe hire hight,
4,446  I wol nat ben vntrewe for no wight;
4,447  But as hire man I wol ay lyue and sterue,
4,448  And neuere other creature serue.

4,449  "And ther thow seist thow shalt as faire fynde
4,450  As she -- lat be, make no comparisoun
4,451  To creature y-formed here by kynde.
4,452  O leue Pandare, in conclusioun
4,453  I wol nat ben of thyn opynyoun
4,454  Touchyng al this; for which I the biseche,
4,455  So holde thi pees: thow sleest me with thi speche.

4,456  "Thow biddest me I shulde loue an other
4,457  Al fresshly newe and lat Criseyde go.
4,458  It lith nat in my power, leeue brother;
4,459  And though I myght, I wolde nat do so.
4,460  But kanstow playen raket to and fro,
4,461  Nettle in, dok out, now this, now that, Pandare?
4,462  Now foule falle hire for thi wo that care.

4,463  "Thow farest ek by me, thow Pandarus,
4,464  As he that whan a wight is wo bygon,
4,465  He cometh to hym a paas and seith right thus,
4,466  "Thynk nat on smert and thow shalt fele non.'
4,467  Thow moost me first transmewen in a ston,
4,468  And reue me my passiones alle,
4,469  Er thow so lightly do my wo to falle.

4,470  "The deth may wel out of my brest departe
4,471  The lif, so longe may this sorwe myne;
4,472  But fro my soule shal Criseydes darte
4,473  Out neuere mo, but down with Proserpyne,
4,474  Whan I am ded, I wol go wone in pyne;
4,475  And ther I wol eternaly compleyne
4,476  My wo and how that twynned be we tweyne.

4,477  "Thow hast here made an argument for fyne,
4,478  How that it sholde lasse peyne be
4,479  Criseyde to forgon, for she was myne,
4,480  And lyued in ese and in felicite --
4,481  Whi gabbestow, that seydest vn-to me,
4,482  That hym is wors that is fro wele ythrowe,
4,483  Than he hadde erst noon of that wele y-knowe?

4,484  "But telle me now syn that the thynketh so light
4,485  To changen so in loue ay to and fro,
4,486  Whi hastow nat don bisily thi myght
4,487  To chaungen hire that doth the al thi wo?
4,488  Whi nyltow lete hire fro thyn herte go?
4,489  Whi nyltow loue an othere lady swete,
4,490  That may thyn herte setten in quiete?

4,491  ["If thow hast had in loue ay yet myschaunce,
4,492  And kanst it not out of thyn herte dryue,
4,493  I that leuede yn lust and in plesaunce
4,494  With here as muche as creature on lyue,
4,495  How sholde I that foryete and that so blyue?
4,496  O where hastow ben hid so longe in muwe,
4,497  That kanst so wel and formely arguwe?

4,498  "Nay, nay, god wot, nought worth is al thi red,
4,499  ffor which, for what that euere may by-falle,
4,500  With-outen wordes mo I wol be ded.
4,501  O deth that endere art of sorwes alle,
4,502  Com now syn I so ofte after the calle;
4,503  ffor sely is that deth, soth for to seyne,
4,504  That ofte ycleped cometh and endeth peyne.

4,505  "Wel wot I, whil my lyf was in quyete,
4,506  Er thow me slowe I wolde haue yeuen hire;
4,507  But now thi comynge is to me so swete
4,508  That in this world I no thing so desire:
4,509  O deth, syn with this sorwe I am a-fyre,
4,510  Thou other do me anoon yn teris drenche,
4,511  Or with thi colde strok myn hete quenche.

4,512  "Syn that thow sleest so fele in sondry wyse
4,513  A-yens hire wil vnpreyed day and nyght,
4,514  Do me at my requeste this seruice:
4,515  Delyuere now the world, so dostow right,
4,516  Of me that am the wofulleste wyght
4,517  That euere was; for tyme is that I sterue,
4,518  Syn in this world of right nought may I serue."

4,519  This Troylus in teris gan distille,
4,520  As licour out of a lambyc ful faste;
4,521  And Pandarus gan holde his tunge stille,
4,522  And to the ground his eyen doun he caste;
4,523  But natheles, thus thought he at the laste:
4,524  "What, parde, rather than my felawe deye,
4,525  Yet shal I som-what more vn-to hym seye."

4,526  And seyde, "frend, syn thow hast swych distresse,
4,527  And syn the list myn argumentz to blame,
4,528  Why nylt thi seluen helpen don redresse,
4,529  And with thy manhod letten al this grame?
4,530  Go rauysshe here ne kanstow not for shame?
4,531  And other lat here out of towne fare,
4,532  Or hold here stille and leue thi nyce fare.]

4,533  "Artow in Troie and hast non hardymente
4,534  To take a womman which that loueth the,
4,535  And wolde hire seluen ben of thyn assente?
4,536  Now is nat this a nyce vanitee?
4,537  Ris vp anon and lat this wepyng be,
4,538  And kith thow art a man, for in this houre
4,539  I wol ben ded or she shal bleuen oure."

4,540  To this answerde hym Troilus ful softe
4,541  And seyde, "perde, leue brother deere,
4,542  Al this haue I my self |et thought ful ofte,
4,543  And more thyng than thow deuysest here.
4,544  But whi this thing is laft thow shalt wel here,
4,545  And whan thow me hast |eue an audience,
4,546  I her-after maystow telle al thi sentence.

4,547  "ffirst, syn thow woost this town hath al this werre
4,548  ffor rauysshyng of wommen so by myght,
4,549  It sholde nought be suffred me to erre,
4,550  As it stant now, ne don so gret vnright:
4,551  I sholde han also blame of euery wight,
4,552  My fadres graunt if that I so with-stoode,
4,553  Syn she is chaunged for the townes goode.

4,554  "I haue ek thought, so it were hire assent,
4,555  To axe hire at my fader of his grace;
4,556  Than thynke I this were hire accusement,
4,557  Syn wel I woot I may hire nought purchace:
4,558  ffor syn my fader in so heigh a place
4,559  As parlement hath hire eschaunge enseled,
4,560  He nyl for me his lettre be repeled.

4,561  "^et drede I moost hire herte to pertorbe
4,562  With violence, if I do swich a game;
4,563  ffor if I wolde it openly destorbe,
4,564  It mooste be disclaundre to hire name.
4,565  And me were leuere ded than hire diffame --
4,566  As nolde god but if I sholde haue
4,567  Hire honour leuere than my lif to saue.

4,568  "Thus am I lost for aught that I kan see;
4,569  ffor certeyn is, syn that I am hire knyght,
4,570  I moste hire honour leuere han than me
4,571  In euery cas, as louere ought of right.
4,572  Thus am I with desire and reson twight:
4,573  Desire forto destourben hire me redeth,
4,574  And reson nyl nat, so myn herte dredeth."

4,575  Thus wepyng that he koude neuere cesse,
4,576  He seyde, "allas, how shal I, wrecche, fare?
4,577  ffor wel fele I alwey my loue encresse,
4,578  And hope is lasse and lasse alway, Pandare;
4,579  Encressen ek the causes of my care.
4,580  So weilaway, whi nyl myn herte breste?
4,581  ffor as in loue ther is but litel reste."

4,582  Pandare answerde, "frend, thow maist for me
4,583  Don as the list; but hadde ich it so hoote,
4,584  And thyn estat, she sholde go with me,
4,585  Though al this town cride on this thyng by note:
4,586  I nolde sette at al that noys a grote,
4,587  ffor whan men han wel cryed, than wol they rowne;
4,588  Ek wonder last but nyne nyght neuere in towne.

4,589  "Deuyne nat in resoun ay so depe
4,590  Ne corteisly, but help thi selue anon.
4,591  Bet is that othere than thi seluen wepe,
4,592  And namely, syn |e two ben al on,
4,593  Ris vp, for by myn hed she shal not goon;
4,594  And rather be in blame a lite i-founde
4,595  Than sterue here as a gnat with-outen wounde.

4,596  "It is no shame vn-to |ow ne no vice
4,597  Hire to witholden that |e loue moost.
4,598  Peraunter she myghte holde the for nyce
4,599  To late hire go thus to the Grekis oost.
4,600  Thenk ek fortune, as wel thi seluen woost,
4,601  Helpeth hardy man to his enprise
4,602  And weyueth wrecches for hire cowardise.

4,603  "And though thy lady wolde a lite hire greue,
4,604  Thow shalt thi self thi pees here-after make;
4,605  But as for me, certeyn, I kan nat leue
4,606  That she wolde it as now for yuel take.
4,607  Whi sholde thanne of fered thyn herte quake?
4,608  Thenk ek how Paris hath, that is thi brother,
4,609  A loue, and whi shaltow nat haue another?

4,610  "And Troilus, o thyng I dar the swere,
4,611  That if Criseyde, which that is thi lief,
4,612  Now loueth the as wel as thow dost here,
4,613  God help me so, she nyl nat take a-grief
4,614  Theigh thow do boote a-non in this meschief;
4,615  And if she wilneth fro the for to passe,
4,616  Thanne is she fals, so loue hire wel the lasse.

4,617  "ffor-thi take herte and thynk right as a knyght,
4,618  Thorugh loue is broken al day euery lawe.
4,619  Kith now somwhat thi corage and thi myght;
4,620  Haue mercy on thi self, for eny awe.
4,621  Lat nat this wrecched wo thyn herte gnawe,
4,622  But manly sette the world on six and seuene,
4,623  And if thow deye a martyr, go to heuene.

4,624  "I wol my self ben with the at this dede,
4,625  Theigh ich and al my kyn vp-on a stownde
4,626  Shulle in a strete as dogges liggen dede,
4,627  Thorugh-girt with many a wide and blody wownde;
4,628  In euery cas I wol a frend be founde.
4,629  And if the list here steruen as a wrecche,
4,630  A-dieu, the deuel spede hym that it recche."

4,631  This Troilus gan with tho wordes quyken,
4,632  And seyde, "frend, graunt mercy, ich assente.
4,633  But certeynly thow maist nat so me priken,
4,634  Ne peyne non ne may me so tormente,
4,635  That for no cas it is nat myn entente,
4,636  At shorte wordes, though I deyen sholde,
4,637  To rauysshe hire, but if hire self it wolde."

4,638  "Whi so mene I," quod Pandare, "al this day.
4,639  But telle me thanne, hastow hire wil assayed,
4,640  That sorwest thus?" and he answerde hym, "nay."
4,641  "Wherof artow," quod Pandare," thanne amayed --
4,642  That nost nat that she wol ben yuele appayed --
4,643  To rauysshe hire, syn thow hast nought ben there,
4,644  But if that Ioue tolde it in thyn ere?

4,645  "fforthi ris vp as nought ne were anon,
4,646  And wasshe thi face and to the kyng thow wende,
4,647  Or he may wondren whider thow art goon.
4,648  Thow most with wisdom hym and othere blende,
4,649  Or vp-on cas he may after the sende
4,650  Er thow be war; and shortly, brother deere,
4,651  Be glad, and lat me werke in this matere.

4,652  "ffor I shal shape it so that sikerly
4,653  Thow shalt this nyght som tyme, in som manere,
4,654  Com speken with thi lady pryuely,
4,655  And by hire wordes ek as by hire cheere
4,656  Thow shalt ful sone aperceyue and wel here
4,657  Al hire entente, and in this cas the beste;
4,658  And fare now wel, for in this point I reste."

4,659  The swifte fame, which that false thynges
4,660  Egal reporteth lik the thynges trewe,
4,661  Was thorugh-out Troye y-fled with preste wynges
4,662  ffro man to man and made this tale al newe,
4,663  How Calkas doughter with hire brighte hewe,
4,664  At parlement with-outen wordes more
4,665  Y-graunted was in chaunge of Antenore.

4,666  The whiche tale anon right as Criseyde
4,667  Hadde herd, she which that of hire fader roughte,
4,668  As in this cas, right nought, ne whan he deyde,
4,669  fful bisily to Iupiter bisoughte
4,670  ^eue hem meschaunce that this tretis broughte;
4,671  But shortly, lest thise tales sothe were,
4,672  She dorst at no wight asken it for fere,

4,673  As she that hadde hire herte and al hire mynde
4,674  On Troilus i-set so wonder faste,
4,675  That al this world ne myghte hire loue vnbynde,
4,676  Ne Troilus out of hire herte caste;
4,677  She wol ben his while that hire lif may laste.
4,678  And thus she brenneth both in loue and drede,
4,679  So that she nyste what was best to reede.

4,680  But as men seen in towne and al aboute
4,681  That wommen vsen frendes to visite,
4,682  So to Criseyde of wommen com a route
4,683  ffor pitous ioie and wenden hire delite;
4,684  And with hire tales deere ynough a myte,
4,685  Thise wommen which that in the Cite dwelle,
4,686  They sette hem down and seyde as I shall telle.

4,687  Quod first that oon, "I am glad, trewely,
4,688  By-cause of |ow that shal |oure fader see.',
4,689  Another seyde, "ywis, so nam nat I,
4,690  ffor al to litel hath she with vs be."
4,691  Quod tho the thridde, "I hope, ywis, that she
4,692  Shal bryngen vs the pees on euery syde,
4,693  That, whan she goth, almyghty god hire gide."

4,694  Tho wordes and tho wommanysshe thynges,
4,695  She herde hem right as though she thennes were;
4,696  ffor, god it woot, hire herte on othir thyng is:
4,697  Al-though the body sat among hem there,
4,698  Hire aduertence is alwey elles-where;
4,699  ffor Troilus ful faste hire soule soughte;
4,700  With-outen word on hym alwey she thoughte.

4,701  Thise wommen, that thus wenden hire to plese,
4,702  Aboute naught gonne alle hire tales spende;
4,703  Swich vanyte ne kan don hire non ese,
4,704  As she that al this mene while brende
4,705  Of other passioun than that they wende,
4,706  So that she felte almost hire herte dye,
4,707  ffor wo and wery of that compaignie.

4,708  [ffor which no lenger myghte she restreyne
4,709  Hir teeris, so they gonnen vp to welle,
4,710  That yauen signes of the bittre peyne
4,711  In which hir spirit was and moste dwelle,
4,712  Remembryng hir fro heuen into which helle
4,713  She fallen was, syn she forgoth the syghte
4,714  Of Troilus, and sorwfully she sighte.]

4,715  And thilke fooles sittynge hire a-boute
4,716  Wenden that she wepte and siked sore
4,717  By-cause that she sholde out of that route
4,718  Deperte and neuere pleye with hem more.
4,719  And they that hadde y-knowen hire of |ore
4,720  Seigh hire so wepe and thoughte it kyndenesse,
4,721  And ech of hem wepte ek for hire destresse.

4,722  And bisyly they gonnen hire comforten
4,723  Of thyng, god woot, on which she litel thoughte,
4,724  And with hire tales wenden hire disporten,
4,725  And to be glad they often hire bysoughte.
4,726  But swiche an ese therwith they hire wroughte
4,727  Right as a man is esed forto feele,
4,728  ffor ache of hed to clawen hym on his heele.

4,729  But after al this nyce vanyte
4,730  They toke hire leue and hom they wenten alle.
4,731  Criseyde, ful of sorweful pite,
4,732  In-to hire chambre vp went out of the halle,
4,733  And on hire bed she gan for ded to falle,
4,734  In purpos neuere thennes for to rise;
4,735  And thus she wroughte, as I shal |ow deuyse.

4,736  Hire ownded heer that sonnyssh was of hewe
4,737  She rente, and ek hire fyngeres longe and smale
4,738  She wrong ful ofte and bad god on hire rewe,
4,739  And with the deth to doon boote on hire bale;
4,740  Hire hewe whilom bright, that tho was pale,
4,741  Bar witnesse of hire wo and hire constreynte;
4,742  And this she spak, sobbyng in hire compleynte,

4,743  "Allas,' quod she, "out of this regioun
4,744  I, woful wrecche and in-fortuned wight,
4,745  And born in corsed constellacioun,
4,746  Moot goon and thus deperten from my knyght.
4,747  Wo worth, allas, that ilke dayes light
4,748  On which I saugh hym first with eyen tweyne,
4,749  That causeth me -- and ich hym -- al this peyne!"

4,750  Ther-with the teris from hire eyen two
4,751  Down fille as shoure in Aperil ful swithe;
4,752  Hire white brest she bet and for the wo
4,753  After the deth she cryed a thousand sithe,
4,754  Syn he that wont hire wo was for to lithe,
4,755  She moot forgon; for which disauenture
4,756  She held hire self a forlost creature.

4,757  She seyde, "how shal he don and ich also?
4,758  How sholde I lyue if that I from hym twynne?
4,759  O deere herte eke, that I loue so,
4,760  Who shal that sorwe slen that |e ben inne?
4,761  O Calkas, fader, thyn be al this synne!
4,762  O moder myn, that cleped were Argyue,
4,763  Wo worth that day that thow me bere on lyue!

4,764  "To what fyn sholde I lyue and sorwen thus?
4,765  How sholde a fissh with-outen water dure?
4,766  What is Criseyde worth from Troilus?
4,767  How sholde a plaunte or lyues creature
4,768  Lyue with-outen his kynde noriture?
4,769  ffor which ful ofte a byword here I seye,
4,770  That "rooteles moot grene soone deye.'

4,771  "I shal doon thus, syn neither swerd ne darte
4,772  Dar I noon handle for the crueltee,
4,773  That ilke day that I from |ow departe,
4,774  If sorwe of that nyl nat my bane be,
4,775  Thanne shal no mete or drynke come in me
4,776  Til I my soule out of my breste vnshethe,
4,777  And thus my seluen wol I don to dethe.

4,778  "And Troilus, my clothes euerychon
4,779  Shul blake ben in tokennyng, herte swete,
4,780  That I am as out of this world agon,
4,781  That wont was |ow to setten in quiete;
4,782  And of myn ordre ay til deth me mete,
4,783  The obseruance euere in |oure absence
4,784  Shal sorwe ben, compleynt and abstinence.

4,785  "Myn herte and ek the woful goost ther-inne
4,786  Byquethe I with |oure spirit to compleyne
4,787  Eternaly for they shal neuere twynne;
4,788  ffor though in erthe y-twynned be we tweyne,
4,789  ^et in the feld of pite, out of peyne,
4,790  That highte Elisos, shal we ben y-feere,
4,791  As Orpheus with Erudice his feere.

4,792  "Thus, herte myn, for Antenor, allas,
4,793  I soone shal be chaunged, as I wene.
4,794  But how shul |e don in this sorwful cas?
4,795  How shal |oure tendre herte this sustene?
4,796  But, herte myn, for|ete this sorwe and tene,
4,797  And me also, for sothly forto seye,
4,798  So |e wel fare, I recche naught to deye."

4,799  How myghte it euere y-red ben or y-songe,
4,800  The pleynte that she made in hire destresse?
4,801  I not; but as for me, my litel tonge,
4,802  If I discryuen wolde hire heuynesse,
4,803  It sholde make hire sorwe seme lesse
4,804  Than that it was, and childisshly deface
4,805  Hire heigh compleynte, and therfore ich it pace.

4,806  Pandare, which that sent from Troilus
4,807  Was to Criseyde -- as |e han herd deuyse,
4,808  That for the beste it was acorded thus,
4,809  And he ful glad to doon hym that seruyse --
4,810  Unto Criseyde in a ful secree wise,
4,811  Ther as she lay in torment and in rage,
4,812  Come hire to telle al holly his message.

4,813  And fond that she hire seluen gan to trete
4,814  fful pitously, for with hire salte teris
4,815  Hire brest, hire face, y-bathed was ful wete;
4,816  The myghty tresses of hire sonnysshe heeris
4,817  Unbroiden hangen al aboute hire eeris,
4,818  Which |af hym verray signal of martire
4,819  Of deth which that hire herte gan desire.

4,820  Whan she hym saugh she gan for sorwe anon
4,821  Hire tery face atwixe hire armes hide,
4,822  ffor which this Pandare is so wo-bygon
4,823  That in the hous he myghte vnnethe abyde,
4,824  As he that pite felt on euery syde:
4,825  ffor if Criseyde hadde erst compleyned soore,
4,826  Tho gan she pleyne a thousand tymes more.

4,827  And in hire aspre pleynte thus she seyde,
4,828  "Pandare first of ioies mo than two
4,829  Was cause causyng vnto me, Criseyde,
4,830  That now transmewed ben in cruel wo.
4,831  Wher shal I seye to |ow welcom or no,
4,832  That alderfirst me broughte vnto seruyse
4,833  Of loue, allas, that endeth in swich wise?

4,834  "Endeth thanne loue in wo? |e, or men lieth,
4,835  And alle worldly blisse as thynketh me:
4,836  The ende of blisse ay sorwe it occupieth.
4,837  And who-so troweth nat that it so be,
4,838  Lat hym vp-on me, woful wrecche, ysee,
4,839  That my self hate and ay my burthe a-corse,
4,840  ffelyng alwey fro wikke I go to worse.

4,841  "Who-so me seeth, he seeth sorwe al atonys,
4,842  Peyne, torment, pleynte, wo, distresse.
4,843  Out of my woful body harm ther noon is,
4,844  As angwissh, langour, cruel bitternesse,
4,845  Anoy, smert, drede, fury and ek siknesse.
4,846  I trowe, ywys, from heuene teeris reyne
4,847  ffor pite of myn aspre and cruel peyne."

4,848  "And thow my suster, ful of discomfort,"
4,849  Quod Pandarus, "what thynkestow to do?
4,850  Whi ne hastow to thy seluen som resport?
4,851  Whi wiltow thus thi self, allas, for-do?
4,852  Leef al this werk and take now heede to
4,853  That I shal seyn, and herkne of good entente
4,854  This which by me thi Troilus the sente."

4,855  Tornede hire tho Criseyde, a wo makynge
4,856  So gret that it a deth was forto see.
4,857  "Allas," quod she, "what wordes may |e brynge?
4,858  What wol my deere herte seyn to me,
4,859  Which that I drede neuere mo to see?
4,860  Wol he han pleynte or teris er I wende?
4,861  I haue ynough if he ther-after sende."

4,862  She was right swich to seen in hire visage
4,863  As is that wight that men on beere bynde:
4,864  Hire face, lik of Paradys the ymage,
4,865  Was al ychaunged in a-nother kynde;
4,866  The pleye, the laughter, men was wont to fynde
4,867  In hire, and ek hire ioies euerichone,
4,868  Ben fled, and thus lith now Criseyde allone.

4,869  Aboute hire eyen two a purpre ryng
4,870  By-trent in sothfast tokenyng of hire peyne,
4,871  That to biholde it was a dedly thyng,
4,872  ffor which Pandare myghte nat restreyne
4,873  The teeris from hise eighen forto reyne.
4,874  But natheles, as he best myghte, he seyde
4,875  ffrom Troilus thise wordes to Criseyde.

4,876  "Lo, Nece, I trowe |e han herd al how
4,877  The kyng with othere lordes for the beste
4,878  Hath made eschaunge of Antenor and |ow,
4,879  That cause is of this sorwe and this vnreste.
4,880  But how this cas dooth Troilus moleste,
4,881  That may non erthely mannes tonge seye;
4,882  ffor verray wo his wit is al aweye.

4,883  "ffor which we han so sorwed, he and I,
4,884  That in-to litel bothe it hadde vs slawe;
4,885  But thorugh my conseyl this day finaly,
4,886  He somwhat is fro wepynge now withdrawe,
4,887  And semeth me that he desireth fawe
4,888  With |ow to ben al nyght forto deuyse
4,889  Remedie in this, if ther were any wyse.

4,890  "This, shorte and pleyn, theffect of my message,
4,891  As ferforth as my wit kan comprehende;
4,892  ffor |e that ben of torment in swich rage
4,893  May to no longe prologe as now entende;
4,894  And here-vpon |e may answere hym sende --
4,895  And for the loue of god, my Nece deere,
4,896  So leue this wo er Troilus be here."

4,897  "Gret is my wo," quod she and sighte soore,
4,898  As she that feleth dedly sharp distresse,
4,899  "But |it to me his sorwe is muchel more,
4,900  That loue hym bet than he hym self, I gesse.
4,901  Allas, for me hath he swich heuynesse?
4,902  Kan he for me so pitously compleyne?
4,903  I-wis, his sorwe doubleth al my peyne.

4,904  "Greuous to me, god woot, is forto twynne,"
4,905  Quod she, "but |et it harder is to me
4,906  To sen that sorwe which that he is inne,
4,907  ffor wel woot I it wol my bane be,
4,908  And deye I wol in certeyn," tho quod she;
4,909  "But bid hym come er deth, that thus me threteth,
4,910  Dryue out that goost which in myn herte beteth."

4,911  Thise wordes seyd, she on hire armes two
4,912  ffil gruf and gan to wepen pitously.
4,913  Quod Pandarus, "allas, whi do |e so,
4,914  Syn wel |e woot the tyme is faste by
4,915  That he shal come? Aris vp hastily,
4,916  That he |ow nat bywopen thus ne fynde,
4,917  But |e wole haue him wood out of his mynde.

4,918  "ffor wiste he that |e ferde in this manere,
4,919  He wolde hym seluen sle; and if I wende
4,920  To han this fare, he sholde nat come here
4,921  ffor al the good that Priam may dispende.
4,922  ffor to what fyn he wolde anon pretende,
4,923  That knowe ich wel, and forthi |et I seye,
4,924  So lef this sorwe or platly he wol deye.

4,925  "And shapeth |ow his sorwe for tabregge,
4,926  And nought encresse, leeue Nece swete;
4,927  Beth rather to hym cause of flat than egge,
4,928  And with som wisdom |e his sorwes bete.
4,929  What helpeth it to wepen ful a strete,
4,930  Or though |e bothe in salte teeris dreynte?
4,931  Bet is a tyme of cure ay than of pleynte.

4,932  "I mene thus: whan ich hym hider brynge,
4,933  Syn |e be wise and bothe of oon assente,
4,934  So shapeth how destourbe |oure goynge,
4,935  Or come a|eyn soon after |e be wente --
4,936  Wommen ben wise in short auysemente --
4,937  And lat sen how |oure wit shal now auaille,
4,938  And what that I may helpe, it shal nat faille.

4,939  "Go," quod Criseyde, "and Uncle, trewely,
4,940  I shal don al my myght me to restreyne
4,941  ffrom wepyng in his sighte, and bisily
4,942  Hym forto glade I shal don al my peyne,
4,943  And in myn herte seken euery veyne;
4,944  If to his sore ther may be fonden salue,
4,945  It shal nat lakke, certeyn, on my halue."

4,946  Goth Pandarus and Troilus he soughte,
4,947  Til in a temple he fond hym al allone,
4,948  As he that of his lif no lenger roughte;
4,949  But to the pitouse goddes euerichone
4,950  fful tendrely he preyde and made his mone,
4,951  To doon hym sone out of this world to pace,
4,952  ffor wel he thoughte ther was non other grace.

4,953  And shortly, al the sothe forto seye,
4,954  He was so fallen in despeir that day,
4,955  That outrely he shop hym forto deye.
4,956  ffor right thus was his argument alway:
4,957  He seyde he nas but lorn, so weylaway --
4,958  "ffor al that comth, comth by necessitee,
4,959  Thus to ben lorn, it is my destinee.

4,960  "ffor certeynly, this wot I wel," he seyde,
4,961  "That for-sight of diuine purueyaunce
4,962  Hath seyn alwey me to forgon Criseyde,
4,963  Syn god seeth euery thyng, out of doutaunce,
4,964  And hem disponyth, thorugh his ordinaunce,
4,965  In hire merites sothly for to be,
4,966  As they shul comen by predestyne.

4,967  "But natheles, allas, whom shal I leeue?
4,968  ffor ther ben grete clerkes many oon,
4,969  That destyne thorugh argumentes preue;
4,970  And som men seyn that nedely ther is noon,
4,971  But that fre chois is |euen vs euerychon.
4,972  O welaway, so sleighe arn clerkes olde
4,973  That I not whos opynyoun I may holde.

4,974  "ffor som men seyn, if god seth al biforn --
4,975  Ne god may nat deceyued ben, parde --
4,976  Than moot it fallen, theigh men hadde it sworn,
4,977  That purueiance hath seyn byfore to be.
4,978  Wherfore I sey that from eterne if he
4,979  Hath wist byforn oure thought ek as oure dede,
4,980  We han no fre chois, as thise clerkes rede.

4,981  "ffor other thought, nor other dede also,
4,982  Myghte neuere ben, but swich as purueyaunce,
4,983  Which may nat ben deceyued neuere mo,
4,984  Hath feled byforn, with-outen ignoraunce.
4,985  ffor if ther myghte ben a variaunce
4,986  To writhen out fro goddis purueyinge,
4,987  Ther nere no prescience of thyng comynge.

4,988  "But it were rather an opynyoun
4,989  Uncerteyn, and no stedfast forseynge;
4,990  And certes, that were an abusioun,
4,991  That god sholde han no parfit clere wytynge
4,992  More than we men that han doutous wenynge:
4,993  But swich an errour vp-on god to gesse
4,994  Were fals and foul and wikked corsednesse.

4,995  "Ek this is an opynyoun of some
4,996  That han hire top ful heigh and smothe yshore:
4,997  They seyn right thus, that thyng is nat to come
4,998  ffor that the prescience hath seyn by-fore
4,999  That it shal come; but they seyn that therfore
4,1000  That it shal come, therfore the purueyaunce
4,1001  Woot it byforn, with-outen ignoraunce.

4,1002  "And in this manere this necessite
4,1003  Retorneth in his part contrarie agayne;
4,1004  ffor nedfully byhoueth it nat to bee
4,1005  That thilke thynges fallen in certayne
4,1006  That ben purueyed; but nedly, as they sayne,
4,1007  Byhoueth it that thynges whiche that falle,
4,1008  That they in certayn ben purueyed alle.

4,1009  "I mene as though I laboured me in this
4,1010  To enqueren which thyng cause of which thyng be:
4,1011  As wheither that the prescience of god is
4,1012  The certeyn cause of the necessite
4,1013  Of thynges that to comen ben, parde;
4,1014  Or if necessite of thyng comynge
4,1015  Be cause certeyn of the purueyinge.

4,1016  "But now nenforce I me nat in shewynge
4,1017  How the ordre of causes stant; but wel woot I
4,1018  That it byhoueth that the byfallynge
4,1019  Of thynges wiste byforn certeynly
4,1020  Be necessarie, al seme it nat therby
4,1021  That prescience putte fallynge necessaire
4,1022  To thyng to come, al falle it foule or faire.

4,1023  "ffor if ther sitte a man |ond on a see,
4,1024  Than by necessite bihoueth it
4,1025  That, certes, thyn opynyoun sooth be
4,1026  That wenest or coniectest that he sit;
4,1027  And further ouere now a|eynward |it,
4,1028  Lo, right so is it of the part contrarie,
4,1029  As thus -- now herkne, for I wol nat tarie:

4,1030  "I sey that if the opynyoun of the
4,1031  Be soth for that he sitte, than sey I this:
4,1032  That he mot siten by necessite;
4,1033  And thus necessite in eyther is.
4,1034  ffor in hym nede of sittynge is, ywys,
4,1035  And in the nede of soth; aud thus, forsothe,
4,1036  There mot necessite ben in |ow bothe.

4,1037  "But thow mayst seyn the man sit nat therfore
4,1038  That thyn opynyoun of his sittynge soth is;
4,1039  But rather for the man sit ther byfore,
4,1040  Therfore is thyn opynyoun soth, ywys.
4,1041  And I seye, though the cause of soth of this
4,1042  Comth of his sittyng, |et necessite
4,1043  Is entrechaunged both in hym and the.

4,1044  "Thus in the same wise, out of doutaunce,
4,1045  I may wel maken, as it semeth me,
4,1046  My resonyng of goddes purueyaunce
4,1047  And of the thynges that to comen be;
4,1048  By which resoun men may wel y-se
4,1049  That thilke thynges that in erthe falle,
4,1050  That by necessite they comen alle.

4,1051  "ffor al-though that, for thynge shal come, y-wys,
4,1052  Therfore is it purueyed, certeynly --
4,1053  Nat that it comth for it purueyed is --
4,1054  ^et natheles bihoueth it nedfully
4,1055  That thing to come be purueyd, trewely;
4,1056  Or elles thynges that purueyed be,
4,1057  That they bitiden by necessite.

4,1058  "And this suffiseth right ynough, certeyn,
4,1059  fforto destruye oure fre chois euery del.
4,1060  But now is this abusioun to seyn
4,1061  That fallyng of the thynges temporel
4,1062  Is cause of goddes prescience eternel.
4,1063  Now trewely, that is a fals sentence,
4,1064  That thyng to come sholde cause his prescience.

4,1065  "What myght I wene, and I hadde swich a thought,
4,1066  But that god purueyeth thyng that is to come
4,1067  ffor that it is to come, and ellis nought?
4,1068  So myghte I wene that thynges alle and some,
4,1069  That whilom ben byfalle and ouercome,
4,1070  Ben cause of thilke souereyne purueyaunce
4,1071  That for-woot al with-outen ignoraunce.

4,1072  "And ouere al this, |et sey I more herto,
4,1073  That right as whan I wot ther is a thyng,
4,1074  I-wys, that thyng moot nedfully be so;
4,1075  Ek right so whan I woot a thyng comyng,
4,1076  So mot it come; and thus the bifallyng
4,1077  Of thynges that ben wist bifore the tyde,
4,1078  They mowe nat ben eschued on no syde."

4,1079  Thanne seyde he thus, "al-myghty Ioue in trone,
4,1080  That woost of al thys thyng the sothfastnesse,
4,1081  Rewe on my sorwe and do me deyen sone,
4,1082  Or bryng Criseyde and me fro this destresse."
4,1083  And whil he was in al this heuynesse,
4,1084  Disputyng with hym self in matere,
4,1085  Com Pandare in and seyde as |e may here.

4,1086  "O myghty god," quod Pandarus, "in trone,
4,1087  I! who say euere a wis man faren so?
4,1088  Whi Troilus, what thinkestow to doone?
4,1089  Hastow swich lust to ben thyn owen fo?
4,1090  What, perde, |et is nat Criseyde a-go!
4,1091  Whi list the so thi self fordoon for drede,
4,1092  That in thyn hed thyne eyen semen dede?

4,1093  "Hastow nat lyued many a |er byforn
4,1094  With-outen hire and ferd ful wel at ese?
4,1095  Artow for hire and for noon other born?
4,1096  Hath kynde the wrought al only hire to plese?
4,1097  Lat be, and thynk right thus in thi disese:
4,1098  That in the dees right as ther fallen chaunces,
4,1099  Right so in loue ther come and gon plesaunces.

4,1100  "And |et this is my wonder moste of alle,
4,1101  Whi thow thus sorwest, syn thow nost nat |it,
4,1102  Touchyng hire goyng, how that it shal falle,
4,1103  Ne |if she kan hire self destourben it.
4,1104  Thow hast nat |et assayed al hire wit;
4,1105  A man may al by-tyme his nekke beede
4,1106  Whan it shal of, and sorwen at the nede.

4,1107  "ffor-thi tak hede of that I shal the seye:
4,1108  I haue with hire y-spoke and longe y-be,
4,1109  So as acorded was bitwixe vs tweye.
4,1110  And euere mor me thynketh thus that she
4,1111  Hath somwhat in hire hertes priuete,
4,1112  Wher-with she kan, if I shal right arede,
4,1113  Destourbe al this of which thow art in drede.

4,1114  "ffor which my counseil is, what it is nyght,
4,1115  Thow to hire go and make of this an ende,
4,1116  And blisful Iuno thorugh hire grete myght
4,1117  Shal as I hope hire grace vnto vs sende.
4,1118  Myn herte seyth certeyn she shal nat wende;
4,1119  And forthi put thyn herte a while in reste,
4,1120  And holde this purpos, for it is the beste."

4,1121  This Troilus answered and sighte soore,
4,1122  "Thow seist right wel, and I wol don right so."
4,1123  And what hym liste, he seyde vn-to it more.
4,1124  And whan that it was tyme for to go,
4,1125  fful pryuely hym self, with-outen mo,
4,1126  Unto hire com as he was wont to doone,
4,1127  And how they wroughte, I shal |ow tellen soone.

4,1128  Soth is, that whan they gonnen first mete,
4,1129  So gan the peyne hire hertes forto twiste,
4,1130  That neyther of hem other myghte grete,
4,1131  But hem in armes toke and after kiste.
4,1132  The lasse woful of hem bothe nyste
4,1133  Wher that he was, ne myghte o word out bryng,
4,1134  As I seyde erst, for wo and for sobbyng.

4,1135  The woful teeris that they leten falle
4,1136  As bittre weren out of teris kynde,
4,1137  ffor peyne, as is ligne aloes or galle:
4,1138  So bittre teeris weep nought, as I fynde,
4,1139  The woful Mirra thorugh the bark and rynde;
4,1140  That in this world ther nys so hard an herte
4,1141  That nolde han rewed on hire peynes smerte.

4,1142  But whan hire woful weri goostes tweyne
4,1143  Retourned ben ther as hem owe to dwelle,
4,1144  And that somwhat to wayken gan the peyne
4,1145  By lengthe of pleynte, and ebben gan the welle
4,1146  Of hire teeris and the herte vnswelle,
4,1147  With broken vois, al hoors for-shright, Criseyde
4,1148  To Troilus thise ilke wordes seyde:

4,1149  "O Ioue, I deye, and mercy I beseche!
4,1150  Help, Troilus!" and ther-with-al hire face
4,1151  Up-on his brest she leyde and loste speche --
4,1152  Hire woful spirit from his propre place,
4,1153  Right with the word, alwey o poynt to pace --
4,1154  And thus she lith with hewes pale and grene,
4,1155  That whilom fresshe and fairest was to sene.

4,1156  This Troilus, that on hire gan biholde,
4,1157  Clepyng hire name -- and she lay as for dede,
4,1158  Withoute answere, and felte hire lymes colde,
4,1159  Hire eyen throwen vpward to hire hede --
4,1160  This sorwful man kan now noon other rede,
4,1161  But ofte tyme hire colde mowth he kiste:
4,1162  Wher hym was wo, god and hym self it wiste!

4,1163  He rist hym vp and long streght he hire leyde;
4,1164  ffor signe of lif, for aught he kan or may,
4,1165  Kan he non fynde in no thyng on Criseyde,
4,1166  ffor which his song ful ofte is "weylaway."
4,1167  But whan he saugh that specheles she lay,
4,1168  With sorweful vois and herte of blisse al bare,
4,1169  He seyde how she was fro this worlde y-fare.

4,1170  So after that he longe hadde hire compleyned,
4,1171  His hondes wrong and seyde that was to seye,
4,1172  And with hise teeris salt hire brest byreyned,
4,1173  He gan tho teeris wypen of ful dreye,
4,1174  And pitously gan for the soule preye,
4,1175  And seyde, "O lord that set art in thi trone,
4,1176  Rewe ek on me, for I shal folwe hire sone."

4,1177  She cold was and with-outen sentement,
4,1178  ffor aught he woot, for breth ne felte he non;
4,1179  And this was hym a pregnant argument
4,1180  That she was forth out of this world a-gon.
4,1181  And whan he say ther was non other woon,
4,1182  He gan hire lymes dresse in swich manere
4,1183  As men don hem that shal ben layde on beere.

4,1184  And after this with sterne and cruel herte,
4,1185  His swerd anon out of his shethe he twighte,
4,1186  Hym self to slen, how sore that hym smerte,
4,1187  So that his soule hire soule folwen myghte,
4,1188  Ther as the doom of Mynos wolde it dighte;
4,1189  Syn loue and cruel fortune it ne wolde,
4,1190  That in this world he lenger lyuen sholde.

4,1191  Than seyde he thus, fulfild of heigh desdayn,
4,1192  "O cruel Ioue, and thow fortune aduerse,
4,1193  This al and som, that falsly haue |e slayn
4,1194  Criseyde, and syn |e may do me no werse,
4,1195  ffy on |oure myghte and werkes so dyuerse!
4,1196  Thus cowardly |e shul me neuere wynne;
4,1197  Ther shal no deth me fro my lady twynne.

4,1198  "ffor I this world, syn |e haue slayn hire thus,
4,1199  Wol lete and folwe hire spirit low or hye;
4,1200  Shal neuere louere seyn that Troilus
4,1201  Dar nat for fere with his lady dye;
4,1202  ffor certeyn, I wol beere hire compaignie.
4,1203  But syn |e wol nat suffre vs lyuen here,
4,1204  ^et suffreth that oure soules ben y-fere.

4,1205  "And thow, Cite, which that I leue in wo,
4,1206  And thow, Priam, and bretheren alle yfeere,
4,1207  And thow, my Moder, far wel, for I go;
4,1208  And Atropos, make redy thow my beere.
4,1209  And thow Criseyde, O swete herte deere,
4,1210  Receyue now my spirit," wolde he seye,
4,1211  With swerd at herte, al redy forto deye.

4,1212  But as god wolde, of swough therwith shabreyde,
4,1213  And gan to sike and "Troilus" she cride,
4,1214  And he answerde, "lady myn, Criseyde,
4,1215  Lyue |e |eet?" and leet his swerd down glide.
4,1216  "^e, herte myn, that thonked be Cipride,"
4,1217  Quod she, and ther-with-al she soore syghte,
4,1218  And he bigan to glad hire as he myghte;

4,1219  Took hire in armes two and kiste hire ofte,
4,1220  And hire to glade he did al his entente;
4,1221  ffor which hire goost, that flikered ay o-lofte,
4,1222  In-to hire woful herte a|eyn it wente.
4,1223  But at the laste, as that hire eye glente
4,1224  A-syde, anon she gan his swerd espie,
4,1225  As it lay bare, and gan for fere crye,

4,1226  And asked hym whi he it hadde out drawe?
4,1227  And Troilus anon the cause hire tolde,
4,1228  And how hym self therwith he wolde han slawe;
4,1229  ffor which Criseyde vp-on hym gan biholde,
4,1230  And gan hym in hire armes faste folde,
4,1231  And seyde, "O mercy, god, lo, which a dede!
4,1232  Ailas, how neigh we weren bothe dede!

4,1233  "Than if I nadde spoken, as grace was,
4,1234  ^e wolde han slayn |oure self auon?" quod she.
4,1235  "^ee, douteles"; and she answerde, "allas,
4,1236  ffor by that ilke lord that made me,
4,1237  I nolde a forlong wey on lyue haue be
4,1238  After |oure deth, to han ben crowned Queene
4,1239  Of al that lond the sonne on shyneth sheene.

4,1240  "But with this selue swerd which that here is,
4,1241  My selue I wolde han slayne," quod she tho.
4,1242  "But hoo, for we han right ynough of this,
4,1243  And lat vs rise and streght to bedde go,
4,1244  Aud there lat vs speken of oure wo --
4,1245  ffor by the morter which that I se brenne,
4,1246  Knowe I ful wel that day is nat far henne."

4,1247  Whan they were in hire bed in armes folde,
4,1248  Naught was it lik tho nyghtes here by-forn;
4,1249  ffor pitously ech other gan by-holde,
4,1250  As they that hadden al hire blisse y-lorn,
4,1251  Bywaylinge ay the day that they were born,
4,1252  Til at the laste this sorwful wight Criseyde
4,1253  To Troilus thise ilke wordes seyde:

4,1254  "Lo, herte myn, wel woot |e this," quod she,
4,1255  "That if a wight alwey his wo compleyne,
4,1256  And seketh nought how holpen forto be,
4,1257  It nys but folie and encresse of peyne;
4,1258  And syn that here assembled be we tweyne,
4,1259  To fynde boote of wo that we ben inne,
4,1260  It were al tyme soone to bygynne.

4,1261  "I am a womman, as ful wel |e woot,
4,1262  And as I am auysed sodeynly,
4,1263  So wol I telle |ow while it is hoot:
4,1264  Me thynketh thus, that nouther |e nor I
4,1265  Ought half this wo to maken skilfully;
4,1266  ffor ther is art ynough forto redresse
4,1267  That |et is mys and slen this heuynesse.

4,1268  "Soth is, the wo the which that we ben inne,
4,1269  ffor aught I woot, for no-thyng ellis is
4,1270  But for the cause that we sholden twynne:
4,1271  Considered al, ther nys namore amys.
4,1272  But what is thanne a remede vnto this,
4,1273  But that we shape vs soone forto meete?
4,1274  This al and som, my deere herte sweete.

4,1275  "Now that I shal wel bryngen it a-boute
4,1276  To come a|eyn soone after that I go,
4,1277  Ther-of am I no manere thyng in doute;
4,1278  ffor dredeles, with-inne a wowke or two,
4,1279  I shal ben here; and that it may be so
4,1280  By alle right and in a wordes fewe,
4,1281  I shal |ow wel an heep of weyes shewe.

4,1282  "ffor which I wol nat make long sermoun,
4,1283  ffor tyme y-lost may nought recouered be;
4,1284  But I wol gon to my conclusioun,
4,1285  And to the beste in aught that I kan see.
4,1286  And for the loue of god for|eue it me,
4,1287  If I speke aught a|eyns |oure hertes reste;
4,1288  ffor trewely, I speke it for the beste,

4,1289  "Makyng alwey a protestacioun
4,1290  That now thise wordes which that I shal seye,
4,1291  Nis but to shewen |ow my mocioun
4,1292  To fynde vnto oure help the beste weye;
4,1293  And taketh it non other wise, I preye.
4,1294  ffor in effect what so |e me comaunde,
4,1295  That wol I don, for that is no demaunde.

4,1296  "Now herkneth this: |e han wel vnderstonde,
4,1297  My goyng graunted is by parlement
4,1298  So ferforth that it may nat be withstonde
4,1299  ffor al this world, as by my iugement;
4,1300  And syn ther helpeth non auisement
4,1301  To letten it, lat it passe out of mynde,
4,1302  And lat vs shape a bettre wey to fynde.

4,1303  "The soth is this: the twynnyng of vs tweyne
4,1304  Wol vs disese and cruelich anoye;
4,1305  But hym byhoueth som tyme han a peyne,
4,1306  That serueth loue, if that he wol haue ioye.
4,1307  And syn I shal no ferther out of Troie
4,1308  Than I may ride a|eyn on half a morwe,
4,1309  It oughte lesse causen vs to sorwe.

4,1310  "So as I shal not so ben hid in muwe,
4,1311  That day by day, myn owne herte deere,
4,1312  Syn wel |e woot that it is now a trewe,
4,1313  ^e shal ful wel al myn estat y-heere.
4,1314  And er that trewe is doon I shal ben heere;
4,1315  And thanne haue |e both Antenore y-wonne,
4,1316  And me also; beth glad now if |e konne.

4,1317  "And thenk right thus, "Criseyde is now agon,
4,1318  But what! she shal come hastiliche a|eyn.'
4,1319  And whanne, allas? by god, lo, right anon,
4,1320  Er dayes ten, this dar I saufly seyn.
4,1321  And than at erste shal we be so feyn,
4,1322  So as we shal to-gideres euere dwelle,
4,1323  That al this world ne myghte oure blisse telle.

4,1324  "I se that ofte tyme there as we ben now,
4,1325  That for the beste oure counseyl for to hide,
4,1326  ^e speke nat with me nor I with |ow
4,1327  In fourtenyght, ne se |ow go ne ride.
4,1328  May |e naught ten dayes thanne abide,
4,1329  ffor myn honour in swich an auenture?
4,1330  I-wys, |e mowen ellis lite endure.

4,1331  "^e knowe ek how that al my kynne is heere,
4,1332  But if that onliche it my fader be,
4,1333  And ek myn othere thynges alle yfeere --
4,1334  And nameliche, my deere herte, |e,
4,1335  Whom that I nolde leuen forto se
4,1336  ffor al this world, as wyde as it hath space --
4,1337  Or ellis se ich neuere Ioues face.

4,1338  "Whi trowe |e my fader in this wise
4,1339  Coueyteth so to se me, but for drede
4,1340  Lest in this town that folkes me despise
4,1341  By-cause of hym for his vnhappy dede?
4,1342  What woot my fader what lif that I lede?
4,1343  ffor if he wiste in Troie how wel I fare,
4,1344  Us neded for my wendyng nought to care.

4,1345  "^e sen that euery day ek more and more
4,1346  Men trete of pees and it supposid is
4,1347  That men the queene Eleyne shal restore,
4,1348  And Grekis vs restoren that is mys;
4,1349  So though ther nere comfort non but this,
4,1350  That men purposen pees on euery syde,
4,1351  ^e may the bettre at ese of herte abyde.

4,1352  "ffor if that it be pees, myn herte deere,
4,1353  The nature of the pees moot nedes dryue
4,1354  That men moost entrecomunen yfeere,
4,1355  And to and fro ek ride and gon as blyue
4,1356  Alday as thikke as been fleen from an hyue,
4,1357  And euery wight han liberte to bleue
4,1358  Where-as hym liste the bet withouten leue.

4,1359  "And though so be that pees ther may be non,
4,1360  ^et hider, though ther neuere pees ne were,
4,1361  I moste come; for whider sholde I gon,
4,1362  Or how meschaunce sholde I dwelle there
4,1363  Among tho men of armes euere in feere?
4,1364  ffor which, as wisly god my soule rede,
4,1365  I kan nat sen wher-of |e sholden drede.

4,1366  "Haue here another wey, if it so be
4,1367  That al this thyng ne may |ow nat suffise:
4,1368  My fader as |e knowen wel, parde,
4,1369  Is old, and elde is ful of coueytise;
4,1370  And I right now haue founden al the gise,
4,1371  With-outen net, wherwith I shal hym hente;
4,1372  And herkeneth how, if that |e wol assente.

4,1373  "Lo, Troilus, men seyn that hard it is
4,1374  The wolf ful and the wether hool to haue;
4,1375  This is to seyn, that men ful ofte, i-wys,
4,1376  Mote spenden part the remenant for to saue;
4,1377  ffor ay with gold men may the herte graue
4,1378  Of hym that set is vp-on coueytise;
4,1379  And how I mene, I shal it |ow deuyse.

4,1380  "The moeble which that I haue in this town
4,1381  Unto my fader shal I take and seye
4,1382  That right for trust and for sauacioun
4,1383  It sent is from a frend of his or tweye,
4,1384  The whiche frendes feruentliche hym preye
4,1385  To senden after more and that in hie,
4,1386  Whil that this town stant thus in iupartie.

4,1387  "And that shal ben an huge quantite --
4,1388  Thus shal I seyn -- but lest it folk aspide,
4,1389  This may be sent by no wyght but by me.
4,1390  I shal ek shewen hym, yf pes by-tyde,
4,1391  What frendes that ich haue on euery syde
4,1392  Toward the Court, to don the wrathe pace
4,1393  Of Priamus and don hym stonde in grace.

4,1394  "So what for o thyng and for other, swete,
4,1395  I shal hym so enchaunten with my sawes,
4,1396  That right in heuene his sowle is, shal he mete;
4,1397  ffor al Appollo or his clerkes lawes,
4,1398  Or calkullynge, auayleth nought thre hawes;
4,1399  Desir of gold shal so his soule blende,
4,1400  That as me lyst I shal wel make an ende.

4,1401  "And yf he wolde ought by hys sort it preue
4,1402  If that I lye, in certayn I shal fonde
4,1403  Distorben hym and plukke hym by the sleue,
4,1404  Makynge his sort, and beren hym on honde
4,1405  He hath not wel the goddes vnderstonde;
4,1406  ffor goddes speken in amphibologies,
4,1407  And for a soth they tellen twenty lyes.

4,1408  "Eke drede fond first goddes, I suppose --
4,1409  Thus shal I seyn -- and that his coward herte
4,1410  Made hym amys the goddes text to glose,
4,1411  Whan he for fered out of Delphos sterte.
4,1412  And but I make hym soone to conuerte,
4,1413  And don my rede with-inne a day or tweye,
4,1414  I wol to |ow oblige me to deye."

4,1415  And treweliche, as writen wel I fynde,
4,1416  That al this thyng was seyd of good entente;
4,1417  And that hire herte trewe was and kynde
4,1418  Towardes hym and spak right as she mente,
4,1419  And that she starf for wo neigh whan she wente,
4,1420  And was in purpos euere to be trewe:
4,1421  Thus writen they that of hire werkes knewe.

4,1422  This Troilus, with herte and erys spradde,
4,1423  Herde al this thyng deuysen to and fro,
4,1424  And verrayliche hym semed that he hadde
4,1425  The selue wit, but |et to late hire go
4,1426  His herte mys-for|af hym euere mo.
4,1427  But fynaly he gan his herte wreste
4,1428  To trusten hire and took it for the beste.

4,1429  ffor which the grete furie of his penaunce
4,1430  Was queynt with hope, and therwith hem bitwene
4,1431  Bigan for ioie thamorouse daunce;
4,1432  And as the briddes whanne the sonne is shene
4,1433  Deliten in hire song in leues grene,
4,1434  Right so the wordes that they spake y-feere
4,1435  Delited hem and made hire hertes clere.

4,1436  But natheles, the wendyng of Criseyde
4,1437  ffor al this world may nat out of his mynde;
4,1438  ffor which ful ofte he pitously hire preyde
4,1439  That of hire heste he myghte hire trewe fynde,
4,1440  And seyde hire, "certes, if |e be vnkynde,
4,1441  And but |e come at day set in-to Troye,
4,1442  Ne shal I neuere haue hele, honour ne ioye.

4,1443  "ffor also soth as sonne vp-rist o-morwe,
4,1444  And god so wisly thow me, woful wrecche,
4,1445  To reste brynge out of this cruel sorwe,
4,1446  I wol my seluen sle if that |e drecche.
4,1447  But of my deth though litel be to recche,
4,1448  ^et er that |e me causen so to smerte,
4,1449  Dwelle rather here, myn owen swete herte.

4,1450  "ffor trewely, myn owne lady deere,
4,1451  Tho sleghtes |it that I haue herd |ow stere
4,1452  fful shaply ben to faylen alle y-feere.
4,1453  ffor thus men seyth: "that on thenketh the beere,
4,1454  But al another thenketh his ledere.'
4,1455  ^oure syre is wys, and seyd is out of drede:
4,1456  "Men may the wise at-renne and naught atrede.'

4,1457  "It is ful hard to halten vnespied
4,1458  Byfore a crepel, for he kan the crafte;
4,1459  ^oure fader is in sleght as Argus eyed;
4,1460  ffor al be that his moeble is hym birafte,
4,1461  His olde sleighte is |et so with hym lafte:
4,1462  ^e shal nat blende hym for |oure wommanhede,
4,1463  Ne feyne aright, and that is al my drede.

4,1464  "I not if pees shal euere mo bitide;
4,1465  But pees or no, for ernest ne for game,
4,1466  I woot, syn Calkas on the Grekis syde
4,1467  Hath ones ben, and lost so foule his name,
4,1468  He dar nomore come here a|eyn for shame;
4,1469  ffor which that wey, for aught I kan espie,
4,1470  To trusten on nys but a fantasie.

4,1471  "^e shal ek sen |oure fader shal |ow glose
4,1472  To ben a wif and, as he kan wel preche,
4,1473  He shal som Grek so preyse and wel allose,
4,1474  That rauysshen he shal |ow with his speche,
4,1475  Or do |ow don by force as he shal teche;
4,1476  And Troilus, of whom |e nyl han routhe,
4,1477  Shal causeles so steruen in his trouthe.

4,1478  "And ouere al this, |oure fader shal despise
4,1479  Us alle and seyn this Cite nys but lorne,
4,1480  And that thassege neuere shal aryse,
4,1481  ffor whi the Grekis han it alle sworne,
4,1482  Tyl we be slayn and down oure walles torne.
4,1483  And thus he shal |ow with his wordes fere,
4,1484  That ay drede I that |e wol bleuen there.

4,1485  "^e shal ek seen so many a lusty knyghte
4,1486  Amonge the Grekis, ful of worthynesse,
4,1487  And ech of hem with herte, wit and myghte,
4,1488  To plesen |ow don al his bisynesse,
4,1489  That |e shul dullen of the rudenesse
4,1490  Of vs sely Troians, but if routhe
4,1491  Remorde |ow or vertue of |oure trouthe.

4,1492  "And this to me so greuous is to thynke,
4,1493  That fro my brest it wol my soule rende;
4,1494  Ne dredeles in me ther may nat synke
4,1495  A good opynyoun if that |e wende;
4,1496  ffor whi |oure fadres sleghte wol vs shende.
4,1497  And if |e gon, as I haue told |ow |ore,
4,1498  So thenk I nam but ded, with-oute more.

4,1499  "ffor which with humble, trewe and pitous herte,
4,1500  A thousand tymes mercy I |ow preye;
4,1501  So rueth on myn aspre peynes smerte,
4,1502  And doth somwhat as that I shal |ow seye,
4,1503  And lat vs stele awey bitwixe vs tweye;
4,1504  And thynk that folie is whan man may chese,
4,1505  ffor accident his substaunce ay to lese.

4,1506  "I mene thus, that syn we mowe er day
4,1507  Wel stele awey and ben togidere so,
4,1508  What wit were it to putten in assay,
4,1509  In cas |e sholden to |oure fader go,
4,1510  If that |e myghten come a|eyn or no?
4,1511  Thus mene I, that it were a gret folie
4,1512  To putte that sikernesse in iupertie.

4,1513  "And vulgarly to speken of substaunce,
4,1514  Of tresour may we bothe with vs lede
4,1515  I-nough to lyue in honour and plesaunce
4,1516  Til in-to tyme that we shal ben dede;
4,1517  And thus we may eschuen al this drede.
4,1518  ffor euerich other wey |e kan recorde,
4,1519  Myn herte, ywys, may therwith naught acorde.

4,1520  "And hardily, ne dredeth no pouerte,
4,1521  ffor I haue kyn and frendes elles-where,
4,1522  That though we comen in oure bare sherte,
4,1523  Us sholde neyther lakken gold ne gere,
4,1524  But ben honured while we dwelten there.
4,1525  And go we anon, for as in myn entente,
4,1526  This is the beste, if that |e wol assente."

4,1527  Criseyde, with a sik right in this wise,
4,1528  Answerde, "y-wys, my deere herte trewe,
4,1529  We may wel stele awey as |e deuyse,
4,1530  And fynden swich vnthrifty weyes newe;
4,1531  But afterward ful soore it wol vs rewe,
4,1532  And helpe me god so at my mooste nede,
4,1533  As causeles |e suffren al this drede.

4,1534  "ffor thilke day that I for cherisyng
4,1535  Or drede of fader, or for other wight,
4,1536  Or for estat, delit or for weddyng,
4,1537  Be fals to |ow, my Troilus, my knyght,
4,1538  Saturnes doughter, Iuno, thorugh hire myght,
4,1539  As wood as Athamante do me dwelle
4,1540  Eternalich in Stix, the put of helle.

4,1541  "And this on euery god celestial
4,1542  I swere it |ow and ek on eche goddesse,
4,1543  On euery nymphe and deite infernal,
4,1544  On satiry and fawny more and lesse,
4,1545  That halue goddes ben of wildernesse;
4,1546  And Attropos my thred of lif to-breste,
4,1547  If I be fals -- now trowe me if |ow leste.

4,1548  "And thow Symois, that as an arwe clere
4,1549  Thorugh Troie ay rennest downward to the se,
4,1550  Ber witnesse of this word that seyd is here,
4,1551  That thilke day that ich vntrewe be
4,1552  To Troilus, myn owene herte fre,
4,1553  That thow retourne bakward to thi welle,
4,1554  And I with body and soule synke in helle.

4,1555  "But that |e speke awey thus forto go
4,1556  And leten alle |oure frendes, god forbede,
4,1557  ffor any womman that |e sholden so,
4,1558  And namely syn Troie hath now swich nede
4,1559  Of help; and ek of o thyng taketh hede:
4,1560  If this were wist, my lif lay in balaunce,
4,1561  And |oure honour -- god shilde us fro meschaunce!

4,1562  "And if so be that pees heere after take,
4,1563  As alday happeth after anger game,
4,1564  Whi, lord, the sorwe and wo |e wolden make,
4,1565  That |e ne dorste come a|eyn for shame;
4,1566  And er that |e iuperten so |oure name,
4,1567  Beth naught to hastif in this hoote fare --
4,1568  ffor hastif man ne wanteth neuere care.

4,1569  "What trowe |e the peple ek al aboute
4,1570  Wolde of it seye? It is ful light tarede:
4,1571  They wolden seye and swere and it out of doute
4,1572  That loue ne drof |ow naught to don this dede,
4,1573  But lust voluptuous and coward drede.
4,1574  Thus were al lost, ywys, myn herte deere,
4,1575  ^oure honour which that now shyneth so clere.

4,1576  "And also thynketh on myn honeste,
4,1577  That floureth |et, how foule I sholde it shende,
4,1578  And with what filthe it spotted sholde be,
4,1579  If in this forme I sholde with |ow wende;
4,1580  Ne though I lyued vnto the werldes ende,
4,1581  My name sholde I neuere a|eynward wynne:
4,1582  Thus were I lost, and that were routhe and synne.

4,1583  "And for-thi sle with resoun al this hete;
4,1584  Men seyn, 'the suffrant ouercomith,' parde;
4,1585  Ek 'who-so wole han lief, he lief moot lete.'
4,1586  Thus maketh vertue of necessite
4,1587  By pacience, and thynk that lord is he
4,1588  Of fortune ay that naught wole of hire recche;
4,1589  And she ne daunteth no wight but a wrecche.

4,1590  "And trusteth this, that certes, herte swete,
4,1591  Er Phebus suster, Lucina the sheene,
4,1592  The leoun passe out of this Ariete,
4,1593  I wol ben here withouten any wene:
4,1594  I mene, as helpe me Iuno, heuenes quene,
4,1595  The tenthe day, but if that deth messaile,
4,1596  I wol |ow sen with-outen any faille."

4,1597  "And now, so this be soth," quod Troilus,
4,1598  "I shal wel suffre vnto the tenthe day,
4,1599  Syn that I se that nede it mot be thus.
4,1600  But for the loue of god, if it be may,
4,1601  So late vs stelen priueliche away;
4,1602  ffor euere in oon, as forto liue in reste,
4,1603  Myn herte seyth that it wol be the beste."

4,1604  "O mercy, god, what lif is this?" quod she,
4,1605  "Allas, |e sle me thus for verray tene.
4,1606  I se wel now that |e mystrusten me,
4,1607  ffor by |oure wordes it is wel yseene.
4,1608  Now for the loue of Cinthia the sheene,
4,1609  Mistrust me nought thus causeles for routhe,
4,1610  Syn to be trewe I haue |ow plight my trouthe.

4,1611  "And thynketh wel that som tyme it is wit
4,1612  To spende a tyme a tyme forto wynne;
4,1613  Ne, parde, lorn am I naught fro |ow |it,
4,1614  Though that we ben a day or two atwynne.
4,1615  Drif out tho fantasies |ow with-inne,
4,1616  And trusteth me and leueth ek |oure sorwe,
4,1617  Or here my trouthe, I wol naught lyue tyl morwe.

4,1618  "ffor if |e wiste how soore it doth me smerte,
4,1619  ^e wolde cesse of this; for god thow woste,
4,1620  The pure spirit wepeth in myn herte
4,1621  To se |ow wepen that I loue moste,
4,1622  And that I mot gon to the Grekis ooste.
4,1623  ^e, nere it that I wiste remedie
4,1624  To come a|eyn, right here I wolde dye.

4,1625  "But certes, I am naught so nyce a wight
4,1626  That I ne kan ymaginen a wey
4,1627  To come a|eyn that day that I haue hight,
4,1628  ffor who may holde a thing that wol awey?
4,1629  My fader naught, for al his queynte pley.
4,1630  And by my thrift, my wendyng out of Troie
4,1631  A-nother day shal torne vs alle to ioie.

4,1632  "fforthi with al myn herte I |ow biseke,
4,1633  If that |ow list don ought for my preyere,
4,1634  And for that loue which that I loue |ow eke,
4,1635  That er that I deperte fro |ow here,
4,1636  That of so good a confort and a cheere
4,1637  I may |ow sen, that |e may brynge at reste
4,1638  Myn herte which that is o poynt to breste.

4,1639  "And ouere al this I prey |ow," quod she tho,
4,1640  "Myn owene hertes sothfast suffisaunce,
4,1641  Syn I am thyn al hol with-outen mo,
4,1642  That whil that I am absent no plesaunce
4,1643  Of oother do me fro |oure remembraunce:
4,1644  ffor I am euere agast, for why men rede
4,1645  That loue is thyng ay ful of bisy drede.

4,1646  "ffor in this world ther lyueth lady non,
4,1647  If that |e were vntrewe, as god defende,
4,1648  That so bitraised were or wo bigon
4,1649  As I, that alle trouthe in |ow entende.
4,1650  And douteles, if that ich other wende,
4,1651  I ner but ded, and er |e cause fynde,
4,1652  ffor goddes loue, so beth me naught vnkynde."

4,1653  To this answerde Troilus and seyde,
4,1654  "Now god, to whom ther nys no cause y-wrye,
4,1655  Me glad, as wys I neuere vnto Criseyde,
4,1656  Syn thilke day I saugh hire first with ye,
4,1657  Was fals ne neuere shal til that I dye.
4,1658  At shorte wordes, wel |e may me leue;
4,1659  I kan namore, it shal be founde at preue."

4,1660  "Grant mercy, goode myn, i-wys," quod she,
4,1661  "And blisful Venus lat me neuere sterue
4,1662  Er I may stonde of plesaunce in degree
4,1663  To quyte hym wel that so wel kan deserue;
4,1664  And while that god my wit wol me conserue,
4,1665  I shal so don, so trewe I haue |ow founde,
4,1666  That ay honour to meward shal rebounde.

4,1667  "ffor trusteth wel that |oure estat roiale,
4,1668  Ne veyn delit nor only worthinesse
4,1669  Of |ow in werre or torney marciale,
4,1670  Ne pompe, array, nobleye or ek richesse,
4,1671  Ne made me to rewe on |oure destresse;
4,1672  But moral vertue grounded vp-on trouthe,
4,1673  That was the cause I first hadde on |ow routhe.

4,1674  "Eke gentil herte and manhod that |e hadde,
4,1675  And that |e hadde, as me thoughte, in despit
4,1676  Euery thyng that souned in-to badde,
4,1677  As rudenesse and poeplissh appetit,
4,1678  And that |oure resoun bridlede |oure delit;
4,1679  This made, abouen euery creature,
4,1680  That I was |oure and shal while I may dure.

4,1681  "And this may lengthe of |eres naught fordo,
4,1682  Ne remuable fortune deface;
4,1683  But Iuppiter that of his myght may do
4,1684  The sorwful to be glad, so |eue vs grace,
4,1685  Or nyghtes ten to meten in this place,
4,1686  So that it may |oure herte and myn suffise;
4,1687  And fareth now wel, for tyme is that |e rise."

4,1688  And after that they longe ypleyned hadde,
4,1689  And ofte ykist and streite in armes folde,
4,1690  The day gan rise and Troilus hym cladde,
4,1691  And rewfullich his lady gan byholde,
4,1692  As he that felte dethes cares colde,
4,1693  And to hire grace he gan hym recomaunde:
4,1694  Wher hym was wo, this holde I no demaunde.

4,1695  ffor mannes hed ymagynen ne kan,
4,1696  Nentendement considere, ne tonge telle
4,1697  The cruele peynes of this sorwful man,
4,1698  That passen euery torment down in helle.
4,1699  ffor whan he saugh that she ne myghte dwelle,
4,1700  Which that his soule out of his herte rente,
4,1701  With-outen more out of the chaumbre he wente.
         <1Explicit liber quartus.>1
      <1Incipit liber quintus>1
5,1  Aprochen gan the fatal destyne
5,2  That Ioues hath in disposicioun,
5,3  And to |ow, angry Parcas, sustren thre,
5,4  Committeth to don execucioun;
5,5  ffor which Criseyde moste out of the town,
5,6  And Troilus shal dwellen forth in pyne
5,7  Til Lachesis his thred no lenger twyne.

5,8  The goldetressed Phebus heighe on lofte
5,9  Thries hadde al with hise bemes clene
5,10  The snowes molte, and ^epherus as ofte
5,11  Ibrought a|eyn the tendre leues grene,
5,12  Syn that the sone of Ecuba the queene
5,13  Bigan to loue hire first, for whom his sorwe
5,14  Was al that she deperte sholde amorwe.

5,15  fful redy was at prime Diomede,
5,16  Criseyde vn-to the Grekis oost to lede,
5,17  ffor sorwe of which she felt hire herte blede,
5,18  As she that nyste what was best to rede.
5,19  And trewely, as men in bokes rede,
5,20  Men wiste neuere womman han the care,
5,21  Ne was so loth out of a town to fare.

5,22  This Troilus, with-outen reed or loore,
5,23  As man that hath hise ioies ek forlore,
5,24  Was waytyng on his lady euere more,
5,25  As she that was the sothfast crop and more
5,26  Of al his lust or ioies here-bifore.
5,27  But Troilus, now far wel al thi ioie,
5,28  ffor shaltow neuere sen hire eft in Troie.

5,29  Soth is that while he bood in this manere,
5,30  He gan his wo ful manly forto hide,
5,31  That wel vnnethe it sene was in his chere.
5,32  But at the |ate ther she sholde out ride,
5,33  With certeyn folk he houed hire tabide,
5,34  So wo-bigon, al wolde he naught hym pleyne,
5,35  That on his hors vnnethe he sat for peyne.

5,36  ffor ire he quook, so gan his herte gnawe,
5,37  Whan Diomede on horse gan hym dresse,
5,38  And seyde to hym self this ilke sawe:
5,39  "Allas," quod he, "thus foul a wrecchednesse,
5,40  Whi suffre ich it, whi nyl ich it redresse?
5,41  Were it nat bet atones for to dye
5,42  Than euere more in langour thus to drye?"

5,43  "Why nyl I make atones riche and pore
5,44  To haue inough to doone er that she go?
5,45  Why nyl I brynge al Troie vp-on a roore?
5,46  Why nyl I slen this Diomede also?
5,47  Why nyl I rather with a man or two
5,48  Stele hire away? Whi wol I this endure?
5,49  Whil nyl I helpen to myn owen cure?"

5,50  But why he nolde don so fel a dede,
5,51  That shal I seyn and whi hym liste it spare:
5,52  He hadde in herte alweyes a manere drede,
5,53  Lest that Criseyde in rumour of this fare
5,54  Sholde han ben slayn -- lo, this was al his care,
5,55  And ellis, certeyn, as I seyde |ore,
5,56  He hadde it don with-outen wordes more.

5,57  Criseyde, whan she redy was to ride,
5,58  fful sorwfully she sighte and seyde "allas."
5,59  But forth she moot for aught that may bitide,
5,60  Ther nys non other remedie in this cas.
5,61  And forth she rit ful sorwfully a pas.
5,62  What wonder is though that hire sore smerte,
5,63  Whan she forgoth hire owen dere herte?

5,64  This Troilus, in wise of curteysie,
5,65  With hauke on honde and with an huge route
5,66  Of knyghtes, rood and did hire companye,
5,67  Passyng al the valeye fer with-oute,
5,68  And ferther wolde han riden out of doute
5,69  fful fayn, and wo was hym to gon so sone;
5,70  But torne he moste, and it was ek to done.

5,71  And right with that was Antenor ycome
5,72  Out of the Grekis oost, and euery wight
5,73  Was of it glad and seyde he was welcome.
5,74  And Troilus, al nere his herte light,
5,75  He peyned hym with al his fulle myght
5,76  Hym to withholde of wepyng atte leeste,
5,77  And Antenor he kiste and made feste.

5,78  And ther-with-al he moste his leue take,
5,79  And caste his eye vp-on hire pitously,
5,80  And neer he rood his cause forto make,
5,81  To take hire by the honde al sobrely;
5,82  And lord, so she gan wepen tendrely,
5,83  And he ful softe and sleighly gan hire seye,
5,84  "Now holde |oure day and do me nat to deye."

5,85  With that his courser torned he aboute
5,86  With face pale, and vnto Diomede
5,87  No word he spak, ne non of al his route;
5,88  Of which the sone of Tideus took hede,
5,89  As he that koude more than the Crede
5,90  In swich a craft, and by the reyne hire hente;
5,91  And Troilus to Troie homward he wente.

5,92  This Diomede that ledde hire by the bridel,
5,93  Whan that he saugh the folk of Troie aweye,
5,94  Thoughte, "al my labour shal nat ben on ydel,
5,95  If that I may, for somwhat shall I seye;
5,96  ffor at the werste it may |et shorte oure weye.
5,97  I haue herd seyd ek tymes twyes twelue,
5,98  "He is a fool that wol for|ete hym selue."

5,99  But natheles this thoughte he wel ynough,
5,100  That, "certeynlich I am aboute nought
5,101  If that I speke of loue or make it tough;
5,102  ffor douteles, if she haue in hire thought
5,103  Hym that I gesse, he may nat ben ybrought
5,104  So soon awey; but I shal fynde a meene
5,105  That she naught wite as |et shal what I mene.',

5,106  This Diomede, as he that koude his good,
5,107  Whan tyme was, gan fallen forth in speche
5,108  Of this and that, and axed whi she stood
5,109  In swich disese and gan hire ek biseche,
5,110  That if that he encresse myghte or eche
5,111  With any thyng hire ese, that she sholde
5,112  Comaunde it hym, and seyde he don it wolde.

5,113  ffor treweliche he swor hire as a knyght,
5,114  That ther nas thyng with which he myghte hire plese,
5,115  That he nolde don his peyne and al his myght
5,116  To don it for to don hire herte an ese;
5,117  And preyde hire she wolde hire sorwe apese,
5,118  And seyde, "I-wis, we Greekis kan haue ioie
5,119  To honouren |ow as wel as folk of Troie."

5,120  He seyde ek thus, "I woot |ow thynketh straunge --
5,121  No wonder is, for it is to |ow newe --
5,122  Thaquayntaunce of thise Troians to chaunge
5,123  ffor folk of Grece that |e neuere knewe.
5,124  But wolde neuere god but if as trewe
5,125  A Grek |e sholde among vs alle fynde
5,126  As any Troian is and ek as kynde."

5,127  "And by the cause I swor |ow right, lo, now,
5,128  To ben |oure frend and helply to my myght,
5,129  And for that more aquayntauace ek of |ow
5,130  Haue ich had than another straunger wight,
5,131  So fro this forth I pray |ow, day and nyght,
5,132  Comaundeth me, how soore that me smerte,
5,133  To don al that may like vnto |oure herte;

5,134  "And that |e me wolde as |oure brother trete,
5,135  And taketh naught my frendshipe in despite;
5,136  And though |oure sorwes be for thynges grete,
5,137  Not I nat whi, but out of more respite,
5,138  Myn herte hath for tamende it gret delite:
5,139  And if I may |oure harmes nat redresse,
5,140  I am right sory for |oure heuynesse.

5,141  "ffor though |e Troians with vs Grekes wrothe
5,142  Han many a day ben, alwey |et, parde,
5,143  O god of loue in soth we seruen bothe.
5,144  And for the loue of god, my lady fre,
5,145  Whom so |e hate, as beth nat wroth with me;
5,146  ffor trewely ther kan no wyght |ow serue,
5,147  That half so loth |oure wratthe wold disserue.

5,148  "And nere it that we ben so neigh the tente
5,149  Of Calcas which that sen vs bothe may,
5,150  I wolde of this |ow telle al myn entente;
5,151  But this enseled til anothir day.
5,152  ^eue me |oure honde; I am and shal ben ay,
5,153  God helpe me so, while that my lyf may dure,
5,154  ^oure owene abouen euery creature.

5,155  "Thus seyde I neuere er now to womman born;
5,156  ffor god myn herte as wisly glade so,
5,157  I loued neuere womman here-biforn
5,158  As paramours, ne neuere shal no mo.
5,159  And for the loue of god beth nat my fo,
5,160  Al kan I naught to |ow, my lady deere,
5,161  Compleyne aright, for I am |et to leere.

5,162  "And wondreth nought, myn owen lady bright,
5,163  Though that I speke of loue to |ow thus blyue;
5,164  ffor I haue herd er this of many a wight
5,165  Hath loued thyng he neuere saigh his lyue:
5,166  Ek I am nat of power forto stryue
5,167  A|eyns the god of loue, but hym obeye
5,168  I wole alwey, and mercye l |ow preye.

5,169  "Ther ben so worthi knyghtes in this place,
5,170  And |e so fayre, that euerich of hem alle
5,171  Wol peynen hym to stonden in |oure grace.
5,172  But myghte me so faire a grace falle,
5,173  That |e me for |oure seruant wolde calle,
5,174  So lowely ne so trewely |ow serue
5,175  Nil non of hem, as I shal, til I sterue."

5,176  Criseyde vn-to that purpos lite answerde,
5,177  As she that was with sorwe oppressed so
5,178  That in effect she naught hise tales herde
5,179  But here and ther, now here a word or two.
5,180  Hire thoughte hire sorwful herte brast atwo,
5,181  ffor whan she gan hire fader fer espie,
5,182  Wel neigh down of hire hors she gan to sye.

5,183  But natheles she thonketh Diomede
5,184  Of alle his trauaile and his goode cheere,
5,185  And that hym list his frendshipe hire to bede;
5,186  And she accepteth it in good manere,
5,187  And wol do fayn that is hym lief and dere,
5,188  And tristen hym she wolde, and wel she myghte,
5,189  As seyde she, and from hire hors shalighte.

5,190  Hire fader hath hire in hise armes nome,
5,191  And twenty tyme he kiste his doughter sweete,
5,192  And seyde, "O deere doughter myn, welcome."
5,193  She seyde ek she was fayn with hym to mete,
5,194  And stood forth muwet, milde and mansuete.
5,195  But here I leue hire with hire fader dwelle,
5,196  And forth I wol of Troilus |ow telle.

5,197  To Troie is come this woful Troilus,
5,198  In sorwe abouen alle sorwes smerte,
5,199  With feloun look and face dispitous.
5,200  Tho sodeynly doun from his hors he sterte,
5,201  And thorugh his paleis with a swollen herte
5,202  To chaumbre he wente; of no wight took he hede,
5,203  Ne non to hym dar speke a word for drede.

5,204  And ther his sorwes that he spared hadde
5,205  He |af an issue large and "deth" he criede;
5,206  And in his throwes frenetik and madde
5,207  He corseth Ioue, Appollo and ek Cupide,
5,208  He corseth Ceres, Bacus and Cipride,
5,209  His burthe, hym self, his fate and ek nature,
5,210  And, saue his lady, euery creature.

5,211  To bedde he goth, and walwith ther and torneth
5,212  In furie, as doth he Ixion in helle;
5,213  And in this wise he neigh til day soiorneth.
5,214  But tho bigan his herte a lite vnswelle
5,215  Thorugh teris which that gonnen vp to welle,
5,216  And pitously he cryde vpon Criseyde,
5,217  And to hym self right thus he spak and seyde:

5,218  "Wher is myn owene lady lief and deere?
5,219  Wher is hire white brest, wher is it, where?
5,220  Wher ben hire armes and hire eyen cleere,
5,221  That |esternyght this tyme with me were?
5,222  Now may I wepe allone many a teere,
5,223  And graspe aboute I may, but in this place,
5,224  Saue a pilowe, I fynde naught tenbrace.

5,225  "How shal I do? Whan shal she come a|eyn?
5,226  I not, allas! whi lete ich hire to go?
5,227  As wolde god ich hadde as tho ben sleyn!
5,228  O herte myn, Criseyde, O swete fo!
5,229  O lady myn, that I loue and namo,
5,230  To whom for euermo myn herte I dowe,
5,231  Se how I dye -- |e nyl me nat rescowe.

5,232  "Who seth |ow now, my righte lode sterre?
5,233  Who sit right now or stant in |oure presence?
5,234  Who kan conforten now |oure hertes werre?
5,235  Now I am gon, whom |eue |e audience?
5,236  Who speketh for me right now in myn absence?
5,237  Allas, no wight, and that is al my care,
5,238  ffor wel woot I as yuele as I |e fare.

5,239  "How sholde I thus ten dayes ful endure,
5,240  Whan I the firste nyght haue al this tene?
5,241  How shal she don ek, sorwful creature?
5,242  ffor tendernesse how shal she ek sustene
5,243  Swich wo for me? O pitous, pale and grene
5,244  Shal ben |oure fresshe wommanliche face
5,245  ffor langoure, er |e torne vnto this place."

5,246  And whan he fille in any slomberynges,
5,247  Anon bygynne he sholde forto grone,
5,248  And dremen of the dredefulleste thynges
5,249  That myghte ben: as mete he were allone
5,250  In place horrible, makyng ay his mone,
5,251  Or meten that he was amonges alle
5,252  His enemys and in hire hondes falle.

5,253  And therwith-al his body sholde sterte,
5,254  And with the sterte al sodeynliche awake,
5,255  And swiche a tremour fele aboute his herte,
5,256  That of the fere his body sholde quake;
5,257  And therwith-al he sholde a noyse make,
5,258  And seme as though he sholde falle depe
5,259  ffrom heighe o-lofte, and thanne he wolde wepe,

5,260  And rewen on hym self so pitously,
5,261  That wonder was to here his fantasie.
5,262  Another tyme he sholde myghtyly
5,263  Conforte hym self and sein it was folie,
5,264  So causeles swich drede forto drye;
5,265  And eft bygynne his aspre sorwes newe,
5,266  That euery man myght on his sorwes rewe.

5,267  Who koude telle aright or ful discryue
5,268  His wo, his pleynt, his langoure and his pyne?
5,269  Naught alle the men that han or ben on lyue.
5,270  Thow redere, maist thi self ful wel deuyne
5,271  That swich a wo my wit kan nat diffyne.
5,272  On ydel forto write it sholde I swynke,
5,273  Whan that my wit is wery it to thynke.

5,274  On heuene |et the sterres weren seene,
5,275  Al-though ful pale y-woxen was the moone,
5,276  And whiten gan the orisonte shene
5,277  Al estward as it wont is to doone;
5,278  And Phebus with his rosy carte soone
5,279  Gan after that to dresse hym vp to fare
5,280  Whan Troilus hath sent after Pandare.

5,281  This Pandare, that of al the day biforn
5,282  Ne myghte ham comen Troilus to se,
5,283  Al-though he on his hed it hadde sworn --
5,284  ffor with the kyng Priam alday was he,
5,285  So that it lay nought in his libertee
5,286  Nowher to gon -- but on the morwe he wente
5,287  To Troilus whan that he for hym sente.

5,288  ffor in his herte he koude wel deuyne
5,289  That Troilus al nygh for sorwe wooke,
5,290  And that he wolde telle hym of his pyne--
5,291  This knew he wel ynough with-oute booke.
5,292  ffor which to chaumbre streght the wey he tooke,
5,293  And Troilus tho sobrelich he grette,
5,294  And on the bed ful sone he gan hym sette.

5,295  "My Pandarus," quod Troilus, "the sorwe
5,296  Which that I drye, I may nat longe endure:
5,297  I trowe I shal nat lyuen tyl to-morwe.
5,298  ffor which I wolde alweys on auenture
5,299  To the deuysen of my sepulture
5,300  The fourme, and of my moeble thow dispone
5,301  Right as the semeth best is forto done.

5,302  "But of the fir and flaumbe funeral
5,303  In which my body brennen shal to glede,
5,304  And of the feste and pleyes palestral
5,305  At my vigile, I prey the tak good hede
5,306  That al be wel and offre Mars my steede,
5,307  My swerd, myn helm and, leue brother deere,
5,308  My sheld to Pallas |ef, that shyneth cleere.

5,309  "The poudre in which myn herte y-brend shal torne,
5,310  That preye I the thow take and it conserue
5,311  In a vessell that men clepeth an vrne
5,312  Of gold, and to my lady that I serue,
5,313  ffor loue of whom thus pitouslich I sterue,
5,314  So |eue it hire and do me this plesaunce,
5,315  To preye hire kepe it for a remembraunce.

5,316  "ffor wele I fele by my maladie,
5,317  And by my dremes now and |ore ago,
5,318  Al certeynly that I mot nedes dye:
5,319  The owle ek, which that hette Escaphilo,
5,320  Hath after me shright al thise nyghtes two.
5,321  And god Mercurye, of me now, woful wrecche,
5,322  The soule gyde and, whan the liste, it fecche."

5,323  Pandare answerde and seyde, "Troilus,
5,324  My deere frende, as I haue told the |ore
5,325  That it is folye forto sorwen thus,
5,326  And causeles, for which I kan namore.
5,327  But who-so wil nought trowen reed ne loore,
5,328  I kan nat sen in hym no remedie,
5,329  But lat hym worthen with his fantasie.

5,330  "But Troilus, I prey the tel me now,
5,331  If that thow trowe er this that any wight
5,332  Hath loued paramours as wel as thow?
5,333  ^e, god woot, and fro many a worthi knyght
5,334  Hath his lady gon a fourtenyght,
5,335  And he nat |et made haluendel the fare.
5,336  What nede is the to maken al this care?

5,337  "Syn day by day thow maist thi seluen se
5,338  That from his loue, or ellis from his wif,
5,339  A man mote twynnen of necessite --
5,340  ^e, though he loue hire as his owene lif;
5,341  ^et nyl he with hym self thus maken strif.
5,342  ffor wel thow woost, my leue brother deere,
5,343  That alwey frendes may nat ben yfeere.

5,344  "How don this folk that seen hire loues wedded
5,345  By frendes myght, as it bitit ful ofte,
5,346  And sen hem in hire spouses bed y-bedded?
5,347  God woot, they take it wisly, faire and softe,
5,348  ffor-whi good hope halt vp hire herte o-lofte.
5,349  And for they kan a tyme of sorwe endure,
5,350  As tyme hem hurt, a tyme doth hem cure.

5,351  "So shuldestow endure and laten slide
5,352  The tyme and fonde to ben glad and lighte;
5,353  Ten dayes nys so longe nought tabide.
5,354  And sen she the to comen hath bihyghte,
5,355  She nyl hire heste breken for no wighte.
5,356  ffor drede the nat that she nyl fynden weye
5,357  To come a|ein -- my lif that dorste I leye.

5,358  "Thi sweuennes ek and al swich fantasie
5,359  Drif out and lat hem faren to meschaunce,
5,360  ffor they procede of thi malencolie,
5,361  That doth the fele in slepe al this penaunce.
5,362  A straw for alle sweuenes signifiaunce!
5,363  God helpe me so, I counte hem nought a bene;
5,364  Ther woot noman aright what dremes mene.

5,365  ffor prestes of the temple tellen this,
5,366  That dremes ben the reuelaciouns
5,367  Of goddes, and as wel they telle, ywis,
5,368  That they ben infernals illusiouns;
5,369  And leches seyn that of complexiouns
5,370  Proceden they, or fast, or glotonye --
5,371  Who woot in soth thus what thei signifie?

5,372  "Ek oother seyn that thorugh impressiouns,
5,373  As if a wight hath faste a thyng in mynde,
5,374  That ther-of cometh swiche auysiouns;
5,375  And other seyn, as they in bokes fynde,
5,376  That after tymes of the |ere by kynde
5,377  Men dreme and that theffect goth by the moone --
5,378  But leue no dreme, for it is nought to doone.

5,379  "Wel worthe of dremes ay thise olde wiues,
5,380  And treweliche ek augurye of thise fowles,
5,381  ffor fere of which men wenen lese here lyues,
5,382  As rauenes qualm, or shrichyng of thise owles:
5,383  To trowen on it bothe fals and foul is.
5,384  Allas, allas, so noble a creature
5,385  As is a man shal dreden swiche ordure!

5,386  "ffor which with al myn herte I the biseche
5,387  Unto thi self that al this thow for|yue;
5,388  And ris now vp with-owten more speche,
5,389  And lat vs caste how forth may best be dryue
5,390  This tyme, and ek how fresshly we may lyue
5,391  Whan that she comth, the which shal be right soone.
5,392  God helpe me so, the beste is thus to doone.

5,393  "Ris, lat vs speke of lusty lif in Troie
5,394  That we han led and forth the tyme dryue;
5,395  And ek of tyme comyng vs reioie,
5,396  That bryngen shal oure blisse now so blyue;
5,397  And langour of thise twyes dayes fyue
5,398  We shal ther-with so for|ete or oppresse,
5,399  That wel vnneth it don shal vs duresse.

5,400  "This town is ful of lordes al aboute,
5,401  And trewes lasten al this mene while.
5,402  Go we pleye vs in som lusty route
5,403  To Sarpedoun, nat hennes but a myle.
5,404  And thus thow shall the tyme wel bygile,
5,405  And dryue it forth vnto that blisful morwe
5,406  That thow hire se that cause is of thi sorwe.

5,407  "Now ris, my deere brother Troilus,
5,408  ffor certes it non honour is to the
5,409  To wepe and in thi bedde to iouken thus;
5,410  ffor trewelich of o thyng truste me:
5,411  If thow thus ligge a day or two or thre,
5,412  The folk wol seyn that thow for cowardise
5,413  The feynest sik and that thow darst nat rise."

5,414  This Troilus answerde, "O brother deere,
5,415  This knowen folk that han ysuffred peyne,
5,416  That though he wepe and make sorwful cheere,
5,417  That feleth harm and smerte in euery veyne,
5,418  No wonder is; and though ich euere pleyne
5,419  Or alwey wepe, I am no thyng to blame,
5,420  Syn I haue lost the cause of al my game.

5,421  "But syn of fyne force I mote arise,
5,422  I shal arise as soone as euere I may;,
5,423  And god, to whom myn herte I sacrifice,
5,424  So sende vs hastely the tenthe day:
5,425  ffor was ther neuere fowel so fayn of May
5,426  As I shal ben whan that she comth in Troie,
5,427  That cause is of my torment and my ioie.

5,428  "But whider is thi reed," quod Troilus,
5,429  "That we may pleye vs best in al this town?"
5,430  "By god, my conseil is,' quod Pandarus,
5,431  "To ride and pleye vs with kyng Sarpedoun.'
5,432  So longe of this they speken vp and down,
5,433  Til Troilus gan at the laste assente
5,434  To rise, and forth to Sarpedoun they wente.

5,435  This Sarpedoun, as he that honourable
5,436  Was euere his lyue and ful of heigh largesse,
5,437  With al that myghte y-serued ben on table
5,438  That deynte was, al coste it gret richesse,
5,439  He fedde hem day by day, that swich noblesse,
5,440  As seyden bothe the mooste and ek the leeste,
5,441  Was neuere ere that day wist at any feste.

5,442  Nor in this world ther is non instrument
5,443  Delicious thorugh wynd or touche of corde,
5,444  As fer as any wight hath euere ywent,
5,445  That tonge telle or herte may recorde,
5,446  That at that feste it nas wel herd acorde;
5,447  Ne of ladys ek so faire a compaignie
5,448  On daunce er tho was neuere i-seye with ie.

5,449  But what auaileth this to Troilus,
5,450  That for his sorwe no thyng of it roughte?
5,451  ffor euere in on his herte pietous
5,452  fful bisyly Criseyde, his lady, soughte.
5,453  On hire was euere al that his herte thoughte,
5,454  Now this, now that, so faste ymagenynge,
5,455  That glade, i-wis, kan hym no festeyinge.

5,456  Thise ladies ek that at this feste ben,
5,457  Syn that he saugh his lady was aweye,
5,458  It was his sorwe vpon hem forto sen,
5,459  Or forto here on instrumentes so pleye:
5,460  ffor she that of his herte berth the keye
5,461  Was absent, lo, this was his fantasie --
5,462  That no wight sholde maken melodie.

5,463  Nor ther nas houre in al the day or nyght,
5,464  Whan he was there as no wight myghte hym heere,
5,465  That he ne seyde, "O lufsom lady bryght,
5,466  How haue |e faren syn that |e were here?
5,467  Welcome, ywis, myn owne lady deere."
5,468  But weylaway, al this nas but a maze:
5,469  ffortune his howue entended bet to glaze.

5,470  The lettres ek that she of olde tyme
5,471  Hadde hym ysent, he wolde allone rede
5,472  An hondred sithe atwixen noon and prime,
5,473  Refiguryng hire shap, hire wommanhede,
5,474  With-inne his herte, and euery word or dede
5,475  That passed was; and thus he drof tanende
5,476  The ferthe day and seyde he wolde wende.

5,477  And seyde, "leue brother, Pandarus,
5,478  Intendestow that we shal here bleue
5,479  Til Sarpedoun wol forth congeyen vs?
5,480  ^et were it fairer that we toke oure leue.
5,481  ffor goddes loue, lat vs now soone at eue
5,482  Oure leue take, and homward lat vs torne,
5,483  ffor treweliche I nyl nat thus soiourne.'

5,484  Pandare answerde, "be we comen hider
5,485  To fecchen fire and rennen home a|ein?
5,486  God help me so, I kan nat tellen whider
5,487  We myghte gon, if I shal sothly seyn,
5,488  Ther any wight is of vs more feyn
5,489  Than Sarpedoun; and if we hennes hye
5,490  Thus sodeynly, I holde it vilanye.

5,491  "Syn that we seyden that we wolde bleue
5,492  With hym a wowke, and now, thus sodeynly,
5,493  The ferthe day to take of hym owre leue,
5,494  He wolde wondren on it trewely.
5,495  Lat vs holde forth oure purpos fermely;
5,496  And syn that |e bihighten hym to bide,
5,497  Holde forward now and after lat vs ride."

5,498  Thus Pandarus, with alle peyne and wo,
5,499  Made hym to dwelle, and at the wikes ende
5,500  Of Sarpedoun they toke hire leue tho,
5,501  And on hire wey they spedden hem to wende.
5,502  Quod Troilus, "now lord me grace sende
5,503  That I may fynden at myn hom comyng
5,504  Criseyde comen," and ther-with gan he syng.

5,505  "^e, haselwode,' thoughte this Pandare,
5,506  And to hym self ful softeliche he seyde,
5,507  "God woot, refreyden may this hote fare
5,508  Er Calkas sende Troilus Criseyde."
5,509  But natheles he iaped thus and pleyde,
5,510  And swor, ywis, his herte hym wel bihighte
5,511  She wolde come as soone as euere she myghte.

5,512  Whan they vnto the paleys were ycomen
5,513  Of Troilus, they doun of hors alighte,
5,514  And to the chambre hire wey than han they nomen;
5,515  And in-to time that it gan to nyghte
5,516  They spaken of Criseyde the brighte;
5,517  And after this, whan that hem bothe leste,
5,518  They spedde hem fro the soper vnto reste.

5,519  On morwe, as soone as day bygan to clere,
5,520  This Troilus gan of his slepe tabrayde,
5,521  And to Pandare, his owen brother deere,
5,522  "ffor loue of god," ful pitously he sayde,
5,523  "As go we sen the palais of Criseyde;
5,524  ffor syn we |et may haue namore feste,
5,525  So lat vs sen hire paleys atte leeste."

5,526  And therwith-al his meyne forto blende,
5,527  A cause he fond in towne forto go,
5,528  And to Criseydes hous they gonnen wende,
5,529  But lord, this sely Troilus was wo!
5,530  Hym thoughte his sorwful herte braste atwo,
5,531  ffor whan he saugh hire dores spered alle,
5,532  Wel neigh for sorwe adoun he gan to falle.

5,533  Therwith whan he was war and gan biholde
5,534  How shet was euery wyndow of the place,
5,535  As frost hym thoughte his herte gan to colde;
5,536  ffor which, with chaunged dedlich pale face,
5,537  With-outen word he forthby gan to pace,
5,538  And as god wolde, he gan so faste ride
5,539  That no wight of his contenance espide.

5,540  Than seide he thus, "O paleys desolat,
5,541  O hous of houses whilom best i-hight,
5,542  O paleys empty and disconsolat,
5,543  O thow lanterne of which queynt is the light,
5,544  O paleys, whilom day, that now art nyght,
5,545  Wel oughtestow to falle and I to dye
5,546  Syn she is went that wont was vs to gye.

5,547  "O paleis, whilom crowne of houses alle,
5,548  Enlumyned with sonne of alle blisse,
5,549  O ryng fro which the rubie is out falle,
5,550  O cause of wo that cause hast ben of lisse,
5,551  ^et syn I may no bet, fayn wolde I kisse
5,552  Thy colde dores, dorste I for this route;
5,553  And far wel shryne, of which the seynt is oute."

5,554  Ther-with he caste on Pandarus his eye,
5,555  With chaunged face and pitous to biholde,
5,556  And whan he myghte his tyme aright aspie,
5,557  Ay as he rood to Pandarus he tolde
5,558  His newe sorwe and ek hise ioies olde
5,559  So pitously and with so dede an hewe
5,560  That euery wight myghte on his sorwe rewe.

5,561  ffro thennes forth he rideth vp and down,
5,562  And euery thyng com hym to remembraunce
5,563  As he rood forby places of the town
5,564  In which he whilom hadde al his plesaunce.
5,565  "Lo, |onder saugh ich last my lady daunce,
5,566  And in that temple with hire eyen clere
5,567  Me kaughte first my righte lady dere.

5,568  "And |onder haue I herd ful lustyly
5,569  My dere herte laugh and |onder pleye
5,570  Saugh ich hire ones ek ful blisfully;
5,571  And |onder ones to me gan she seye,
5,572  "Now goode swete, loue me wel, I preye';
5,573  And |ond so goodly gan she me biholde,
5,574  That to the deth myn herte is to hire holde.

5,575  "And at that corner in the |onder hous
5,576  Herde I myn alder-leuest lady deere,
5,577  So wommanly with vois melodious,
5,578  Syngen so wel, so goodly and so cleere,
5,579  That in my soule |et me thynketh ich here
5,580  The blisful sown; and in that |onder place
5,581  My lady first me took vnto hire grace."

5,582  Thanne thoughte he thus, "O blisful lord Cupide,
5,583  Whan I the processe haue in my memorie
5,584  How thow me hast wereyed on euery syde,
5,585  Men myght a book make of it lik a storie.
5,586  What nede is the to seke on me victorie,
5,587  Syn I am thyn and holly at thi wille?
5,588  What ioie hast thow thyn owen folk to spille?

5,589  "Wel hastow, lord, y-wroke on me thyn ire,
5,590  Thow myghty god and dredefull for to greue.
5,591  Now mercy, lord, thow woost wel I desire
5,592  Thi grace moost of alle lustes leeue,
5,593  And lyue and dye I wol in thy byleue;
5,594  ffor which I naxe in guerdoun but a bone --
5,595  That thow Criseyde a|ein me sende sone.

5,596  "Destreyne hire herte as faste to retorne,
5,597  As thow doost myn to longen hire to see,
5,598  Than woot I wel that she nyl naught soiorne.
5,599  Now blisful lord, so cruel thow ne be
5,600  Unto the blood of Troie, I preye the,
5,601  As Iuno was vnto the blood Thebane,
5,602  ffor which the folk of Thebes caughte hire bane."

5,603  And after this he to the |ates wente,
5,604  Ther as Criseyde out rood a ful good paas,
5,605  And vp and down ther made he many a wente,
5,606  And to hym self ful ofte he seyde, "allas,
5,607  ffro hennes rood my blisse and my solas;
5,608  As wolde blisful god now, for his ioie,
5,609  I myghte hire sen a|eyn come in-to Troie.

5,610  "And to the |onder hille I gan hire gyde,
5,611  Allas, and ther I took of hire my leue;
5,612  And |ond I saugh hire to hire fader ride,
5,613  ffor sorwe of which myn herte shal to-cleue;
5,614  And hider home I com whan it was eue,
5,615  And here I dwelle out cast from alle ioie,
5,616  And shal til I may sen hire eft in Troie."

5,617  And of hym self ymagened he ofte
5,618  To ben defet, and pale, and waxen lesse
5,619  Than he was wont, and that men seyden softe,
5,620  "What may it be? who kan the sothe gesse
5,621  Whi Troilus hath al this heuynesse?"
5,622  And al this nas but his malencolie,
5,623  That he hadde of hym self swich fantasie.

5,624  Another tyme ymaginen he wolde
5,625  That euery wight that wente by the weye
5,626  Hadde of hym routhe and that thay seyn sholde,
5,627  "I am right sory Troilus wol deye."
5,628  And thus he drof a day |et forth or tweye
5,629  As |e haue herd; swich lif right gan he lede,
5,630  As he that stood bitwixen hope and drede.

5,631  ffor which hym likede in his songes shewe
5,632  Thenchesoun of his wo, as he best myghte,
5,633  And made a song of wordes but a fewe,
5,634  Somwhat his woful herte for to lighte;
5,635  And whan he was from euery mannes syghte,
5,636  With softe vois he of his lady deere,
5,637  That absent was, gan synge as |e may heere.
        <1Canticus Troili>1
5,638  "O sterre, of which I lost haue al the light,
5,639  With herte soore wel oughte I to biwaille,
5,640  That euere derk in torment nyght by nyght,
5,641  Toward my deth with wynd in steere I saille;
5,642  ffor which the tenthe nyght, if that I faille
5,643  The gydyng of thi bemes bright an houre,
5,644  My ship and me Caribdis wol deuoure.'

5,645  This song whan he thus songen hadde, soone
5,646  He fil a|eyn in-to hise sikes olde;
5,647  And euery nyght, as was his wone to doone,
5,648  He stood the brighte moone to byholde,
5,649  And al his sorwe he to the moone tolde,
5,650  And seyde, "ywis, whan thow art horned newe,
5,651  I shal be glad, if al the world be trewe.

5,652  "I saugh thyn hornes olde ek by the morwe
5,653  Whan hennes rood my righte lady dere,
5,654  That cause is of my torment and my sorwe;
5,655  ffor which, O brighte Latona the clere,
5,656  ffor loue of god, ren faste aboute thy spere!
5,657  ffor whan thyne hornes newe gynnen sprynge,
5,658  Than shal she come that may my blisse brynge."

5,659  The dayes moore and lenger euery nyghte
5,660  Than they ben wont to be, hym thoughte tho,
5,661  And that the sonne went his cours vnrighte
5,662  Be lenger weye than it was wont to go;
5,663  And seyde, "ywis, me dredeth euere mo
5,664  The sonnes sone, Pheton, be on lyue,
5,665  And that his fader carte amys he dryue."

5,666  Up-on the walles faste ek wolde he walke,
5,667  And on the Grekis oost he wolde se,
5,668  And to hym self right thus he wolde talke,
5,669  "Lo, |onder is myn owene lady free,
5,670  Or ellis |onder ther tho tentes be,
5,671  And thennes comth this eyre that is so soote,
5,672  That in my soule I fele it doth me boote.

5,673  "And hardily this wynd, that more and moore
5,674  Thus stoundemele encresseth in my face,
5,675  Is of my ladis depe sikes soore.
5,676  I preue it thus, for in noon other place
5,677  Of al this town, saue onliche in this space,
5,678  ffele I no wynd that sowneth so lik peyne;
5,679  It seyth, "allas, whi twynned be we tweyne?"

5,680  This longe tyme he dryueth forth right thus,
5,681  Til fully passed was the nynthe nyghte;
5,682  And ay bisyde hym was this Pandarus,
5,683  That bisily did al his fulle myghte
5,684  Hym to conforte and make his herte lighte,
5,685  ^euyng hym hope alwey the tenthe morwe
5,686  That she shal come and stynten al his sorwe.

5,687  Up-on that other syde ek was Criseyde,
5,688  With wommen fewe, among the Grekis stronge,
5,689  ffor which ful ofte a day, "allas," she seyde,
5,690  "That I was born! Wel may myn herte longe
5,691  After my deth, for now lyue I to longe.
5,692  Allas, and I ne may it nat amende,
5,693  ffor now is wors than euere |et I wende.

5,694  "My fader nyl for no thyng do me grace
5,695  To gon a|eyn, for naught I kan hym queme;
5,696  And if so be that I my terme pace,
5,697  My Troilus shal in his herte deme
5,698  That I am fals, and so it may wel seme:
5,699  Thus shal ich haue vnthonk on euery side --
5,700  That I was born, so weilaway the tide!

5,701  "And if that I me putte in iupertie
5,702  To stele awey by nyght, and it bifalle
5,703  That I be kaught, I shal be holde a spie;
5,704  Or elles, lo, this drede I moost of alle,
5,705  If in the hondes of som wrecche I falle,
5,706  I nam but lost, al be myn herte trewe --
5,707  Now myghty god, thow on my sorwe rewe!"

5,708  fful pale ywexen was hire brighte face,
5,709  Hire lymes lene, as she that al the day
5,710  Stood whan she dorste and loked on the place
5,711  Ther she was born and ther she dwelt hadde ay;
5,712  And al the nyght wepyng, allas, she lay.
5,713  And thus despeired out of alle cure
5,714  She ladde hire lif, this woful creature.

5,715  fful ofte a day she sighte ek for destresse,
5,716  And in hire self she wente ay purtrayng
5,717  Of Troilus the grete worthynesse,
5,718  And al his goodly wordes recordyng
5,719  Syn first that day hire loue bigan to spring;
5,720  And thus she sette hire woful herte a-fire
5,721  Thorugh remembraunce of that she gan desire.

5,722  In al this world ther nys so cruel herte
5,723  That hire hadde herd compleynen in hire sorwe,
5,724  That nolde han wepen for hire peynes smerte;
5,725  So tendrely she wepte bothe eue and morwe,
5,726  Hire nedede no teris forto borwe.
5,727  And this was |et the werste of al hire peyne,
5,728  Ther was no wight to whom she dorste hire pleyne.

5,729  fful rewfully she loked vpon Troie,
5,730  Biheld the toures heigh and ek the halles,
5,731  "Allas," quod she, "the plesance and the ioie,
5,732  The which that now al torned into galle is,
5,733  Haue ich had ofte with-inne the |onder walles.
5,734  O Troilus, what dostow now?" she seyde;
5,735  "Lord, wheyther thow |et thenke vpon Criseyde?

5,736  "Allas, I ne hadde trowed on |oure loore,
5,737  And went with |ow as |e me redde er this,
5,738  Than hadde I now nat siked half so soore.
5,739  Who myghte han seyd that I hadde don amys
5,740  To stele awey with swich oon as he ys?
5,741  But al to late comth the letuarie,
5,742  Whan men the cors vnto the graue carie.
5,743  "To late is now to speke of that matere;
5,744  Prudence, allas, oon of thyne eyen thre
5,745  Me lakked alwey er that I come here:
5,746  On tyme y-passed wel remembred me,
5,747  And present tyme ek koud ich wel i-se,
5,748  But future tyme, er I was in the snare,
5,749  Koude I nat sen; that causeth now my care.

5,750  "But natheles, bityde what bityde,
5,751  I shal to-morwe at nyght by est or west
5,752  Out of this oost stele on some manere syde,
5,753  And gon with Troilus where as hym lest:
5,754  This purpos wol ich holde, and this is best.
5,755  No fors of wikked tonges ianglerie,
5,756  ffor euere on loue han wrecches had enuye.

5,757  "ffor who-so wol of euery word take hede,
5,758  Or reulen hym by euery wightes wit,
5,759  Ne shal he neuere thryuen, out of drede:
5,760  ffor that that som men blamen euere |it,
5,761  Lo, other manere folk comenden it.
5,762  And as for me, for al swich variaunce,
5,763  ffelicite clepe I my suffissaunce.

5,764  "ffor which with-outen any wordes mo,
5,765  To Troie I wole, as for conclusioun."
5,766  But god it wot, er fully monthes two
5,767  She was ful fer fro that entencioun;
5,768  ffor bothe Troilus and Troie town
5,769  Shal knotteles thorugh-out hire herte slide,
5,770  ffor she wol take a purpos for tabide.

5,771  This Diomede, of whom |ow telle I gan,
5,772  Goth now with-inne hym self ay arguyng,
5,773  With al the sleghte and al that euere he kan,
5,774  How he may best with shortest tarying
5,775  In-to his net Criseydes herte bryng.
5,776  To this entent he koude neuere fyne;
5,777  To fisshen hire he leyde out hook and lyne.

5,778  But natheles, wel in his herte he thoughte
5,779  That she nas nat with-oute a loue in Troie;
5,780  ffor neuere sythen he hire thennes broughte
5,781  Ne koude he sen hire laughe or maken ioie.
5,782  He nyst how best hire herte for tacoye,
5,783  "But for tasay," he seyde, "it naught ne greueth;
5,784  ffor he that naught nasaieth naught nacheueth."

5,785  ^et seyde he to hym self vp-on a nyght,
5,786  "Now am I nat a fool, that woot wel how
5,787  Hire wo for loue is of another wight,
5,788  And here-vpon to gon assaye hire now?
5,789  I may wel wite, it nyl nat ben my prow.
5,790  ffor wise folk in bookes it expresse,
5,791  'Men shal nat wowe a wight in heuynesse.'

5,792  "But who-so myghte wynnen swich a floure
5,793  ffrom hym for whom she morneth nyght and day,
5,794  He myghte seyn he were a conqueroure."
5,795  And right anon, as he that bold was ay,
5,796  Thoughte in his herte, "happe how happe may,
5,797  Al sholde I dye, I wol hire herte seche;
5,798  I shal namore lesen but my speche."

5,799  This Diomede, as bokes vs declare,
5,800  Was in his nedes prest and corageous,
5,801  With sterne vois and myghty lymes square,
5,802  Hardy, testif, strong and chiualrous
5,803  Of dedes lik his fader Tideus;
5,804  And som men seyn he was of tonge large,
5,805  And heir he was of Calydoigne and Arge.

5,806  Criseyde mene was of hire stature,
5,807  Therto of shap, of face and ek of cheere,
5,808  Ther myghte ben no fairer creature;
5,809  And ofte tyme this was hire manere,
5,810  To gon y-tressed with hire heres clere
5,811  Doun by hire coler at hire bak byhynde,
5,812  Which with a thred of gold she wolde bynde.

5,813  And saue hire browes ioyneden y-feere,
5,814  Ther nas no lakke in aught I kan espien;
5,815  But forto speken of hire eyen cleere,
5,816  Lo, trewely, they writen that hire syen,
5,817  That Paradis stood formed in hire eyen;
5,818  And with hire riche beaute euere more
5,819  Strof loue in hire ay which of hem was more.

5,820  She sobre was, ek symple, and wys with-al,
5,821  The best ynorisshed ek that myghte be,
5,822  And goodly of hire speche in general;
5,823  Charitable, estatlich, lusty and fre,
5,824  Ne neuere mo ne lakked hire pite:
5,825  Tendre herted, slydynge of corage --
5,826  But trewely I kan nat telle hire age.

5,827  And Troilus wel woxen was in highte,
5,828  And complet formed by proporcioun
5,829  So wel that kynde it nought amenden myghte;
5,830  ^ong, fressh, strong, and hardy as lyoun,
5,831  Trewe as stiel in ech condicioun,
5,832  Oon of the beste entecched creature
5,833  That is, or shal, whil that the world may dure.

5,834  And certeynly in storye it is yfounde,
5,835  That Troilus was neuere vnto no wight,
5,836  As in his tyme, in no degree secounde
5,837  In duryng don that longeth to a knyght,
5,838  Al myghte a geant passen hym of myght.
5,839  His herte ay with the first and with the beste
5,840  Stood peregal to durre don that hym leste.

5,841  But forto tellen forth of Diomede:
5,842  It fel that after, on the tenthe day
5,843  Syn that Criseyde out of the Citee |ede,
5,844  This Diomede, as fressh as braunche in May,
5,845  Come to the tente ther as Calkas lay,
5,846  And feyned hym with Calkas han to doone;
5,847  But what he mente I shal |ow tellen soone.

5,848  Criseyde, at shorte wordes forto telle,
5,849  Welcomed hym, and down hym by hire sette,
5,850  And he was ethe ynough to maken dwelle;
5,851  And after this, with-outen longe lette,
5,852  The spices and the wyne men forth hem fette,
5,853  And forth they speke of this and that y-feere
5,854  As frendes don, of which som shal |e heere.

5,855  He gan first fallen of the werre in speche
5,856  Bitwixe hem and the folk of Troie town,
5,857  And of thassege he gan hire ek biseche
5,858  To telle hym what was hire opynyoun;
5,859  ffro that demaunde he so descendeth down
5,860  To axen hire if that hire straunge thoughte
5,861  The Grekis gise and werkes that they wroughte;

5,862  And whi hire fader tarieth so longe
5,863  To wedden hire vnto som worthy wight.
5,864  Criseyde, that was in hire peynes stronge
5,865  ffor loue of Troilus, hire owen knyght,
5,866  As ferforth as she konnyng hadde or myght,
5,867  Answerde hym tho; but as of his entente,
5,868  It semed nat she wiste what he mente.

5,869  But natheles this ilke Diomede
5,870  Gan in hym self assure and thus he seyde,
5,871  "If ich aright haue taken of |ow hede,
5,872  Me thynketh thus, O lady myn Criseyde,
5,873  That syn I first hond on |oure bridel leyde,
5,874  Whan |e out come of Troie by the morwe,
5,875  Ne koude I neuere sen |ow but in sorwe.

5,876  "Kan I nat seyn what may the cause be
5,877  But if for loue of som Troian it were,
5,878  The which right sore wolde athynken me
5,879  That |e for any wight that dwelleth there
5,880  Sholden spille a quarter of a tere,
5,881  Or pitously |oure seluen so bigile --
5,882  ffor dredeles, it is nought worth the while.

5,883  "The folk of Troie, as who seyth alle and some,
5,884  In prisoun ben, as |e |oure seluen se;
5,885  ffor thennes shal nat oon on lyue come
5,886  ffor al the gold atwixen sonne and se.
5,887  Trusteth wel and vnderstondeth me:
5,888  Ther shal nat oon to mercy gon on lyue,
5,889  Al were he lord of worldes twies fyue.

5,890  "Swich wreche on hem for fecchynge of Eleyne
5,891  Ther shal ben take er that we hennes wende,
5,892  That Manes, which that goddes ben of peyne,
5,893  Shal ben agast that Grekes wol hem shende;
5,894  And men shul drede, vnto the worldes ende,
5,895  ffrom hennes-forth to rauysshen any queene,
5,896  So cruel shal oure wreche on hem be seene.

5,897  "And but if Calkas lede vs with ambages --
5,898  That is to seyn with double wordes slye,
5,899  Swich as men clepe a word with two visages --
5,900  ^e shal wel knowen that I naught ne lye,
5,901  And al this thyng right sen it with |oure eye,
5,902  And that anon, |e nyl nat trowe how sone;
5,903  Now taketh hede, for it is forto doone.

5,904  "What wene |e |oure wise fader wolde
5,905  Han |euen Antenor for |ow anon,
5,906  If he ne wiste that the Cite sholde
5,907  Destroied ben? whi, nay, so mote I gon!
5,908  He knew ful wel ther shal nat scapen oon
5,909  That Troian is, and for the grete feere,
5,910  He dorste nat |e dwelte lenger there.

5,911  "What wol |e more, lufsom lady deere?
5,912  Lat Troie and Troian fro |oure herte pace.
5,913  Drif out that bittre hope and make good cheere,
5,914  And clepe a|eyn the beaute of |oure face,
5,915  That |e with salte teris so de-face.
5,916  ffor Troie is brought in swich a iupertie,
5,917  That it to saue is now no remedie.

5,918  "And thenketh wel |e shal in Grekis fynde
5,919  A moore perfit loue er it be nyght,
5,920  Than any Troian is, and more kynde,
5,921  And bet to seruen |ow wol don his myght;
5,922  And if |e vouche-sauf, my lady bright,
5,923  I wol ben he to seruen |ow my selue,
5,924  ^ee, leuere than be kyng of Greces twelue."

5,925  And with that word he gan to waxen rede,
5,926  And in his speche a litel wight he quoke,
5,927  And caste a-syde a litel wight his hede,
5,928  And stynte a while, and afterward he woke,
5,929  And sobreliche on hire he threw his loke,
5,930  And seyde, "I am, al be it |ow no ioie,
5,931  As gentil man as any wight in Troie."

5,932  "ffor if my fader Tideus," he seyde,
5,933  "I-lyued hadde, ich hadde ben er this
5,934  Of Calydoyne and Arge a kyng, Criseyde,
5,935  And so hope I that I shal |et, i-wis,
5,936  But he was slayn, allas, the more harm is,
5,937  Unhappily at Thebes al to rathe,
5,938  Polymytes and many a man to scathe.

5,939  "But, herte myn, syn that I am |oure man,
5,940  And ben the first of whom I seche grace
5,941  To serue |ow as hertely as I kan,
5,942  And euere shal whil I to lyue haue space,
5,943  So er that I deperte out of this place,
5,944  That |e me graunte that I may to-morwe
5,945  At bettre leyser telle |ow my sorwe."

5,946  What sholde I telle his wordes that he seyde?
5,947  He spak i-nough for o day at the meeste.
5,948  It preueth wel, he spak so that Criseyde
5,949  Graunted on the morwe at his requeste
5,950  fforto speken with hym at the leeste,
5,951  So that he nolde speke of swich matere.
5,952  And thus to hym she seyde as |e may here,

5,953  As she that hadde hire herte on Troilus
5,954  So faste that ther may it non arace;
5,955  And strangely she spak and seyde thus,
5,956  "O Diomede, I loue that ilke place
5,957  Ther I was born, and Ioues for his grace
5,958  Delyuere it soone of al that doth it care:
5,959  God, for thy myght, so leue it wel to fare.

5,960  "That Grekis wolde hire wrath on Troie wreke
5,961  If that they myght, I knowe it wel, i-wis;
5,962  But it shal naught by-fallen as |e speke,
5,963  And god to-forn, and forther ouere this,
5,964  I woot my fader wys and redy is,
5,965  And that he me hath bought, as |e me tolde,
5,966  So deere, I am the more vnto hym holde.

5,967  "That Grekis ben of heigh condicioun
5,968  I woot ek wel, but certeyn, men shal fynde
5,969  As worthi folk with-inne Troie town,
5,970  As konnyng and as perfit and as kynde,
5,971  As ben bitwixen Orkades and Inde.
5,972  And that |e koude wel |owre lady serue,
5,973  I trowe ek wel, hire thank forto deserue.

5,974  "But as to speke of loue, ywis," she seyde,
5,975  "I hadde a lord to whom I wedded was,
5,976  The whos myn herte al was til that he deyde;
5,977  And other loue, as help me now Pallas,
5,978  Ther in myn herte nys ne neuere was --
5,979  And that |e ben of noble and heigh kynrede,
5,980  I haue wel herd it tellen out of drede.

5,981  "And that doth me to han so grete a wonder,
5,982  That |e wol scornen any womman so;
5,983  Ek, god woot, loue and I ben fer asonder:
5,984  I am disposed bet, so mot I go,
5,985  Unto my deth to pleyne and maken wo.
5,986  What I shal after don I kan nat seye,
5,987  But trewelich, as |et me list nat pleye.

5,988  "Myn herte is now in tribulacioun,
5,989  And |e in armes bisy day by day;
5,990  Herafter, whan |e wonnen han the town,
5,991  Peraunter thanne so it happen may,
5,992  That whan I se that neuere |it I say,
5,993  Than wol I werke that I neuere wroughte:
5,994  This word to |ow ynough suffisen oughte.

5,995  "To-morwe ek wol I speken with |ow fayn,
5,996  So that |e touchen naught of this matere.
5,997  And whan |ow list, |e may come here a|ayn;
5,998  And er |e gon, thus muche I sey |ow here:
5,999  As help me Pallas with hire heres clere,
5,1000  If that I sholde of any Grek han routhe,
5,1001  It sholde be |oure seluen, by my trouthe.

5,1002  "I say nat therfore that I wol |ow loue,
5,1003  Ny say nat nay, but in conclusioun,
5,1004  I mene wel, by god that sit aboue."
5,1005  And ther-with-al she caste hire eyen down,
5,1006  And gan to sike and seyde, "O Troie town,
5,1007  ^et bidde I god in quiete and in reste
5,1008  I may |ow sen, or do myn herte breste."

5,1009  But in effect, and shortly forto seye,
5,1010  This Diomede al fresshly new a|eyn
5,1011  Gan presen on and faste hire mercy preye;
5,1012  And after this, the sothe forto seyn,
5,1013  Hire gloue he took, of which he was ful feyn,
5,1014  And finaly, whan it was woxen eue,
5,1015  And al was wel, he roos and tok his leue.

5,1016  The brighte Venus folwede and ay taughte
5,1017  The wey ther brode Phebus down a-lighte;
5,1018  And Cynthea hire chare-hors ouere-raughte
5,1019  To whirle out of the Leoun if she myghte;
5,1020  And Signifer hise candels sheweth brighte,
5,1021  Whan that Criseyde vnto hire bedde wente
5,1022  Inwith hire fadres faire brighte tente,

5,1023  Retornyng in hire soule ay vp and down
5,1024  The wordes of this sodeyn Diomede,
5,1025  His grete estat, and perel of the town,
5,1026  And that she was allone and hadde nede
5,1027  Of frendes help; and thus bygan to brede
5,1028  The cause whi, the sothe forto telle,
5,1029  That she took fully purpos forto dwelle.

5,1030  The morwen com and, gostly forto speke,
5,1031  This Diomede is come vnto Criseyde;
5,1032  And shortly lest that |e my tale breke,
5,1033  So wel he for hym seluen spak and seyde,
5,1034  That alle hire sikes soore adown he leyde;
5,1035  And finaly, the sothe forto seyne,
5,1036  He refte hire of the grete of alle hire peyne.

5,1037  And after this the storie telleth vs
5,1038  That she hym |af the faire baye stede,
5,1039  The which he ones wan of Troilus;
5,1040  And ek a broche -- and that was litel nede --
5,1041  That Troilus was, she |af this Diomede;
5,1042  And ek the bet from sorwe hym to releue,
5,1043  She made hym were a pencel of hire sleue.

5,1044  I fynde ek in the stories elles-where,
5,1045  Whan thorugh the body hurt was Diomede
5,1046  Of Troilus, tho wep she many a teere,
5,1047  Whan that she saugh hise wyde wowndes blede,
5,1048  And that she took to kepen hym good hede;
5,1049  And forto hele hym of his sorwes smerte,
5,1050  Men seyn -- I not -- that she |af hym hire herte.

5,1051  But trewely the storie telleth vs
5,1052  Ther made neuere womman moore wo
5,1053  Than she whan that she falsed Troilus:
5,1054  She seyde, "allas, for now is clene ago
5,1055  My name of trouthe in loue for euere mo,
5,1056  ffor I haue falsed oon the gentileste
5,1057  That euere was and oon the worthieste.

5,1058  "Allas, of me vnto the worldes ende
5,1059  Shal neyther ben ywriten nor ysonge
5,1060  No good word, for thise bokes wol me shende.
5,1061  O, rolled shal I ben on many a tonge;
5,1062  Thorugh-out the world my belle shal be ronge!
5,1063  And wommen moost wol haten me of alle --
5,1064  Allas, that swich a cas me sholde falle.

5,1065  "Thei wol seyn, in as muche as in me is,
5,1066  I haue hem don deshonour, weylaway!
5,1067  Al be I nat the first that dide amys,
5,1068  What helpeth that to don my blame awey?
5,1069  But syn I se ther is no bettre way,
5,1070  And that to late is now for me to rewe,
5,1071  To Diomede algate I wol be trewe.

5,1072  "But Troilus, syn I no bettre may,
5,1073  And syn that thus deperten |e and I,
5,1074  ^et prey I god, so |eue |ow right good day,
5,1075  As for the gentileste, trewely,
5,1076  That euere I say, to seruen feythfully,
5,1077  And best kan ay his lady honour kepe."
5,1078  And with that word she braste anon to wepe.

5,1079  "And certes, |ow ne haten shal I neuere,
5,1080  And frendes loue, that shal |e han of me,
5,1081  And my good word, al sholde I lyuen euere.
5,1082  And trewely, I wolde sory be
5,1083  fforto seen |ow in aduersitee;
5,1084  And gilteles, I woot wel, I |ow leue --
5,1085  But al shal passe, and thus take I my leue."

5,1086  But trewely, how longe it was bytwene
5,1087  That she forsok hym for this Diomede,
5,1088  Ther is non auctour telleth it, I wene.
5,1089  Take euery man now to his bokes heede;
5,1090  He shal no terme fynden, out of drede.
5,1091  ffor though that he bigan to wowe hire soone,
5,1092  Er he hire wan, |et was ther more to doone.

5,1093  Ne me ne list this sely womman chyde
5,1094  fforther than the storye wol deuyse:
5,1095  Hire name, allas, is punysshed so wide,
5,1096  That for hire gilt it oughte ynough suffise;
5,1097  And if I myghte excuse hire any wise,
5,1098  ffor she so sory was for hire vntrouthe,
5,1099  I-wis, I wolde excuse hire |et for routhe.

5,1100  This Troilus, as I byfore haue tolde,
5,1101  Thus driueth forth as wel as he hath myghte;
5,1102  But often was his herte hoot and colde,
5,1103  And namely that ilke nynthe nyghte,
5,1104  Which on the morwe she hadde hym bihighte
5,1105  To com a|eyn -- god woot, ful litel reste
5,1106  Hadde he that nyght: nothyng to slepe hym leste.

5,1107  The laurer-crowned Phebus with his heete
5,1108  Gan in his cours ay vpward as he wente,
5,1109  To warmen of the Est se the wawes weete,
5,1110  And Nysus doughter song with fressh entente,
5,1111  Whan Troilus his Pandare after sente;
5,1112  And on the walles of the town they pleyde,
5,1113  To loke if they kan sen aught of Criseyde.

5,1114  Tyl it was noon they stoden forto se
5,1115  Who that ther come; and euery maner wight
5,1116  That com fro fer they seyden it was she,
5,1117  Til that thei koude knowen hym aright.
5,1118  Now was his herte dul, now was it light;
5,1119  And thus by-iaped stonden forto stare
5,1120  Aboute naught, this Troilus and Pandare.

5,1121  To Pandarus this Troilus tho seyde,
5,1122  ffor aught I woot, byfor noon, sikirly,
5,1123  In-to this town ne comth nat here Criseyde.
5,1124  She hath ynough to doone, hardyly,
5,1125  To wynnen from hire fader, so trowe I;
5,1126  Hire olde fader wol |et make hire dyne
5,1127  Er that she go; god |eue his herte pyne!"

5,1128  Pandare answerde, "it may wel be, certeyn;
5,1129  And forthi lat vs dyne, I the byseche,
5,1130  And after noon than maystow com a|eyn."
5,1131  And hom they go with-oute more speche,
5,1132  And come a|eyn; but longe may they seche
5,1133  Er that they fynde that they after cape:
5,1134  ffortune hem bothe thenketh forto iape.

5,1135  Quod Troilus, "I se wel now that she
5,1136  Is taried with hire olde fader so,
5,1137  That er she come it wol neigh euen be.
5,1138  Com forth, I wol vnto the |ate go:
5,1139  Thise porters ben vnkonnyng euere mo,
5,1140  And I wol don hem holden vp the |ate
5,1141  As naught ne were, al-though she come late."

5,1142  The day goth faste and after that com eue,
5,1143  And |et com nought to Troilus Criseyde.
5,1144  He loketh forth by hegge, by tre, by greue,
5,1145  And fer his hed ouere the walle he leyde,
5,1146  And at the laste he torned hym and seyde,
5,1147  "By god, I woot hire menyng now, Pandare --
5,1148  Al-moost, ywys, al newe was my care.

5,1149  "Now douteles this lady kan hire goode;
5,1150  I woot she meneth riden pryuely.
5,1151  I comende hire wisdom, by myn hoode.
5,1152  She wol nat maken peple nycely
5,1153  Gaure on hire whan she comth, but softely
5,1154  By nyghte in-to the town she thenketh ride.
5,1155  And deere brother, thynk nat longe tabide.

5,1156  "We han naught elles forto don, y-wis,
5,1157  And Pandarus now woltow trowen me?
5,1158  Haue here my trouthe, I se hire, |ond she is!
5,1159  Heue vp thyn eyen, man, maistow nat se?"
5,1160  Pandare answerde, "nay, so mote I the.
5,1161  Al wronge, by god; what saistow, man, where arte?
5,1162  That I se |ond nys but a fare carte."

5,1163  "Allas, thou seyst right soth," quod Troilus;
5,1164  "But hardily it is naught al for nought
5,1165  That in myn herte I now reioysse thus;
5,1166  It is a|eyns som good I haue a thought --
5,1167  Not I nat how, but syn that I was wrought,
5,1168  Ne felte I swich a comfort, dar I seye;
5,1169  She comth to-nyght, my lif that dorste I leye."

5,1170  Pandare answerde, "it may be wel ynough,"
5,1171  And helde with hym of al that euere he seyde.
5,1172  But in his herte he thought and softe lough,
5,1173  And to hym self ful sobreliche he seyde,
5,1174  "ffrom haselwode, there ioly Robyn pleyde,
5,1175  Shal come al that that thow abidest heere:
5,1176  ^e, fare-wel al the snow of ferne |ere."

5,1177  The warden of the |ates gan to calle
5,1178  The folk which that with-oute the |ates were,
5,1179  And bad hem dryuen in hire bestes alle,
5,1180  Or all the nyght they moste bleuen there.
5,1181  And fer with-inne the nyght with many a teere
5,1182  This Troilus gan homward forto ride;
5,1183  ffor wel he seth it helpeth naught tabide.

5,1184  But natheles, he gladed hym in this:
5,1185  He thought he misacounted hadde his day,
5,1186  And seyde, "I vnderstonde haue al amys:
5,1187  ffor thilke nyght I last Criseyde say,
5,1188  She seyde, "I shal ben here, if that I may,
5,1189  Er that the moone, O deere herte swete,
5,1190  The Leoun passe, out of this Ariete."

5,1191  "ffor which she may |et holde al hire byheste."
5,1192  And on the morwe vnto the |ate he wente,
5,1193  And vp and down, by west and ek by este,
5,1194  Upon the walles made he many a wente;
5,1195  But al for nought, his hope alwey hym blente;
5,1196  ffor which at nyght in sorwe and sikes sore,
5,1197  He wente hym hom with-outen any more.

5,1198  His hope al clene out of his herte fledde,
5,1199  He nath wher-on now lenger forto honge;
5,1200  But for the peyne hym thoughte his herte bledde,
5,1201  So were his throwes sharpe and wonder stronge.
5,1202  ffor whan he saugh that she abood so longe,
5,1203  He nyste what he iuggen of it myghte,
5,1204  Syn she hath broken that she hym bihighte.

5,1205  The thridde, ferthe, fifte, sexte day
5,1206  After tho dayes ten of whiche I tolde,
5,1207  Bitwixen hope and drede his herte lay,
5,1208  ^et somwhat trustyng on hire hestes olde.
5,1209  But whan he saugh she nolde hire terme holde,
5,1210  He kan now sen non other remedie
5,1211  But forto shape hym soone forto dye.

5,1212  Ther-with the wikked spirit, god vs blesse,
5,1213  Which that men clepeth woode ialousie,
5,1214  Gan in hym crepe in al his heuynesse;
5,1215  ffor which by-cause he wolde soone dye,
5,1216  He ne et ne drank for his malencolye,
5,1217  And ek from euery compaignye he fledde;
5,1218  This was the lif that al the tyme he ledde.

5,1219  He so defet was that no manere man
5,1220  Unneth hym myghte knowen ther he wente;
5,1221  So was he lene, and therto pale and wan,
5,1222  And feble, that he walketh by potente;
5,1223  And with his ire he thus hym selue shente.
5,1224  But who-so axed hym wher-of hym smerte,
5,1225  He seyde his harm was al aboute his herte.

5,1226  Priam ful ofte, and ek his moder deere,
5,1227  Hise bretheren and his sustren gon hym freyne
5,1228  Whi he so sorwful was in al his cheere,
5,1229  And what thyng was the cause of al his peyne --
5,1230  But al for naught: he nolde his cause pleyne,
5,1231  But seyde he felte a greuous maladie
5,1232  Aboute his herte and fayn he wolde dye.

5,1233  [So on a day he leyde hym doun to slepe,
5,1234  And so byfel that yn his slep hym thoughte
5,1235  That in a forest faste he welk to wepe
5,1236  ffor loue of here that hym these peynes wroughte;
5,1237  And vp and doun as he the forest soughte,
5,1238  He mette he saugh a bor with tuskes grete,
5,1239  That slepte a|eyn the bryghte sonnes hete.

5,1240  And by this bor, faste in his armes folde,
5,1241  Lay kyssyng ay his lady bryght, Criseyde --
5,1242  ffor sorwe of which, whan he it gan byholde,
5,1243  And for despit, out of his slep he breyde,
5,1244  And loude he cride on Pandarus & seyde,
5,1245  "O Pandarus, now know I crop and roote --
5,1246  I nam but ded; ther nys non other bote.

5,1247  "My lady bryght, Criseyde, hath me bytrayed,
5,1248  In whom I trusted most of ony wight;
5,1249  She ellis-where hath now here herte apayed.
5,1250  The blysful goddes thorugh here grete myght
5,1251  Han in my drem y-shewed it ful right;
5,1252  Thus yn my drem Criseyde I haue byholde."
5,1253  And al this thing to Pandarus he tolde.

5,1254  "O my Criseyde, allas, what subtilte,
5,1255  What newe lust, what beaute, what science,
5,1256  What wratthe of iuste cause haue ye to me?
5,1257  What gilt of me, what fel experience,
5,1258  Hath fro me raft, allas, thyn aduertence?
5,1259  O trust, O feyth, O depe aseuraunce,
5,1260  Who hath me reft Criseyde, al my plesaunce?

5,1261  "Allas, whi leet I you from hennes go,
5,1262  ffor which wel neigh out of my wit I breyde?
5,1263  Who shal now trowe on ony othes mo?
5,1264  God wot, I wende, O lady bright, Criseyde,
5,1265  That euery word was gospel that ye seyde.
5,1266  But who may bet bigile, yf hym lyste,
5,1267  Than he on whom men weneth best to triste?

5,1268  "What shal I don, my Pandarus, allas?
5,1269  I fele now so sharpe a newe peyne:
5,1270  Syn that ther lith no remedye in this cas,
5,1271  That bet were it I with myn hondes tweyne
5,1272  My seluen slowh than alwey thus to pleyne:
5,1273  ffor thorugh the deth my wo shold han an ende,
5,1274  Ther euery day with lyf my self I shende."]

5,1275  Pandare answerde and seyde, "allas, the while
5,1276  That I was born! Haue I nat seyd er this,
5,1277  That dremes many a maner man bigile?
5,1278  And whi? for folk expounden hem amys.
5,1279  How darstow seyn that fals thy lady ys,
5,1280  ffor any drem, right for thyn owene drede?
5,1281  Lat be this thought; thow kanst no dremes rede.

5,1282  "Peraunter ther thow dremest of this boor,
5,1283  It may so be that it may signifie
5,1284  Hire fader, which that old is and ek hoor,
5,1285  A|eyn the sonne lith o poynt to dye,
5,1286  And she for sorwe gynneth wepe and crie,
5,1287  And kisseth hym ther he lith on the grounde:
5,1288  Thus sholdestow thi dreme aright expounde."

5,1289  "How myghte I than don," quod Troilus,
5,1290  "To knowe of this, |ee, were it neuere so lite?"
5,1291  "Now seystow wisly," quod this Pandarus.
5,1292  "My red is this, syn thow kanst wel endite,
5,1293  That hastily a lettre thow hire write,
5,1294  Thorugh which thow shalt wel bryngyn it aboute,
5,1295  To know a soth ther thow art now in doute.

5,1296  "And se now whi: for this I dar wel seyn,
5,1297  That if so is that she vntrewe be,
5,1298  I kan nat trowen that she wol write a|eyn.
5,1299  And if she write, thow shalt ful sone yse
5,1300  As wheither she hath any liberte
5,1301  To come a|eyn, or ellis in som clause,
5,1302  If she be let, she wol assigne a cause.

5,1303  "Thow hast nat writen hire syn that she wente,
5,1304  Nor she to the, and this I dorste lay,
5,1305  Ther may swich cause ben in hire entente,
5,1306  That hardily thow wolt thi seluen say
5,1307  That hire abod the best is for |ow tway.
5,1308  Now write hire thanne and thow shalt feele sone
5,1309  A soth of al; ther is namore to done."

5,1310  Acorded ben to this conclusioun,
5,1311  And that anon, thise ilke lordes two:
5,1312  And hastily sit Troilus a-down,
5,1313  And rolleth in his herte to and fro,
5,1314  How he may best descryuen hire his wo;
5,1315  And to Criseyde, his owen lady deere,
5,1316  He wrot right thus and seyde as |e may here.
         <1Litera Troili>1
5,1317  "Right fresshe flour whos I ben haue and shal
5,1318  With-outen parte of elles-where seruyse,
5,1319  With herte, body, lif, lust, thought and al,
5,1320  I, woful wyght, in euerich humble wise,
5,1321  That tonge telle or herte may deuyse,
5,1322  As ofte as matere occupieth place,
5,1323  Me recomaunde vnto |oure noble grace.

5,1324  "Liketh |ow to witen, swete herte,
5,1325  As |e wel knowe how longe tyme agon
5,1326  That |e me lefte in aspre peynes smerte,
5,1327  Whan that |e wente, of which |et boote non
5,1328  Haue I non had, but euere wors bigon
5,1329  ffro day to day am I, and so mot dwelle,
5,1330  While it |ow list, of wele and wo my welle.

5,1331  "ffor which to |ow with dredful herte trewe
5,1332  I write, as he that sorwe drifth to write,
5,1333  My wo that euerich houre encresseth newe,
5,1334  Compleynyng as I dar or kan endite.
5,1335  And that defaced is, that may |e wite
5,1336  The teris which that fro myn eyen reyne,
5,1337  That wolden speke, if that they koude, and pleyne.

5,1338  "^ow first biseche I that |oure eyen clere
5,1339  To loke on this defouled |e nat holde,
5,1340  And ouere al this that |e, my lady deere,
5,1341  Wol vouche-sauf this lettre to byholde.
5,1342  And by the cause ek of my cares colde,
5,1343  That sleth my wit, if aught amys masterte,
5,1344  ffor|eue it me, myn owen swete herte.

5,1345  "If any seruant dorst or oughte of right
5,1346  Upon his lady pitously compleyne,
5,1347  Thanne wene I that ich oughte be that wight,
5,1348  Considered this, that |e thise monthes tweyne
5,1349  Han taried ther |e seyden, soth to seyne,
5,1350  But dayes ten |e nolde in oost soiourne --
5,1351  But in two monthes |et |e nat retourne.

5,1352  "But for as muche as me moot nedes like
5,1353  Al that |ow liste, I dar nat pleyne moore,
5,1354  But humblely, with sorwful sikes sike,
5,1355  ^ow write ich myn vnresty sorwes soore,
5,1356  ffro day to day desiryng euere moore
5,1357  To knowen fully, if |oure wille it weere,
5,1358  How |e han ferd and don whil |e be theere;

5,1359  "The whos welfare and hele ek god encresse
5,1360  In honour swich that vpward in degree
5,1361  It growe alwey so that it neuere cesse;
5,1362  Right as |oure herte ay kan, my lady free,
5,1363  Deuyse, I prey to god so moot it be,
5,1364  And graunte it that |e soone vp-on me rewe,
5,1365  As wisly as in al I am |ow trewe.

5,1366  "And if |ow liketh knowen of the fare
5,1367  Of me whos wo ther may no wit discryue,
5,1368  I kan namore but, chiste of euery care,
5,1369  At wrytyng of this lettre I was on lyue,
5,1370  Al redy out my woful gost to dryue;
5,1371  Which I delaye and holde hym |et in honde,
5,1372  Up-on the sighte of matere of |oure sonde.

5,1373  "Myn eyen two, in veyn with whiche I se,
5,1374  Of sorwful teris salt arn waxen welles;
5,1375  My song, in pleynte of myn aduersitee;
5,1376  My good in harm, myn ese ek woxen helle is;
5,1377  My ioie in wo -- I kan sey |ow naught ellis,
5,1378  But torned is, for which my lif I warie,
5,1379  Eueriche ioie or ese in his contrarie.

5,1380  "Which with |oure commyng hom a|eyn to Troie
5,1381  ^e may redresse, and more a thousand sithe
5,1382  Than euere ich hadde, encressen in me ioie:
5,1383  ffor was ther neuere herte |et so blithe
5,1384  To han his lif as I shal ben as swithe
5,1385  As I |ow se; and though no manere routhe
5,1386  Commeue |ow, |et thynketh on |oure trouthe.

5,1387  "And if so be my gilt hath deth deserued,
5,1388  Or if |ow list namore vp-on me se,
5,1389  In guerdoun |et of that I haue |ow serued,
5,1390  Byseche I |ow, myn hertes lady free,
5,1391  That here-vpon |e wolden write me,
5,1392  ffor loue of god, my righte lode sterre,
5,1393  That deth may make an ende of al my werre.

5,1394  "If other cause aught doth |ow forto dwelle,
5,1395  That with |oure lettre |e me recomforte;
5,1396  ffor though to me |oure absence is an helle,
5,1397  With pacience I wol my wo comporte,
5,1398  And with |oure lettre of hope I wol desporte.
5,1399  Now writeth, swete, and lat me thus nat pleyne;
5,1400  With hope or deth deliuereth me fro peyne.

5,1401  "I-wis, myne owene deere herte trewe,
5,1402  I woot that whan |e next vpon me se,
5,1403  So lost haue I myn hele and ek myn hewe,
5,1404  Criseyde shal nought konne knowen me.
5,1405  I-wys, myn hertes day, my lady free,
5,1406  So thursteth ay myn herte to byholde
5,1407  ^oure beute that my lif vnnethe I holde.

5,1408  "I say namore, al haue I forto seye
5,1409  To |ow wel more than I telle may;
5,1410  But wheither that |e do me lyue or deye,
5,1411  ^et praye I god, so |eue |ow right good day.
5,1412  And fareth wel, goodly, faire, fresshe may,
5,1413  As she that lif or deth may me comande;
5,1414  And to |oure trouthe ay I me recomande.

5,1415  "With hele swich that, but |e |euen me
5,1416  The same hele, I shal none hele haue.
5,1417  In |ow lith, whan |ow liste that it so be,
5,1418  The day in which me clothen shal my graue;
5,1419  In |ow my lif, in |ow myght forto saue
5,1420  Me fro disese of alle peynes smerte;
5,1421  And far now wel, myn owen swete herte.
                              le vostre T."
5,1422  This lettre forth was sent vnto Criseyde,
5,1423  Of which hire answere in effect was this:
5,1424  fful pitously she wroot a|eyn and seyde,
5,1425  That also sone as that she myghte, y-wys,
5,1426  She wolde come and mende al that was mys;
5,1427  And fynaly she wroot and seyde hym thenne,
5,1428  She wolde come, |e, but she nyste whenne.

5,1429  But in hire lettre made she swich festes,
5,1430  That wonder was, and swerth she loueth hym best,
5,1431  Of which he fond but botmeles bihestes.
5,1432  But Troilus, thow maist now, est or west,
5,1433  Pipe in an ivy lef if that the lest.
5,1434  Thus goth the world; god shilde vs fro meschaunce,
5,1435  And euery wight that meneth trouthe auaunce.

5,1436  Encressen gan the wo fro day to nyght
5,1437  Of Troilus, for tarying of Criseyde,
5,1438  And lessen gan his hope and ek his myght,
5,1439  ffor which al down he in his bed hym leyde;
5,1440  He ne eet, ne dronk, ne slep, ne no word seyde,
5,1441  Ymagynyng ay that she was vnkynde,
5,1442  ffor which wel neigh he wex out of his mynde.

5,1443  This drem of which I told haue ek byforn,
5,1444  May neuere come out of his remembraunce:
5,1445  He thought ay wel he hadde his lady lorn,
5,1446  And that Ioues, of his purueyaunce,
5,1447  Hym shewed hadde in slep the signifiaunce
5,1448  Of hire vntrouthe and his disauenture,
5,1449  And that the boor was shewed hym in figure.

5,1450  ffor which he for Sibille his suster sente,
5,1451  That called was Cassandre ek al aboute,
5,1452  And al his drem he tolde hire er he stente,
5,1453  And hire bisoughte assoilen hym the doute
5,1454  Of the stronge boor with tuskes stoute;
5,1455  And fynaly with-inne a litel stounde,
5,1456  Cassandre hym gan right thus his drem expounde.

5,1457  She gan first smyle and seyde, "O brother deere,
5,1458  If thow a soth of this desirest knowe,
5,1459  Thow most a fewe of olde stories heere,
5,1460  To purpos how that fortune ouerthrowe
5,1461  Hath lordes olde, thorugh which with-inne a throwe
5,1462  Thow wel this boor shalt knowe, and of what kynde
5,1463  He comen is, as men in bokes fynde.

5,1464  "Diane, which that wroth was and in ire
5,1465  ffor Grekis nolde don hire sacrifice,
5,1466  Ne encens vpon hire auter sette afire,
5,1467  She, for that Grekis gonne hire so despise,
5,1468  Wrak hire in a wonder cruel wise:
5,1469  ffor with a boor as gret as ox in stalle,
5,1470  She made vp frete hire corn and vynes alle.

5,1471  "To sle this boor was al the contre raysed,
5,1472  Amonges which ther com this boor to se,
5,1473  A mayde, oon of this world the beste y-preysed;
5,1474  And Meleagre, lord of that contree,
5,1475  He loued so this fresshe mayden free,
5,1476  That with his manhod, er he wolde stente,
5,1477  This boor he slough and hire the hed he sente.

5,1478  "Of which as olde bokes tellen vs,
5,1479  Ther ros a contek and a gret enuye,
5,1480  And of this lord descended Tideus
5,1481  By ligne or ellis olde bookes lye;
5,1482  But how this Meleagre gan to dye
5,1483  Thorugh his moder wol I |ow naught telle,
5,1484  ffor al to longe it were forto dwelle."

5,1485  She tolde ek how Tideus, er she stente,
5,1486  Unto the stronge citee of Thebes,
5,1487  To cleymen kyngdom of the citee wente
5,1488  ffor his felawe, daun Polymytes,
5,1489  Of which the brother, daun Ethiocles,
5,1490  fful wrongfully of Thebes held the strengthe:
5,1491  This tolde she by processe al by lengthe.

5,1492  She tolde ek how Hemonydes asterte
5,1493  Whan Tideus slough fifty knyghtes stoute;
5,1494  She tolde ek alle the prophecyes by herte,
5,1495  And how that seuen kynges with hire route
5,1496  Bysegeden the citee al aboute;
5,1497  And of the holy serpent and the welle
5,1498  And of the furies al she gan hym telle;

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;
ffulmine percussus, decimo Capaneus superatur;
Undecimo sese perimunt per vulnera fratres;
Argiua flentem narrat duodenus et ignem;

5,1499  Of Archymoris burying and the pleyes,
5,1500  And how Amphiorax fil thorugh the grounde,
5,1501  How Tideus was sleyn, lord of Argeyes,
5,1502  And how Ypomedoun in litel stounde
5,1503  Was dreynt, and ded Parthonope of wownde;
5,1504  And also how Capaneus the proude
5,1505  With thonder dynt was slayn, that cride loude.

5,1506  She gan ek telle hym how that eyther brother,
5,1507  Ethiocles and Polymyte also,
5,1508  At a scarmuche ech of hem slough other,
5,1509  And of Argyues wepynge and hire wo,
5,1510  And how the town was brent she tolde ek tho;
5,1511  And so descendeth down from gestes olde
5,1512  To Diomede and thus she spak and tolde:

5,1513  "This ilke boor bitokneth Diomede,
5,1514  Tideus sone, that down descended is
5,1515  ffro Meleagre that made the boor to blede;
5,1516  And thy lady, wher-so she be, ywis,
5,1517  This Diomede hire herte hath and she his --
5,1518  Wepe if thow wolt or lef, for out of doute,
5,1519  This Diomede is inne and thow art oute."

5,1520  "Thow seyst nat soth," quod he, "thow sorceresse.
5,1521  With al thy false goost of prophecye
5,1522  Thow wenest ben a gret deuyneresse.
5,1523  Now sestow nat this fool of fantasie
5,1524  Peyneth hire on ladys forto lye?
5,1525  Awey," quod he, "ther Ioues |eue the sorwe!
5,1526  Thow shalt be fals, peraunter, |et to-morwe.

5,1527  "As wel thow myghtest lien on Alceste,
5,1528  That was of creatures, but men lye,
5,1529  That euere weren, kyndest and the beste,
5,1530  ffor whan hire housbonde was in iupertye
5,1531  To dye hym self but if she wolde dye,
5,1532  She ches for hym to dye and gon to helle,
5,1533  And starf anon as vs the bokes telle."

5,1534  Cassandre goth, and he with cruel herte
5,1535  ffor|at his wo for angre of hire speche,
5,1536  And from his bedde al sodeynly he sterte,
5,1537  As though al hool hym hadde ymad a leche.
5,1538  And day by day he gan enquere and seche
5,1539  A sooth of this with al his fulle cure;
5,1540  And thus he drieth forth his auenture.

5,1541  ffortune -- which that permutacioun
5,1542  Of thynges hath, as it is hire comitted
5,1543  Thorugh purueyaunce and disposicioun
5,1544  Of heighe Ioue, as regnes shal be flitted
5,1545  ffro folk in folk or when they shal be smytted --
5,1546  Gan pulle awey the fetheres brighte of Troie
5,1547  ffro day to day til they ben bare of ioie.

5,1548  Among al this, the fyn of the parodie
5,1549  Of Ector gan aprochen wonder blyue;
5,1550  The fate wolde his soule sholde vnbodye,
5,1551  And shapen hadde a mene it out to dryue,
5,1552  A|eyns which fate hym helpeth nat to stryue;
5,1553  But on a day to fighten gan he wende,
5,1554  At which, allas, he caughte his lyues ende.

5,1555  ffor which me thynketh euery manere wight
5,1556  That haunteth armes oughte to biwaille
5,1557  The deth of hym that was so noble a knyght;
5,1558  ffor as he drough a kyng by thauentaille,
5,1559  Unwar of this, Achilles thorugh the maille
5,1560  And thorugh the body gan hym forto ryue;
5,1561  And thus the worthi knyght was brought of lyue.

5,1562  ffor whom, as olde bokes tellen vs,
5,1563  Was made swich wo that tonge it may nat telle,
5,1564  And namely the sorwe of Troilus,
5,1565  That next hym was of worthynesse welle;
5,1566  And in this wo gan Troilus to dwelle,
5,1567  That, what for sorwe and loue and for vnreste,
5,1568  fful ofte a day he bad his herte breste.

5,1569  But natheles, though he gan hym dispaire,
5,1570  And dradde ay that his lady was vntrewe,
5,1571  ^et ay on hire his herte gan repaire,
5,1572  And as thise louers don, he soughte ay newe
5,1573  To gete a|eyn Criseyde, brighte of hewe;
5,1574  And in his herte he wente hire excusyng,
5,1575  That Calkas caused al hire tariyng.

5,1576  And ofte tyme he was in purpos grete,
5,1577  Hym seluen like a pilgrym to desgise
5,1578  To seen hire; but he may nat contrefete
5,1579  To ben vnknowen of folk that weren wise,
5,1580  Ne fynde excuse aright that may suffise,
5,1581  If he amonge the Grekis knowen were;
5,1582  ffor which he wep ful ofte and many a tere.

5,1583  To hire he wroot |et ofte tyme al newe
5,1584  fful pitously -- he lefte it nought for slouthe --
5,1585  Bisechyng hire that syn that he was trewe,
5,1586  That she wol come a|eyn and holde hire trouthe;
5,1587  ffor which Criseyde vp-on a day for routhe --
5,1588  I take it so -- touchyng al this matere,
5,1589  Wrot hym a|eyn and seyde as |e may here.
         <1Litera Criseydis>1
5,1590  "Cupides sone, ensample of goodly-heede,
5,1591  O swerd of knyghthod, sours of gentilesse,
5,1592  How myght a wight in torment and in drede,
5,1593  And heleles, |ow sende as |et gladnesse?
5,1594  I herteles, I sik, I in destresse,
5,1595  Syn |e with me nor I with |ow may dele,
5,1596  ^ow neyther sende ich herte may nor hele.

5,1597  "^oure lettres ful, the papir al ypleynted,
5,1598  Conceyued hath myn hertes pietee;
5,1599  I haue ek seyn with teris al depeynted
5,1600  ^oure lettre, and how that |e requeren me
5,1601  To come a|eyn, which |et ne may nat be.
5,1602  But whi, lest that this lettre founden were,
5,1603  No mencioun ne make I now for feere.

5,1604  "Greuous to me, god woot, is |oure vnreste,
5,1605  ^oure haste, and that the goddes ordinaunce
5,1606  It semeth nat |e take it for the beste;
5,1607  Nor other thyng nys in |oure remembraunce,
5,1608  As thynketh me, but only |oure plesaunce.
5,1609  But beth nat wroth and that I |ow biseche;
5,1610  ffor that I tarie is al for wikked speche.

5,1611  "ffor I haue herd wel moore than I wende,
5,1612  Touchyng vs two, how thynges han y-stonde,
5,1613  Which I shal with dissymelyng amende;
5,1614  And beth nat wroth, I haue ek vnderstonde
5,1615  How |e ne do but holden me in honde;
5,1616  But now no force, I kan nat in |ow gesse
5,1617  But alle trouthe and alle gentilesse.

5,1618  "Come I wole, but |et in swich disioynte
5,1619  I stonde as now, that what |er or what day
5,1620  That this shal be, that kan I naught apoynte.
5,1621  But in effecte I pray |ow as I may,
5,1622  Of |oure good word and of |oure frendship ay:
5,1623  ffor trewely, while that my lif may dure,
5,1624  As for a frend |e may in me assure.

5,1625  "^et prey ich |ow on yuel |e ne take
5,1626  That it is short which that I to |ow write;
5,1627  I dar nat, ther I am, wel lettres make,
5,1628  Ne neuere |et ne koude I wel endite.
5,1629  Ek grete effect men write in place lite;
5,1630  Thentente is al and nat the lettres space.
5,1631  And fareth now wel, god haue |ow in his grace.
                                    la vostre C."
5,1632  This Troilus this lettre thoughte al straunge,
5,1633  Whan he it saugh and sorwfullich he sighte;
5,1634  Hym thoughte it lik a kalendes of chaunge.
5,1635  But fynaly he ful ne trowen myghte
5,1636  That she ne wolde hym holden that she hyghte;
5,1637  ffor with ful yuel wille list hym to leue,
5,1638  That loueth wel, in swich cas, though hym greue.

5,1639  But natheles men seyn that at the laste,
5,1640  ffor any thyng men shal the soothe se,
5,1641  And swich a cas bitidde and that as faste,
5,1642  That Troilus wel vnderstod that she
5,1643  Nas nought so kynde as that hire oughte be;
5,1644  And fynaly he woot now, out of doute,
5,1645  That al is lost that he hath ben aboute.

5,1646  Stood on a day in his malencolie
5,1647  This Troilus, and in suspecioun
5,1648  Of hire for whom he wende forto dye.
5,1649  And so bifel that thorugh-out Troye town,
5,1650  As was the gise, i-born was vp and down
5,1651  A manere cote-armure, as seith the storie,
5,1652  Byforn Deiphebe in signe of his victorie.

5,1653  The whiche cote, as telleth Lollius,
5,1654  Deiphebe it hadde rent fro Diomede
5,1655  The same day; and whan this Troilus
5,1656  It saugh, he gan to taken of it hede,
5,1657  Auysyng of the lengthe and of the brede,
5,1658  And al the werk; but as he gan byholde,
5,1659  fful sodeynly his herte gan to colde,

5,1660  As he that on the coler fond with-inne
5,1661  A broche that he Criseyde |af that morwe
5,1662  That she from Troie moste nedes twynne,
5,1663  In remembraunce of hym and of his sorwe,
5,1664  And she hym leyde a|eyn hire feith to borwe
5,1665  To kepe it ay -- but now ful wel he wiste
5,1666  His lady nas no lenger on to triste.

5,1667  He goth hym hom and gan ful soone sende
5,1668  ffor Pandarus; and al this newe chaunce
5,1669  And of this broche he tolde hym word and ende,
5,1670  Compleynyng of hire hertes variaunce,
5,1671  His longe loue, his trouthe and his penaunce;
5,1672  And after deth, with-outen wordes moore,
5,1673  fful faste he cride, his reste hym to restore.

5,1674  Than spak he thus, "O lady bright, Criseyde,
5,1675  Where is |oure feith and where is |oure biheste?
5,1676  Where is |oure loue, where is |oure trouthe?" he seyde.
5,1677  "Of Diomede haue |e now al this feeste;
5,1678  Allas, I wolde han trowed atte leeste
5,1679  That syn |e nolde in trouthe to me stonde,
5,1680  That |e thus nolde han holden me in honde.

5,1681  "Who shal now trowe on any othes mo?
5,1682  Allas, I neuere wolde han wend er this
5,1683  That |e, Criseyde, koude han chaunged so,
5,1684  Ne, but I hadde agilt and don amys.
5,1685  So cruel wende I nought |oure herte, ywis,
5,1686  To sle me thus; allas, |oure name of trouthe
5,1687  Is now fordon and that is al my routhe.

5,1688  "Was ther non other broche |ow liste lete
5,1689  To feffe with |oure newe loue," quod he,
5,1690  "But thilke broche that I with teris wete
5,1691  ^ow |af as for a remembraunce of me?
5,1692  Non other cause, allas, ne hadde |e
5,1693  But for despit, and ek for that |e mente
5,1694  Al outrely to shewen |oure entente.

5,1695  "Thorugh which I se that clene out of |oure mynde
5,1696  ^e han me cast, and I ne kan nor may,
5,1697  ffor al this world, with-inne myn herte fynde
5,1698  To vnlouen |ow a quarter of a day.
5,1699  In corsed tyme I born was, weilaway,
5,1700  That |ow that doon me al this wo endure
5,1701  ^et loue I best of any creature.

5,1702  "Now god," quod he, "me sende |et the grace
5,1703  That I may meten with this Diomede;
5,1704  And trewely, if I haue myght and space,
5,1705  ^et shal I make, I hope, his sydes blede.
5,1706  O god," quod he, "that oughtest taken heede
5,1707  To fortheren trouthe and wronges to punyce,
5,1708  Whi nyltow don a vengeaunce of this vice?

5,1709  "O Pandare, that in dremes forto triste
5,1710  Me blamed hast and wont art oft vpbreyde,
5,1711  Now maistow sen thi self, if that the liste,
5,1712  How trewe is now thi Nece, brighte Criseyde.
5,1713  In sondry formes, god it woot," he seyde,
5,1714  "The goddes shewen bothe ioie and tene
5,1715  In slep, and by my drem it is now sene.

5,1716  "And certeynly, with-outen moore speche,
5,1717  ffrom hennes-forth as ferforth as I may,
5,1718  Myn owen deth in armes wol I seche,
5,1719  I recche nat how soone be the day.
5,1720  But trewely, Criseyde, swete may,
5,1721  Whom I haue ay with al my myghte y-serued,
5,1722  That |e thus doon, I haue it nat deserued."

5,1723  This Pandarus, that al thise thynges herde,
5,1724  And wiste wel he seyde a soth of this,
5,1725  He nought a word a|eyn to hym answerde;
5,1726  ffor sory of his frendes sorwe he is,
5,1727  And shamed for his Nece hath don amys,
5,1728  And stant astoned of thise causes tweye,
5,1729  As stille as ston; a word ne kowde he seye.

5,1730  But at the laste thus he spak and seyde:
5,1731  "My brother deer, I may do the namore.
5,1732  What sholde I seyn? I hate, ywis, Criseyde,
5,1733  And god woot, I wol hate hire euermore.
5,1734  And that thow me bisoughtest don of |oore,
5,1735  Hauyng vn-to myn honour ne my reste
5,1736  Right no reward, I dide al that the leste.

5,1737  "If I dide aught that myghte liken the,
5,1738  It is me lief, and of this tresoun now,
5,1739  God woot that it a sorwe is vnto me;
5,1740  And dredeles, for hertes ese of |ow,
5,1741  Right fayn I wolde amende it, wiste I how.
5,1742  And fro this world almyghty god I preye
5,1743  Deliuere hire soon, I kan namore seye."

5,1744  Gret was the sorwe and pleynte of Troilus;
5,1745  But forth hire cours fortune ay gan to holde.
5,1746  Criseyde loueth the sone of Tideus,
5,1747  And Troilus moot wepe in cares colde.
5,1748  Swich is this world, who-so it kan byholde;
5,1749  In ech estat is litel hertes reste;
5,1750  God leue vs forto take it for the beste.

5,1751  In many cruel bataille, out of drede,
5,1752  Of Troilus, this ilke noble knyght,
5,1753  As men may in thise olde bokes rede,
5,1754  Was seen his knyghthod and his grete myght;
5,1755  And dredeles, his ire day and nyght
5,1756  fful cruwely the Grekis ay aboughte,
5,1757  And alwey moost this Diomede he soughte.

5,1758  And ofte tyme I fynde that they mette
5,1759  With blody strokes and with wordes grete,
5,1760  Assayinge how hire speres weren whette;
5,1761  And god it woot, with many a cruel hete
5,1762  Gan Troilus vp-on his helm to bete.
5,1763  But natheles, fortune it naught ne wolde
5,1764  Of oothers hond that eyther deyen sholde.

5,1765  And if I hadde ytaken forto write
5,1766  The armes of this ilke worthi man,
5,1767  Than wolde ich of his batailles endite;
5,1768  But for that I to writen first bigan
5,1769  Of his loue, I haue seyd as I kan --
5,1770  Hise worthi dedes, who-so list hem heere,
5,1771  Rede Dares, he kan telle hem alle i-feere --

5,1772  Bysechyng euery lady bright of hewe,
5,1773  And euery gentil womman, what she be,
5,1774  That al be that Criseyde was vntrewe,
5,1775  That for that gilt she be nat wroth with me:
5,1776  ^e may hire gilt in other bokes se,
5,1777  And gladlier I wol write, if |ow leste,
5,1778  Penelopes trouthe and good Alceste.

5,1779  Ny sey nat this al oonly for thise men,
5,1780  But moost for wommen that bitraised be
5,1781  Thorugh false folk; god |eue hem sorwe, amen!
5,1782  That with hire grete wit and subtilte
5,1783  Bytraise |ow; and this commeueth me
5,1784  To speke, and in effect |ow alle I preye,
5,1785  Beth war of men, and herkneth what I seye.

5,1786  Go, litel boke, go, litel myn tragedye,
5,1787  Ther god thi makere |et, er that he dye,
5,1788  So sende myght to make in some comedye;
5,1789  But litel book, no makyng thow nenvie,
5,1790  But subgit be to alle Poyesye,
5,1791  And kis the steppes where as thow seest space
5,1792  Uirgile, Ouide, Omer, Lucan and Stace.

5,1793  And for ther is so gret diuersite
5,1794  In Englissh and in writyng of oure tonge,
5,1795  So prey I god that non myswrite the,
5,1796  Ne the mysmetre for defaute of tonge.
5,1797  And red wher-so thow [MS |ow] or elles songe,
5,1798  That thow be vnderstonde, god I biseche.
5,1799  But |et to purpos of my rather speche --

5,1800  The wrath as I bigan |ow for to seye
5,1801  Of Troilus the Grekis boughten deere;
5,1802  ffor thousandes hise hondes maden deye,
5,1803  As he that was with-outen any peere,
5,1804  Saue Ector in his tyme as I kan heere;
5,1805  But weilawey, saue only goddes wille,
5,1806  Despitously hym slough the fierse Achille.

5,1807  And whan that he was slayn in this manere,
5,1808  His lighte goost ful blisfully is went
5,1809  Up to the holughnesse of the eighthe spere,
5,1810  In conuers letyng euerich element;
5,1811  And ther he saugh with ful auysement
5,1812  The erratik sterres, herkenyng armonye
5,1813  With sownes ful of heuenyssh melodie.

5,1814  And down from thennes faste he gan auyse
5,1815  This litel spot of erthe that with the se
5,1816  Embraced is, and fully gan despise
5,1817  This wrecched world, and held al vanite
5,1818  To respect of the pleyn felicite
5,1819  That is in heuene aboue, and at the laste,
5,1820  Ther he was slayn his lokyng down he caste.

5,1821  And in hym self he lough right at the wo
5,1822  Of hem that wepten for his deth so faste,
5,1823  And dampned al oure werk that foloweth so
5,1824  The blynde lust, the which that may nat laste,
5,1825  And sholden al oure herte on heuen caste;
5,1826  And forth he wente, shortly forto telle,
5,1827  Ther as Mercurye sorted hym to dwelle.

5,1828  Swich fyn hath, lo, this Troilus for loue,
5,1829  Swich fyn hath al his grete worthynesse;
5,1830  Swich fyn hath his estat real aboue,
5,1831  Swich fyn his lust, swich fyn hath his noblesse;
5,1832  Swich fyn hath false worldes brotelnesse:
5,1833  And thus bigan his louyng of Criseyde,
5,1834  As I haue told, and in this wise he deyde.

5,1835  O |onge, fresshe folkes, he or she,
5,1836  In which that loue vp groweth with |oure age,
5,1837  Repeyreth hom fro worldly vanyte,
5,1838  And of |oure herte vp casteth the visage
5,1839  To thilke god that after his ymage
5,1840  ^ow made, and thynketh al nys but a faire
5,1841  This world that passeth soone as floures faire.

5,1842  And loueth hym the which that right for loue
5,1843  Upon a Crois oure soules forto beye,
5,1844  ffirst starf and roos and sit in heuene aboue;
5,1845  ffor he nyl falsen no wight, dar I seye,
5,1846  That wol his herte al holly on hym leye.
5,1847  And syn he best to loue is and most meke,
5,1848  What nedeth feynede loues forto seke?

5,1849  Lo here, of payens corsed olde rites,
5,1850  Lo here, what alle hire goddes may auaille;
5,1851  Lo here, thise wrecched worldes appetites;
5,1852  Lo here, the fyn and guerdoun for trauaille
5,1853  Of Ioue, Appollo, of Mars, of swich rascaille;
5,1854  Lo here, the forme of olde clerkis speche
5,1855  In poetrie, if |e hire bokes seche.

5,1856  O moral Gower, this book I directe
5,1857  To the, and to the, philosophical Strode,
5,1858  To vouchen-sauf, ther nede is, to correcte,
5,1859  Of |oure benignites and zeles goode;
5,1860  And to that sothfast Crist that starf on rode,
5,1861  With al myn herte of mercy euere I preye,
5,1862  And to the lord right thus I speke and seye:

5,1863  Thow oon, and two, and thre, eterne on lyue,
5,1864  That regnest ay in thre, and two, and oon,
5,1865  Uncircumscript, and al maist circumscriue,
5,1866  Us from visible and in-visible foon
5,1867  Defende, and to thy mercye, euerichon,
5,1868  So make vs, Ihesus, for thi mercy digne,
5,1869  ffor loue of Mayde and moder thyn benigne. Amen.
         <1Explicit liber Troily.>1