Troilus and Crysede

Troilus and Criseyde

by

Geoffrey Chaucer

(1343 - 1400)

Ihis eBook of Geofftey C haucei'sTioilus and
Ciessida isdeivied fiom an electronic textatflp:/
/flp.uu.nel/doc/ liteiaiy/obi/Geoffiey.C haucei/
troilus.zip, itself based upon a previous e-text of
unknown origin. Ihe textatuunet was edited,
proofed, and prepared during March 1995 by
Douglas B Killings assisted by Diane M Brendan.

Ihe text is based on the edition of the poem
published in Skeat; W.W. (ed.); The Complete
Wotks of Geofliey Chaucer, (Oxford, 1900) and is
in the Public Domain.

Ihis edition, fomnatbed into portable document
fomnatasaneBookon 17 October 2006, has
been broughtto you by Professor Merc atorP
Long ha it's obsolete document reissue seivice.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

Troilus & Crysede
BOOK I

1 The double sorwe of Troilus to tellen

That was the kingPriamus sone of Troy e,

In lovinge,liow his aventures fellen

Tro wo to wele, and after out ofloye,

5 My purpos is, er that I parte fro ye.

Thesiphone, thou help me for tendyte
Thise woful vers, that wepen as I wrytel

To thee clepe I, thou goddesse of torment.

Thou cruel Turie, sorwing ever in peyne;

10 Help me, that am the sorwfulinstrument

That helpeth lovers, as I can, to pleynel

Tor wel sit it, the sothefor to seyne,

A woful wight to han a drery fere.

And, to a sorwful tale, a sory chere.

15 Tori, that god of Loves servaunts serve,

Ne dar to Love, for myn unlyklinesse.

Prey en for speed, al sholde I therfor sterve,

Sofer am I fro his help in derknesse;

But nathelees, if this may doon gladnesse

20 To any lover, and his cause avayle.

Have he my thank, and myn he this travayle!

But ye loveres, that bathen in gladnesse.

If any drope ofpitee in yow he,

Remenwreth yow on passed hevinesse

25 That ye han felt, and on the adversitee

Of othere folk, and thenketh how that ye

Han felt that Love dorste yow displese;

Or ye han wonne hym with too greet an ese.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

And prey eth for hem that hen in the cas

30 Of Troilus, as ye may after here,

That love hem bringe in hevene to solas.

And eekfor me prey eth to god so dere.

That I have might to shewe, in som manere,

Swich peyne and wo as Loves folk endure,

35 In Troilus unsely aventure.

And biddeth eekfor hem that been despeyred

In love, that never nil recovered be.

And eekfor hem thatfalsly been apeyred

Thorugh wikked tonges, be it he or she;

40 Thus biddeth god, for his benignitee.

So graunte hem sone out of this world to pace.

That been despeyred out of Loves grace.

And biddeth eekfor hem that been at ese.

That god hem graunte ay good perseveraunce,

45 And sende hem might hir ladies so to plese.

That it to Love be worship and plesaunce.

Tor so hope I my soule best avaunce.

To prey e for hem that Loves servaunts be.

And wryte hir wo, and live in charitee.

50 And for to have of hem compassioun

As though I were hir owene brother dere.

Now herkeneth with a gode entencioun.

Tor now wol I gon streiglit to my matere.

In whicheye may the double sorwes here

55 Of Troilus, in loving of Criseyde,

And how that she forsook him er she deyde.

It is wel wist, how that the Grekes stronge

In armes with a thousand shippes wente

To Troyewardes, and the citee longe

60 Assegeden neigh ten yeer er they stente.

And, in diverse wyse and oon entente.

The ravisshing to wreken ofEleyne,

By Paris doon, they wroughten al hir peyne.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

Nowfil it so, that in the toun ther was
65 Dwellinge a lord of greet auctoritee,

A gret devj/n that cleped was Calkas,

That in science so expert was, that he

Knew wel that Troye sholde destroyed be,

By answere of his god, that highte thus,

70 Datin Phebus or Apollo Delphicus.

So whan this Calkas knew by calculinge.

And eek by answere of this Appotto,

That Grekes sholden swich a peple bringe,

Thomgh which that Troye moste been for-do,

75 He caste anoon out of the toun to go;

Tor wel wiste he, by sort, that Troye sholde

Destroyed ben, ye, wolde who-so nolde.

Tor which, for to departen softely

Took purposful this forknowinge wyse,

80 And to the Grekes ost ful prively

He stal anoon; and they, in curteys wyse,

Hym deden bothe worship and servyse.

In trust that he hath conning hem to rede

In every peril which that is to drede.

85 The noyse up roos, whan it was first aspyed,

Thorugh al the toun, and generally was spoken.

That Calkas tray tor fled was, and allyed

With hem of Grece; and casten to ben wroken

On him thatfalsly hadde hisfeith so broken;

90 And seyden, he and at his kin at ones

Ben worthy for to brennen, fel and bones.

Now hadde Calkas left, in this meschaunce,

Al unwist of this false and wikked dede.

His doughter, which that was in gret penaunce,

95 Tor ofhir lyf she was ful sore in drede.

As she that niste what was best to rede;

Tor bothe a widowe was she, and allone

Of any freend to whom she dorste hirmone.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

Criseyde was this lady name a-right;

100 As to my dome, in al Troyes citee

Nas noon so fair, for passing every wight

So aungelhjK was hir natyf beautee.

That lyk a thing immortal seined she.

As doth an hevenish parfit creature,

105 That doun were sent in scorning of nature.

This lady, which that al-day herde at ere

Hirfadres shame, his falsnesse and tresotm,

Wei nigh out of hir wit for sorwe and fere.

In widewes habit large ofsamit broun,

110 On knees shefil biforn Ector a-doun;

Withpitous voys, and tendrely wepinge.

His mercy bad, hir-selven excusinge.

Now was this Ector pitous of nature.

And saw that she was sorwfully bigoon,

115 And that she was so fair a creature;

Of his goodnesse hegladed hir anoon.

And seyde, 'Lat yourfadres treson goon

Torth with mischaunce, and ye yourself, in loye,

Dwelleth with us, whyl you good list, in Troye.

120 'And al thonour that men may doon yow have.

As ferforth as your fader dwelled here.

Ye shut hail, and your body shal men save,

Asfer as I may ought enquere or here/

And she him thonked withful humble chere,

125 And ofter wolde, and it hadde ben his wille.

And took hir leve, and hooni, and held hirstille.

And in hir hous she abood with swich meynee

As to hir honour nede was to holde;

And whyl she was dwellinge in that citee,

130 Kepte hir estat, and bothe ofyonge and olde

till wel beloved, and wel men of hir tolde.

But whether that she children hadde or noon,

I rede it naught; therfore I late it goon.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

The thinges fellen, as they doon ofwerre,

135 Bitwixen hem of Troy e and Grekes ofte;

Tor som day boughten they of Troy e it derre,

And eft the Grekes fomiden no thing softe

The folk ofTroye; and thus fortune on-lofte,

And under eft, gan hem to wheelen bothe

140 After hir cours, ay zvhyl they were wrothe.

But how this toun com to destruccioun

Nefalleth nought to purpos me to telle;

Tor it were a long digressiotm

Tro my matere, and yow to longe dwelle.

145 But the Troyane gestes, as they felle,

In Omer, or in Dares, or in Dyte,
Who-so that can, may rede hem as they wryte.

But though that Grekes hem of Troye shetten.

And hir citee bisegede al a-boute,

150 Hir olde usage wolde they not letten.

As for to honoure hir goddes ful devoute;

But aldennost in honour, out of doute.

They hadde a relik hight Palladion,

That was hir trist a-boven everichon.

155 And so bifel, whan cotnen was the tytne

OfAperil, whan clothed is the mede

With newe grene, of lusty Ver the pryme.

And swote smellen floures whyte and rede.

In sondry wyses shewed, as I rede,

160 The folk ofTroye hir observaunces olde,

Palladiones feste for to holde.

And to the temple, in al hir beste wyse.

In general, titer wente many a wight.

To herknen of Palladion servyse;

165 And namely, so many a lusty knight.

So many a lady fresh and may den bright,

Tul wel arayed, bothe moste and leste,

Ye, bothe for the seson and the feste.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

Among thise otherefolk was Criseyda,
170 hi widewes habite blak; but nathelees,

Right as ourfirste lettre is now an A,

In beautee first so stood she, makelees;

Hir godly looking gladede al the prees.

Nas never seyn thing to ben preysed derre,

175 Nor under cloudeolak so bright a sterre

As was Criseyde, as folk seyde everichoon

That hir behelden in hir Make wede;

And yet she stood ful lowe and stille alloon,

Bihinden othere folk, in litel brede,

180 And neigh the dore, ay under shames drede,

Sitnple ofa-tyr, and debonaire ofchere.
With ful assured loking and manere.

This Troilus, as he was wont to gyde

His yonge knightes, ladde hem up and dotm

185 In thilke large temple on every syde,

Biholding ay the ladyes of the totm.

Now here, now there, for no devociotm

Hadde he to noon, to rev en him his reste.

But gan to preyse and lakken whom him leste.

190 And in his walk ful fast he gan to wayten

If knight or squyer of his company e

Gan for to syke, or lete his eyen bayten

On any woman that he coude aspye;

He woide smyle, and holden itfolye,

195 And seye him thus, 'god wot, she slepeth softe

Tor love of thee, whan thou tomestful oftel

'I have herd told, pardieux, of your livinge.

Ye lovers, and your lewede observaunces.

And which a labour folk han in winninge

200 Of love, and, in the keping, which doutaunces;

And whan your prey e is lost, wo and penaunces;

O verrey folesl nyce and blinde be ye;

Ther nis not oon can war by other be.'

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

And with that word he gan cast up the browe,

205 Ascaunces, 'Lol is this nought wysly spoken?'

At which the god of love gan token rowe

Right for desmjt, and shoopfor to hen wroken;

tie kidde anoon his bowe nas not broken;

For sodeynly he hit him at thefulle;

210 And yet as proud a pekok can he pulle.

O blinde world, O blinde entencioun!

How oftefalleth al theffect contraire

Of surquidrye and foul presumpcioun;

lor caught is proud, and caught is debonaire.

215 This Troilus is clotnben on the staire.

And litel weneth that he moot descenden.

But al-day falleth thing thatfoles ne wenden.

As proude Bayard ginnethfor to skippe

Out of the wey, so priketh him his corn,

220 Til he a lash have of the longe whippe.

Than thenketh he, 'Though I praunce al biforn

First in the trays, ful fat and newe shorn.

Yet am I but an hors, and horses lawe

I moot endure, and with my feres drawe.'

225 Soferde it by this fers and proude knight;

Though he a worthy kinges sone were.

And wende nothing hadde hadswiche might

Ayens his wil titat sholde his herte stere.

Yet with a look his herte wex a-fere,

230 That he, that now was most in pryde above,

Wex sodeynly most subget un-to love.

For-thy ensample taketh of this man.

Ye wyse, proude, and worthy folkes alle.

To scomen Love, which that so sone can

235 The freedom of your hertes to him thralle;

For ever it was, and ever it shal bifalle.

That Love is he that alle thing may binde;

For may no manfor-do the lawe ofkinde.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

That this be sooth, hath preved and doth yet;
240 For this trowe I ye ktwweti, alle or some,

Men reden not that folk han gretter wit

Than they that han he most with love y-nome;

And strengest folk ben therwith overcome,

The worthiest and grettest of degree:

245 This was, and is, and yet men shal it see.

And trewelich it sit wel to be so;

Tor alderwysest han ther-with ben plesed;

And they that han ben aldennost in wo,

With love han ben conforted most and esed;

250 And ofte it hath the cruel herte apesed.

And worthy folk maad worthier of name.

And causeth most to dreden vyce and shame.

Now sith it may not goodly be withstonde.

And is a thing so vertuotis in kinde,

255 Refnseth not to Love for to be bonde.

Sin, as him-selven list, he may yow binde.

The yerde is bet that bowen wole and winde

Than that that brest; and therfor I yow rede

Tofolwen him that so wet can yow lede.

260 But for to tellen forth in special

As of this kinges sone of which I tolde.

And leten other thing collateral.

Of him thenke I my tale for to holde.

Both of his loye, and of his cares colde;

265 And al his werk, as touching this matere.

Tor I it gan, Iwol ther-to refere.

With-inne the temple he wente him forth pleyinge.

This Troilus, of every wight aboute.

On this lady and now on that lokinge,

270 Wher-so she were of tonne, or ofwith-oute:

And up- on cas bifel, that thorugh a route

His eye perced, and so depe it wente,

Til on Criseyde it snioot, and ther it stente.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

And sodeynhj he wax ther-with astoned,

275 Andgan hire bet biholde in thrifty wyse:

'O mercy, godr thoughte he, 'wher hastow waned.

That art so fair and goodly to devyse?'

Ther-with his herte gan to sprede and ryse.

And softe sighed, lest men mighte him here,

280 And caughte a-yein hisftrste pleyinge chere.

She nas nat with the leste ofhir stature.

But alle hir limes so wel answeringe

Weren to womanhode, that creature

Was neuer lasse mannish in seminge.

285 And eek the pure wyse of here meninge

Shewede wel, that men might in hir gesse

Honour, estat, and wommanly noblesse.

To Troilus right wonder wel with-alle

Gan for to lyke hir meninge and hir chere,

290 Which sontdel deynous was, for she leetfalle

Hir look a lite aside, in swich tnanere,

Ascaunces, 'What! May I not stonden here?'

And after that hir loking gan she lighte.

That never tftoughte him seen so good a sighte.

295 And ofhir look in him titer gan to quiken

So greet desir, and swich affeccioun.

That in his herte botme gan to stiken

Ofhir his fixe and depe impressioutt:

And though he erst hadde poured up and doun,

300 He was tho glad his homes in to shrinke;

Unnethes wtste he how to loke or winke.

Lo, he that leet him-selven so konninge.

And scorned hem that loves peynes dry en,

Wasful unwar that love hadde his dwelltnge

305 With-inne the subtile stremes ofhir yen;

That sodeynly him thoughte hefelte dyen.

Right with hir look, the spirit in his herte;

Blissed be love, that thus can folk converte!

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

She, this in hlak, likinge to Troylus,
310 Over alle thyng, he stood for to biholde;

Ne his desir, tie wherfor he stood thus,

He neither chere made, tie worde tolde;

But from a-fer, his manerfor to holde.

On other thing his look som-tyme he caste,

315 And eft on hir, whyl that servyse laste.

And after this, notfulliche al awhaped.

Out of the temple al esiliche he wetite,

Repentinge him that he hadde ever y-iaped

Of loves folk, lest fully the descente

320 Of scorn filie on hitn-self; hut, what he mente.

Lest it were wtst on any ttianer syde.
His wo he gan dissimulen and hyde.

Wlian he was fro the temple thus departed.

He streyght anoon un-to his paleys torneth,

325 Right with hir look thurgh-shoten and thurgh- darted,

Alfeyneth he in lust that he soiometh;

And al his chere and speche also he borneth;

And ay, of loves servants every whyle,

Hitn-self to wrye, at hetti he gan to sttiyle.

330 And seyde, 'Lord, so ye live al in lest.

Ye loveres! Lor the conningest ofyow,

Lhat serveth most ententifltch and best.

Him tit as often harm ther-of as prow;

Your hyre is quit ayein, ye, god wot howl

335 Nought welfor wet, but scorn for good servyse;

Infeith, your ordre is ruled in good wyse!

'In noun-certeyn ben alle your observaunces.

But it a setyfewe poyntes be;

Ne no-thing asketh so grete attendaunces

340 As doth youre lay, and that knowe alle ye;

But that is not the worste, as tnote I thee;

But, tolde I yow the worste poytit, I leve,

Al seyde I sooth, ye woldeti at tne grevel

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'But tak this, that ye loveres ofte eschuwe,
345 Or elles doon of good entencioun,

Fill ofte thy lady wole it misconstrue,

And deme it hann in hir opinioun;

And yet if she, for other enchesoun.

Be wrooth, than shaft thou han a groyn anoon:

350 Lord! wel is him that may he ofyow oonV

But for al this, whan that he say his tyme.

He held his pees, non other bote him gayned;

For love bigan his fetheres so to tynte,

Fhat wel unnethe tm-to his folk hefayned

355 Fhat othere besye nedes him destrayned;

For wo was him, that what to doon he niste.

But bad his folk to goon wher that hem liste.

And whan that he in chauntbre was allone.

He dotm up- on his beddes feet him sette,

360 And first be gan to syke, and eft to grone.

And thoughte ay on hir so, with-outen lette,

Fhat, as he sat and wook, his spirit mette

Fhat he hir saw a temple, and al the wyse

Right of hir loke, and gan it newe avyse.

365 Fhus gan he make a mirour of his minde.

In which he saugh al hoolly hir figure;

And that he wel coude in his herte finde.

It was to him a right good aventure

Fo love swich oon, and if he dide his cure

370 Fo serven hir, yet mighte hefalle in grace.

Or elles, for oon of hir servaunts pace.

Imagininge that travaille nor grame

Ne mighte, for so goodly oon, be lorn

As she, ne him for his desir ne shame,

375 Al were it wist, but in prys and up-born

Ofalle lovers wel more than bifom;

Fhus argumented he in his gimiinge,

Ftil unavysed of his wo cominge.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

Thus took he purpos loves craft to suwe,
380 And thoughte he wolde werken prively,

First, to hyden his desir in tnuwe

From every wight y-hom, al-outrely,

But he mighte ought recovered be therby;

Remembring him, that love to wyde y-blowe

385 Yelt bittre fruyt, though swete seed be sowe.

And over al this, yet muchel more he thoughte

What for to speke, and what to holden inne.

And what to arten hir to love he soughte.

And on a song ano on-right to biginne,

390 And gan loude on his sorwefor to winne;

For with good hope he gan fully assente
Criseyde for to love, and nought repente.

And of his song nought only the sentence.

As writ myn autour called Lollius,

395 But pleynly, save our tonges difference,

Idar wel sayn, in al that Troilus

Seyde in his song, lol every word right thus

As I shal seyn; and who-so list it here,

Lol next this vers, he may itfinden here.

Cantus Troili

400 'If no love is, O god, whatfele I so?

And if love is, what thing and whiche is he!

If love be good, from whennes comth my wo?

Ifit be wikke, a wonder thinketh me,

Whenne every torment and adversitee

405 That cometh of him, may to me savory thinke;

For ay thurst I, the more that I it drinke.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'And if that at ntyn owene lust I hrenne,

Fro whemies cometh my wailing and mypleynte?

Ifhanne agree me, wher-to pleyne I thenne?

410 I noot, ne why miwery that Ifeynte.

O quike deeth, O swete harm so queynte,

How may of thee in me swich qiiantitee,

But-ifthat I consente that it be?

'And if that I consente, I wrongfully
415 Compleyne, y-wis; thus possed to and fro,

Al sterelees with inne a hoot am I

A-mid the see, by-twixen windes two.

That in contrarie stonden ever-mo.

Alias! what is this wonder malady e?

420 For hete of cold, for cold of hete, I deye. '

And to the god of love thus seyde he

With pitous voys, 'O lord, now youres is

My spirit, which that oughte youres he.

Yow thanke l, lord, that han me brought to this;

425 But whether go ddesse or womman, y-wis.

She he, I noot, which that ye do me serve;

But as hir man I wole ay live and sterve.

'Ye stonden in hire eyen mightily.

As in a place un-to youre vertu digne;

430 Wherfore, lord, if my servyse or I

May lyke yow, so beth to me benigne;

For myn estat royal here I resigne

In-to hir hond, and withful humble chere

Bicome hir man, as to my lady dere/

435 In hitn ne deyned sparen blood royal

Thefyr of love, wher-fro god me blesse,

Ne himforbar in no degree, for al

His vertu or his excellent prowesse;

But held him as his thral lowe in distresse,

440 And brende him so in sondry wyse ay newe,

_ That sixty tyme a day he loste hts hewe.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

So tnuche, day by day, his owene thought,

For lust to hir, gan quiken and encrese,

That every other charge he sette at nought;

445 For-thy ful ofte, his hotefyr to cese,

To seen hir goodly look he gan to prese;

For ther-by to ben esed wel he wende,

And ay the ner he was, the more he brende.

For ay the ner thefyr, the hotter is,
450 This, trowe I, knoweth at this company e.

But were hefer or neer, I dar seye this.

By night or day, for wisdom orfolye.

His herte, which that is his brestes ye.

Was ay on hir, that fairer was to sene

455 Than ever were Eleyne or Polixene.

Eek of the day titer passed nought an houre

That to himself a thousand tyme he seyde,

'Good goodly, to whom serve land laboure.

As I best can, now wolde god, Criseyde,

460 Ye wolden on me rewe er that I deydel

My dere herte, alias! ntyn hele and hewe

And lyfis lost, but ye wole on me rewe/

Alle othere dredes weren from him fledde.

Both of the assege and his savacioun;

465 Ne in him desyr noon othere fownes bredde

But argumentes to Ins conclusioun.

That she on Tiim wolde han compassioun.

And he to be hir man, whyl he may dure;

Lo, here his lyf, and from the deeth his cure!

470 The sharpe shoures telle of artnes preve.

That Ector or his othere bretheren diden,

Ne made him only titer- fore ones meve;

And yet was he, wher-so men wettte or ridett,

Fotmde oott the beste, attd lengest tyme abidett

475 Titer peril was, and dide eek stich travayle

In artnes, that to thenke it was mervayle.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

But for non hate he to the Grekes hadde,

Ne also for the rescous of the toun,

Ne made him thus in armesfor to madde,

480 But only, lo,for this conclusioun,

To lyken hir the bet for his renoun;

Fro day to day in annes so he spedde,

That alle the Grekes as the deeth him dredde.

And fro this forth tho refte him love his sleep,
485 And made his mete hisfoo; and eek his sorwe

Gan multiply e, that, who-so toke keep.

It shewed in his hewe, bothe eve and morwe;

Therfor a title he gan him for to borwe

Of other syknesse, lest of him men wende

490 That the hotefyr of love him brende.

And seyde, he hadde a fever andferde amis;

But how it was, certayn, can I not seye.

If that his lady tmderstood not this,

Orfeyned hir she niste, oon of the tweye;

495 But wel I rede that, by no maner weye,

Ne semed it as that she of him roughte.
Nor of his peyne, or what-so-ever he thoughte.

But than f el to this Troylus such wo.

That he was wel neigh wood; for ay his drede

500 Was this, that she som wight had loved so.

That never of him she wolde have taken hede;

For whiche him thoughte hefelte his herte blede.

Ne of his wo ne dorste he not biginne

To tellen it, for al this world to winne.

505 But whanne he hadde a space fro his care.

Thus to himself ful ofte he gan to pleyne;

He sayde, 'O fool, now art thou in the snare.

That whilom lapedest at loves peyne;

Now artow hent, now gnaw thyn owene cheyne;

510 Thou were ay wont eche lovere reprehende

_ Of thing fro whim thou canst thee nat defende.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'What wol now every lover seyn of thee,

If this he wist, hut ever in thyn absence

Langhen in scorn, and seyn, 'Lo, thergooth he,

515 That is the man of so gret sapience.

That held us lovers leest in reverence!
Now, thonked he god, he may goon in the daunce

fern

Of hem that Love list febly for to avaunceV

'But, O thou woful Troilus, god wolde,

520 Sin thou most loven thurgh thi destinee.

That thow heset were on swich oon that sholde

Knowe al thy wo, al lakkede hir pitee:

But al so cold in love, towardes thee.

Thy lady is, as frost in winter mone,

525 And thoufordoon, as snow infyr is sone.'

'God wolde I were aryved in the port

Of deth, to which my sorwe wil me iedel

A, lord, to me it were a gret comfort;

Than were I quit of languisshing in drede.

530 Tor hy myn hidde sorwe y-hlowe on hrede

Ishal hi-Iaped heen a thousand tyme
More than that fool of whos folye men ryme.

'But now help god, and ye, swete,for whotn

I pleyne, y -caught, ye, never wight sofaste!

535 O mercy, dere herte, and help me from

The deeth, for I, why I that my lyfmay taste.

More than my -self wol loveyow to my laste.

And with sotn freendly look gladeth tne, swete.

Though never more thing ye me hi-heteV

540 This wordes andful manye an-other to

He spak, and called ever in his compleynte

Kir name, for to tellen hir his wo.

Til neigh that he in salte teres dreynte.

Al was for nought, she herde nought his pleynte;

545 And whan that he hithoughte on that folye,

A thousandfold his wo gan multiplye.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

Bi-wayling in his chambre thus allone,

A freena of his, that called was Pandare,

Com ones in unwar, and herde him grone,

550 And say his freend in swich distresse and care:

'AliasV quod he, 'who causeth al this fare?

O mercy, god! What unhap may this mene?

Han now thus sone Grekes tnaad yow lene?

'Or hastow som retnors of conscience,

555 And art nowfalle in som devociotm.

And waylest for thy sinne and thyn offence.

And hast for ferde caught attrtciotm?

God save hem that bi-seged han our totm.

And so can leye ourlolyte onpresse,

560 And bring our lusty folk to holtnesse!'

These wordes seyde he for the nones alle.

That with swich thing he mighte him angry maken.

And with an angre don his sorwe falle.

As for the tyme, and his corage awaken;

565 But wel he wist, asfer as tonges spaken.

Titer nas a man of gretter hardinesse
Than he, ne more desired worthinesse.

'What cas,' quod Troilus, 'or what aventure

Hath gyded thee to see my languisshinge,

570 That am refus ofeuery creature?

But for the love of god, at my preyinge.

Go henne a-way, for certes, my deyinge

Wol thee disese, and I mot nedes deye;

Ther-for go wey, titer is no more to seye.

575 'But if thou wene I be thus sikfor drede.

It is not so, and ther-for scome nought;

Titer is a-nother thing I take ofhede

Wel more than ought the Grekes nan y-wrought.

Which cause is of my deet1t,for sorwe and thought.

580 But though that I now telle thee it ne leste,

_ Be thou nought wrooth; I hyde it for the beste.'

Geoffrey Chaucer (€.1343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

This Pandare, that neigh malt for wo and routhe,

Till often seyde, 'Alias! what may this be?

Now freend/ quod he, 'if ever love or trouthe

585 Hath been, or is, bi-twixen thee and me,

Ne do thou never swiche a crueltee

To hydefro thy freend so greet a care;

Wostow nought we I that it am I, Pandare?

'I woleparten with thee al thy peyne,

590 If it be so I do thee no comfort.

As it isfreendes right, sooth for to seyne.

To entreparten wo, as glad desport.

I have, and shal,for trewe orfals report.

In wrong and right y -loved thee al my lyve;

595 Hyd not thy wo fro me, but telle it hlyve/

Than gan this sorwful Troilus to syke.

And seyde him thus, "God leve it be my beste

To telle it thee; for sith it may thee lyke.

Yet wole I telle it, though myn herte breste;

600 And wel wot I thou mayst do me no reste.

But lest thow deme ftruste not to thee.
Now herkne, freend, for thus it stant with me.

'Love, a-yeins the which who-so defendeth

Him-selven most, him alder-lest avayleth,

605 With disespeir so sorwfully me offendeth.

That streyght tm-to the deeth myn herte sayleth.

Ther-to desyr so brenningly me assaylleth.

That to ben slayn it were a gretter loye

To me than king of Grece been and Troy el

610 'Suffiseth this, my fulle freend Pandare,

That I have seyd,for now wostow my wo;

And for the love of god, my colde care

So hyd it wel, I telle it never to mo;

Tor harmes mighte folwen, mo than two,

615 If it were wist; but be thou in gladnesse,

And latme sterve, unknowe, of my distresse.'

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'How hastow thus unkindely and longe

Hid this fro me, thou fool?' quod Pandarus;

'Paraunter thou might after swich oon longe,

620 That myn avys anoon may helpen us.'

'This were a wonder thing,' quod Troylus,

'Thou coudest never in love thy-selven wisse;

How devel maystow bringen me to blisse?'

'Ye, Troilus, now herke,' quod Pandare,
625 'Though I be nyce; it happeth ofte so.

That oon that exces dothful yvelefare.

By good counseyl can kepe hisfreend ther-fro.

I have my-self eek seyn a blind man go

Ther-as hefel that coude loke wyde;

630 A fool may eek a wys man ofte gyde.

'A whetston is no kerving instrument.

And yet it maketh sharpe kerving-tolis.

And titer thou woost that I have ought mtswent,

Eschewe thou that, for swich thing to thee scole is;

635 Thus ofte wyse menoen war by folis.

If thou do so, thy wit is wel biwared;
By his contrarie is every thing declared.

'Tor how might ever sweetnesse have be knowe

To him that never tasted bitternesse?

640 Ne no man may be inly glad, I trowe.

That never was in sorwe or som distresse;

Eek whyt by blak, by shame eek worthinesse,

Ech set by other, more for other semeth;

As men may see; and so the wyse it demeth.

645 'Sith thus of two contraries is a lore,

I, that have in love so ofte assayed

Grevaunces, oughte conne, and wel the more

Counsayllen thee of that thou art amayed.

Eek thee ne oughte nat ben yvel apayed,

650 Though I desyre with thee for to here

_ Thyn hevy charge; it shal the lasse dere.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'I woot wel that itfareth thus by me

As to thy brother Parys an herdesse,

Which that y-cleped was Oetwne,

655 Wrot in a conipleynte ofhir hevinesse:

Ye say the lettre that she wroot, ygesse?'

'Nay, never yet, y-wis/ quoafroilus.

'Now,' quodPandare, 'herkneth, it was thus. —

"Phebus, that first fond art ofmedicyne,'

660 Quod she, 'and coude in every wightes care

Remede and reed, by herbes he knew fyne.

Yet to himself his conning wasful bare;

Tor love hadde him so botmden in a snare,

Alfor the doughter of the kinge Admete,

665 That al his craft ne coude his sorwe bete." —

'Right so fare I, unhappily for me;

I love oon best, and that me smerteth sore;

And yet, paraunter, can I rede thee.

And not my-self; repreve me no more.

670 I have no cause, 1 woot wel, for to sore

As doth an hauk that listethfor topleye.

But to thyn help yet somwhat can 1 seye.

'And of o thing right siker may stow be.

That certayn, for to deyen in the peyne,

675 That I shal never-mo discoveren thee;

Ne, by my trouthe, I kepe nat restreyne

Thee fro thy love, thogh that it were Eleyne,

That is thy brotheres wif, ifich it wiste;

Be what she be, and love hir as thee liste.

680 'Therfore, as freend fullich in tne assure.

And tel me plat what is thyn enchesoun.

And final cause of wo that ye endure;

Tor douteth no-thing, myn entencioun

Nis nought to yow of reprehencioun,

685 To speke as now, for no wight may bireve

A man to love, til that him list to leve.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'And witeth wel, that bothe two ben vyces,

Mistmsten alle, or elles alle leve;

But wel I woot, the tnene of it no vyce is,

690 For to trnsten sum wight is a preve

Of trouthe, andfor-thy wolde ifayn retneve

Thy wrong conseyte, and do thee som wight triste,

Thy wo to telle; and tel me, if thee liste.

'The wyse seyth, "Wo him that is allone,

695 For, and hefalle, he hath noon help to ryse;"

And sith thou hast a felawe, tel thy mone;

For this nis not, certeyn, the nexte wyse

To winnen love, as techen us the wyse.

To walwe and wepe as Niobe the queue,

700 Whos teres yet in niarbel been y-sene.

'Lat be thy weping and thi drerinesse.

And lat us lissen wo with other speche;

So may thy woful tyme seme lesse.

Delyte not in wo thy wo to seche,

705 As doon thisefoles that hir sorwes eche

With sorwe, whan they han misaventure.

And listen nought to seche hem other cure.

'Men seyn, "To wrecche is consolacioun

To have an- other felawe in his peyne;"

710 That oughte wel ben our opinioun.

For, bothe thou and I, of love we pleyne;

Soful of sorwe am I, sothfor to seyne.

That certeynly no more harde grace

May sitte on me, for-why titer is no space.

715 'If god wole thou art not agast of me.

Lest I wolde of thy lady tliee btgyle,

Thow wost thyself whom that I love, pardee.

As I best can, gon sithen longe whyle.

And sith thou wost I do it for no wyle,

720 And sith I am he that thou tristest most,

_ Tel me sumwhat, sin al my wo thou wost.'

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

Yet Troilus, for al this, no word seyde,

But longe he ley as stille as he ded were;

And after this with sykinge he abreyde,

725 And to Pandarus voys he lente his ere,

And up his eyen caste he, that in fere

Was Pandarus, lest that infrenesye

He sholde falle, or elles sone dye;

And cryde 'A-wake' ful wonderhj and sharpe;
730 'What? Slombrestow as in a lytargye?

Or artow lyk an asse to the harpe.

That hereth soun, whan men the strenges piye.

But in his tninde of that no melody e

May sinken, him to glade, for that he

735 So dul is of his hestialitee?'

And with that, Pandare of his wordes stente;

And Troilus yet him no word answerde.

Tor-why to telle nas not his entente

To never no man, for whom that he soferde.

740 Tor it is seyd, 'Man maketh ofte a yerde

With which the maker is himself y-beten

In sondry nianer,' as thise wyse treten.

And namely, in his counseyl tellinge

That toucheth love that oughte be secree;

745 Tor of himself it wolde y-nougit out-springe.

But— if that it the bet governed be.

Eek som-tyme it is craft to seme flee

Tro thing which in effect men hunte faste;

Al tliis gan Troilus in his herte caste.

750 But nathelees, whan he had herd hitn crye

'Awake!' he gan to syke wonder sore.

And seyde, 'Treend, though that I stille lye,

I am not deep now pees, and cry no more;

Tor I have herd thy wordes and thy lore;

755 But suffre me my mischefto biwayle,

Tor thy proverbes may me nought avayle.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'Nor other cure canstow noon for me.

Eek I nil not he cured, I wol deye;

What knowe I of the queue Niobe?

760 Lat he thyne olde ensamnples, I thee preye.'

'No/ quod tho Pandarus, 'therfore I seye,

Swich is delyt offoles to biwepe

Hir wo, but seken bote they ne kepe.

'Now knowe I that ther reson in the fayleth.

765 But tel tne, if I wiste what she were

lor whom that thee at this misatmter ayleth?

Dorstestow that I tolde hir in hir ere

Thy wo, sith thou darst not thyself for fere,

Andiiir bisoughte on thee to han som routhe?'

770 'Why, nay,' quod he, 'by god and by my troutheV

'What, Not as bisily,' quod Pandarus,

'As though myn owene lyflay on this nede?'

'No, certes, brother,' quod this Troilus,

'And why?' — 'Tor that thou sholdest never spede.'

775 'Wostow that well' — 'Ye, that is out of drede,'

Quod Troilus, 'for al that ever ye conne.

She nil to noon swich wrecche as I be wonne.'

Quod Pandarus, 'Alias! What tnay this be.

That thou dispeyred art thus causelees?

780 What? Liveth not thy lady? Benedicite!

How wostow so that thou art gracelees?

Swich yvel is nat alwey botelees.

Why, put not impossible thus thy cure,

Stn thing to come is ofte in aventure.

785 'I graunte wel that thou endurest wo

As sharp as doth he, Ticius, in helle,

Whos stomak foules tyren ever-mo

That highte volturis, as bokes telle.

But I may not endure that thou dwelle

790 In so unskilful an opiniotm

_ That of thy wo is no curacioun.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'But ones niltow,for thy coward herte,

And for tliyn ire andfoltsh wilfulnesse,

For wantrust, tellen of thy sorwes stnerte,

795 Ne to thyn owene help do bisinesse

As mnche as speke a resomi more or lesse,

But lyest as he that list of no-thing recche.

What womrnan coude love swich a wrecche?

'What may she detnen other of thy deeth,

800 If thou thus deye, and she not why it is,

But that for fere is y olden up thy breeth,

For Grekes han biseged us, y-wis?

Lord, which a thank than shaltow han of this!

Fhus wol she seyn, and al the toun at ones,

805 "Fhe wrecche is deed, the devel have his bones!"

'Fhou mayst allone here wepe and crye and knele;

But, love a woman that she woot it nought.

And she wol cfuyte that thou shalt notfele;

Unknowe, unkist, and lost that is unsought.

810 What! Many a man hath loveful dere y-bought

Fwenty winter that his lady wiste,
Fhat never yet his lady mouth he kiste.

'What? Shulde be therf or fallen in despeyr.

Or be recreaunt for his owene tene,

815 Or sleen himself, al be his ladyfayr?

Nay, nay, but ever in oon be fresh andgrene

Fo serve and love his dere hertes queue.

And thenke it is a guerdotm hir to serve

A thousand-fold more than he can deserve.'

820 Of that word took hede Froilus,

And thoughte anoon what folye he was inne.

And how that sooth him seyde Pandarus,

Fhat for to sleen himself mighte he not winne.

But bothe doon unmanhod and a sinne,

825 And of his deeth his lady nought to wyte;

For of his wo, god woot, she knewful lyte.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

And with that thought he ganftil sore syke,

And seyde, 'Alias! What ts me best to do?'

To whom Pandare answered, 'If thee lyke,

830 The best is that thou telle me thy wo;

And have my trouthe, but thou itfinde so,

I be thy bote, or that it beful longe.

To peces do me drawe, and sithen hongeV

'Ye, so thou seyst,' quod Troilus tho, 'alias!
835 But, god wot, it is not the rather so;

Tul hard were it to helpen in this cas.

Tor welfinde I that Tortune is myfo,

Ne alle the men that ryden conne or go

May of Mr cruel wheel the harm withstonde;

840 Tor, as hir list, she pleyeth with free and bonde/

Quod Pandarus, 'Than blamestow Tortune

Tor thou art wrooth, ye, now at erst I see;

Wostow nat wel that Tortune is commune

To every maner wight in som degree?

845 And yet thou hast this comfort, lo, pardee!

That, as hir loyes moten over-goon.
So mote hir sorwes passen everichoon.

'Tor if hir wheel stinte any -thing to tome.

Than cessed she Tortune anoon to be:

850 Now, sith hir wheel by no wey may soiome.

What wostow if hir mutabilitee

Right as thy-selven list, wol doon by thee.

Or that she be notferfro thyn helpinge?

Paraunter, thou hast cause for to singe!

855 'And therfor wostow what I thee beseche?

Lat be thy wo and turning to the grounde;

Tor who-so list have helping of his leche.

To him bihoveth first unwrye his wounde.

To Cerberus in helle ay be I bounde,

860 Were it for my suster, al thy sorwe,

By my wil, she sholde al be thyn to-morwe.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'Loke up, I seye, and tel me what she is

Anoon, that I may goon aboute thy nede;

Knowe ich hir ought? tor my love, tel me this;

865 Than wolde I hopen rather for to spede.'

Tho gan the veyne of Troilus to hlede.

Tor he was hit, andwex al reed for shame;

'A ha!' quod Pandare, 'Here biginneth game!'

And with that word he gan him for to shake,
870 And seyde, 'Theef, thou shalt hir name telle.'

But tho gan sely Troilus for to quake

As though men sholde han led him in-to helle.

And seyde, 'Alias! Ofalmy wo the welle.

Than is my swetefo called Criseyde!'

875 And wel nigh with the word for fere he deyde.

And whan that Pandare herde hir name nevene.

Lord, he was glad, and seyde, 'Treend so dere.

Now fare a-right, for loves name in hevene.

Love hath biset the wel, be of good chere;

880 Tor of good name and wysdom and manere

She hath y-nough, and eek of gentilesse;
If she befayr, thou wost thyself, I gesse,

'Ne I never saw a more bountevous

Of hir estat, ne a gladder, ne of speche

885 A freendlier, ne a more gracious

Tor to do wel, ne lasse hadde nede to seche

What for to doon; and al this bet to eche.

In honour, to as fer as she may strecche,

A kinges herte semeth by Mrs a wrecche.

890 'Andfor-thy loke of good comfort thou be;

Tor certeinly, thefirste poynt is this

Of noble corage and wel ordeyne,

A man to have pees with himself, y-wis;

So oughtest thou, for nought but good it is

895 To loven wel, and in a worthy place;

Thee oghte not to clepe it hap, but grace.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'And also thenk, and ther-with glade thee,

That sith thy lady vertuous is al,

So folweth it that titer is sotn pitee

900 Amonges alle thise othere in general;

And for-thy see that thou, in special,

Requere nought that is ayein hir name;

lor vertue streccheth not himself to shame.

'But wel is me that ever that I was born,

905 That thou biset art in so good a place;

Tor by my trouthe, in love I dorste have sworn.

Thee sholde never han tid thus fayr a grace;

And wostow why? Tor thou were wont to chace

At Love in scorn, and for despyt him calle

910 "Seynt Idiot, lord of thise foles alle."

'How often hastow tnaad thy nyce lapes.

And seyd, that loves servants everichone

Ofnycetee been verray goddes apes;

And some wolde monche hir mete alone,

915 Ligging a-bedde, and make hem for to grone;

And som, thou seydest, hadde a blaunche fever e.

And preydest god he sholde never kevere.

'And som of hem tok on hem, for the colde.

More than y-nough, so seydestow ful ofte;

920 And som hanfeyned ofte tyme, and tolde

How that they wake, whan they slepen softe;

And thus they wolde han brought hem-self a-lofte.

And nathelees were under at the laste;

Thus seydestow, and lapedest ful faste.

925 'Yet seydestow, that, for the more part.

These loveres wolden speke in general.

And thoughten that it was a siker art.

Tor fay ling, for to assay en over-al.

Now may I iape of thee, if that I shall

930 But nathelees, though that 1 sholde deye,

_ That thou art noon oftho, that dorste I seye.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'Now beet thy hrest, and sey to god of love,

''Thy grace, lord! For now line repente

If I mis spak,for now myself I love:"

935 Thus sey with al thyn herte in good entente.'

Quod Troilus, 'Al Lord! I me consente.

And prey to thee my lapes thou foryive.

And I shal never-more whyl I live.'

'Thou seyst wel,' quod Pandare, 'and now I hope

940 That thou the goddes wraththe hast al apesed;

And sithen thou hast wepen many a drope.

And seyd swich thing wher-with thy god is plesed.

Now wolde never god but thou were esed;

And think wel, she of whom rist al thy wo

945 Here-after may thy comfort been also.

'For thilke ground, that bereth the wedes wikke,

Beretli eek tJtise holsom herbes, asful ofte

Next thefoule netle, rough and thikke.

The rose waxeth swote and smothe and softe;

950 And next the valey is the hil a-lofte;

And next the derke night the glade morwe;

And also loye is next thefyn ofsorwe.

'Now loke that atempre be thy brydel.

And, for the beste, ay suffre to the tyde,

955 Or elles al our labour is onydel;

Fie hasteth wel that wysly can abyde;

Be diligent, and trewe, and ay wel hyde.

Be lusty, free, persevere in thy servyse.

And al is wel, if thou werke in this wyse.

960 'But he that parted is in every place

Is no-wher hool, as writen clerkes wyse;

What wonder is, though swich oon have no grace?

Eek wostow how itfareth ofsom servyse?

As plaunte a tre or herbe, in sondry wyse,

965 And on the morwe pulle it up as blyve,

No wonder is, though tt may never thryve.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'And sith that god of love hath thee hist owed

In place digne un-to thy worthinesse,

Stond faste, for to good port hastow rowed;

970 And of thyself, for any hevinesse,

Hope alwey wel;for, bnt-tf drerinesse

Or over-haste our bothe labour shende,

I hope of this to niaken a good ende.

'And wostow why I ant the lasse a-fered

975 Of this inatere with my nece trete?

For this have I herd seyd ofwyse y-lered,

"Was never man ne woman yet bigete

That was tmapt to suffren loves hete,

Celestial, orelles love ofkinde;"

980 For-thy som grace I hope in hir to finde.

'And for to speke of hir in special,

Hir beautee to bithinken and hir youthe.

It sit hir nought to be celestial

As yet, though that hir liste bothe and couthe;

985 But trewely, it sete hir wel right nouthe

A worthy knight to loven and cheryce.
And but she do, I holde it for a vyce.

'Wherfore I ant, and wol be, ay redy

To peyne me to do yow this servyse;

990 For bothe yow to plese thus hope I

Her- afterward; for ye beth bothe wyse.

And conne it counseyl kepe in swich a wyse

That no man shal the wyser of it be;

And so we may be gladed alle three.

995 'And, by my trouthe, I have right now of thee

A good conceyt in my wit, as I gesse.

And what it is, I wol now that thou see.

I thenke, sith that love, ofhisgoodnesse.

Hath thee converted out ofwtkkednesse,

1000 That thou shalt be the beste post, I leve,

_ Of al his lay, and most hisfoos to-greve.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

'Ensaniple why, see now these wyse clerkes,

That erven aldermost a-yein a lawe,

And hen converted from hir wikked werkes

1005 Thorugh grace of god, that list hem to him drawe.

Than am they folk that han most god in awe.

And strengest-feythed been, I understonde.

And conne an errour alder-best withstonde.'

Whan Troilus had herd Pandare assented

1010 To been his help in loving of Criseyde,

Wex of his wo, as who seyth, untormented.

But hotter wex his love, and thus he seyde,

With sobre chere, al-though his herte pleyde,

'Now blisful Venus helpe, er that I sterve,

1015 Of thee, Pandare, I may som thank deserve.

'But, derefrend, how shal tnyn wo ben lesse

Til this be doon? Andgoode, eek tel me this.

How wiltow seyn of me and my destresse?

Lest she be wrooth, this drede I most, y-wys,

1020 Or nil not here or trowen how it is.

Al this drede I, and eek for the ntanere
Of thee, hir eem, she nil no swich thing here.'

Quod Pandarus, 'Thou hast a ful gret care

Lest that the cherl may falle out of the mone!

1025 Why, lord! I hate of the thy nycefare!

Why, entremete of that thou hast to done!

Tor goddes love, I bidde thee a bone.

So lat me alone, and it shal be thy beste.' —

'Why, freend,' quod he, 'now do right as the leste.

1030 'But herke, Pandare, o word, for I nolde

That thou in me wendest so greet folye.

That to my lady I desiren sholde

That toucheth harm or any vilenye;

Tor dredelees, me were lever dye

1035 Than she of me ought elles understode

_ But that, that mighte sounen in-to gode.'

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

Tho lough this Pandare, and anoon answerde,

'And I thy borw? Fy! No wight dooth but so;

I roughte nought though that she stode and herde

1040 How that thou seyst; but fare-wel, I wol go.

A-dieul Be glad! God spede us bothe two!

Yifme this labour and this besinesse,

And of my speed be thyn al that swetnesse.'

Tho Troilus gan doun on knees tofalle,
1045 And Pandare in his annes hente faste,

And seyde, 'Now,fy on the Grekes alle!

Yet, pardee, god shathelpe us at the laste;

And dredelees, if that my lyfmay laste,

And god to-forn, lo, som of hem shal smerte;

1050 And yet me athinketh that this avaunt me asterte!

'Now, Pandare, I can no more seye.

But thou wys, thou wost, thou mayst, thou art al!

My lyf, my deeth, hool in thyn bonde I leye;

Help now,' Quod he, 'Yis, by my trouthe, I shal.'

1055 'God yelde thee, freend, and this in special,'

Quod Troilus, 'that thou me recomaunde

To hir that to the deeth me may comaunde.'

This Pandarus tho, desirous to serve

1059 His fulle freend, than seyde in this manere,

'Far-wel, and thenk I wol thy thank deserve;

Have here my trouthe, and that thou shalt wel here.'

And wente his wey, thenking on this matere.

And how he best mighte hiroeseche of grace,

Andfinde a tynie ther-to, and a place.

1065 For every wight that hath an hous tofounde

Ne renneth nought the werkfor to biginne

With rakel hond, but he wol byde a stounde.

And sende his hertes lyne out fro with-inne

Alderfirst his purposfor to winne.

1070 Al this Pandare in his herte thoughte,

_ And caste his werkful wysly, or he wroughte.

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.l343 - 1400) - Troilus and Criseyde (c.l380 - 1385) - Book 1

But Troilus lay tho no lenger doun,

But up anoon up- on his stede bay,

And in the f eld he pleyde tho leoun;

1075 Wo was that Greek that with him mette that day.

And in the toun his maner tho forth ay

So goodly was, and gat him so in grace,

That ech him lovede that loked on his face.

Tor he bicom the frendlyeste wight,
1080 The gentileste, and eek the moste free.

The thriftieste and oon the beste knight.

That in his tyme was, or mighte be.

Dede were his lapes and his crueltee.

His heighe port and hts manere estraunge,

1085 And ech of tho ganfor a vertu chaunge.

Now lat us stinte of Troilus a stounde,

Thatfareth lyk a man that hurt is sore.

And is somdel of akinge of his wounde

Y-lissed wel, but heledno del more:

1090 And, as an esy pacient, the lore

Abit of him that gooth aboute his cure;
And thus he dry veth forth his aventure.

Explicit Liber Primus