BOOK V.

• Incipit Liber Quintus.

• • 1. APROCHEN gan the fatal destinee
  • That Ioves hath in disposicioun,
  • And to yow, angry Parcas, sustren three, [ ]
  • Committeth , to don execucioun;
  • For which Criseyde moste out of the toun, Skeat1900: 5
  • And Troilus shal dwelle forth in pyne
  • Til Lachesis his threed no lenger twyne.— [ ]
• • 2. THE golden-tressed Phebus heighe on-lofte [ ]
  • Thryës hadde alle with his bemes shene
  • The snowes molte, and Zephirus as ofte Skeat1900: 10
  • Y-brought ayein the tendre leves grene,
  • Sin that the sone of Ecuba the quene [ ]
  • Bigan to love hir first, for whom his sorwe
  • Was al, that she departe sholde a-morwe .
• • 3. Ful redy was at pryme Dyomede, [ ] Skeat1900: 15
  • Criseyde un-to the Grekes ost to lede,
  • For sorwe of which she felte hir herte blede,
  • As she that niste what was best to rede.
  • And trewely, as men in bokes rede,
  • Men wiste never womman han the care, Skeat1900: 20
  • Ne was so looth out of a toun to fare.
• • 4. This Troilus, with-outen reed or lore, [ ]
  • As man that hath his Ioyes eek forlore,
  • Was waytinge on his lady ever-more
  • As she that was the soothfast crop and more [ ] Skeat1900: 25
  • Of al his lust, or Ioyes here-tofore .
  • But Troilus, now farewel al thy Ioye,
  • For shaltow never seen hir eft in Troye!
• • 5. Soth is, that whyl he bood in this manere,
  • He gan his wo ful manly for to hyde, Skeat1900: 30
  • That wel unnethe it seen was in his chere;
  • But at the yate ther she sholde oute ryde
  • With certeyn folk, he hoved hir tabyde ,
  • So wo bigoon, al wolde he nought him pleyne,
  • That on his hors unnethe he sat for peyne. Skeat1900: 35
• • 6. For ire he quook, so gan his herte gnawe,
  • Whan Diomede on horse gan him dresse,
  • And seyde un-to him-self this ilke sawe,
  • ‘Allas,’ quod he, ‘thus foul a wrecchednesse
  • Why suffre ich it , why nil ich it redresse? Skeat1900: 40
  • Were it not bet at ones for to dye
  • Than ever-more in langour thus to drye ?
• • 7. Why nil I make at ones riche and pore
  • To have y-nough to done, er that she go?
  • Why nil I bringe al Troye upon a rore? Skeat1900: 45
  • Why nil I sleen this Diomede also?
  • Why nil I rather with a man or two
  • Stele hir a-way? Why wol I this endure?
  • Why nil I helpen to myn owene cure?’
• • 8. But why he nolde doon so fel a dede, Skeat1900: 50
  • That shal I seyn, and why him liste it spare:
  • He hadde in herte alwey a maner drede,
  • Lest that Criseyde, in rumour of this fare, [ ]
  • Sholde han ben slayn; lo, this was al his care.
  • And elles, certeyn, as I seyde yore, Skeat1900: 55
  • He hadde it doon, with-outen wordes more.
• • 9. Criseyde, whan she redy was to ryde,
  • Ful sorwfully she sighte , and seyde ‘allas!’
  • But forth she moot, for ought that may bityde,
  • And forth she rit ful sorwfully a pas. Skeat1900: 60
  • Ther nis non other remedie in this cas.
  • What wonder is though that hir sore smerte,
  • Whan she forgoth hir owene swete herte?
• • 10. This Troilus, in wyse of curteisye ,
  • With hauke on hond, and with an huge route [ ] Skeat1900: 65
  • Of knightes, rood and dide hir companye ,
  • Passinge al the valey fer with-oute. [ ]
  • And ferther wolde han riden, out of doute,
  • Ful fayn, and wo was him to goon so sone;
  • But torne he moste, and it was eek to done. Skeat1900: 70
• • 11. And right with that was Antenor y-come [ ]
  • Out of the Grekes ost, and every wight
  • Was of it glad, and seyde he was wel-come.
  • And Troilus, al nere his herte light,
  • He peyned him with al his fulle might Skeat1900: 75
  • Him to with-holde of wepinge at the leste,
  • And Antenor he kiste, and made feste.
• • 12. And ther-with-al he moste his leve take,
  • And caste his eye upon hir pitously,
  • And neer he rood , his cause for to make, Skeat1900: 80
  • To take hir by the honde al sobrely.
  • And lord! so she gan wepen tendrely!
  • And he ful softe and sleighly gan hir seye,
  • ‘Now hold your day, and dooth me not to deye.’
• • 13. With that his courser torned he a-boute Skeat1900: 85
  • With face pale, and un-to Diomede
  • No word he spak, ne noon of al his route;
  • Of which the sone of Tydeus took hede, [ ]
  • As he that coude more than the crede [ ]
  • In swich a craft, and by the reyne hir hente; [ ] Skeat1900: 90
  • And Troilus to Troye homwarde he wente.
• • 14. This Diomede, that ladde hir by the brydel,
  • Whan that he saw the folk of Troye aweye,
  • Thoughte, ‘al my labour shal not been on ydel,
  • If that I may, for somwhat shal I seye. Skeat1900: 95
  • For at the worste it may yet shorte our weye.
  • I have herd seyd, eek tymes twyës twelve,
  • “He is a fool that wol for-yete him-selve.” ’ [ ]
• • 15. But natheles this thoughte he wel ynough ,
  • ‘That certaynly I am aboute nought Skeat1900: 100
  • If that I speke of love, or make it tough; [ ]
  • For douteles, if she have in hir thought
  • Him that I gesse, he may not been y-brought
  • So sone awey; but I shal finde a mene,
  • That she not wite as yet shal what I mene.’ Skeat1900: 105
• • 16. This Diomede, as he that coude his good, [ ]
  • Whan this was doon, gan fallen forth in speche
  • Of this and that, and asked why she stood
  • In swich disese , and gan hir eek biseche,
  • That if that he encrese mighte or eche Skeat1900: 110
  • With any thing hir ese, that she sholde
  • Comaunde it him, and seyde he doon it wolde.
• • 17. For trewely he swoor hir, as a knight,
  • That ther nas thing with whiche he mighte hir plese,
  • That he nolde doon his peyne and al his might Skeat1900: 115
  • To doon it, for to doon hir herte an ese.
  • And preyede hir, she wolde hir sorwe apese,
  • And seyde, ‘y-wis, we Grekes con have Ioye
  • To honouren yow, as wel as folk of Troye.’
• • 18. He seyde eek thus, ‘I woot, yow thinketh straunge, Skeat1900: 120
  • No wonder is, for it is to yow newe,
  • Thaqueintaunce of these Troianes to chaunge,
  • For folk of Grece, that ye never knewe.
  • But wolde never god but-if as trewe
  • A Greek ye shulde among us alle finde Skeat1900: 125
  • As any Troian is, and eek as kinde.
• • 19. And by the cause I swoor yow right, lo, now,
  • To been your freend, and helply, to my might, [ ]
  • And for that more acqueintaunce eek of yow
  • Have ich had than another straunger wight, Skeat1900: 130
  • So fro this forth I pray yow, day and night,
  • Comaundeth me, how sore that me smerte,
  • To doon al that may lyke un-to your herte;
• • 20. And that ye me wolde as your brother trete,
  • And taketh not my frendship in despyt; Skeat1900: 135
  • And though your sorwes be for thinges grete,
  • Noot I not why, but out of more respyt,
  • Myn herte hath for to amende it greet delyt.
  • And if I may your harmes not redresse,
  • I am right sory for your hevinesse. Skeat1900: 140
• • 21. And though ye Troians with us Grekes wrothe
  • Han many a day be, alwey yet, pardee,
  • O god of love in sooth we serven bothe. [ ]
  • And, for the love of god, my lady free,
  • Whom so ye hate, as beth not wroth with me. Skeat1900: 145
  • For trewely, ther can no wight yow serve,
  • That half so looth your wraththe wolde deserve.
• • 22. And nere it that we been so neigh the tente
  • Of Calkas, which that seen us bothe may,
  • I wolde of this yow telle al myn entente; Skeat1900: 150
  • But this enseled til another day. [ ]
  • Yeve me your hond, I am, and shal ben ay,
  • God help me so, whyl that my lyf may dure,
  • Your owene aboven every creature.
• • 23. Thus seyde I never er now to womman born ; Skeat1900: 155
  • For god myn herte as wisly glade so,
  • I lovede never womman here-biforn
  • As paramours, ne never shal no mo. [ ]
  • And, for the love of god, beth not my fo;
  • Al can I not to yow, my lady dere, Skeat1900: 160
  • Compleyne aright, for I am yet to lere.
• • 24. And wondreth not, myn owene lady bright,
  • Though that I speke of love to you thus blyve;
  • For I have herd or this of many a wight,
  • Hath loved thing he never saugh his lyve. Skeat1900: 165
  • Eek I am not of power for to stryve
  • Ayens the god of love, but him obeye
  • I wol alwey, and mercy I yow preye.
• • 25. Ther been so worthy knightes in this place,
  • And ye so fair , that everich of hem alle Skeat1900: 170
  • Wol peynen him to stonden in your grace.
  • But mighte me so fair a grace falle,
  • That ye me for your servaunt wolde calle,
  • So lowly ne so trewely you serve
  • Nil noon of hem, as I shal, til I sterve.’ Skeat1900: 175
• • 26. Criseide un-to that purpos lyte answerde,
  • As she that was with sorwe oppressed so
  • That, in effect, she nought his tales herde,
  • But here and there, now here a word or two.
  • Hir thoughte hir sorwful herte brast a-two. [ ] Skeat1900: 180
  • For whan she gan hir fader fer aspye,
  • Wel neigh doun of hir hors she gan to sye. [ ]
• • 27. But natheles she thonked Diomede
  • Of al his travaile, and his goode chere,
  • And that him liste his friendship hir to bede; Skeat1900: 185
  • And she accepteth it in good manere,
  • And wolde do fayn that is him leef and dere;
  • And trusten him she wolde, and wel she mighte,
  • As seyde she, and from hir hors she alighte .
• • 28. Hir fader hath hir in his armes nome, Skeat1900: 190
  • And tweynty tyme he kiste his doughter swete,
  • And seyde, ‘O dere doughter myn, wel-come!’
  • She seyde eek, she was fayn with him to mete,
  • And stood forth mewet , mildë, and mansuete. [ ]
  • But here I leve hir with hir fader dwelle, Skeat1900: 195
  • And forth I wol of Troilus yow telle.
• • 29. To Troye is come this woful Troilus,
  • In sorwe aboven alle sorwes smerte,
  • With felon look, and face dispitous.
  • Tho sodeinly doun from his hors he sterte, Skeat1900: 200
  • And thorugh his paleys, with a swollen herte,
  • To chambre he wente ; of no-thing took he hede,
  • Ne noon to him dar speke a word for drede.
• • 30. And there his sorwes that he spared hadde
  • He yaf an issue large, and ‘deeth!’ he cryde; Skeat1900: 205
  • And in his throwes frenetyk and madde
  • He cursed Iove, Appollo, and eek Cupyde,
  • He cursed Ceres, Bacus, and Cipryde, [ ]
  • His burthe, him-self, his fate, and eek nature,
  • And, save his lady, every creature. Skeat1900: 210
• • 31. To bedde he goth, and weyleth there and torneth
  • In furie, as dooth he, Ixion, in helle; [ ]
  • And in this wyse he neigh til day soiorneth.
  • But tho bigan his herte a lyte unswelle
  • Thorugh teres which that gonnen up to welle; Skeat1900: 215
  • And pitously he cryde up-on Criseyde,
  • And to him-self right thus he spak, and seyde:—
• • 32. ‘Wher is myn owene lady lief and dere,
  • Wher is hir whyte brest, wher is it, where?
  • Wher ben hir armes and hir eyen clere, Skeat1900: 220
  • That yesternight this tyme with me were?
  • Now may I wepe allone many a tere,
  • And graspe aboute I may, but in this place,
  • Save a pilowe , I finde nought tenbrace.
• • 33. How shal I do? Whan shal she com ayeyn ? Skeat1900: 225
  • I noot, allas! why leet ich hir to go?
  • As wolde god, ich hadde as tho be sleyn!
  • O herte myn, Criseyde, O swete fo!
  • O lady myn, that I love and no mo! [ ]
  • To whom for ever-mo myn herte I dowe ; Skeat1900: 250
  • See how I deye, ye nil me not rescowe!
• • 34. Who seeth yow now, my righte lode-sterre?
  • Who sit right now or stant in your presence?
  • Who can conforten now your hertes werre?
  • Now I am gon, whom yeve ye audience? Skeat1900: 235
  • Who speketh for me right now in myn absence?
  • Allas, no wight; and that is al my care;
  • For wel wot I, as yvel as I ye fare.
• • 35. How shulde I thus ten dayes ful endure,
  • Whan I the firste night have al this tene? Skeat1900: 240
  • How shal she doon eek, sorwful creature?
  • For tendernesse , how shal she this sustene,
  • Swich wo for me? O pitous, pale, and grene
  • Shal been your fresshe wommanliche face
  • For langour, er ye torne un-to this place.’ Skeat1900: 245
• • 36. And whan he fil in any slomeringes,
  • Anoon biginne he sholde for to grone,
  • And dremen of the dredfulleste thinges
  • That mighte been; as, mete he were allone
  • In place horrible, makinge ay his mone, Skeat1900: 250
  • Or meten that he was amonges alle
  • His enemys, and in hir hondes falle.
• • 37. And ther-with-al his body sholde sterte,
  • And with the stert al sodeinliche awake,
  • And swich a tremour fele aboute his herte, Skeat1900: 255
  • That of the feer his body sholde quake;
  • And there-with-al he sholde a noyse make,
  • And seme as though he sholde falle depe
  • From heighe a-lofte; and than he wolde wepe,
• • 38. And rewen on him-self so pitously, Skeat1900: 260
  • That wonder was to here his fantasye.
  • Another tyme he sholde mightily
  • Conforte him-self, and seyn it was folye,
  • So causeles swich drede for to drye,
  • And eft biginne his aspre sorwes newe, Skeat1900: 265
  • That every man mighte on his sorwes rewe.
• • 39. Who coude telle aright or ful discryve
  • His wo, his pleynte, his langour, and his pyne ?
  • Nought al the men that han or been on-lyve.
  • Thou, redere, mayst thy-self ful wel devyne Skeat1900: 270
  • That swich a wo my wit can not defyne.
  • On ydel for to wryte it sholde I swinke,
  • Whan that my wit is wery it to thinke .
• • 40. On hevene yet the sterres were sene,
  • Al-though ful pale y-waxen was the mone; Skeat1900: 275
  • And whyten gan the orisonte shene
  • Al estward, as it woned is to done.
  • And Phebus with his rosy carte sone
  • Gan after that to dresse him up to fare,
  • Whan Troilus hath sent after Pandare. Skeat1900: 280
• • 41. This Pandare, that of al the day biforn
  • Ne mighte have comen Troilus to see,
  • Al-though he on his heed it hadde y-sworn, [ ]
  • For with the king Pryam alday was he,
  • So that it lay not in his libertee Skeat1900: 285
  • No-wher to gon, but on the morwe he wente
  • To Troilus, whan that he for him sente.
• • 42. For in his herte he coude wel devyne ,
  • That Troilus al night for sorwe wook;
  • And that he wolde telle him of his pyne , Skeat1900: 290
  • This knew he wel y-nough, with-oute book.
  • For which to chaumbre streight the wey he took,
  • And Troilus tho sobreliche he grette,
  • And on the bed ful sone he gan him sette.
• • 43. ‘My Pandarus,’ quod Troilus, ‘the sorwe Skeat1900: 295
  • Which that I drye, I may not longe endure.
  • I trowe I shal not liven til to-morwe;
  • For whiche I wolde alwey, on aventure,
  • To thee devysen of my sepulture
  • The forme, and of my moeble thou dispone Skeat1900: 300
  • Right as thee semeth best is for to done.
• • 44. But of the fyr and flaumbe funeral
  • In whiche my body brenne shal to glede,
  • And of the feste and pleyes palestral [ ]
  • At my vigile, I pray thee take good hede Skeat1900: 305
  • That al be wel; and offre Mars my stede, [ ]
  • My swerd, myn helm, and, leve brother dere,
  • My sheld to Pallas yef , that shyneth clere.
• • 45. The poudre in which myn herte y-brend shal torne,
  • That preye I thee thou take and it conserve Skeat1900: 310
  • In a vessel, that men clepeth an urne,
  • Of gold, and to my lady that I serve,
  • For love of whom thus pitously I sterve,
  • So yeve it hir, and do me this plesaunce,
  • To preye hir kepe it for a remembraunce. Skeat1900: 315
• • 46. For wel I fele, by my maladye,
  • And by my dremes now and yore ago,
  • Al certeinly, that I mot nedes dye.
  • The owle eek, which that hight Ascaphilo , [ ]
  • Hath after me shright alle thise nightes two. Skeat1900: 320
  • And, god Mercurie! of me now, woful wrecche, [ ]
  • The soule gyde, and, whan thee list, it fecche!’
• • 47. Pandare answerde, and seyde, ‘Troilus,
  • My dere freend, as I have told thee yore,
  • That it is folye for to sorwen thus, Skeat1900: 325
  • And causeles, for whiche I can no-more.
  • But who-so wol not trowen reed ne lore,
  • I can not seen in him no remedye,
  • But lete him worthen with his fantasye.
• • 48. But Troilus, I pray thee tel me now , Skeat1900: 330
  • If that thou trowe, er this, that any wight
  • Hath loved paramours as wel as thou? [ ]
  • Ye, god wot, and fro many a worthy knight
  • Hath his lady goon a fourtenight,
  • And he not yet made halvendel the fare . Skeat1900: 335
  • What nede is thee to maken al this care ?
• • 49. Sin day by day thou mayst thy-selven see
  • That from his love, or elles from his wyf,
  • A man mot twinnen of necessitee,
  • Ye, though he love hir as his owene lyf; Skeat1900: 340
  • Yet nil he with him-self thus maken stryf.
  • For wel thow wost, my leve brother dere,
  • That alwey freendes may nought been y-fere.
• • 50. How doon this folk that seen hir loves wedded
  • By freendes might, as it bi-tit ful ofte, [ ] Skeat1900: 345
  • And seen hem in hir spouses bed y-bedded?
  • God woot, they take it wysly, faire and softe.
  • For-why good hope halt up hir herte on-lofte ,
  • And for they can a tyme of sorwe endure;
  • As tyme hem hurt, a tyme doth hem cure. [ ] Skeat1900: 350
• • 51. So sholdestow endure, and late slyde
  • The tyme, and fonde to ben glad and light.
  • Ten dayes nis so longe not tabyde .
  • And sin she thee to comen hath bihight,
  • She nil hir hestes breken for no wight. Skeat1900: 355
  • For dred thee not that she nil finden weye
  • To come ayein , my lyf that dorste I leye.
• • 52. Thy swevenes eek and al swich fantasye
  • Dryf out, and lat hem faren to mischaunce;
  • For they procede of thy malencolye, [ ] Skeat1900: 360
  • That doth thee fele in sleep al this penaunce.
  • A straw for alle swevenes signifiaunce!
  • God helpe me so, I counte hem not a bene,
  • Ther woot no man aright what dremes mene.
• • 53. For prestes of the temple tellen this, [ ] Skeat1900: 365
  • That dremes been the revelaciouns
  • Of goddes, and as wel they telle, y-wis,
  • That they ben infernals illusiouns;
  • And leches seyn , that of complexiouns
  • Proceden they, or fast, or glotonye. Skeat1900: 370
  • Who woot in sooth thus what they signifye?
• • 54. Eek othere seyn that thorugh impressiouns,
  • As if a wight hath faste a thing in minde,
  • That ther-of cometh swiche avisiouns;
  • And othere seyn, as they in bokes finde, Skeat1900: 375
  • That, after tymes of the yeer by kinde,
  • Men dreme, and that theffect goth by the mone;
  • But leve no dreem, for it is nought to done.
• • 55. Wel worth of dremes ay thise olde wyves, [ ]
  • And treweliche eek augurie of thise foules ; Skeat1900: 380
  • For fere of which men wenen lese her lyves,
  • As ravenes qualm, or shryking of thise oules .
  • To trowen on it bothe fals and foul is.
  • Allas, allas, so noble a creature
  • As is a man, shal drede swich ordure! Skeat1900: 385
• • 56. For which with al myn herte I thee beseche,
  • Un-to thy-self that al this thou foryive ; [ ]
  • And rys up now with-oute more speche,
  • And lat us caste how forth may best be drive
  • This tyme, and eek how freshly we may live Skeat1900: 390
  • Whan that she cometh, the which shal be right sone;
  • God help me so, the beste is thus to done.
• • 57. Rys, lat us speke of lusty lyf in Troye
  • That we han lad, and forth the tyme dryve;
  • And eek of tyme cominge us reioye, Skeat1900: 395
  • That bringen shal our blisse now so blyve;
  • And langour of these twyës dayes fyve
  • We shal ther-with so foryete or oppresse,
  • That wel unnethe it doon shal us duresse.
• • 58. This toun is ful of lordes al aboute, Skeat1900: 400
  • And trewes lasten al this mene whyle.
  • Go we pleye us in som lusty route
  • To Sarpedon, not hennes but a myle. [ ]
  • And thus thou shalt the tyme wel bigyle,
  • And dryve it forth un-to that blisful morwe, Skeat1900: 405
  • That thou hir see, that cause is of thy sorwe.
• • 59. Now rys, my dere brother Troilus;
  • For certes, it noon honour is to thee
  • To wepe, and in thy bed to iouken thus. [ ]
  • For trewely, of o thing trust to me, Skeat1900: 410
  • If thou thus ligge a day, or two, or three,
  • The folk wol wene that thou, for cowardyse,
  • Thee feynest syk, and that thou darst not ryse.’
• • 60. This Troilus answerde , ‘O brother dere,
  • This knowen folk that han y-suffred peyne, Skeat1900: 415
  • That though he wepe and make sorwful chere,
  • That feleth harm and smert in every veyne,
  • No wonder is; and though I ever pleyne,
  • Or alwey wepe, I am no-thing to blame,
  • Sin I have lost the cause of al my game. Skeat1900: 420
• • 61. But sin of fyne force I moot aryse, [ ]
  • I shal aryse, as sone as ever I may;
  • And god, to whom myn herte I sacrifyse ,
  • So sende us hastely the tenthe day!
  • For was ther never fowl so fayn of May, Skeat1900: 425
  • As I shal been, whan that she cometh in Troye,
  • That cause is of my torment and my Ioye.
• • 62. But whider is thy reed ,’ quod Troilus,
  • ‘That we may pleye us best in al this toun?’
  • ‘By god, my conseil is,’ quod Pandarus, Skeat1900: 430
  • ‘To ryde and pleye us with king Sarpedoun.’
  • So longe of this they speken up and doun,
  • Til Troilus gan at the laste assente
  • To ryse, and forth to Sarpedoun they wente.
• • 63. This Sarpedoun, as he that honourable Skeat1900: 435
  • Was ever his lyve, and ful of heigh prowesse,
  • With al that mighte y-served been on table,
  • That deyntee was, al coste it greet richesse,
  • He fedde hem day by day, that swich noblesse,
  • As seyden bothe the moste and eek the leste, Skeat1900: 440
  • Was never er that day wist at any feste.
• • 64. Nor in this world ther is non instrument
  • Delicious, through wind, or touche, or corde,
  • As fer as any wight hath ever y-went,
  • That tonge telle or herte may recorde, Skeat1900: 445
  • That at that feste it nas wel herd acorde;
  • Ne of ladies eek so fayr a companye
  • On daunce, er tho, was never y-seyn with yë .
• • 65. But what avayleth this to Troilus,
  • That for his sorwe no-thing of it roughte? Skeat1900: 450
  • For ever in oon his herte piëtous [ ]
  • Ful bisily Criseyde his lady soughte.
  • On hir was ever al that his herte thoughte.
  • Now this, now that, so faste imagininge,
  • That glade , y-wis, can him no festeyinge . Skeat1900: 455
• • 66. These ladies eek that at this feste been,
  • Sin that he saw his lady was a-weye,
  • It was his sorwe upon hem for to seen,
  • Or for to here on instrumentz so pleye.
  • For she, that of his herte berth the keye, [ ] Skeat1900: 460
  • Was absent, lo, this was his fantasye,
  • That no wight sholde make melodye.
• • 67. Nor ther nas houre in al the day or night,
  • Whan he was ther-as no wight mighte him here,
  • That he ne seyde, ‘O lufsom lady bright, Skeat1900: 465
  • How have ye faren, sin that ye were here ?
  • Wel-come, y-wis, myn owene lady dere.’
  • But welaway, al this nas but a mase ;
  • Fortune his howve entended bet to glase . [ ]
• • 68. The lettres eek, that she of olde tyme Skeat1900: 470
  • Hadde him y-sent, he wolde allone rede,
  • An hundred sythe, a-twixen noon and pryme;
  • Refiguringe hir shap , hir womanhede,
  • With-inne his herte, and every word and dede
  • That passed was, and thus he droof to an ende Skeat1900: 475
  • The ferthe day, and seyde, he wolde wende.
• • 69. And seyde, ‘leve brother Pandarus,
  • Intendestow that we shul herë bleve [ ]
  • Til Sarpedoun wol forth congeyen us? [ ]
  • Yet were it fairer that we toke our leve. Skeat1900: 480
  • For goddes love, lat us now sone at eve
  • Our leve take, and homward lat us torne;
  • For trewely, I nil not thus soiorne.’
• • 70. Pandare answerde , ‘be we comen hider [ ]
  • To fecchen fyr, and rennen hoom ayeyn ? Skeat1900: 485
  • God helpe me so, I can not tellen whider
  • We mighten goon, if I shal soothly seyn,
  • Ther any wight is of us more fayn
  • Than Sarpedoun; and if we hennes hye
  • Thus sodeinly, I holde it vilanye , Skeat1900: 490
• • 71. Sin that we seyden that we wolde bleve
  • With him a wouke ; and now, thus sodeinly,
  • The ferthe day to take of him our leve,
  • He wolde wondren on it, trewely!
  • Lat us holde forth our purpos fermely; Skeat1900: 495
  • And sin that ye bihighten him to byde,
  • Hold forward now, and after lat us ryde.’
• • 72. Thus Pandarus, with alle peyne and wo,
  • Made him to dwelle; and at the woukes ende ,
  • Of Sarpedoun they toke hir leve tho, Skeat1900: 500
  • And on hir wey they spedden hem to wende.
  • Quod Troilus, ‘now god me grace sende,
  • That I may finden , at myn hom-cominge,
  • Criseyde comen!’ and ther-with gan he singe.
• • 73. ‘Ye, hasel-wode!’ thoughte this Pandare, [ ] Skeat1900: 505
  • And to him-self ful softely he seyde,
  • ‘God woot, refreyden may this hote fare
  • Er Calkas sende Troilus Criseyde!’
  • But natheles, he Iaped thus, and seyde,
  • And swor, y-wis, his herte him wel bihighte , Skeat1900: 510
  • She wolde come as sone as ever she mighte.
• • 74. Whan they un-to the paleys were y-comen
  • Of Troilus, they doun of hors alighte,
  • And to the chambre hir wey than han they nomen.
  • And in-to tyme that it gan to nighte, Skeat1900: 515
  • They spaken of Crisëyde the brighte.
  • And after this, whan that hem bothe leste,
  • They spedde hem fro the soper un-to reste.
• • 75. On morwe, as sone as day bigan to clere,
  • This Troilus gan of his sleep tabreyde , Skeat1900: 520
  • And to Pandare, his owene brother dere,
  • ‘For love of god,’ ful pitously he seyde,
  • ‘ As go we seen the paleys of Criseyde;
  • For sin we yet may have namore feste,
  • So lat us seen hir paleys at the leste.’ Skeat1900: 525
• • 76. And ther-with-al, his meyne for to blende,
  • A cause he fond in toune for to go,
  • And to Criseydes hous they gonnen wende.
  • But lord! this sely Troilus was wo!
  • Him thoughte his sorweful herte braste a-two. Skeat1900: 530
  • For whan he saugh hir dores sperred alle,
  • Wel neigh for sorwe a-doun he gan to falle.
• • 77. Therwith whan he was war and gan biholde
  • How shet was every windowe of the place,
  • As frost, him thoughte, his herte gan to colde; Skeat1900: 535
  • For which with chaunged deedlich pale face,
  • With-outen word, he forth bigan to pace;
  • And, as god wolde, he gan so faste ryde,
  • That no wight of his contenaunce aspyde.
• • 78. Than seyde he thus, ‘O paleys desolat, Skeat1900: 540
  • O hous, of houses whylom best y-hight, [ ]
  • O paleys empty and disconsolat,
  • O thou lanterne, of which queynt is the light,
  • O paleys, whylom day, that now art night,
  • Wel oughtestow to falle, and I to dye, Skeat1900: 545
  • Sin she is went that wont was us to gye!
• • 79. O paleys, whylom croune of houses alle,
  • Enlumined with sonne of alle blisse!
  • O ring, fro which the ruby is out-falle,
  • O cause of wo, that cause hast been of lisse ! Skeat1900: 550
  • Yet, sin I may no bet, fayn wolde I kisse
  • Thy colde dores, dorste I for this route; [ ]
  • And fare-wel shryne, of which the seynt is oute!’
• • 80. Ther-with he caste on Pandarus his yë
  • With chaunged face, and pitous to biholde; Skeat1900: 555
  • And whan he mighte his tyme aright aspye,
  • Ay as he rood, to Pandarus he tolde
  • His newe sorwe, and eek his Ioyes olde,
  • So pitously and with so dede an hewe,
  • That every wight mighte on his sorwe rewe. Skeat1900: 560
• • 81. Fro thennesforth he rydeth up and doun,
  • And every thing com him to remembraunce
  • As he rood forth by places of the toun
  • In whiche he whylom hadde al his plesaunce.
  • ‘Lo, yond saugh I myn owene lady daunce; Skeat1900: 565
  • And in that temple, with hir eyen clere,
  • Me caughte first my righte lady dere.
• • 82. And yonder have I herd ful lustily
  • My dere herte laughe, and yonder pleye
  • Saugh I hir ones eek ful blisfully. Skeat1900: 570
  • And yonder ones to me gan she seye,
  • “Now goode swete, love me wel, I preye.”
  • And yond so goodly gan she me biholde,
  • That to the deeth myn herte is to hir holde.
• • 83. And at that corner, in the yonder hous, Skeat1900: 575
  • Herde I myn alderlevest lady dere
  • So wommanly, with voys melodious,
  • Singen so wel, so goodly, and so clere,
  • That in my soule yet me thinketh I here
  • The blisful soun; and, in that yonder place, Skeat1900: 580
  • My lady first me took un-to hir grace.’
• • 84. Thanne thoughte he thus, ‘O blisful lord Cupyde,
  • Whanne I the proces have in my memorie ,
  • How thou me hast werreyed on every syde,
  • Men mighte a book make of it, lyk a storie. Skeat1900: 585
  • What nede is thee to seke on me victorie,
  • Sin I am thyn, and hoolly at thy wille?
  • What Ioye hastow thyn owene folk to spille?
• • 85. Wel hastow, lord, y-wroke on me thyn ire,
  • Thou mighty god, and dredful for to greve! Skeat1900: 590
  • Now mercy, lord, thou wost wel I desire
  • Thy grace most, of alle lustes leve.
  • And live and deye I wol in thy bileve,
  • For which I naxe in guerdon but a bone,
  • That thou Criseyde ayein me sende sone. Skeat1900: 595
• • 86. Distreyne hir herte as faste to retorne
  • As thou dost myn to longen hir to see;
  • Than woot I wel, that she nil not soiorne.
  • Now, blisful lord , so cruel thou ne be
  • Un-to the blood of Troye, I preye thee, Skeat1900: 600
  • As Iuno was un-to the blood Thebane, [ ]
  • For which the folk of Thebes caughte hir bane.’
• • 87. And after this he to the yates wente
  • Ther-as Criseyde out-rood a ful good paas,
  • And up and doun ther made he many a wente , Skeat1900: 605
  • And to him-self ful ofte he seyde ‘allas!
  • From hennes rood my blisse and my solas!
  • As wolde blisful god now, for his Ioye,
  • I mighte hir seen ayein come in-to Troye.
• • 88. And to the yonder hille I gan hir gyde, Skeat1900: 610
  • Allas! and there I took of hir my leve!
  • And yond I saugh hir to hir fader ryde,
  • For sorwe of which myn herte shal to-cleve.
  • And hider hoom I com whan it was eve;
  • And here I dwelle out-cast from alle Ioye, Skeat1900: 615
  • And shal, til I may seen hir eft in Troye.’
• • 89. And of him-self imagined he ofte
  • To ben defet , and pale, and waxen lesse
  • Than he was wont, and that men seyde softe,
  • ‘What may it be? who can the sothe gesse Skeat1900: 620
  • Why Troilus hath al this hevinesse?’
  • And al this nas but his malencolye,
  • That he hadde of him-self swich fantasye.
• • 90. Another tyme imaginen he wolde
  • That every wight that wente by the weye Skeat1900: 625
  • Had of him routhe, and that they seyen sholde,
  • ‘I am right sory Troilus wol deye.’
  • And thus he droof a day yet forth or tweye.
  • As ye have herd, swich lyf right gan he lede,
  • As he that stood bitwixen hope and drede. Skeat1900: 630
• • 91. For which him lyked in his songes shewe
  • Thencheson of his wo, as he best mighte,
  • And make a song of wordes but a fewe,
  • Somwhat his woful herte for to lighte.
  • And whan he was from every mannes sighte, Skeat1900: 635
  • With softe voys he, of his lady dere,
  • That was absent, gan singe as ye may here.
• • 92. ‘O sterre, of which I lost have al the light,
  • With herte soor wel oughte I to bewayle,
  • That ever derk in torment, night by night, Skeat1900: 640
  • Toward my deeth with wind in stere I sayle ;
  • For which the tenthe night if that I fayle [ ]
  • The gyding of thy bemes brighte an houre,
  • My ship and me Caribdis wol devoure.’
• • 93. This song when he thus songen hadde, sone Skeat1900: 645
  • He fil ayein in-to his sykes olde;
  • And every night, as was his wone to done,
  • He stood the brighte mone to beholde,
  • And al his sorwe he to the mone tolde;
  • And seyde, ‘y-wis, whan thou art horned newe, Skeat1900: 650
  • I shal be glad, if al the world be trewe!
• • 94. I saugh thyn hornes olde eek by the morwe,
  • Whan hennes rood my righte lady dere,
  • That cause is of my torment and my sorwe;
  • For whiche, O brighte Lucina the clere, [ ] Skeat1900: 655
  • For love of god, ren faste aboute thy spere!
  • For whan thyn hornes newe ginne springe,
  • Than shal she come, that may my blisse bringe!’
• • 95. The day is more, and lenger every night,
  • Than they be wont to be, him thoughte tho; Skeat1900: 660
  • And that the sonne wente his course unright
  • By lenger wey than it was wont to go;
  • And seyde, ‘y-wis, me dredeth ever-mo,
  • The sonnes sone, Pheton, be on-lyve, [ ]
  • And that his fadres cart amis he dryve.’ Skeat1900: 665
• • 96. Upon the walles faste eek wolde he walke,
  • And on the Grekes ost he wolde see,
  • And to him-self right thus he wolde talke,
  • ‘Lo, yonder is myn owene lady free,
  • Or elles yonder, ther tho tentes be! Skeat1900: 670
  • And thennes comth this eyr, that is so sote,
  • That in my soule I fele it doth me bote.
• • 97. And hardely this wind, that more and more
  • Thus stoundemele encreseth in my face,
  • Is of my ladyes depe sykes sore. Skeat1900: 675
  • I preve it thus, for in non othere place
  • Of al this toun, save onliche in this space,
  • Fele I no wind that souneth so lyk peyne;
  • It seyth, “allas! why twinned be we tweyne?” ’
• • 98. This longe tyme he dryveth forth right thus, Skeat1900: 680
  • Til fully passed was the nynthe night;
  • And ay bi-syde him was this Pandarus,
  • That bisily dide alle his fulle might
  • Him to comforte, and make his herte light;
  • Yevinge him hope alwey, the tenthe morwe Skeat1900: 685
  • That she shal come, and stinten al his sorwe.
• • 99. Up-on that other syde eek was Criseyde,
  • With wommen fewe, among the Grekes stronge;
  • For which ful ofte a day ‘allas!’ she seyde,
  • ‘That I was born! Wel may myn herte longe Skeat1900: 690
  • After my deeth; for now live I to longe!
  • Allas! and I ne may it not amende;
  • For now is wors than ever yet I wende.
• • 100. My fader nil for no-thing do me grace
  • To goon ayein, for nought I can him queme; Skeat1900: 695
  • And if so be that I my terme passe ,
  • My Troilus shal in his herte deme
  • That I am fals, and so it may wel seme.
  • Thus shal I have unthank on every syde;
  • That I was born, so weylawey the tyde! Skeat1900: 700
• • 101. And if that I me putte in Iupartye,
  • To stele awey by nighte, and it bifalle
  • That I be caught, I shal be holde a spye;
  • Or elles, lo, this drede I most of alle,
  • If in the hondes of som wrecche I falle, Skeat1900: 705
  • I am but lost, al be myn herte trewe;
  • Now mighty god, thou on my sorwe rewe!’
• • 102. Ful pale y-waxen was hir brighte face,
  • Hir limes lene, as she that al the day
  • Stood whan she dorste, and loked on the place Skeat1900: 710
  • Ther she was born, and ther she dwelt hadde ay.
  • And al the night wepinge, allas! she lay.
  • And thus despeired, out of alle cure,

  • 713-719. Cm. omits.

  • She ladde hir lyf, this woful creature.
• • 103. Ful ofte a day she sighte eek for destresse, Skeat1900: 715
  • And in hir-self she wente ay portrayinge
  • Of Troilus the grete worthinesse,
  • And alle his goodly wordes recordinge
  • Sin first that day hir love bigan to springe.
  • And thus she sette hir woful herte a-fyre Skeat1900: 720
  • Thorugh remembraunce of that she gan desyre.
• • 104. In al this world ther nis so cruel herte
  • That hir hadde herd compleynen in hir sorwe,
  • That nolde han wopen for hir peynes smerte,
  • So tendrely she weep , bothe eve and morwe. Skeat1900: 725
  • Hir nedede no teres for to borwe.
  • And this was yet the worste of al hir peyne,
  • Ther was no wight to whom she dorste hir pleyne.
• • 105. Ful rewfully she loked up-on Troye,
  • Biheld the toures heighe and eek the halles; Skeat1900: 730
  • ‘Allas!’ quod she, ‘the plesaunce and the Ioye
  • The whiche that now al torned in-to galle is,
  • Have I had ofte with-inne yonder walles !
  • O Troilus, what dostow now,’ she seyde;
  • ‘Lord! whether yet thou thenke up-on Criseyde? Skeat1900: 735
• • 106. Allas! I ne hadde trowed on your lore,
  • And went with yow, as ye me radde er this!
  • Thanne hadde I now not syked half so sore.
  • Who mighte have seyd, that I had doon a-mis
  • To stele awey with swich on as he is? Skeat1900: 740
  • But al to late cometh the letuarie,
  • Whan men the cors un-to the grave carie.
• • 107. To late is now to speke of this matere;
  • Prudence, allas! oon of thyn eyen three [ ]
  • Me lakked alwey, er that I cam here; Skeat1900: 745
  • On tyme y-passed, wel remembred me;
  • And present tyme eek coude I wel y-see.
  • But futur tyme, er I was in the snare,
  • Coude I not seen; that causeth now my care.
• • 108. But natheles, bityde what bityde, Skeat1900: 750
  • I shal to-morwe at night, by est or weste ,
  • Out of this ost stele on som maner syde,
  • And go with Troilus wher-as him leste .
  • This purpos wol I holde, and this is beste .
  • No fors of wikked tonges Ianglerye, Skeat1900: 755
  • For ever on love han wrecches had envye.
• • 109. For who-so wole of every word take hede,
  • Or rewlen him by every wightes wit,
  • Ne shal he never thryven , out of drede.
  • For that that som men blamen ever yit, Skeat1900: 760
  • Lo, other maner folk commenden it.
  • And as for me, for al swich variaunce,
  • Felicitee clepe I my suffisaunce. [ ]
• • 110. For which, with-outen any wordes mo,
  • To Troye I wol, as for conclusioun.’ Skeat1900: 765
  • But god it wot, er fully monthes two,
  • She was ful fer fro that entencioun.
  • For bothe Troilus and Troye toun
  • Shal knotteles through-out hir herte slyde; [ ]
  • For she wol take a purpos for tabyde . Skeat1900: 770
• • 111. This Diomede, of whom yow telle I gan,
  • Goth now, with-inne him-self ay arguinge
  • With al the sleighte and al that ever he can,
  • How he may best, with shortest taryinge,
  • In-to his net Criseydes herte bringe. Skeat1900: 775
  • To this entente he coude never fyne;
  • To fisshen hir, he leyde out hook and lyne.
• • 112. But natheles, wel in his herte he thoughte,
  • That she nas nat with-oute a love in Troye.
  • For never, sithen he hir thennes broughte, Skeat1900: 780
  • Ne coude he seen her laughe or make Ioye.
  • He niste how best hir herte for tacoye .
  • ‘But for to assaye,’ he seyde, ‘it nought ne greveth;
  • For he that nought nassayeth , nought nacheveth .’ [ ]
• • 113. Yet seide he to him-self upon a night, Skeat1900: 785
  • ‘Now am I not a fool, that woot wel how
  • Hir wo for love is of another wight,
  • And here-up-on to goon assaye hir now?
  • I may wel wite, it nil not been my prow.
  • For wyse folk in bokes it expresse, Skeat1900: 790
  • “Men shal not wowe a wight in hevinesse.”
• • 114. But who-so mighte winnen swich a flour
  • From him, for whom she morneth night and day,
  • He mighte seyn, he were a conquerour.’
  • And right anoon, as he that bold was ay, Skeat1900: 795
  • Thoughte in his herte, ‘happe, how happe may,
  • Al sholde I deye, I wole hir herte seche;
  • I shal no more lesen but my speche.’
• • 115. This Diomede, as bokes us declare,
  • Was in his nedes prest and corageous ; Skeat1900: 800
  • With sterne voys and mighty limes square,
  • Hardy, testif, strong, and chevalrous
  • Of dedes, lyk his fader Tideus.
  • And som men seyn, he was of tunge large;
  • And heir he was of Calidoine and Arge. [ ] Skeat1900: 805
• • 116. Criseyde mene was of hir stature, [ ]
  • Ther-to of shap, of face, and eek of chere,
  • Ther mighte been no fairer creature.
  • And ofte tyme this was hir manere,
  • To gon y-tressed with hir heres clere Skeat1900: 810
  • Doun by hir coler at hir bak bihinde,
  • Which with a threde of gold she wolde binde.
• • 117. And, save hir browes ioyneden y-fere,
  • Ther nas no lak, in ought I can espyen;
  • But for to speken of hir eyen clere, Skeat1900: 815
  • Lo, trewely, they writen that hir syen,
  • That Paradys stood formed in hir yën .
  • And with hir riche beautee ever-more
  • Strof love in hir, ay which of hem was more.
• • 118. She sobre was, eek simple, and wys with-al, Skeat1900: 820
  • The beste y-norisshed eek that mighte be,
  • And goodly of hir speche in general,
  • Charitable, estatliche, lusty, and free;
  • Ne never-mo ne lakkede hir pitee;
  • Tendre-herted, slydinge of corage; Skeat1900: 825
  • But trewely, I can not telle hir age.
• • 119. And Troilus wel waxen was in highte, [ ]
  • And complet formed by proporcioun
  • So wel, that kinde it not amenden mighte;
  • Yong, fresshe, strong, and hardy as lyoun; Skeat1900: 830
  • Trewe as steel in ech condicioun;
  • On of the beste enteched creature,
  • That is, or shal, whyl that the world may dure.
• • 120. And certainly in storie it is y-founde ,
  • That Troilus was never un-to no wight, Skeat1900: 835
  • As in his tyme, in no degree secounde [ ]
  • In durring don that longeth to a knight. [ ]
  • Al mighte a geaunt passen him of might,
  • His herte ay with the firste and with the beste
  • Stod paregal, to durre don that him leste. Skeat1900: 840
• • 121. But for to tellen forth of Diomede:—
  • It fil that after, on the tenthe day,
  • Sin that Criseyde out of the citee yede,
  • This Diomede, as fresshe as braunche in May,
  • Com to the tente ther-as Calkas lay, Skeat1900: 845
  • And feyned him with Calkas han to done ;
  • But what he mente, I shal yow telle sone.
• • 122. Criseyde, at shorte wordes for to telle,
  • Welcomed him, and doun by hir him sette;
  • And he was ethe y-nough to maken dwelle. Skeat1900: 850
  • And after this, with-outen longe lette,
  • The spyces and the wyn men forth hem fette; [ ]
  • And forth they speke of this and that y-fere,
  • As freendes doon, of which som shal ye here.
• • 123. He gan first fallen of the werre in speche Skeat1900: 855
  • Bitwixe hem and the folk of Troye toun;
  • And of thassege he gan hir eek byseche,
  • To telle him what was hir opinioun.
  • Fro that demaunde he so descendeth doun
  • To asken hir, if that hir straunge thoughte Skeat1900: 860
  • The Grekes gyse, and werkes that they wroughte?
• • 124. And why hir fader tarieth so longe
  • To wedden hir un-to som worthy wight?
  • Criseyde, that was in hir peynes stronge
  • For love of Troilus, hir owene knight, Skeat1900: 865
  • As fer-forth as she conning hadde or might,
  • Answerde him tho; but, as of his entente,
  • It semed not she wiste what he mente.
• • 125. But natheles, this ilke Diomede
  • Gan in him-self assure, and thus he seyde, Skeat1900: 870
  • ‘If ich aright have taken of yow hede,
  • Me thinketh thus, O lady myn, Criseyde,
  • That sin I first hond on your brydel leyde,
  • Whan ye out come of Troye by the morwe,
  • Ne coude I never seen yow but in sorwe. Skeat1900: 875
• • 126. Can I not seyn what may the cause be
  • But-if for love of som Troyan it were,
  • The which right sore wolde athinken me
  • That ye, for any wight that dwelleth there,
  • Sholden spille a quarter of a tere, Skeat1900: 880
  • Or pitously your-selven so bigyle;
  • For dredelees , it is nought worth the whyle.
• • 127. The folk of Troye, as who seyth, alle and some [ ]
  • In preson been, as ye your-selven see;
  • For thennes shal not oon on-lyve come Skeat1900: 885
  • For al the gold bitwixen sonne and see.
  • Trusteth wel, and understondeth me,
  • Ther shal not oon to mercy goon on-lyve,
  • Al were he lord of worldes twyës fyve!
• • 128. Swich wreche on hem, for fecching of Eleyne, Skeat1900: 890
  • Ther shal be take, er that we hennes wende,
  • That Manes, which that goddes ben of peyne, [ ]
  • Shal been agast that Grekes wol hem shende.
  • And men shul drede, un-to the worldes ende,
  • From hennes-forth to ravisshe any quene, Skeat1900: 895
  • So cruel shal our wreche on hem be sene.
• • 129. And but-if Calkas lede us with ambages, [ ]
  • That is to seyn, with double wordes slye ,
  • Swich as men clepe a “word with two visages,”
  • Ye shul wel knowen that I nought ne lye, Skeat1900: 900
  • And al this thing right seen it with your yë,
  • And that anoon; ye nil not trowe how sone;
  • Now taketh heed, for it is for to done.
• • 130. What wene ye your wyse fader wolde
  • Han yeven Antenor for yow anoon, Skeat1900: 905
  • If he ne wiste that the citee sholde
  • Destroyed been? Why, nay, so mote I goon!
  • He knew ful wel ther shal not scapen oon
  • That Troyan is; and for the grete fere,
  • He dorste not, ye dwelte lenger there. Skeat1900: 910
• • 131. What wole ye more, lufsom lady dere? [ ]
  • Lat Troye and Troyan fro your herte pace!
  • Dryf out that bittre hope, and make good chere,
  • And clepe ayein the beautee of your face,
  • That ye with salte teres so deface. Skeat1900: 915
  • For Troye is brought in swich a Iupartye,
  • That, it to save, is now no remedye.
• • 132. And thenketh wel, ye shal in Grekes finde,
  • A more parfit love, er it be night,
  • Than any Troyan is, and more kinde, Skeat1900: 920
  • And bet to serven yow wol doon his might.
  • And if ye vouche sauf, my lady bright,
  • I wol ben he to serven yow my-selve,
  • Ye, lever than be lord of Greces twelve!’
• • 133. And with that word he gan to waxen reed , Skeat1900: 925
  • And in his speche a litel wight he quook ,
  • And caste a-syde a litel wight his heed,
  • And stinte a whyle; and afterward awook,
  • And sobreliche on hir he threw his look,
  • And seyde, ‘I am, al be it yow no Ioye, Skeat1900: 930
  • As gentil man as any wight in Troye.
• • 134. For if my fader Tydeus,’ he seyde,
  • ‘Y-lived hadde, I hadde been, er this,
  • Of Calidoine and Arge a king, Criseyde! [ ]
  • And so hope I that I shal yet, y-wis. Skeat1900: 935
  • But he was slayn, allas! the more harm is,
  • Unhappily at Thebes al to rathe, [ ]
  • Polymites and many a man to scathe.
• • 135. But herte myn, sin that I am your man,
  • And been the ferste of whom I seche grace, Skeat1900: 940
  • To serven you as hertely as I can,
  • And ever shal , whyl I to live have space,
  • So, er that I departe out of this place,
  • Ye wol me graunte, that I may to-morwe,
  • At bettre leyser, telle yow my sorwe.’ Skeat1900: 945
• • 136. What shold I telle his wordes that he seyde?
  • He spak y-now, for o day at the meste;
  • It preveth wel, he spak so that Criseyde
  • Graunted, on the morwe, at his requeste,
  • For to speken with him at the leste, Skeat1900: 950
  • So that he nolde speke of swich matere;
  • And thus to him she seyde, as ye may here:
• • 137. As she that hadde hir herte on Troilus
  • So faste, that ther may it noon arace;
  • And straungely she spak, and seyde thus: Skeat1900: 955
  • ‘O Diomede, I love that ilke place
  • Ther I was born; and Ioves, for his grace,
  • Delivere it sone of al that doth it care!
  • God, for thy might, so leve it wel to fare!
• • 138. That Grekes wolde hir wraththe on Troye wreke, Skeat1900: 960
  • If that they mighte, I knowe it wel, y-wis.
  • But it shal not bifallen as ye speke;
  • And god to-forn, and ferther over this,
  • I wot my fader wys and redy is;
  • And that he me hath bought, as ye me tolde, Skeat1900: 965
  • So dere, I am the more un-to him holde.
• • 139. That Grekes been of heigh condicioun,
  • I woot eek wel; but certein, men shal finde
  • As worthy folk with-inne Troye toun,
  • As conning, and as parfit and as kinde, Skeat1900: 970
  • As been bitwixen Orcades and Inde. [ ]
  • And that ye coude wel your lady serve,
  • I trowe eek wel, hir thank for to deserve.
• • 140. But as to speke of love, y-wis,’ she seyde,
  • ‘I hadde a lord, to whom I wedded was, [ ] Skeat1900: 975
  • The whos myn herte al was, til that he deyde;
  • And other love, as helpe me now Pallas,
  • Ther in myn herte nis, ne never was.
  • And that ye been of noble and heigh kinrede,
  • I have wel herd it tellen, out of drede. Skeat1900: 980
• • 141. And that doth me to han so gret a wonder,
  • That ye wol scornen any womman so.
  • Eek, god wot, love and I be fer a-sonder;
  • I am disposed bet, so mote I go,
  • Un-to my deeth, to pleyne and maken wo. Skeat1900: 985
  • What I shal after doon , I can not seye;
  • But trewely, as yet me list not pleye .
• • 142. Myn herte is now in tribulacioun,
  • And ye in armes bisy , day by day.
  • Here-after, whan ye wonnen han the toun, Skeat1900: 990
  • Paraunter, thanne so it happen may,
  • That whan I see that I never er say, [ ]
  • Than wole I werke that I never wroughte!
  • This word to yow y-nough suffysen oughte.
• • 143. To-morwe eek wol I speke with yow fayn, Skeat1900: 995
  • So that ye touchen nought of this matere.
  • And whan yow list, ye may come here ayeyn;
  • And, er ye gon, thus muche I seye yow here:
  • As helpe me Pallas with hir heres clere,
  • If that I sholde of any Greek han routhe, Skeat1900: 1000
  • It sholde be your-selven, by my trouthe!
• • 144. I sey not therfore that I wol yow love,
  • Ne I sey not nay, but in conclusioun,
  • I mene wel, by god that sit above:’—
  • And ther-with-al she caste hir eyen doun, Skeat1900: 1005
  • And gan to syke, and seyde, ‘O Troye toun,
  • Yet bidde I god, in quiete and in reste
  • I may yow seen, or do myn herte breste.’
• • 145. But in effect, and shortly for to seye,
  • This Diomede al freshly newe ayeyn Skeat1900: 1010
  • Gan pressen on, and faste hir mercy preye;
  • And after this, the sothe for to seyn,
  • Hir glove he took, of which he was ful fayn. [ ]
  • And fynally, whan it was waxen eve,
  • And al was wel, he roos and took his leve. Skeat1900: 1015
• • 146. The brighte Venus folwede and ay taughte [ ]
  • The wey, ther brode Phebus doun alighte;
  • And Cynthea hir char-hors over-raughte [ ]
  • To whirle out of the Lyon, if she mighte;
  • And Signifer his candeles shewed brighte, [ ] Skeat1900: 1020
  • Whan that Criseyde un-to hir bedde wente
  • In-with hir fadres faire brighte tente.
• • 147. Retorning in hir soule ay up and doun
  • The wordes of this sodein Diomede,
  • His greet estat, and peril of the toun, Skeat1900: 1025
  • And that she was allone and hadde nede
  • Of freendes help; and thus bigan to brede
  • The cause why, the sothe for to telle,
  • That she tok fully purpos for to dwelle.
• • 148. The morwe com, and goostly for to speke, Skeat1900: 1030
  • This Diomede is come un-to Criseyde,
  • And shortly , lest that ye my tale breke,
  • So wel he for him-selve spak and seyde,
  • That alle hir sykes sore adoun he leyde.
  • And fynally, the sothe for to seyne, Skeat1900: 1035
  • He refte hir of the grete of al hir peyne.
• • 149. And after this the story telleth us,
  • That she him yaf the faire baye stede,
  • The which he ones wan of Troilus; [ ] [ ]
  • And eek a broche (and that was litel nede) Skeat1900: 1040
  • That Troilus was, she yaf this Diomede.
  • And eek, the bet from sorwe him to releve,
  • She made him were a pencel of hir sleve. [ ]
• • 150. I finde eek in the stories elles-where, [ ]
  • Whan through the body hurt was Diomede Skeat1900: 1045
  • Of Troilus, tho weep she many a tere,
  • Whan that she saugh his wyde woundes blede;
  • And that she took to kepen him good hede,
  • And for to hele him of his sorwes smerte.
  • Men seyn, I not, that she yaf him hir herte. Skeat1900: 1050
• • 151. But trewely, the story telleth us, [ ]
  • Ther made never womman more wo
  • Than she, whan that she falsed Troilus.
  • She seyde, ‘allas! for now is clene a-go
  • My name of trouthe in love, for ever-mo! Skeat1900: 1055
  • For I have falsed oon , the gentileste
  • That ever was, and oon the worthieste !
• • 152. Allas, of me, un-to the worldes ende,
  • Shal neither been y-writen nor y-songe
  • No good word , for thise bokes wol me shende. Skeat1900: 1060
  • O, rolled shal I been on many a tonge;
  • Through-out the world my belle shal be ronge; [ ]
  • And wommen most wol hate me of alle.
  • Allas, that swich a cas me sholde falle!
• • 153. They wol seyn, in as muche as in me is, Skeat1900: 1065
  • I have hem don dishonour, weylawey!
  • Al be I not the firste that dide amis,
  • What helpeth that to do my blame awey?
  • But sin I see there is no bettre way,
  • And that to late is now for me to rewe, Skeat1900: 1070
  • To Diomede algate I wol be trewe.
• • 154. But Troilus, sin I no better may,
  • And sin that thus departen ye and I,
  • Yet preye I god, so yeve yow right good day
  • As for the gentileste, trewely, Skeat1900: 1075
  • That ever I say, to serven feithfully,
  • And best can ay his lady honour kepe:’—
  • And with that word she brast anon to wepe.
• • 155. ‘And certes, yow ne haten shal I never,
  • And freendes love, that shal ye han of me, Skeat1900: 1080
  • And my good word, al mighte I liven ever.
  • And, trewely, I wolde sory be

  • 1083. So all.

  • For to seen yow in adversitee.
  • And giltelees , I woot wel, I yow leve;
  • But al shal passe; and thus take I my leve.’ Skeat1900: 1085
• • 156. But trewely, how longe it was bitwene,
  • That she for-sook him for this Diomede,
  • Ther is non auctor telleth it, I wene.
  • Take every man now to his bokes hede;
  • He shal no terme finden , out of drede. Skeat1900: 1090
  • For though that he bigan to wowe hir sone,
  • Er he hir wan, yet was ther more to done.
• • 157. Ne me ne list this sely womman chyde
  • Ferther than the story wol devyse.
  • Hir name, allas! is publisshed so wyde, Skeat1900: 1095
  • That for hir gilt it oughte y-now suffyse.
  • And if I mighte excuse hir any wyse,
  • For she so sory was for hir untrouthe,
  • Y-wis, I wolde excuse hir yet for routhe.
• • 158. This Troilus, as I biforn have told , Skeat1900: 1100
  • Thus dryveth forth, as wel as he hath might.
  • But often was his herte hoot and cold,
  • And namely, that ilke nynthe night,
  • Which on the morwe she hadde him byhight [ ]
  • To come ayein: god wot, ful litel reste Skeat1900: 1105
  • Hadde he that night; no-thing to slepe him leste.
• • 159. The laurer-crouned Phebus, with his hete, [ ]
  • Gan, in his course ay upward as he wente,
  • To warmen of the est see the wawes wete;
  • And Nisus doughter song with fresh entente, [ ] Skeat1900: 1110
  • Whan Troilus his Pandare after sente;
  • And on the walles of the toun they pleyde,
  • To loke if they can seen ought of Criseyde.
• • 160. Til it was noon , they stoden for to see [ ]
  • Who that ther come; and every maner wight, Skeat1900: 1115
  • That cam fro fer, they seyden it was she,
  • Til that they coude knowen him a-right.
  • Now was his herte dul, now was it light;
  • And thus by-iaped stonden for to stare
  • Aboute nought, this Troilus and Pandare. Skeat1900: 1120
• • 161. To Pandarus this Troilus tho seyde,
  • ‘For ought I wot, bi-for noon , sikerly,
  • In-to this toun ne comth nought here Criseyde.
  • She hath y-now to done, hardily,
  • To winnen from hir fader, so trowe I; Skeat1900: 1125
  • Hir olde fader wol yet make hir dyne
  • Er that she go; god yeve his herte pyne!’
• • 162. Pandare answerde , ‘it may wel be, certeyn;
  • And for-thy lat us dyne, I thee biseche;
  • And after noon than mayst thou come ayeyn .’ Skeat1900: 1130
  • And hoom they go, with-oute more speche;
  • And comen ayein, but longe may they seche
  • Er that they finde that they after cape ; [ ]
  • Fortune hem bothe thenketh for to Iape.
• • 163. Quod Troilus, ‘I see wel now, that she Skeat1900: 1135
  • Is taried with hir olde fader so,
  • That er she come, it wol neigh even be.
  • Com forth, I wol un-to the yate go.
  • Thise portours been unkonninge ever-mo;
  • And I wol doon hem holden up the yate [ ] Skeat1900: 1140
  • As nought ne were, al-though she come late.’
• • 164. The day goth faste, and after that comth eve,
  • And yet com nought to Troilus Criseyde.
  • He loketh forth by hegge, by tree, by greve,
  • And fer his heed over the wal he leyde. Skeat1900: 1145
  • And at the laste he torned him, and seyde,
  • ‘By god, I woot hir mening now, Pandare!
  • Al-most, y-wis, al newe was my care.
• • 165. Now douteles, this lady can hir good;
  • I woot, she meneth ryden prively. Skeat1900: 1150
  • I comende hir wysdom, by myn hood! [ ]
  • She wol not maken peple nycely
  • Gaure on hir, whan she comth; but softely
  • By nighte in-to the toun she thenketh ryde.
  • And, dere brother, thenk not longe to abyde. [ ] Skeat1900: 1155
• • 166. We han nought elles for to don, y-wis.
  • And Pandarus, now woltow trowen me?
  • Have here my trouthe, I see hir! yond she is.
  • Heve up thyn eyen, man! maystow not see?’
  • Pandare answerde, ‘nay, so mote I thee! Skeat1900: 1160
  • Al wrong, by god; what seystow, man, wher art ?
  • That I see yond nis but a fare-cart .’ [ ]
• • 167. ‘Allas, thou seist right sooth,’ quod Troilus; [ ]
  • ‘But hardely, it is not al for nought
  • That in myn herte I now reioyse thus. Skeat1900: 1165
  • It is ayein som good I have a thought.
  • Noot I not how, but sin that I was wrought,
  • Ne felte I swich a confort, dar I seye;
  • She comth to-night, my lyf, that dorste I leye!’
• • 168. Pandare answerde, ‘it may be wel, y-nough ’; Skeat1900: 1170
  • And held with him of al that ever he seyde;
  • But in his herte he thoughte, and softe lough,
  • And to him-self ful sobrely he seyde:
  • ‘From hasel-wode, ther Ioly Robin pleyde, [ ]
  • Shal come al that that thou abydest here Skeat1900: 1175
  • Ye, fare-wel al the snow of ferne yere!’ [ ]
• • 169. The wardein of the yates gan to calle
  • The folk which that with-oute the yates were,
  • And bad hem dryven in hir bestes alle,
  • Or al the night they moste bleven there. Skeat1900: 1180
  • And fer with-in the night, with many a tere,
  • This Troilus gan hoomward for to ryde;
  • For wel he seeth it helpeth nought tabyde.
• • 170. But natheles, he gladded him in this;
  • He thoughte he misacounted hadde his day, Skeat1900: 1185
  • And seyde, ‘I understonde have al a-mis.
  • For thilke night I last Criseyde say,
  • She seyde, “I shal ben here, if that I may,
  • Er that the mone, O dere herte swete!
  • The Lyon passe, out of this Ariete.” [ ] Skeat1900: 1190
• • 171. For which she may yet holde al hir biheste.’
  • And on the morwe un-to the yate he wente,
  • And up and down, by west and eek by este,
  • Up-on the walles made he many a wente.
  • But al for nought; his hope alwey him blente; Skeat1900: 1195
  • For which at night, in sorwe and sykes sore
  • He wente him hoom, with-outen any more.
• • 172. This hope al clene out of his herte fledde ,
  • He nath wher-on now lenger for to honge;
  • But for the peyne him thoughte his herte bledde, Skeat1900: 1200
  • So were his throwes sharpe and wonder stronge.
  • For when he saugh that she abood so longe,
  • He niste what he iuggen of it mighte ,
  • Sin she hath broken that she him bihighte .
• • 173. The thridde, ferthe, fifte , sixte day Skeat1900: 1205
  • After tho dayes ten, of which I tolde,
  • Bitwixen hope and drede his herte lay,
  • Yet som-what trustinge on hir hestes olde.
  • But whan he saugh she nolde hir terme holde,
  • He can now seen non other remedye, Skeat1900: 1210
  • But for to shape him sone for to dye.
• • 174. Ther-with the wikked spirit, god us blesse,
  • Which that men clepeth wode Ialousye,
  • Gan in him crepe, in al this hevinesse;
  • For which, by-cause he wolde sone dye, Skeat1900: 1215
  • He ne eet ne dronk, for his malencolye,
  • And eek from every companye he fledde;
  • This was the lyf that al the tyme he ledde.
• • 175. He so defet was, that no maner man
  • Unnethe mighte him knowe ther he wente; Skeat1900: 1220
  • So was he lene, and ther-to pale and wan,
  • And feble, that he walketh by potente; [ ]
  • And with his ire he thus him-selven shente.
  • And who-so axed him wher-of him smerte,
  • He seyde, his harm was al aboute his herte. Skeat1900: 1225
• • 176. Pryam ful ofte, and eek his moder dere,
  • His bretheren and his sustren gonne him freyne
  • Why he so sorwful was in al his chere,
  • And what thing was the cause of al his peyne?
  • But al for nought; he nolde his cause pleyne, Skeat1900: 1230
  • But seyde, he felte a grevous maladye
  • A-boute his herte, and fayn he wolde dye.
• • 177. So on a day he leyde him doun to slepe,
  • And so bifel that in his sleep him thoughte,
  • That in a forest faste he welk to wepe Skeat1900: 1235
  • For love of hir that him these peynes wroughte;
  • And up and doun as he the forest soughte,
  • He mette he saugh a boor with tuskes grete,
  • That sleep ayein the brighte sonnes hete.
• • 178. And by this boor, faste in his armes folde, Skeat1900: 1240
  • Lay kissing ay his lady bright Criseyde:
  • For sorwe of which, whan he it gan biholde,
  • And for despyt, out of his slepe he breyde,
  • And loude he cryde on Pandarus, and seyde,
  • ‘O Pandarus, now knowe I crop and rote! Skeat1900: 1245
  • I nam but deed, ther nis non other bote!
• • 179. My lady bright Criseyde hath me bitrayed,
  • In whom I trusted most of any wight,
  • She elles-where hath now hir herte apayed;
  • The blisful goddes, through hir grete might, Skeat1900: 1250
  • Han in my dreem y-shewed it ful right.
  • Thus in my dreem Criseyde I have biholde’—
  • And al this thing to Pandarus he tolde.
• • 180. ‘O my Criseyde, allas! what subtiltee,
  • What newe lust, what beautee, what science, Skeat1900: 1255
  • What wratthe of iuste cause have ye to me?
  • What gilt of me, whal fel experience
  • Hath fro me raft, allas! thyn advertence?
  • O trust, O feyth, O depe asëuraunce ,
  • Who hath me reft Criseyde, al my plesaunce? Skeat1900: 1260
• • 181. Allas! why leet I you from hennes go,
  • For which wel neigh out of my wit I breyde?
  • Who shal now trowe on any othes mo?
  • God wot I wende, O lady bright, Criseyde,
  • That every word was gospel that ye seyde! Skeat1900: 1265
  • But who may bet bigylen , if him liste,
  • Than he on whom men weneth best to triste?
• • 182. What shal I doon, my Pandarus, allas!
  • I fele now so sharpe a newe peyne,
  • Sin that ther is no remedie in this cas, Skeat1900: 1270
  • That bet were it I with myn hondes tweyne
  • My-selven slow , than alwey thus to pleyne .
  • For through my deeth my wo sholde han an ende,
  • Ther every day with lyf my-self I shende.’ [ ]
• • 183. Pandare answerde and seyde, ‘allas the whyle Skeat1900: 1275
  • That I was born; have I not seyd er this,
  • That dremes many a maner man bigyle?
  • And why? for folk expounden hem a-mis.
  • How darstow seyn that fals thy lady is,
  • For any dreem, right for thyn owene drede? Skeat1900: 1280
  • Lat be this thought, thou canst no dremes rede.
• • 184. Paraunter, ther thou dremest of this boor,
  • It may so be that it may signifye
  • Hir fader, which that old is and eek hoor,
  • Ayein the sonne lyth, on poynt to dye, Skeat1900: 1285
  • And she for sorwe ginneth wepe and crye,
  • And kisseth him, ther he lyth on the grounde;
  • Thus shuldestow thy dreem a-right expounde.’
• • 185. ‘How mighte I thanne do?’ quod Troilus,
  • ‘To knowe of this, ye, were it never so lyte?’ Skeat1900: 1290
  • ‘Now seystow wysly,’ quod this Pandarus,
  • ‘My reed is this, sin thou canst wel endyte,
  • That hastely a lettre thou hir wryte,
  • Thorugh which thou shalt wel bringen it aboute,
  • To knowe a sooth of that thou art in doute. Skeat1900: 1295
• • 186. And see now why; for this I dar wel seyn,
  • That if so is that she untrewe be,
  • I can not trowe that she wol wryte ayeyn.
  • And if she wryte, thou shalt ful sone see,
  • As whether she hath any libertee Skeat1900: 1300
  • To come ayein, or elles in som clause,

  • 1302. Cl. And yf; rest om. And.

  • If she be let, she wol assigne a cause.
• • 187. Thou hast not writen hir sin that she wente,
  • Nor she to thee, and this I dorste leye,
  • Ther may swich cause been in hir entente, Skeat1900: 1305
  • That hardely thou wolt thy-selven seye,
  • That hir a-bood the beste is for yow tweye.
  • Now wryte hir thanne, and thou shalt fele sone
  • A sothe of al; ther is no more to done.’
• • 188. Acorded been to this conclusioun, Skeat1900: 1310
  • And that anoon, these ilke lordes two;
  • And hastely sit Troilus adoun,
  • And rolleth in his herte to and fro, [ ]
  • How he may best discryven hir his wo.
  • And to Criseyde, his owene lady dere, Skeat1900: 1315
  • He wroot right thus, and seyde as ye may here.
• • 189. ‘Right fresshe flour, whos I have been and shal,
  • With-outen part of elles-where servyse,
  • With herte, body, lyf, lust, thought, and al;
  • I, woful wight, in every humble wyse Skeat1900: 1320
  • That tonge telle or herte may devyse,
  • As ofte as matere occupyeth place,
  • Me recomaunde un-to your noble grace.
• • 190. Lyketh it yow to witen , swete herte,
  • As ye wel knowe how longe tyme agoon Skeat1900: 1325
  • That ye me lafte in aspre peynes smerte,
  • Whan that ye wente, of which yet bote noon
  • Have I non had, but ever wers bigoon
  • Fro day to day am I, and so mot dwelle,
  • While it yow list, of wele and wo my welle! Skeat1900: 1330
• • 191. For which to yow, with dredful herte trewe,
  • I wryte, as he that sorwe dryfth to wryte,
  • My wo, that every houre encreseth newe,
  • Compleyninge as I dar or can endyte.
  • And that defaced is, that may ye wyte [ ] Skeat1900: 1335
  • The teres , which that fro myn eyen reyne,
  • That wolde speke, if that they coude, and pleyne.
• • 192. Yow first biseche I, that your eyen clere
  • To look on this defouled ye not holde;
  • And over al this, that ye, my lady dere, Skeat1900: 1340
  • Wol vouche-sauf this lettre to biholde.
  • And by the cause eek of my cares colde,
  • That sleeth my wit, if ought amis me asterte ,
  • For-yeve it me, myn owene swete herte.
• • 193. If any servant dorste or oughte of right Skeat1900: 1345

  • 1345-1428. H. omits.

  • Up-on his lady pitously compleyne,
  • Than wene I, that ich oughte be that wight,
  • Considered this, that ye these monthes tweyne
  • Han taried, ther ye seyden, sooth to seyne,
  • But dayes ten ye nolde in ost soiourne, Skeat1900: 1350
  • But in two monthes yet ye not retourne .
• • 194. But for-as-muche as me mot nedes lyke
  • Al that yow list, I dar not pleyne more,
  • But humbely with sorwful sykes syke ; [ ]
  • Yow wryte ich myn unresty sorwes sore, Skeat1900: 1355
  • Fro day to day desyring ever-more
  • To knowen fully, if your wil it were,
  • How ye han ferd and doon, whyl ye be there.
• • 195. The whos wel-fare and hele eek god encresse
  • In honour swich, that upward in degree Skeat1900: 1360
  • It growe alwey, so that it never cesse;
  • Right as your herte ay can, my lady free,
  • Devyse, I prey to god so mote it be.
  • And graunte it that ye sone up-on me rewe
  • As wisly as in al I am yow trewe. Skeat1900: 1365
• • 196. And if yow lyketh knowen of the fare
  • Of me, whos wo ther may no wight discryve,
  • I can no more but, cheste of every care, [ ]
  • At wrytinge of this lettre I was on-lyve,
  • Al redy out my woful gost to dryve; Skeat1900: 1370
  • Which I delaye, and holde him yet in honde,
  • Upon the sight of matere of your sonde. [ ]
• • 197. Myn eyen two, in veyn with which I see,
  • Of sorweful teres salte arn waxen welles ;
  • My song, in pleynte of myn adversitee; Skeat1900: 1375
  • My good, in harm ; myn ese eek waxen helle is.
  • My Ioye, in wo; I can sey yow nought elles ,
  • But turned is, for which my lyf I warie,
  • Everich Ioye or ese in his contrarie.
• • 198. Which with your cominge hoom ayein to Troye Skeat1900: 1380
  • Ye may redresse, and, more a thousand sythe
  • Than ever ich hadde, encressen in me Ioye.
  • For was ther never herte yet so blythe
  • To han his lyf, as I shal been as swythe
  • As I yow see; and, though no maner routhe Skeat1900: 1385
  • Commeve yow, yet thinketh on your trouthe.
• • 199. And if so be my gilt hath deeth deserved,
  • Or if you list no more up-on me see,
  • In guerdon yet of that I have you served,
  • Biseche I yow, myn hertes lady free, Skeat1900: 1390
  • That here-upon ye wolden wryte me,
  • For love of god, my righte lode-sterre,
  • Ther deeth may make an ende of al my werre.
• • 200. If other cause aught doth yow for to dwelle,
  • That with your lettre ye me recomforte; Skeat1900: 1395
  • For though to me your absence is an helle,
  • With pacience I wol my wo comporte.
  • And with your lettre of hope I wol desporte .
  • Now wryteth, swete, and lat me thus not pleyne;
  • With hope, or deeth, delivereth me fro peyne. Skeat1900: 1400
• • 201. Y-wis, myn owene dere herte trewe,
  • I woot that, whan ye next up-on me see,
  • So lost have I myn hele and eek myn hewe,
  • Criseyde shal nought conne knowe me!
  • Y-wis, myn hertes day, my lady free, Skeat1900: 1405
  • So thursteth ay myn herte to biholde
  • Your beautee, that my lyf unnethe I holde.
• • 202. I sey no more, al have I for to seye
  • To you wel more than I telle may;
  • But whether that ye do me live or deye, Skeat1900: 1410
  • Yet pray I god, so yeve yow right good day.
  • And fareth wel, goodly fayre fresshe may,
  • As ye that lyf or deeth me may comaunde;
  • And to your trouthe ay I me recomaunde
• • 203. With hele swich that, but ye yeven me Skeat1900: 1415
  • The same hele, I shal noon hele have.
  • In you lyth, whan yow list that it so be,
  • The day in which me clothen shal my grave.
  • In yow my lyf, in yow might for to save
  • Me from disese of alle peynes smerte; Skeat1900: 1420
  • And fare now wel, myn owene swete herte!
  • Le vostre T .’
• • 204. This lettre forth was sent un-to Criseyde,
  • Of which hir answere in effect was this;
  • Ful pitously she wroot ayein , and seyde,
  • That al-so sone as that she might, y-wis, Skeat1900: 1425
  • She wolde come, and mende al that was mis.
  • And fynally she wroot and seyde him thanne,
  • She wolde come, ye, but she niste whanne.
• • 205. But in hir lettre made she swich festes,
  • That wonder was, and swereth she loveth him best,
  • Of which he fond but botmelees bihestes. [ ] Skeat1900: 1431
  • But Troilus, thou mayst now, est or west,
  • Pype in an ivy leef, if that thee lest; [ ]
  • Thus gooth the world; god shilde us fro mischaunce,
  • And every wight that meneth trouthe avaunce! Skeat1900: 1435
• • 206. Encresen gan the wo fro day to night
  • Of Troilus, for taryinge of Criseyde;
  • And lessen gan his hope and eek his might,
  • For which al doun he in his bed him leyde;
  • He ne eet, ne dronk, ne sleep , ne word he seyde ,
  • Imagininge ay that she was unkinde; Skeat1900: 1441
  • For which wel neigh he wex out of his minde.
• • 207. This dreem, of which I told have eek biforn,
  • May never come out of his remembraunce;
  • He thoughte ay wel he hadde his lady lorn, Skeat1900: 1445
  • And that Ioves, of his purveyaunce,
  • Him shewed hadde in sleep the signifiaunce
  • Of hir untrouthe and his disaventure,
  • And that the boor was shewed him in figure.
• • 208. For which he for Sibille his suster sente, [ ] Skeat1900: 1450
  • That called was Cassandre eek al aboute;
  • And al his dreem he tolde hir er he stente,
  • And hir bisoughte assoilen him the doute
  • Of the stronge boor, with tuskes stoute;
  • And fynally, with-inne a litel stounde, Skeat1900: 1455
  • Cassandre him gan right thus his dreem expounde.
• • 209. She gan first smyle, and seyde, ‘O brother dere,
  • If thou a sooth of this desyrest knowe,
  • Thou most a fewe of olde stories here,
  • To purpos, how that fortune over-throwe Skeat1900: 1460
  • Hath lordes olde; through which, with-inne a throwe,
  • Thou wel this boor shalt knowe, and of what kinde
  • He comen is, as men in bokes finde.
• • 210. Diane, which that wrooth was and in ire [ ]
  • For Grekes nolde doon hir sacrifyse, Skeat1900: 1465
  • Ne encens up-on hir auter sette a-fyre,
  • She, for that Grekes gonne hir so dispyse,
  • Wrak hir in a wonder cruel wyse.
  • For with a boor as greet as oxe in stalle
  • She made up frete hir corn and vynes alle. Skeat1900: 1470
• • 211. To slee this boor was al the contree reysed,
  • A-monges which ther com, this boor to see,
  • A mayde, oon of this world the best y-preysed;
  • And Meleagre, lord of that contree,
  • He lovede so this fresshe mayden free Skeat1900: 1475
  • That with his manhod, er he wolde stente,
  • This boor he slow, and hir the heed he sente;
• • 212. Of which, as olde bokes tellen us,
  • Ther roos a contek and a greet envye;
  • And of this lord descended Tydeus [ ] Skeat1900: 1480
  • By ligne, or elles olde bokes lye;
  • But how this Meleagre gan to dye
  • Thorugh his moder, wol I yow not telle, [ ]
  • For al to long it were for to dwelle.’

• [ Latin.

• • [ Argument of the 12 Books of Statius’ Thebais.]

  • Associat profugum Tideo primus Polimitem; [ ]
  • Tidea legatum docet insidiasque secundus; [ ]
  • Tercius Hemoniden canit et vates latitantes; [ ]
  • Quartus habet reges ineuntes prelia septem; [ ] Skeat1900: 4
  • Mox furie Lenne quinto narratur et anguis; [ ]
  • Archimori bustum sexto ludique leguntur; [ ]
  • Dat Graios Thebes et vatem septimus vmbris; [ ]
  • Octauo cecidit Tideus, spes, vita Pelasgis; [ ] Skeat1900: 8
  • Ypomedon nono moritur cum Parthonopeo ; [ ]
  • Fulmine percussus, decimo Capaneus superatur; [ ]
  • Vndecimo sese perimunt per vulnera fratres; [ ]
  • Argiuam flentem narrat duodenus et ignem. [ ] Skeat1900: 12
• • 213. She toldë eek how Tydeus, er she stente, [ ] Skeat1900: 1485
  • Un-to the stronge citee of Thebes,
  • To cleyme kingdom of the citee, wente,
  • For his felawe, daun Polymites,
  • Of which the brother, daun Ethyocles,
  • Ful wrongfully of Thebes held the strengthe; Skeat1900: 1490
  • This tolde she by proces, al by lengthe.
• • 214. She tolde eek how Hemonides asterte, [ ]
  • Whan Tydeus slough fifty knightes stoute .
  • She told eek al the prophesyes by herte,
  • And how that sevene kinges, with hir route, Skeat1900: 1495
  • Bisegeden the citee al aboute;
  • And of the holy serpent, and the welle,
  • And of the furies, al she gan him telle.
• • 215. Of Archimoris buryinge and the pleyes, [ ]
  • And how Amphiorax fil through the grounde, Skeat1900: 1500
  • How Tydeus was slayn, lord of Argeyes ,
  • And how Ypomedoun in litel stounde
  • Was dreynt, and deed Parthonope of wounde;
  • And also how Cappanëus the proude
  • With thonder-dint was slayn, that cryde loude. Skeat1900: 1505
• • 216. She gan eek telle him how that either brother, [ ]
  • Ethyocles and Polimyte also,
  • At a scarmyche , eche of hem slough other,
  • And of Argyves wepinge and hir wo;
  • And how the town was brent she tolde eek tho. Skeat1900: 1510
  • And so descendeth doun from gestes olde
  • To Diomede, and thus she spak and tolde.
• • 217. ‘This ilke boor bitokneth Diomede,
  • Tydeus sone, that doun descended is [ ]
  • Fro Meleagre , that made the boor to blede. Skeat1900: 1515
  • And thy lady, wher-so she be, y-wis,
  • This Diomede hir herte hath, and she his .
  • Weep if thou wolt, or leef ; for, out of doute, [ ]
  • This Diomede is inne, and thou art oute.’
• • 218. ‘Thou seyst nat sooth,’ quod he, ‘thou sorceresse,
  • With al thy false goost of prophesye! Skeat1900: 1521
  • Thou wenest been a greet devyneresse;
  • Now seestow not this fool of fantasye [ ]
  • Peyneth hir on ladyes for to lye?
  • Awey,’ quod he, ‘ther Ioves yeve thee sorwe! Skeat1900: 1525
  • Thou shalt be fals, paraunter, yet to-morwe!
• • 219. As wel thou mightest lyen on Alceste, [ ]
  • That was of creatures, but men lye, [ ]
  • That ever weren, kindest and the beste.
  • For whanne hir housbonde was in Iupartye [ ] Skeat1900: 1530
  • To dye him-self, but-if she wolde dye,
  • She chees for him to dye and go to helle,
  • And starf anoon, as us the bokes telle.’
• • 220. Cassandre goth, and he with cruel herte
  • For-yat his wo, for angre of hir speche; Skeat1900: 1535
  • And from his bed al sodeinly he sterte,
  • As though al hool him hadde y-mad a leche.
  • And day by day he gan enquere and seche
  • A sooth of this, with al his fulle cure;
  • And thus he dryeth forth his aventure. Skeat1900: 1540
• • 221. Fortune, whiche that permutacioun
  • Of thinges hath, as it is hir committed
  • Through purveyaunce and disposicioun
  • Of heighe Iove, as regnes shal ben flitted
  • Fro folk in folk, or whan they shal ben smitted, [ ] Skeat1900: 1545
  • Gan pulle awey the fetheres brighte of Troye
  • Fro day to day, til they ben bare of Ioye.
• • 222. Among al this, the fyn of the parodie [ ]
  • Of Ector gan approchen wonder blyve;
  • The fate wolde his soule sholde unbodie, Skeat1900: 1550
  • And shapen hadde a mene it out to dryve;
  • Ayeins which fate him helpeth not to stryve;
  • But on a day to fighten gan he wende,
  • At which, allas! he caughte his lyves ende.
• • 223. For which me thinketh every maner wight Skeat1900: 1555
  • That haunteth armes oughte to biwayle
  • The deeth of him that was so noble a knight;
  • For as he drough a king by thaventayle , [ ]
  • Unwar of this, Achilles through the mayle
  • And through the body gan him for to ryve; Skeat1900: 1560
  • And thus this worthy knight was brought of lyve.
• • 224. For whom, as olde bokes tellen us,
  • Was mad swich wo, that tonge it may not telle;
  • And namely, the sorwe of Troilus,
  • That next him was of worthinesse welle. Skeat1900: 1565
  • And in this wo gan Troilus to dwelle,
  • That, what for sorwe, and love, and for unreste,
  • Ful ofte a day he bad his herte breste.
• • 225. But natheles, though he gan him dispeyre,
  • And dradde ay that his lady was untrewe, Skeat1900: 1570
  • Yet ay on hir his herte gan repeyre.
  • And as these loveres doon, he soughte ay newe
  • To gete ayein Criseyde, bright of hewe.
  • And in his herte he wente hir excusinge,
  • That Calkas causede al hir taryinge. Skeat1900: 1575
• • 226. And ofte tyme he was in purpos grete
  • Him-selven lyk a pilgrim to disgyse ,
  • To seen hir; but he may not contrefete
  • To been unknowen of folk that weren wyse,
  • Ne finde excuse aright that may suffyse, Skeat1900: 1580
  • If he among the Grekes knowen were;
  • For which he weep ful ofte many a tere.
• • 227. To hir he wroot yet ofte tyme al newe
  • Ful pitously, he lefte it nought for slouthe,
  • Biseching hir that , sin that he was trewe, Skeat1900: 1585
  • She wolde come ayein and holde hir trouthe.
  • For which Criseyde up-on a day, for routhe,
  • I take it so, touchinge al this matere,
  • Wrot him ayein, and seyde as ye may here.
• • 228. ‘Cupydes sone, ensample of goodlihede, Skeat1900: 1590
  • O swerd of knighthod, sours of gentilesse!
  • How mighte a wight in torment and in drede
  • And helelees, yow sende as yet gladnesse?
  • I hertelees, I syke, I in distresse;
  • Sin ye with me, nor I with yow may dele, Skeat1900: 1595
  • Yow neither sende ich herte may nor hele.
• • 229. Your lettres ful, the papir al y-pleynted,
  • Conseyved hath myn hertes piëtee ;
  • I have eek seyn with teres al depeynted
  • Your lettre, and how that ye requeren me Skeat1900: 1600
  • To come ayein , which yet ne may not be.
  • But why, lest that this lettre founden were,
  • No mencioun ne make I now, for fere.
• • 230. Grevous to me, god woot, is your unreste,
  • Your haste, and that, the goddes ordenaunce, Skeat1900: 1605
  • It semeth not ye take it for the beste.
  • Nor other thing nis in your remembraunce,
  • As thinketh me, but only your plesaunce.
  • But beth not wrooth, and that I yow biseche;
  • For that I tarie, is al for wikked speche. Skeat1900: 1610
• • 231. For I have herd wel more than I wende,
  • Touchinge us two, how thinges han y-stonde;
  • Which I shal with dissimulinge amende.
  • And beth nought wrooth, I have eek understonde,
  • How ye ne doon but holden me in honde. Skeat1900: 1615
  • But now no fors, I can not in yow gesse
  • But alle trouthe and alle gentilesse.
• • 232. Comen I wol, but yet in swich disioynte
  • I stonde as now, that what yeer or what day
  • That this shal be, that can I not apoynte. Skeat1900: 1620
  • But in effect, I prey yow, as I may,
  • Of your good word and of your frendship ay.
  • For trewely, whyl that my lyf may dure,
  • As for a freend, ye may in me assure.
• • 233. Yet preye I yow on yvel ye ne take, Skeat1900: 1625
  • That it is short which that I to yow wryte;
  • I dar not, ther I am, wel lettres make,
  • Ne never yet ne coude I wel endyte.
  • Eek greet effect men wryte in place lyte.
  • Thentente is al, and nought the lettres space; Skeat1900: 1630
  • And fareth now wel, god have you in his grace!
  • La vostre C .’
• • 234. This Troilus this lettre thoughte al straunge,
  • Whan he it saugh, and sorwefully he sighte;
  • Him thoughte it lyk a kalendes of chaunge ; [ ]
  • But fynally, he ful ne trowen mighte Skeat1900: 1635
  • That she ne wolde him holden that she highte;
  • For with ful yvel wil list him to leve
  • That loveth wel, in swich cas, though him greve.
• • 235. But natheles, men seyn that, at the laste,
  • For any thing, men shal the sothe see; Skeat1900: 1640
  • And swich a cas bitidde, and that as faste,
  • That Troilus wel understood that she
  • Nas not so kinde as that hir oughte be.
  • And fynally, he woot now, out of doute,
  • That al is lost that he hath been aboute. Skeat1900: 1645
• • 236. Stood on a day in his malencolye
  • This Troilus, and in suspecioun
  • Of hir for whom he wende for to dye.
  • And so bifel, that through-out Troye toun,
  • As was the gyse, y-bore was up and doun Skeat1900: 1650
  • A maner cote-armure , as seyth the storie,
  • Biforn Deiphebe, in signe of his victorie,
• • 237. The whiche cote, as telleth Lollius, [ ]
  • Deiphebe it hadde y-rent from Diomede
  • The same day; and whan this Troilus Skeat1900: 1655
  • It saugh, he gan to taken of it hede,
  • Avysing of the lengthe and of the brede,
  • And al the werk; but as he gan biholde,
  • Ful sodeinly his herte gan to colde, [ ]
• • 238. As he that on the coler fond with-inne Skeat1900: 1660
  • A broche , that he Criseyde yaf that morwe
  • That she from Troye moste nedes twinne,
  • In remembraunce of him and of his sorwe;
  • And she him leyde ayein hir feyth to borwe
  • To kepe it ay; but now, ful wel he wiste, Skeat1900: 1665
  • His lady nas no lenger on to triste.
• • 239. He gooth him hoom , and gan ful sone sende
  • For Pandarus; and al this newe chaunce,
  • And of this broche, he tolde him word and ende,
  • Compleyninge of hir hertes variaunce, Skeat1900: 1670
  • His longe love, his trouthe, and his penaunce;
  • And after deeth, with-outen wordes more,
  • Ful faste he cryde, his reste him to restore.
• • 240. Than spak he thus, ‘O lady myn Criseyde,
  • Wher is your feyth, and wher is your biheste? Skeat1900: 1675
  • Wher is your love, wher is your trouthe,’ he seyde;
  • ‘Of Diomede have ye now al this feste!
  • Allas, I wolde have trowed at the leste,
  • That, sin ye nolde in trouthe to me stonde,
  • That ye thus nolde han holden me in honde! Skeat1900: 1680
• • 241. Who shal now trowe on any othes mo?
  • Allas, I never wolde han wend, er this,
  • That ye, Criseyde, coude han chaunged so;
  • Ne, but I hadde a-gilt and doon amis,
  • So cruel wende I not your herte, y-wis, Skeat1900: 1685
  • To slee me thus; allas, your name of trouthe
  • Is now for-doon, and that is al my routhe.
• • 242. Was ther non other broche yow liste lete
  • To feffe with your newe love,’ quod he, [ ]
  • ‘But thilke broche that I, with teres wete, Skeat1900: 1690
  • Yow yaf, as for a remembraunce of me?
  • Non other cause, allas, ne hadde ye
  • But for despyt, and eek for that ye mente
  • Al-outrely to shewen your entente!
• • 243. Through which I see that clene out of your minde Skeat1900: 1695
  • Ye han me cast, and I ne can nor may,
  • For al this world, with-in myn herte finde
  • To unloven yow a quarter of a day!
  • In cursed tyme I born was, weylaway!
  • That ye, that doon me al this wo endure, Skeat1900: 1700
  • Yet love I best of any creature.

• 1702-1869. Lost in Cm.

• • 244. Now god,’ quod he, ‘me sende yet the grace
  • That I may meten with this Diomede!
  • And trewely, if I have might and space,
  • Yet shal I make, I hope, his sydes blede. Skeat1900: 1705
  • O god,’ quod he, ‘that oughtest taken hede
  • To fortheren trouthe, and wronges to punyce,
  • Why niltow doon a vengeaunce on this vyce?
• • 245. O Pandare , that in dremes for to triste
  • Me blamed hast, and wont art ofte up-breyde, Skeat1900: 1710
  • Now maystow see thy-selve, if that thee liste ,
  • How trewe is now thy nece, bright Criseyde!
  • In sondry formes, god it woot,’ he seyde,
  • ‘The goddes shewen bothe Ioye and tene
  • In slepe , and by my dreme it is now sene. Skeat1900: 1715
• • 246. And certaynly, with-oute more speche,
  • From hennes-forth , as ferforth as I may,
  • Myn owene deeth in armes wol I seche;
  • I recche not how sone be the day!
  • But trewely, Criseyde, swete may, Skeat1900: 1720
  • Whom I have ay with al my might y-served,
  • That ye thus doon, I have it nought deserved.’
• • 247. This Pandarus, that alle these thinges herde,
  • And wiste wel he seyde a sooth of this,
  • He nought a word ayein to him answerde ; Skeat1900: 1725
  • For sory of his frendes sorwe he is,
  • And shamed, for his nece hath doon a-mis;
  • And stant, astoned of these causes tweye,
  • As stille as stoon; a word ne coude he seye.
• • 248. But at the laste thus he spak, and seyde, Skeat1900: 1730
  • ‘My brother dere , I may thee do no-more.
  • What shulde I seyn? I hate, y-wis, Criseyde!
  • And god wot, I wol hate hir evermore!
  • And that thou me bisoughtest doon of yore,
  • Havinge un-to myn honour ne my reste Skeat1900: 1735
  • Right no reward, I dide al that thee leste.
• • 249. If I dide ought that mighte lyken thee,
  • It is me leef; and of this treson now,
  • God woot, that it a sorwe is un-to me!
  • And dredelees , for hertes ese of yow, Skeat1900: 1740
  • Right fayn wolde I amende it, wiste I how.
  • And fro this world, almighty god I preye,
  • Delivere hir sone; I can no-more seye.’
• • 250. Gret was the sorwe and pleynt of Troilus;
  • But forth hir cours fortune ay gan to holde. Skeat1900: 1745
  • Criseyde loveth the sone of Tydeus,
  • And Troilus mot wepe in cares colde.
  • Swich is this world; who-so it can biholde,
  • In eche estat is litel hertes reste;
  • God love us for to take it for the beste! Skeat1900: 1750
• • 251. In many cruel batayle, out of drede,
  • Of Troilus, this ilke noble knight,
  • As men may in these olde bokes rede,
  • Was sene his knighthod and his grete might.
  • And dredelees , his ire, day and night, Skeat1900: 1755
  • Ful cruelly the Grekes ay aboughte;
  • And alwey most this Diomede he soughte.
• • 252. And ofte tyme, I finde that they mette
  • With blody strokes and with wordes grete,
  • Assayinge how hir speres weren whette; [ ] Skeat1900: 1760
  • And god it woot, with many a cruel hete
  • Gan Troilus upon his helm to-bete.
  • But natheles, fortune it nought ne wolde,
  • Of otheres hond that either deyen sholde.— [ ]
• • 253. And if I hadde y-taken for to wryte Skeat1900: 1765
  • The armes of this ilke worthy man,
  • Than wolde I of his batailles endyte.
  • But for that I to wryte first bigan
  • Of his love, I have seyd as that I can .
  • His worthy dedes, who-so list hem here , Skeat1900: 1770
  • Reed Dares, he can telle hem alle y-fere. [ ]
• • 254. Bisechinge every lady bright of hewe,
  • And every gentil womman, what she be,
  • That al be that Criseyde was untrewe,
  • That for that gilt she be not wrooth with me. Skeat1900: 1775
  • Ye may hir gilt in othere bokes see;
  • And gladlier I wol wryten , if yow leste,
  • Penelopeës trouthe and good Alceste. [ ]
• • 255. Ne I sey not this al-only for these men,
  • But most for wommen that bitraysed be Skeat1900: 1780
  • Through false folk; god yeve hem sorwe, amen!
  • That with hir grete wit and subtiltee
  • Bitrayse yow! and this commeveth me
  • To speke, and in effect yow alle I preye,
  • Beth war of men, and herkeneth what I seye!— Skeat1900: 1785
• • 256. Go, litel book, go litel myn tregedie, [ ]
  • Ther god thy maker yet, er that he dye, [ ]
  • So sende might to make in som comedie!
  • But litel book, no making thou nenvye , [ ]
  • But subgit be to alle poesye; Skeat1900: 1790
  • And kis the steppes, wher-as thou seest pace [ ]
  • Virgile , Ovyde, Omer, Lucan, and Stace. [ ]
• • 257. And for ther is so greet diversitee
  • In English and in wryting of our tonge,
  • So preye I god that noon miswryte thee, Skeat1900: 1795
  • Ne thee mismetre for defaute of tonge. [ ]
  • And red wher-so thou be, or elles songe, [ ]
  • That thou be understonde I god beseche!
  • But yet to purpos of my rather speche.—
• • 258. The wraththe, as I began yow for to seye, Skeat1900: 1800
  • Of Troilus, the Grekes boughten dere;
  • For thousandes his hondes maden deye, [ ]
  • As he that was with-outen any pere,
  • Save Ector, in his tyme, as I can here.
  • But weylaway, save only goddes wille, Skeat1900: 1805
  • Dispitously him slough the fiers Achille. [ ]

• 1807-1827. Not in H2.

• • 259. And whan that he was slayn in this manere, [ ]
  • His lighte goost ful blisfully is went
  • Up to the holownesse of the seventh spere, [ ]
  • In convers letinge every element; [ ] Skeat1900: 1810
  • And ther he saugh, with ful avysement,
  • The erratik sterres, herkeninge armonye
  • With sownes fulle of hevenish melodye.
• • 260. And doun from thennes faste he gan avyse
  • This litel spot of erthe, that with the see [ ] Skeat1900: 1815
  • Enbraced is, and fully gan despyse
  • This wrecched world, and held al vanitee
  • To respect of the pleyn felicitee
  • That is in hevene above; and at the laste,
  • Ther he was slayn, his loking doun he caste; Skeat1900: 1820
• • 261. And in him-self he lough right at the wo
  • Of hem that wepten for his deeth so faste;
  • And dampned al our werk that folweth so
  • The blinde lust, the which that may not laste,
  • And sholden al our herte on hevene caste. [ ] Skeat1900: 1825
  • And forth he wente, shortly for to telle,
  • Ther as Mercurie sorted him to dwelle.— [ ]
• • 262. Swich fyn hath, lo, this Troilus for love, [ ]
  • Swich fyn hath al his grete worthinesse;
  • Swich fyn hath his estat real above, Skeat1900: 1830
  • Swich fyn his lust, swich fyn hath his noblesse;
  • Swich fyn hath false worldes brotelnesse.
  • And thus bigan his lovinge of Criseyde,
  • As I have told, and in this wyse he deyde.
• • 263. O yonge fresshe folkes, he or she, Skeat1900: 1835
  • In which that love up groweth with your age,
  • Repeyreth hoom from worldly vanitee,
  • And of your herte up-casteth the visage [ ]
  • To thilke god that after his image
  • Yow made, and thinketh al nis but a fayre [ ] Skeat1900: 1840
  • This world, that passeth sone as floures fayre.
• • 264. And loveth him, the which that right for love
  • Upon a cros , our soules for to beye,
  • First starf, and roos, and sit in hevene a-bove;
  • For he nil falsen no wight, dar I seye, Skeat1900: 1845
  • That wol his herte al hoolly on him leye.
  • And sin he best to love is, and most meke,
  • What nedeth feyned loves for to seke?
• • 265. Lo here, of Payens corsed olde rytes ,
  • Lo here, what alle hir goddes may availle; Skeat1900: 1850
  • Lo here, these wrecched worldes appetytes;
  • Lo here, the fyn and guerdon for travaille
  • Of Iove, Appollo, of Mars, of swich rascaille!
  • Lo here, the forme of olde clerkes speche
  • In poetrye, if ye hir bokes seche.— Skeat1900: 1855
• • 266. O moral Gower, this book I directe [ ]
  • To thee, and to the philosophical Strode, [ ]
  • To vouchen sauf, ther nede is, to corecte,
  • Of your benignitees and zeles gode .
  • And to that sothfast Crist, that starf on rode, Skeat1900: 1860
  • With al myn herte of mercy ever I preye;
  • And to the lord right thus I speke and seye:
• • 267. Thou oon, and two, and three, eterne on-lyve, [ ]
  • That regnest ay in three and two and oon,
  • Uncircumscript, and al mayst circumscryve, Skeat1900: 1865
  • Us from visible and invisible foon
  • Defende; and to thy mercy, everichoon ,
  • So make us, Iesus, for thy grace digne,
  • For love of mayde and moder thyn benigne! Amen.