[Campsall MS., leaf 69.]
[In this Book, the tags of the f, g, k, t of the MS. are not printed.]
(1) (Proem)
But al to litel weylawey þe whyle.
Lasteth swych Ioye y-þonked be Fortune.
That semeth trewest whanne she wole bygyle.
And kane to foles so here song entune.
That she hem hent and blent traytour comune.
And whan a wyght is from here whiel y-þrowe.
Than laugheth she and maketh here þe mowe.
(2)
From Troylus she gan here brighte face.
A-wey to wriþe. and tok of hym noon hede.
But caste hym clene oute of his lady grace.
And on here whiel she sette vp diomede.
For which ryþt now myn herte gynneth blede.
And now my penne allas wiþ which I write.
Quakeþ for drede of that I mot endite.
(3)
For how Criseyde Troylus forsook.
Or at þe leste how þat she was vnkynde.
Mot hennes forth ben matere of my book.
As writen folk þorugh which it is in mynde.
Allas þat þey shulde euere cause fynde.
To speke here harm and yf þey on here lye.
y-wys hem self sholde han þe vilonye.
(4) (Invocation)
O ye herynes nyghttes doughtren thre.
That endeles compleynes euere in pyne.
Megera. Alete. and ek Thesyphone.
Thow cruel Mars ek fader of Quyryne.
This ilke ferþe book me helpeth fyne.
So þat þe losse of lyf and loue yfere.
Of Troylus be fully shewed here.
Explicit liber Tercius.
Incipit Quartus Liber.
(5) (The Story)
LIggynge yn ost as I haue seyd er þis.
The Grekys stronge a-boute Troye town.
By-fel þat whanne þat Phebus shynyng is.
Vp on þe brest of hercules lyoun.
That Ector with many a bold baroun.
Caste on a day wiþ Grekes for to fighte.
As he was woned to greue hem what he myghte.
(6)
Not I how longe or short it was by-twene.
This purpos and þat day þey fighte mente.
But on a day wel armed bryght and shene.
Ector & many a worþi wight out wente.
wiþ spere on hond and bygge bowes bente.
And in þe berd with-oute lenge lette.
Here fomen in þe feld a-noon hem mette.
(7)
The longe day wiþ speres faste y-grounde.
with arwes dartes swerdes maces fele.
They fyghte and bryngen hors and man to grounde.
And with here axes out þe braynes quelle.
But in þe last shour soth for to telle.
The folk of Troye hem seluen so mysledden.
That with þe worse at nyght homward þey fledden.
(8)
At whiche day was taken Antenor.
Maugre Polydamas .or Monesteo.
Santippe / Sarpedon / Polynestor.
Polyte or eke þe Troian daun Rupheo.
And oþere lasse folk as Phebuseo.
So þat for harm þat day þe folk of Troye.
Dredden to lese a gret part of here Ioye.
(9)
Of Pryamus was yeue at Grekes requeste.
A tyme of trewe and þo þey gonnen trete.
Here prisoneres to chaungen most and leste.
And for the surplus yeue sommes grete.
This þing a-noon was kouth in euery strete.
Boþe in þassege / in towne and euery where.
And with þe firste it cam to Calkas ere.
(10)
Whan Calkas knew þis tretys sholde holde.
In Consistorie a-mong þe Grekes soone.
He gan in thrynge forth with lordes olde.
And sette hym þere as he was woned to done.
And with a chaunged face hem bad a bone.
For loue of god to don hym þat reuerence.
To stynte noyse / and yeue hym audyence.
(11)
Thanne seyde he þus / lo lordes myne I was.
Troian as it is knowen out of drede.
And if þat yow remembre I am Calkas.
That alderfirst yaf comfort to youre nede.
And told[e] wel how þat ye sholden spede.
For dredles þorugh yow shal in a stounde.
Ben Troye y-brend / and bete doun to grounde.
(12)
And in what forme or for what manere wyse.
This town to shende / and al youre lust to acheue.
Ye han er þis wel herd it me deuyse.
This knowe ye my lordes as I leue.
And for þe Grekes weres me so leue.
I com my-self in my propre persone.
To teche in þis how yow was best to done.
(13)
Hauynge vn-to my tresour ne my rente.
Right no resport / to respect of youre ese.
Thus al my good I loste and to yow wente.
wenyng in þis you lordes for to plese.
But al þat losse ne doth me no dishese.
I vouche saf / as wysly haue I Ioye.
For you to lese / al þat I haue in Troye.
(14)
Saue of a doughter þat I lafte allas.
Slepynge at hom whanne out of Troye I sterte.
O sterne and cruwel fader þat I was.
How myght I haue yn þat so hard an herte.
Allas .I. ne hadde y-brought here in here sherte.
For sorwe of which I wol not lyue to morwe.
But yf ye lordes rewe vp-on my sorwe.
(15)
For by þat cause I say no tyme er now.
Here to delyuere I holden haue my pes.
But now or neuere yif þat it lyke yowe.
I may here haue right sone douteles.
O help and grace a-mong al þis pres.
Rewe on þis olde caytyf in destresse.
Syn I for yow haue al þis heuynesse.
(16)
Ye haue now kaught & fetered in preson.
Troians y-nowe / and yf youre wille be.
My chy[l]d with on may haue redempcion.
Now for þe loue of god and of bounte.
On of so fele allas so yeue hym me.
what nede were it þis preyere for to werne.
Syn ye shul bothe han folk and town as yerne.
(17)
On peril of my lyf I shal not lye.
Appollo hath me told it feythfully.
I haue ek founden by astronomye.
By sort and by augurye ek trewely.
I dar wel seye þe tyme is faste by.
That fir and flaumbe on al þe toun shal sprede.
And þus shal Troye turnen in asshen dede.
(18)
For Certeyn Phebus and Neptainus boþe.
That maden þe walles of þe toun.
Ben with þe folk of Troye alwey so wroþe.
That þei wole brynge it to confusioun.
Right in despit of kyng lameadoun.
By cause he nolde payen hem here hire.
The town of Troye shal ben set on fire.
(19)
Tellyng his tale alwey þis olde Greye.
Humble in speche and yn his lokynge eke.
The salte terys from his eyen twye.
Ful faste ronnen doun by eyther cheke.
So longe he gan of socour hem by-seche
That for to helen hym of his sorwes sore.
They yaf hym Antenor with-oute more.
(20)
But who was glad y-nowh but Calkas þo.
And of þis þing ful sone hise nedes leyde.
On hem þat sholden for þe tretis go.
And hem for Antenor ful ofte preyde.
To bryng hem kyng Toas and Criseyde
And whan Pryam his saue-gard sente.
The Ambassiatours to Troye streyght þei wente.
(21)
The cause y-told of here comynge. the olde.
Pryam þe kyng ful soone in general.
Let here-vpon his Parlement to holde.
Of which þe effect rehersen yow I shal.
Thembassadours ben answered for fynal.
Theschaunge of Prisoners and al þis nede.
Hem lykeþ wel. and forth in þey procede.
(22)
This Troylus was present in þe place.
whan axed was for Antenor Criseyde.
For which ful soone chaungen gan his face.
As he þat with þo wordes wel neygh deyde.
But natheles he no word to it seyde.
Lest men sholde his affeccioun espye.
with mannes herte he gan hys sorwes drye.
(23)
And ful of angwyssh and of grysly drede.
A-bod what lordes wolde vn-to it seye.
And yf þey wolde graunte as god forbede.
Theschaunge of here. þan þought he þynges tweye.
First how to saue here honour and what weye.
He myghte best þeschaunge of here withstonde.
Ful faste he cast how al þis myghte stonde.
(24)
Loue hym made al prest to don hire byde.
And raþer dye þan she sholde gon.
But resoun seyde hym on þat oþer syde.
with-oute assent of here do not so.
Lest for þi werk she wolde be þi fo.
And seyn þat þorugh þi medlyng is blowe.
Yowre bothere loue þere it was erst vnknowe.
(25)
For which he gan deliberen for þe beste.
That þough þe lordes wolde þat she wente.
He wolde late hem graunte what hem leste.
And telle his lady fyrst what þat þey mente.
And whanne þat she hadde seyd hym here entente.
Ther-after wolde he werken also blyue.
Though al þe world ayen it wolde stryue.
(26)
Ector which þat wel þe Grekis herde.
For Antenor how þey wolde han Criseyde.
Gan it withstonde / and sobrely ans verede.
Sires she nys no presoner he seyde.
I not on yow who þis charge leyde.
But on my part ye may eft-sone hym telle.
we vsen here no wommen for to selle.
(27)
The noyse of peple vp stirte þanne at onys.
As breme as blase of straw y-set in fyre.
For infortune it wolde for þe nonys.
They sholde hire confusion desire.
Ector quod þey what gost may yow enspire.
This womman þus to shilde & don vs lese.
Daun Antenor / a wrong wey now ye chese.
(28)
That is so wys / and ek so bold baroun.
And we han nede to folk as men may se.
He is ek on þe grettest of þis stown.
O. Ector lat þo fantasyes be.
O kyng Pryam quod þey þus seggen we.
That al oure voys is to for-gon Criseyde.
And to delyueren Antenor þey preyde.
(29)
O Iuuenal lord trewe is þi sentence.
That liten weten folk what is to yerne.
That þey ne fynde in here desir offence.
For cloud of errour / lat hem not descerne.
what best is / and lo here an ensample as yerne.
This folk desiren now delyueraunce.
Of Antenor / þat brought hem to myschaunce.
(30)
For after he was Traytour to the town.
Of Troye. allas þey quyt hym out to raþe.
O nyce world / lo þy dyscression.
Criseyde which þat neuere dede hem skaþe.
Shal now no lengere in here blysse baþe.
But Antenor he shal com hom to towne.
And she shal out / þus seyden here and howne.
(31)
For which was delibered by Par 1 lement. 1 [1-1 later.]
For Antenor to yelden vp Criseyde.
And it pronuncede by þe precident.
Al-þey þat Ector nay ful ofte preyede.
And fynaly what wyght þat it with-seyde.
It was for nought it moste ben and sholde.
For substaunce of þe parlement it wolde.
(32)
Departed out of Parlement echone.
This Troylus with-oute wordes mo.
Vn-to his chaumbre spede hym faste allone.
But yf it were aman of his or two.
The whiche he bad out faste for to go.
By cause he wolde slepe as he seyde.
And hastely vp on his bed hym leyde.
(33)
And as yn wynter leues ben by-raft.
Eche after oþer til þe tre be bare.
So þat þer nys but bark and braunche y-laft.
Lyth Troylus byraft of eche wel-fare.
I-bounde in þe blake bark of care.
Disposed wod out of his wit to breyde.
So sore hym sat þe chaungynge of Criseyde.
(34)
He rist hym vp and euery dore he shette.
And wyndowe ek and þo þis sorweful man.
Vp-on his beddes side a-doun hym sette.
Ful lyk a ded ymage pale and wan.
And in his brest þe hepede wo bygan.
Out brest / and he to werkyn in þis wyse.
In his woodnesse. as I shal yow deuyse.
(35)
Ryght as þe wylde bole by-gynneth sprynge.
Now here now þere I-darted to þe herte.
And of his deth roreth yn compleynynge.
Righ so gan he aboute þe chaumbre sterte.
Smytyng his brest ay with his festes smerte.
His hed to þe wal his body to þe grounde.
Ful ofte he swapte him self to confounde.
(36)
Hys eyen two for pite of his herte.
Out stremeden as swyfte welles tweye.
The heyghe sobbes of his sorwes smerte.
His speche hym rafte vnneþes myght he seye.
O deth / allas whi nyltow do me deye.
A-cursed be þe day which þat nature.
Shope me to ben a lyues creature.
(37)
But after whan þe furye and þe rage.
whiche þat his herte twyste & faste þreste.
By lengþe of tyme somwhat gan asswage.
Vp on his bed he leyde hym down to reste.
But þo by-gonne his terys more out breste.
That wonder is þe body may suffise.
To half þis wo / which þat I yow deuyse.
(38)
Thanne seyde he þus Fortune allas þe while.
what haue .I. don. what haue I þus a-gilt.
How myghtestow for reuþe me by-gyle.
Is þer no grace and shal I þus be spilt.
Shal þus Criseyde a-wey for þat þow wylt.
Allas how maystow yn þin herte fynde.
To ben to me þus cruel and vnkynde.
(39)
Haue I þe nought honoured al my lyue.
As þow wel wost a-boue þe goddes alle.
why wiltow me fro Ioye þus depryue.
O. Troylus what may men þe now calle.
But wrecche of wrecches out of honour falle.
In-to myserie yn which I wol by-wayle.
Criseyde allas / til þat þe breth me fayle.
(40)
Allas fortune yf þat my lyf yn Ioye.
Displesed hadde vn-to thy foule enuye.
why ne haddestow my fader kyng of Troye.
By-raft þe lyf on don my breþeren deye.
Or slayn my-self / þat þus compleyne and crye.
I combre world þat may of no þing serue.
But euere dye / and neuere fully sterue.
(41)
Yf þat Criseyde allone were me laft.
Nought rought I wheder þow woldest me stere.
And here allas þan hastow me by-raft.
But euere more lo þis is þi manere.
To reue a wyght þat most is to hym dere.
To preue yn þat þi greful violence.
Thus am I lost þere helpeth no defence.
(42)
O verray lord of loue .o. god allas.
That knowest best myn herte & al my þought.
what shal my sorwful lyf don in þis cas.
Yf .I. for-go þat .I. so dere haue bought.
Syn ye Cryseyde and me han fully brought.
In-to your grace and boþe oure hertes seled.
How may ye suffre allas it be repeles.
(43)
What I may don .I. shal whil I may dure.
On lyue in torment and yn cruwel peyne.
This infortune. or þis disauenture.
Allas as I was born y-wys compleyne.
Ne neuere wyl I seen it shyne or reyne.
But ende I wil as Edippe yn derknesse.
My sorwful lyf / and dyen in dystresse.
(44)
O verray gost þat errest to and fro.
why nyltow fle out of þe wofulleste.
Body. þat euere myght on grounde go.
O soule lurkynge in þis wo vnneste.
Fle forth out of myn herte and lat it breste.
And folwe alwey Criseyde þi lady dere.
Thi righte place is now no lengere here.
(45)
O wofulle eyen two syn youre desport.
was al to seen Criseydes eyen bryght.
what shal ye don but for my discomfort.
Stondeth for nought / and wepen out youre sight.
Syn she is queynt þat wont was yow to lyght.
In veyn fro þis forth haue I eyen tweyne.
y-formed syn youre vertu is a-weye.
(46)
O my Criseyde. o. lady souereyne.
Of þis woful soule. þat þus crieth.
who shal now yeuen comfort to þe peyne.
Allas no wight but when myn herte dyeth.
My spirit / which þat vn-to yow so hyeth.
Receyue in gre / for þat shal ay yow serue.
For-þi no fors is þough þe body sterue.
(47)
O ye loueres þat heyhe vpon þe whiel.
Ben set. of Fortune yn good auenture.
God leue þat ye fynde ay loue of stel.
And longe mot youre lyf yn Ioye endure.
But whanne ye comen be my sepulture.
Remembreth þat youre felawe resteþ þere.
For I louede ek þough I vnworþi were.
(48)
O olde vnholsom and mysbyleued man.
Calkas I mene. allas what eyleth the.
To ben a Grek syn þou art born Troian.
O calkas which þat wilt my bane be.
In cursed tyme was þow born for me.
As wolde blysful Ioue for his Ioye.
That I þe hadde where as I wolde in Troye.
(49)
A þousand sykes hottere þan þe glede.
Out of his brest eche after oþer wente.
Meddles with pleyntes newe his wo to fede.
For which his woful terys neuere stente.
And shortly so his peynes hym to-rente.
And wex so mat. þat Ioye nor penaunce.
He feleth noon but lyth forth in a traunce.
(50)
Pandare whiche þat in the parlement.
Hadde herd what euery Burgeys & lord seyde.
And how ful graunted was by on assent.
For Antenor to yelden so Criseyde.
Gan wel neygh wod out of his wit to breyde.
So þat for wo he nyste what he mente.
But yn a res / to Troylus he wente.
(51)
A certeyn knyght þat for þe tyme kepte.
The chaumbre dore vn-dede it hym a-noon.
And Pandare þat ful tendreliche wepte.
In-to þe derke chaumbre as stille as ony ston.
Toward þe bed gan softely to gon.
So confus þat he nyst what to seye.
For verray wo / his wit was neigh a-weye.
(52)
And with his chere and lokyng al to-torn.
For sorwe of þis. and with his armes folden.
He stod þis woful Troylus byforn.
And on his pitous face he gan byholden.
But Lord so often gan his herte colde.
Seyng his frend in wo / whos heuynesse.
His herte slow as þought hym for distresse
(53)
This woful wight / þis Troylus þat felte.
His frend Pandare y-comen hym to se.
Gan as þe snow a-yen þe sonne melte.
For wyych þis sorwful Pandare of pyte.
Gan for to wepe as tendrelyche as he.
And specheles þus ben þis like tweye.
That neyther myghte o word for sorwe seye.
(54)
But at þe laste þis woful Troylus.
Ney ded for smert gan bresten out to rore.
And with a sorwful noyse he seyde þus.
Among his sobbes and his sikes sore.
Lo Pandare I am ded with-outen more.
Hastow nought herd at parlement he seyde.
For Antenor how lost is my Criseyde.
(55)
This Pandarus ful dede and pale of hewe.
Ful pytously answerede and seyde yis.
As wysly were it fals as it is trewe.
That I haue herd and wot al how it is.
O mercy god who wolde haue trowed þis.
who wolde haue wend þat yn so lytel a þrowe.
Fortune oure Ioye wolde han ouer-þrowe.
(56)
For yn þis world þere is no creature.
Als to my dom þat euere saw ruyne.
Straungere þan þis þorugh cas or auenture.
But who may al eschewe or al deuyne.
Swych is þis world. for-þi I þus defyne.
Ne trust no wyght to fynden in Fortune.
Ay proprete. his yeftes ben comune.
(57)
But tel me þis whi þou art now so mad.
To sorwen þus. why listow in þis wyse.
Syn þi desir al holly hastow had.
So that by right it oughte y-now suffise.
But I þat neuere felte in my seruyse.
A frendly chere or lokyng of an eye.
Lat me þus wepe an wayle til I dye.
(58)
And ouer al þis / as þow wel wost þi-selue.
This town is ful of ladyes al aboute.
And to my dom fairere þan swych twelue.
As euere she was shal I fynde yn som route.
Ye oone or two with-outen any doute.
For-þi be glad myn owen dere broþer.
If she be lost. we shul recouere anoþer.
(59)
What god for-bede alwey þat eche plesaunce.
In o þyng were and noon oþer wyght.
Yf oon kan synge a noþer kan wel daunce.
Yf þis be goodly she is glad and lyght.
And þis is fayr and þat kan good aright.
Ech for his vertu holden is for dere.
Boþe heroner and faukon of ryuere.
(60)
And ek as writ zauzis þat was ful wys.
The newe loue out cacheth ofte þe olde.
And vp-on newe cas lyth newe auys.
Thenk ek þi self to saue þow art holde.
Swych fyr by proces shal of kynde colde.
For syn it is but casuel plesaunce.
Som cas shal putte it out of remembraunce.
(61)
For al so seur as day cometh after nyght.
The newe loue / labour or oþer wo.
Or ellys selde seynge of a wyght.
Don olde affeccions al ouer go.
And for þi part þow shalt haue one of þo.
To abrigge with þi bittre peynes smerte.
Absence of here shal dryue here out of herte.
(62)
This wordes seyde he for þe nones alle.
To helpe his frend lest he for sorwe deyde.
For douteles to don his sorwe to falle.
He rought not what vnthryf he seyde.
But Troylus þat neigh for sorwe deyde.
Tok litel hed of al þat euere he mente.
Oon eere it herde. at þe oþer out it wente.
(63)
But at þe laste he answered and seyde a frend.
This lechecraft. or heled þus to be.
were wel sittyng if þat I were a fende.
To trassen here þat trewe is vnto me.
I pray to god lat þis consayl neuere þe.
But do me rathere a-noon sterue right here.
Er I þus do / as þow me woldest lere.
(64)
She þat I serue ywys what so þow seye.
To whom myn her enhabyt is by right.
Shal han me holly heres til þat I deye.
For Pandarus syn þat I haue trouþe here hight.
I wol not ben vntrewe for no wyght.
But as here man I wole ay lyue and sterue.
And neuere oþer creature serue.
(65)
And þere þow seyst thow shalt as faire fynde.
As she. lat be / make no comparyson.
To creature y-formed here by kynde.
O leue Pandare in conclusion.
I wol not be of þyn opynyon.
Towchyng al þis / for whiche I þe byseche.
So hold þi pes / þow sleste me wiþ þi speche.
(66)
Thow biddest me I sholde loue an oþer.
Al fresshly newe and lat Criseyde go.
It lith not in my power leue broþer.
And þough I myght I wil not do so.
But kanstow pleyen raket to and fro.
Netle In. dokke out. now this / now þat Pandare.
Now fowle falle here þat for þi wo [hath is in corrector's hand.] hath [hath is in corrector's hand.] care.
(67)
Þow farest ek by me þow Pandarus.
As he þat whan a wyght is wo-by-gon.
He cometh to hym a pas / and seyth right þus.
Thenk not on smert. and þow shalt fele noon.
Thow most me first transmuwen in a ston.
And reue me my passions alle.
Er thow so lightly do my wo to falle.
(68)
The deth may wel out of my brest departe.
The lyf. so longe may þis sorwe myne.
But fro my sowle shal Criseyde darte.
Out neuere mo / but down wiþ proserpyne.
whan I am ded I wol go wone in pyne.
And þer I wol eternally compleyne.
My wo / and how þat twynned be we tweyne.
(69)
Thow hast here mad an argument for fyn.
How þat it sholde a lasse peyne be.
Creseyde to for-gon for she was myn.
And leue in ese and yn felicite.
whi gabbestow þat seydest þus to me.
That hym is wors þat is fro wele y-þrowe.
Than he hadde erst non of þat wele knowe.
(70)
But tel me now syn þat þe thenketh so lyght.
To chaungen so in loue ay to and fro.
whi hastow not don bysyly þi myght.
To chaungen here þat doth þe al þi wo.
Why neltow lete here fro þyn herte go.
why nyltow loue an oþer lady swete.
That may þin herte setten in quyete.
(71)
If þow hast had in loue ay yet myschaunce.
And kanst it not out of þyn herte dryue.
I þat leuede yn lust and in plesaunce.
with here as muche as creature on lyue.
How sholde I þat foryete and þat so blyue.
O where hastow ben hid so longe in muwe.
That kanst so wel and formely arguwe.
(72)
Nay god wot nought worth is al þi red.
For which / for what þat euere may by-falle.
with-outen wordes mo I wol be ded.
O. deth þat endere art of sorwes alle.
Com now / syn I so ofte after þe calle.
For sely is þat deth soth for to seyne.
That ofte ycleped cometh and endeth peyne.
(73)
Wel wot I whil my lyf was in quyete.
Er þow me slowe .I. wolde haue yeuen here.
But now þi comynge is to me so swete.
That in þis world I no þing so desire.
O deth syn with þis sorwe I am a fyre.
Thou oþer do me anoon yn þis teris drenche.
Or with þi colde strok myn hete quenche.
(74)
Syn þat þow sleest so fele in sondry wyse.
A-yens hire wil vnpreyed day and nyght.
Do me at my requeste þis seruice.
Delyuere now þe world so dostow right.
Of me þat am þe wofulleste wyght.
That euere was for tyme is þat I sterue.
Syn in þis world of right nought may .I. serue.
(75)
This Troylus in teris gan distille.
As licour of a lambyc ful faste.
And Pandarus gan holde his tunge stille.
And to þe ground his eyen doun he caste.
But naþeles þus þought he at þe laste.
what parde raþer þan my felawe deye.
Yet shal I som-what more vn-to it seye.
(76)
And seyd frend syn þow hast swych distresse.
And syn þow list myn argumentȝ blame.
why nylt þi self helpen don redresse.
And with þy manhod letten al þis grame.
To rauysshe here. ne kanstow not for shame.
And oþer lat here out of towne fare.
Or hold here stille. and leue þi nyce fare.
(77)
Artow in Troye and hast noon hardiment.
To take a womman which þat loueth þe.
And wolde here seluen be of þyn assent.
Now is not þis a nyce vanyte.
Rys vp anoon. and lat þis wepynge be.
And kyth þow art a man for yn þis owre.
I wil be ded or she shal bleuen oure.
(78)
To this answerede hym Troylus ful softe.
And seyde parde leue broþer dere.
Al þis haue I my self yet þought ful ofte.
And more þyng þan þow deuysest here.
But whi þyng is laft þow shalt wel here.
And whan þow me hast yeue an audience.
Ther-after mayst þow telle aɫɫ þi sentence.
(79)
Fyrst syn þow wost þis town hath al þis werre.
For rauysshyng of wommen so my myght.
It sholde not be suffred me to erre.
As it stant now / ne don so gret vnright.
I sholde han also blame of euery wyght.
My fadres graunt yf þat I so withstode.
Syn she is chaunged for þe townes goode.
(80)
I haue ek þought so it were here assent.
To aske hire at my fader of his grace.
Thanne þenk I þis were here accusement.
Syn wel I wot I may here not purchace.
For syn my fader in so heigh a place.
As parlement hath here eschaunge enseled.
He nyl for me his lettre be repeled.
(81)
Ȝet drede I most here herte to pertourbe.
with violence yf I do swych a game.
For yf I wolde it openly distourbe.
It most ben disclaundre to here name.
And me were leuere ded þan here defame.
As nold god but yf I sholde haue.
Here honour leuere þan my lyf to saue.
(82)
Thus am I lost for ought þat I kan se.
For certeyn is syn þat I am here knyght.
I moste here honour leuere han þan me.
In euery cas as louere oughte of right.
Thus am I with desir and reson twyght.
Desir for to distourben here me redeth.
And reson nyl not so myn herte dredeþ.
(83)
Thus wepynge þat he koude neuere cesse.
He seyde allas how shal I wrecche fare
For wel fele I alwey my loue encresse.
And hope is lasse and lasse alwey Pandare.
Encressen ek þe causes of my care.
So wel-a-wey whi nyl myn herte breste.
For as in loue / þer is but litel reste.
(84)
Pandare answerede frend þow mayst for me.
Don as þe list / but hadde ich it for hote.
And þyn estat / she sholde go with me.
Though al þis town criede on þis þyng by note.
I nold sette at al þat noyse a grote.
For when men han wel cried þan wol þey rowne.
A wonder last but .ix. nyght neuere yn towne.
(85)
Deuyne not in reson ay so depe.
Ne curteysly. but help þi self anoon.
Bet is þat oþere þan þi self wepe.
And namly syn ye two ben al oon.
Rys vp for by myn hed she shal not gon.
And raþere be in blame a litel y-founde.
Than sterue here as a gnat with-owte wounde.
(86)
It is no shame to yow ne no vice.
Here to with-holden. þat ye loueth most.
Paraunter she myght holden þe for nyce.
To late here go þus. vn-to þe Grekes ost.
Thenk ek Fortune as wel þi seluen wost.
Helpeþ hardy man to his emprise.
And weyueth wrecches / for here cowardise.
(87)
And þough þi lady wolde a litel here greue.
Thow shalt þi pes ful wel here-after make.
But as for me certayn .I. kan not leue.
That she wolde it as now for yuel take.
whi sholde þanne of fered þyn herte quake.
Thenk ek how Parys hath þat is þi broþer.
A loue. and whi shaltow not haue a noþer.
(88)
And Troylus .o. þyng I dar þe swere.
That if Criseyde whiche þat is þi lef.
Now loue þe as wel as þow dost here.
God helpe me so she nyl not take a gref.
They þow do bote a-noon in þis myschef
And yf she wilneth fro yow for to passe.
Thanne is she fals / so loue here wel þe lasse.
(89)
For-þi tak herte and þenk right as a kynght.
Thourgh loue is broken alday euery lawe.
Kygh now sumwhat þi corage and þi myght.
Haue mercy on þi self for ony awe.
Lat not þis wrecched wo þin herte gnawe.
But manly set þe world on sixe and seuene.
And yf þow deye a martir go to heuene.
(90)
I wol my self be with þe at þis nede.
Theygh ich and al my kyn vp-on a stonde.
Shulle in a strete as dogges liggen dede.
Thourgh girt with many a wyd and blody wounde.
In euery cas I wol a frend be founde.
And yf þe lyst here steruen as a wrecche.
A dieu. þe deuel spede hym þat recche.
(91)
This Troylus gan with þo wordes to quyken.
And seyde frende graunt mercy ich assente.
But certaynly þow mayst not me so pryken.
Ne peyne noon ne may me so tormente.
That for no cas it is not myn entente.
At short wordes þough I dyen sholde.
To rauysshen hire / but yf here-self it wolde.
(92)
Why so mene I quod Pandarus al þis day.
But tel me þanne / hastow here wel assayed.
That sorwest þus / and he answered nay.
wher-of artow quod Pandare þan a-mayed.
That nost not þat she wol ben euele apayed.
To rauysshen here syn þow hast not ben þere.
But if þat Ioue told it yn þin eere.
(93)
For-thi rys vp as nought ne were a-noon.
And wassh þi face and to þe kyng þow wende.
Or he may wondren whider þow art gon.
Thow most with wysdom hym & othere blende.
Or vp-on cas he may after þe sende.
Er þow be war and shortly broþer dere.
Be glad / and lat me werke in þis matere.
(94)
For I shal shappe it so sikerly
Thow shalt þis nyght som tyme in som manere.
Com speke with þi lady preuely.
And by here wordes ek and by here chere.
Thow shalt ful sone a-parceyue and wel here.
Al here entente / and yn þis cas þe beste.
And fare now wel / for in þis poynt I reste.
(95)
The swyfte fame whiche þat false þynges.
Egal reporteth lyk þe þynges trewe.
was þorugh-out Troye y-fled with preste wynges.
Fro man to man and made þis tale of newe.
How Calkas doughter with here brighte hewe.
At parlement with-oute wordes more.
I-graunted was yn chaunge of Antenore.
(96)
The whiche tale a-noon right as Criseyde.
Had herd. she þat of here fader roughte.
As in þis cas right nought ne whanne he deyde.
Ful bysily to Iuppiter by-soughte.
yeue hym myschaunce þat þis tretis broughte.
But shortly lest þis tales soth were.
She dorste at no wyght asken it for fere.
(97)
As she þat hadde here herte and al here mynde.
On Troylus y-set so wonder faste.
That al þe world ne koude here loue vnbynde.
Ne Troylus out of here herte caste.
She wol ben his whil þat here lyf may laste.
And þus she brenneth boþe in loue and drede.
That she nyste what was best to rede.
(98)
But as men sen in towne and al aboute.
That wommen vsen frendes to visite.
So to Criseyde of wommen come a rowte.
For pitous Ioye and wenden here delite.
And with here tales dere ynowh a myte.
These wommen whiche þat yn þe cite dwelle.
Thei sette hem doun and seyde as I shal telle.
(99)
Quod first þat oone .I. am glad trewely.
By-cause of yow þat ye shal youre fader se.
A-noþer answered I-wys so am not .I.
For al to litel hath she with vs be.
Quod þe þridde I hope y-wys þat she.
Shal brynge vs þe pes on euery side.
That whanne she gooth almyghti god here gyde.
(100)
Tho wo[r]des and þo wommannyssh þynges./
She herd hem ryght as þough she þens were.
For god it wot here herte on oþer þing is.
Al-þough þe body sat a-mong hem þere.
Here aduertence is alwey ellys-where.
For Troylus ful faste here herte soughte.
with-outen word alwey on hym she þoughte.
(101)
This wommen þat wenden here to plese.
A-boute nought gonne alle here tales spende.
Swych vanite ne kan don hem non ese.
As she þat al þis mene while brende.
Of oþer passion þan þat þey wende.
So þat she felte almost here herte deye.
For wo and wery of þat companye.
[Stanza 102, l. 708-714, tho left out of the Compsall MS. and Harl. 2280, is partly in Boccaccio (see p. 196 of Mr. Rossetti's Filostrato and Troylus), and wholly in Cambr. Gg., Harl. 3943, &c.]
(103)
And thilke fooles sittynge here a-boute.
wende þat she wepte and syked sore.
By cause þat [she] sholde out of þat route.
Departe. and neuere pleye with hem more.
And þey þat hadde y-knowen here of yore.
Seygh here so wepe and þoughte it kyndenesse.
And eche of hem wepte eke for here distresse.
(104)
And bisily þey gonnen here comforten.
Of þing god wot on which she litel þoughte.
And with here tales wenden here disporten.
And to be glad þey often here by-soughte.
But swich an ese þer-with þey here wroughte.
Right as a man is esed for to fele.
For ache of hed to clawen hym on his hele.
(105)
But after al þis nyce vanyte.
They tok here leue and hom þey wenten alle.
Cryseyde ful of sorwful pite.
In to here chaumbre vp wente out of þe halle.
And on here bed she gan for ded to falle.
In purpos neuere þennes for to ryse.
And þus she wroughte as I shal yow deuyse.
[The real Stanza 106, l. 736-742, is misplaced in the Campsall MS. & Harl. 2280 & 3943, and put after st. 107 (see p. 197, 198 of Mr. Rossetti's Filostrato and Troylus, Chaucer Soc.). But as the change may have been made by Chaucer, and as the changer has alterd the text (l. 750, 752, 764) to make the story right, I am obliged to have different stanzas for nos. 106-108, and different lines for nos. 736-756.]
(106)
Here ownded heer þat sonnyssħ was of hewe.
She rente / and ek here fyngres longe and smale.
She wrong ful ofte and bad god on here rewe.
And with þe deth to don bote on here bale.
Here hewe whilom bryght þat þo was pale.
Bar witnes of here wo and constreynte.
And þus she spak sobbynge in here compleynte.
(107)
Allas quod she out of þis regioun.
I woful wrecche and infortuned wight.
And born in corsed constellacioun.
Mot gon and þus departen fro my knyght.
wo worth allas þat ilke dayes lyght.
On which I saw hym first with eyen tweyne.
That causeth me and I hym al þis peyne
(108)
Therwith þe terys from here eighen two.
Doun fille. as shour in aperiɫɫ swyþe.
Here white brest she bet / and for þe wo.
After þe deth she cried a þousand siþe.
Syn he þat wont here wo was for to lyþe.
She mot for-gon. for which disauenture.
She held here-self a forlost creature.
(109)
She seyde how shal he do and I also.
How sholde I lyue / yf I from hym twynne.
O dere herte ek þat I loue so.
who shal þat sorwe sleen þat ye ben Inne.
O. Calkas fader thyn be al þis synne.
O. moder myn þat cleped were Argyue.
wo worth þat day þat þow me bere on lyue.
(110)
To what fyn sholde I lyue and sorwen þus.
How sholde .I. a fyssħ with-oute water dure.
what is Criseyde worth from Troylus.
How sholde a plaunte or lyues creature.
Lyue with-oute his kynde noriture.
For which ful oft a by-word here I seye.
That roteles mot grene sone deye.
(111)
I shal don thus syn neyþer swerd ne darte.
Dar I noon handle for þe cruwelte.
That ilke day þat I from hym departe.
If sorwe of þat nyl not my bane be.
Than shal no mete or drynk come in me.
Til I my soule out of my breste vnsheþe.
And þus my-seluen wold I do to dethe.
(112)
And Troylus my cloþes euerychone.
Shul blake ben yn tokenynge herte swete.
That I am as out of þis world a-gon.
That wont was yow to setten in quiete.
And of myn ordre ay til deth me mete.
The obseruaunce euere yn youre absence.
Shal sorwe ben. compleynte and abstinence.
(113)
Myn herte and ek þe woful gost þer-Inne.
Biquethe I with youre spirit to compleyne.
Eternally for þey shul neuere twynne.
For þough in erthe twynned be we tweyne.
Yet in þe feld of pite out of peyne.
That hight Elysos shul we ben y-fere.
As Orpheus. and Erudice his fere.
(114)
Thus herte myn for Antenor Allas.
I soone shal be chaunged as I wene.
But how shul ye don yn þis sorwful cas.
How shal youre tendre herte þis sustene.
But herte myn / for-yet þis sorwe and tene.
And me also / for sothly for to seye.
So ye wel fare / I recche not to deye.
(115)
How myght it euere y-red ben or y-songe.
The pleynte þat she made in here distresse.
I. not / but as for me my litel tonge.
If I discreuen wolde here heuynesse.
It sholde make here sorwe seme lesse.
Than þat it was / and chyldisshly deface.
Here heyghe compleynte. and þerfore I it pace.
(116)
Pandare which þat sent was from Troylus.
Vn-to Criseyde / as ye han herd deuyse.
That for þe beste it was accorded þus.
And he ful glad to don hym þat seruice.
Vn-to Criseyde in a ful seere wyse.
Ther as she lay in torment and in rage.
Come here to telle al holly his message.
(117)
And fond þat she here-seluen gan to trete.
Ful pitously / for with here salte terys.
Here brest here face y-baþed was ful wete.
The myghty tresses of here sonnyssh herys.
Vnbroyden / hangen al aboute here eris.
which yaf hym verray signal of matere.
Of deth / which þat here herte gan desire.
(118)
Whan she hym saw she gan for sorwe a-noon.
Here tery face / a-twixe here armes hyde.
For which þis Pandare is so wo-by-gon.
That in þe hous he myghte vnneþe a-byde.
As he þat felte pyte on euery syde.
For yf Criseyde hadde erst compleyned sore.
Tho gan she pleyne a þousand tymes more.
(119)
And in here aspre pleynt / þan she seyde.
Pandare first of Ioyes mo þan two.
was cause causynge vn-to me Criseyde.
That now transmuwed ben in cruel wo.
wher shal I seye to yow / wel come or no.
That alderferst me brough[t] in-to seruise.
Of loue / allas þat endeth in þis wyse.
(120)
Endeth þanne loue in wo. ye er men lieth.
And alle worldly blysse as þenketh me.
The ende of blisse ay sorwe it occupieth.
And who þat troweth not þat it so be.
Lat hym vpon me woful wrecche y-se.
That my self hate / and ay my birþe accurse.
Felynge alwey fro wo I go to worse.
(121)
Who-so me seth. he seth sorwe al at onys.
Peyne / torment / pleynt / wo / and distresse.
Out of my woful body / harm þer non is.
As angwyssh / langour / cruel bitternesse.
A-noy / smert / drede / fury / and ek sikenesse.
I trowe I-wys from heuene teris reyne.
For pite of myn aspre and cruwel peyne.
(122)
And þow my suster ful of discomfort.
Quod Pandarus / what þenkestow to do.
whi ne hastow to þi-seluen som resport.
wh[i] woltow þus þi-selue [allas] for-do.
Lef al þis wek and take now hede to.
That I shal seyn / and herkene of good entente.
This / which by me þi Troylus þe sente.
(123)
Torned here þo Criseyde a wo makynge.
So gret þat it a deth was for to se.
Allas quod she / what wordes may ye brynge.
what wold my dere seyn to me.
which þat I drede neuere mo to se.
wol ye haue pleynte or terys er I wende.
I haue y-nowe yf he þer after sende.
(124)
She was right swych to sen in hire visage.
As is þat wight þat men on bere bynde.
Here face lyk a paradys þe ymage.
was al I-chaunged in a-noþer kynde.
The pleye / þe laughtre / men was wont to fynde.
In here / and ek here Ioyes euerychone.
Ben fled / and þus lith now Criseyde allone.
(125)
Aboute here eyen two a purpre ryng.
Bytrent / in sothfast tokenynge of here peyne.
That to by-holde it was a dedly þing.
For which Pandare myght not restreyne.
The terys from hise eyen for to reyne.
But naþeles as he best myght he seyde.
From Troylus / þis wordes to Criseyde.
(126)
Lo Nece .I. trowe ye han herd al how.
The kyng with oþere lordes for þe beste.
Hath mad eschaunge of Antenor & yow.
That cause is of þis sorwe and þis vnreste.
But how þis cas doth Troylus moleste.
That may non erþely mannes tonge seye.
For verray wo his wit is al a-wey.
(127)
For which we han so sorwel he and I.
That in-to litel boþe it hadde vs slawe.
But þurgh my conseyl þis day fynally.
He somwhat is fro wepyng now wiþ-drawe.
It semeth me þat he desireth fawe.
with yow to ben al nyght for to deuyse.
Remede in þis / yf þer were any wyse.
(128)
This short and pleyne þeffect of my message.
As ferforth as my wit may comprehende.
For ye þat ben of torment in swych rage.
May as to no long prologe as now entende.
And her-vpon ye may an answere hym sende.
And for þe loue of god my Nece dere.
So lef þis wo er Troylus be here.
(129)
Gret is my wo quod she and sighed sore.
As she þat felt dedly sharpe distresse.
But yet to me his sorwe is muche more.
That loueth hym bet þan he hym self .I. gesse.
Allas for me bath he swych heuynesse.
Kan he for me so pitously compleyne.
I-wis this sorw doubleþ al my peyne.
(130)
Greuous to me god wot is for to twynne.
Quod she / but yet it hardere is to me.
To sen þat sorwe whiche þat he is Inne.
For wel wot I it wole my bane be.
And deye I wole in certayn þo quod she.
And bidde hym come er deth þat þus me treteth.
Dryf out þe gost / which in myn herte he beteth.
(131)
This wordes seyd / she on here armes two.
Fil gruf / and gan to wepe pitously.
Quod Pandarus allas whi do ye so.
Syn ye wel wot þe tyme is faste by.
That he shal come / a-rys vp hastely.
That he yow nat by-wopen þus ne fynde.
But ye wol han hym wod out of his mynde.
(132)
For wist he þat ye ferde in þis manere.
He wolde hym selue sle / and yf I wend.
To han þis fare. he sholde not come here.
For al þe good þat Pryam may despende.
For to what fyn he wolde a-noon pretende.
That know .I. wel / and for-þi yet I seye.
So lef þis sorwe / or platly he wole deye.
(133)
And shappeth yow his sorwe for to a-bregge.
And nought encresse / leue Nece swete.
Buth raþer to hym of flat þan egge.
And with som wysdom ye his sorwes bete.
what helpeþ it to wepen ful a strete.
Or þough ye boþe in salte teris drenche.
Bet is a tyme of cure ay þan of pleynte.
(134)
I mene þus. whan I hym here brynge.
Syn ye ben wyse and boþe of on assent.
So shappeþ how distourbe þis goynge.
Or come a-yen soone after ye be went.
wommen ben wyse in short auysement.
And lat sen now how youre wit shal auayle.
And what þat I may helpe / it shal not fayle.
(135)
Go quod Criseyde and Vncle trewely.
I. shal don al my myght / me to restreyne.
From wepyng in his sight and bysily.
Hym for to glade .I. shal don al my peyne.
And in myn herte seken euery veyne.
If to his sor þer may be founden salue.
It shal not lakken certain on myn halue.
(136)
Goth Pandarus and Troylus he soughte.
Til in a temple he fond hym allone.
As he þat of his lyf no lenger rowhte.
But to þe petouse goddes euerychone.
Ful tendrely he preyde and made his mone.
To don hym sone out of þis world to pace.
For wel he þouhte þer was noon oþer grace.
(137)
And shortly al þe soþe for to seye.
He was so fallen in despeyr þat day.
That outrely he shop hym for to deye.
For right þus was his argument alwey.
He seyde he nas but lorn waylawey.
For al þat cometh / comth by necessite.
Thus to be lorn it is my destyne.
(138)
For certaynly þis wot I wel he seyde.
That for-sight of dyuyne purueyaunce.
Hath seyn alwey me to for-gon Criseyde.
Syn god seth euery þing out of doutaunce.
And hem desponeth þourgh his ordenaunce.
In here merites soþly for to be.
As they shul come by predestine.
(139)
But naþeles allas whom shal I leue.
For þer ben clerkes grete many on.
That destyne þorugh argumentȝ preue.
And som men seyn þat nedly þer is noon.
But þat frechoys is yeuen vs euerychon.
O. welaway so sley arn clerkes olde.
That I not whos opynyoun I may holde.
(140)
For so men seyn / yf god seth al byforn.
And god may not deceyued ben parde.
Than mot it falle þey men hadde it swo.
That purueyaunce hath seighen by-fore to be.
wherfor I seye þat from eterne yf he.
Hath wyst byforn / oure þought ek as oure dede.
we haue no fre choys as þese clerkes rede.
(141)
For oþer þought nor other dede also.
Myght neuere be. but swych as purueyaunce.
which may not ben deceyued neuere mo.
Hath feled biforn / with-outen ignoraunce.
For yf þere myghte ben a variaunce.
To wriþen out / fro goddes purueyinge.
Ther nere no prescience of þyng comynge.
(142)
But it were raþere an opynyon.
Vncerteyn / and no stedefast forseynge.
And certes þat were an abusion̄.
That god shuld han no parfit cler witynge.
More þan we men þat han doutous wenynge.
But swych an errour vp-on god to gesse.
were fals & foul & corsed wykkednesse.
(143)
Ek þis is an opynyon of somme.
That han here top ful heighe and smoþe y-shore.
They seyn right þus þat þyng is not to come.
For þat þe prescience hath seyghen by-fore.
That it shal come / but they seyn þat þerfore.
That it shal come þerfore þe purueyaunce.
wot it byforn with-outen ignoraunce.
(144)
And in þis manere þis necessite.
Retorneth in his part contrarie a-gayn.
For nedfully by-houeth it not to be.
That þilke þinges fallen in certayn.
That ben purueyed but nedely as þey seyn.
Byhoueth it þat þinges whiche þat falle.
That þey in certayn ben purueyed alle.
(145)
I mene as þough I laboured me in þis.
To enqueren which þyng cause of which þyng be.
As wheyþer þat þe prescience of god is.
The certayn cause of þe necessite.
Of þinges þat to comen ben parde.
Or yf necessite of þing comynge.
Be cause certeyn of þe purueyinge.
(146)
But now ne enforce .I. me nought in shewynge.
How þe ordre of causes stant / but wel wot .I.
That it byhoueth þat þe byfallyng.
Of þinges wyst byforn certeynly.
Be necessarie / al seme it not þer-by.
That prescience put fallyng necessarie.
To thing to come al falle it foule or fayre.
(147)
For if þer sit a man yond on a see.
Than by necessite byhoueth it.
That certes þin opynyon soth be.
That wenest or coniestest þat he sit.
And ferþer-ouer now ayenward yit.
Lo right so it is of þe part contrarie.
As þus / nowe herkene / for I wol not tarie.
(148)
I seye þat yf the opynion of þe.
Be soth / for þat he sit / þan seye I þis.
That he mot sitten by necessite.
And þus necessite in eyþer is.
For yn hym nede of syttyng is y-wys.
And nede of soth / and þus forsothe.
Ter mot necessite ben in yow boþe.
(149)
But þou maist seyn þe man sit not þerfore.
That þyn opynyon of his sittyng soth is.
But raþer for þe man sit þer byfore.
Therfore is þyn opynyon soth ywys.
And I seye þough þe cause of soth of þis.
Comth of his sittyng yet necessite.
Is entrechaunged boþe in hym and þe.
(150)
Thus on þis same wyse out of doutaunce.
I may wel make as it semeth me.
My resonynge of goddes pourueyaunce.
And of þe thinges / þat to comen be.
By which reson men may wel y-se.
That þilke thinges þat in erþe falle.
That by necessite þey comen alle.
(151)
For al-though þat for thyng shal come y-wys.
Therfore it is purueyed certaynly.
Nough þat it comth for it purueyed is.
Yet naþeles byhoueth it nedfully.
That þing to come be purueyed trewely.
Or elles þinges þat puruey[e]d be.
That þei by-tiden by necessite.
(152)
And þis suffiseth right y-now certeyn.
For to destroye oure fre choys euery del.
But now is þis abusion to seyn.
That fallynge of þe thinges temporel.
Is cause of godes prescience eternel.
Now trewely þat is a fals sentence.
That þing to come sholde cause his prescience.
(153)
What myght I wene and ich hadde swych a þought.
But þat god purueyed þyng þat is to come.
For þat it is to come and ellis nought.
So myght I wene þat thinges alle and some.
That whylom ben byfalle and ouer-come.
Ben cause of þilke soueyren purueyaunce.
That for-wot al with-outen ignoraunce.
(154)
And ouer al þis yet sey I more þerto.
Right a whan I wot þer is a þing.
I-wys þat þing mot nedefully be so.
Ek right so whan I wot a þyng comynge.
So mot it come / and þus þe byfallyng.
Of þinges þat ben wyst by-fore þat tyde.
They mowe not ben eschewed on no syde.
(155)
Thanne seyde he þus / almyghty Ioue in trone.
That wost of alle þinge þe sothfastnesse.
Rewe on my sorwe or do me deye sone.
Or bryng Criseyde and me fro þis distresse.
And whil he was in al þis heuynesse.
Disputynge with hym self in þis matere.
Com Pandare / and seyde as ye may here.
(156)
O myghti god quod Pandarus in Trone.
I who seygh euere a wysman faren so.
whi Troylus what þenkestow to done.
Hastow swych lust to ben þyn owen fo.
what parde yet is not Criseyde a-go.
why lust the so þyn self for-don for drede.
That in þyn hed þyn eyghen semen dede.
(157)
Hastow not lyued many a yer byfore.
wiþ-outen here / and ferd ful wel at ese.
Artow for here and for noon oþer born.
Hath kynde þe wrought al oonly here to plese.
Lat be / and þenk right þus in [þi] disese.
That in þe des right as þere fallen chaunces.
Right so in loue / þere com and gon plesaunces.
(158)
And yet þis is a wonder most of alle.
whi þow þus sorwest / syn þou nost not yet.
Touchyng here goynge how þat it shal falle.
Ne yf she kan here-seluen distorben it.
Thow hast not yet assayed al here wit.
A man may al by tyme his nekke bede.
whan it shal of / and sorwen at þe nede.
(159)
For-þi take hede of þat þat I shal seye.
I haue with here y-spoke and longe y-be.
So as accorded was by-twyxe vs tweye.
And euere-mo me þenketh þus þat she.
Hath som-what in here hertes preuete.
wher-with she kan yf I shal right a-rede.
Distorbe al þis / of which þow art in drede.
(160)
For swych my counseyl is whan it is nyght.
Thow to here go and make of þis an ende.
And blissyd Iuno þourgh here grete myghte.
Shal as I hope here grace vn-to vs sende.
Myn herte seyth certeyn she shal not wende.
And for-þi put þyn herte a whyle in reste.
And hold þi purpos / for it is þe beste.
(161)
This Troylus answerede and sight sore.
Thow seyst right wel / & I wil do right so.
And what hym lyste he seyde vn-to it more.
And whan þat it was tyme for to go.
Ful preuely hym-self with-outen mo.
Vn-to here com as he was wont to done.
And how þei wroughte .I. shal yow telle sone.
(162)
Soth it is whanne þey gonne first to mete.
So gan þe peynes here hertes for to twyste.
That neyþer of hem oþer myght grete.
But hem in armes tok and after kyste.
The lasse wofulle of hem boþe nyste.
wher þat he was / ne myght .o. word out brynge.
As I seyde erst / for wo and for sobbynge.
(163)
Tho woful teris þat þey leten falle.
As bittre weren out of teris kynde.
For peyne / as is ligne Aloes or galle.
So bittre teris weep nought as I fynde.
The woful myrra þought þe bark and rynde.
That in þis world þer nys so hard an herte.
That nolde han rewed on hire peynes smerte.
(164)
But whanne here woful wery gostes tweyne.
Retorned ben þer as hem oughte dwelle.
And þat som-what to wayken gan þe peyne.
By lenthe of pleynte / and ebben gan þe welle.
Of here teris and þe herte vnswelle.
with broken voys al hoors for bright Criseyde.
To Troylus þise ilke wordes seyde.
(165)
O Ioue I deye and mercy I be[se]che.
Help Troylus / and þer-with-al here face.
Vpon his brest she leyde / and lost speche.
Here woful spirit from his propre place.
Right with þe word / alwey vp poynt to pace.
And þus she lith with hewes pale and grene.
That whilom fressh and fairest was to sene.
(166)
This Troylus þat on here gan byholde.
Clepynge here name / and she lay as for ded.
with-outen answere / and felte here lymes colde.
Here eyen þrowen vpward to here hed.
This sorwful man kan now noon oþer red.
But ofte tyme here colde mouth he kyste.
wher hym was wo / god and hym-self it wyste.
(167)
He rist hym vp and long streyght he hyre leyde.
For signe of lyf / for ought he kan or may.
Kan he noon fynde in no þing on Criseyde.
For which his song fyl ofte his weylaway.
But whan he sawgh þat specheles she lay.
with sorwful voys and herte of blysse al bare.
He seyde / how she was fro þis world y-fare.
(168)
So after þat he longe hadde here compleyned.
His honde wrong / and seyde þat was to seye.
And with his teris salte here brest byreyned.
He gan þo teris wypen of ful dreye.
And pitously gan for þe soule preye.
And seyde o lord þat set art in þy Trone.
Rewe ek on me for I shal folwe here sone.
(169)
She cold was and with-outen sentement.
For I wot / for breth ne felte he noon.
And þis was hym a preignant argument.
That she was forth out of þis world a-gon.
And whan he seygh þer was non oþer won.
He gan here lymes dresse in swych manere.
As men don hem þat shul be leyd on bere.
(170)
And after þis with sterne and cruwel herte.
He swerd a-noon out of his shethe he twyghte.
Hym self to alen / how sore þat hym smerte.
So þat his sowle here sowe folwen myghte.
Ther as þe dom of Mynos wolde it dyghte.
Syn loue and cruwel Fortune it ne wolde.
That in þis world he lenger lyuen sholde.
(171)
Thanne seyde he þus fulfilled of heigh desdayn.
O cruwel Ioue / and þow fortune aduerse.
This al and som þat falsly haue slayn.
Criseyde and syn ye may do me no werse.
Fy on youre myght and werkes so diuerse.
Thus cowardly / ye shul me neuere wynne.
Ther shal no deth me fro my lady twynne.
(172)
For I þis world syn ye han slayn here þus.
wol lete / and folowe here spirit lowe or hye.
Shal neuere louere seyn þat Troylus.
Dar not for fere with his lady dye.
For certeyn I wole bere here companye.
But syn ye wol not suffren vs y-fere.
Yet suffreth þat oure soules ben yfere.
(173)
And þow Cite whiche þat I leue in wo.
And þow Pryam and breþeren al yfere.
And þow my moder farewel for now I go.
And Attropes make redy þow my bere.
And þow Criseyde / o swete herte dere.
Receyue now my spirit wold he seye.
with swerd at herte al redy for to deye.
(174)
But as god wolde of swough þer-with she abreyde.
And gan to syke and Troylus she cride.
And he answerde lady myn Cryseyde.
Lyue ye yet / and let his swerd doun glide.
Ye herte myn þat þanked be Cupide.
Quod she / and þer-with-al she sore syghte.
And he by-gan to glade here as he myghte.
(175)
Tok here in armes two and kyst here ofte.
And here to glade he dide al his entente.
For whicħ here gost / þat flekered ay on lofte.
In-to here woful herte a-yen it wente.
But at þe laste as þat here eyen glente.
A-syde / a-noon she gan his swerd aspye.
As it lay bare / and gan for fere crie.
(176)
And asked hym whi he hadde it out drawe.
And Troylus anoon þe cause tolde.
And how hymself þer-with he wolde haue slawe.
For which Criseyde vp on hym gan by-holde.
And gan hym in here armes faste folde.
And seyde o mercy god lo swych a dede.
Allas how neigh we were boþe dede.
(177)
Thanne yf I ne hadde spoken as grace was.
Ye wolden han slay youre self a-noon quod she.
Ye douteles and she answerede allas.
For by þat ilke lord þat mad me.
I nolde a forlong wey on lyue han be.
After youre deth / to han be crowned quene.
Of al þe londes þe sonne on shyneth shene.
(178)
But with þis selue swerd whiche þat here is.
My selue I wolde haue slayn quod she tho.
But ho / for we han right ynow of þis.
And late vs rise and streyght to bedde go.
And þer lat vs speken of oure wo.
For by þe morter which þat I se brenne.
Knowe I right wel þat day is not fer henne.
(179)
Whanne þey were in here bed in armes folde.
Nought was yt lyk þe nyghtes here by-forn.
For pitously eche gan oþer byholde.
As þei þat hadden al here blisse y-lorn.
By-waylynge ay þe day þat þey were born.
Til at þe last this sorwful wyght Criseyde.
To Troylus þese ilke wordes seyde.
(180)
Lo nerte myn wel wot ye þis quod she.
That yf a wyght alwey his wo compleyne.
And sekeþ nought how holpen for to be.
It is but folye and encres of peyne.
And syn þat here assembled be we tweyne.
To fynde bote of wo þat we be Inne.
It were al tyme sone to by-gynne.
(181)
I am a womman as ful wel ye wot.
And as I am a-vised sodeynly.
So wole .I. telle yow whil it is hot.
Me þenketh þus þat neyther ye ne .I.
Ought half þis wo to make skilfully.
For there is art y-now for to redresse.
That yet is mys / and slen þis heuynesse.
(182)
Soth is þe wo whiche þat we ben Inne.
For ought I wot / for no þyng elles is.
But for þe cause þat we sholden twynne.
Considered al þer is nomore a-mys.
But what is þanne a remede vn-to this.
But þat we shape vs sone for to mete.
This al and som my dere herte swete.
(183)
Now þat I shal wel bryngen it a-boute.
To come a-yen soone after þat I go.
Ther-of am I no manere thyng in doute.
For dredles with-Inne a wowke or two.
I shal ben here / and þat it may be so.
By alle right and in a wordes fewe.
I shal yow wel an hep of weyes shewe.
(184)
For which I wot not make long sermon.
For tyme y-lost wol not recouered be.
But I wol gon to my conclusyon.
And to þe beste in ought þat I kan se.
And for þe loue of god for-yeue it me.
If I speke ought a-yen youre hertes reste.
For trewely .I. speke it for þe beste.
(185)
Makynge alwey a protestacion.
That now þese wordes whiche þat I shal seye.
Nys but to shewe yow my mocion.
To fynde vn-to oure helpe þe beste weye.
And taketh it non oþer wyse .I. preye.
For yn effect what so ye me comaunde.
That wol I don / for þat is no demaunde.
(186)
Now herkeneth þis for ye han wel vnderstonde.
My goynge graunted is by parlement.
So ferforth þat it may not be with-stonde.
For al þis world as by my Iuggement.
And syn þer helpeth noon a-visement.
To letten it / lat it passe out of mynde.
And lat vs shape a bettre wey to fynde.
(187)
The soþe is þat þe twynnynge of vs tweyne.
wol vs dishese and cruwellyche anoye.
But hym byhoueth som tyme han a peyne.
That serueth loue / yf þat he wol haue Ioye.
And syn I shal no ferþere out of troye.
Than I may ryde a-yen on half a morwe.
It ought þe lasse causen vs to sorwe.
(188)
So as .I. shal not so ben hid in muwe.
That day by day myn owene herte dere.
Syn ye wel wot þat it is now a truwe.
Ye shul ful wel al myn estat y-here.
And er þat truwe is don I shal ben here.
And þanne haue ye boþe Antenor y-wonne.
And me also / beth glad now yf ye konne.
(189)
And þenk right þus Criseyde is now a-gon.
But what she shal come hastely a-yen.
And whanne / allas / by god lo righ a-noon.
Er dayes .x. þis dar I saufly seyn.
And þanne at erst shal we ben so fayn.
So as we shulle to-gederes euere dwelle.
That al þis world ne myghte oure blysse telle.
(190)
I se þat ofte tyme þer as we ben now.
That for þe beste oure conseyl for to hide.
Ye speke not with me nor I with yow.
In fourtenyght ne se yow go ne ryde.
May ye not ten dayes þanne a-byde.
For myn honour yn swych auenture.
I-wys ye mowen ellys litel endure.
(191)
Ye knowe ek how þat al my kyn is here.
But yf þat onlyche it my fader be.
And ek myn oþere þinges alle y-fere.
And namelyche my dere herte ye.
whom þat I nolde leuen for to se.
For al þis world as wyd as it hath space.
Or elles se ich neue[r] Ioues face.
(192)
Whi trowe ye my fader yn þis wyse.
Coueyteth so to se me but for drede.
Lest yn þis town þat folkes me dispise.
By cause of hym / for his vnhappy dede.
what wot my fader what lyf þat I lede.
For and he wyste in Troy how wel I fare.
Vs nedede for my wendyng nought to care.
(193)
Ye sen þat euery day ek more and more.
Men trete of pees / and it supposed is.
That men þe queene Eleyne shal restore.
And Grekes vs restore þat is mys.
So þough þere nere comfort noon but þis.
That men purposen pes on euery syde.
Ye may þe bettre at ese of herte a-byde.
(194)
For yf þat it be pes myn herte dere.
The nature of þe pes mot nedes dryue.
That men mose entrecomunen y-fere.
And to and fro ek ryde and gon as blyue.
Alday as þikke as ben flen from an hyue.
And euery wight han liberte to bleue.
wher as hym lyst þe bet wit-outen leue.
(195)
And þough so be þat pes þer may be noon.
Yet hider þough þere neuere pes ne were.
I moste come / for wheder sholde I gon.
Or how myschaunce sholde I dwelle þere.
A-mong þo men of armes euere in fere.
For which as wysly god my soule rede.
I kan not sen wher-of ye sholden drede.
(196)
Haue here a noþer wey if it so be.
That al þis þing ne may yow not suffice.
My fader as ye knowen wel parde.
Is old / and elde is ful of coueytise.
And I right now haue founden al þe gyse.
with-oute net wher-with I shal hym hente.
And herkeneth how / if þat ye wole assente.
(197)
Lo Troylus men seyn þat ful hard it is.
The wolf ful / and þe weþer hol to haue.
This is to seyn þat men ful ofte y-wys.
Mote spenden part / þe remenaunt for to saue.
For ay with gold men may þe herte graue.
Of hym þat set is [first it] vp-on coueitise.
And how I mene .I. shal it yow deuyse.
(198)
The moble which þat I haue yn this town.
Vn-to my fader shal I take and seye.
That right for trust / and for sauacion.
It sent is from a frend of his or tweye.
The wheche frendes feruentlyche hym preye.
To sende after more and þat in hye.
whil þat þis town stant þus in Iupartie.
(199)
And þat shal ben an huge quantite.
Thus shal I seyn but lest it folk aspie.
This may be sent by no wyght but by me.
I shal ek shewen hym yf pes by-tyde.
what frendes ich haue on euery syde.
Toward þe Court to don þe wraþe pace.
Of Priamus / and don hym stonde in grace.
(200)
So þat for oþer o þyng and for oþer swete.
I shal hym so enchaunten wiþ my sawes.
That right in heuene his sowle-is shal he mete.
For al Appollo and or his Clerkes lawes.
Or calkullynge auayleth nought þre hawes.
Desir of gold shal so his soule blynde.
That as me lyst .I. shal wel make an ende.
(201)
And yf he wolde ought by hys sort it preue.
If þat I lye / in certayn I shal fonde.
Distorben hym / and plukke hym by þe sleue.
Makynge his sort / and beren hym on honde.
He hath not wel þe goddes vnderstonde.
For goddes speken in Amphibologies.
And for a soth þey tellen .xx. lyes.
(202)
Eke drede fond first goddes .I. suppose.
Thus shal I seyn / and þat is cowarde herte.
Made hym a-mys þe goddes text to glose.
whan he for fered out of his Delphos sterte.
And but I make hym soone to conuerte.
And don my red with-Inne a day or tweye.
I wol to yow oblige me to deye.
(203)
And trewelyche as wreten wel I fynde.
That al þis þyng was seyd of good entent.
And þat here herte trewe was and kynde.
Towardes hym / and spak right as she mente.
And þat she starf for wo neigh whan she wente.
And was in purpos euere to be trewe.
Thus writen þey þat of here werkes knewe.
(204)
This Troylus with herte and eerys spradde.
Herde al þis þing deuysen to and fro.
And verraylich hym semed þat he hadde.
The same wit / but yet to late he[r] go.
His herte mysforyaf [hym] euere mo.
But fynally he gan his herte wreste.
To trusten here / and tok it for þe beste.
(205)
For which þe grete furye of his penaunce.
was queynt with hope / and þer-with hem bi-twene.
By-gan for Ioye þe amorouse daunce.
And as þe briddes whan þe sonne is she[ne].
Deliten in here song yn leues grene.
Right so þe wordes þat þey spake y-fere.
Deliten hem / and made hire hertes clere.
(206)
But nathles þe wendyng of Criseyde.
For al þis world may nought out of his mynde.
For whiche ful ofte he pitously here preyde.
That of here heste he might here trewe fynde.
And seyde here certes yf ye be vnkynde.
And but ye come at day set in-to Troye.
Ne shal I neuere haue hele honour ne Ioye.
(207)
For al so soth as sonne vp rist on morwe.
And god so wisly þow me woful wrecche.
To reste brynge out of þis cruwel sorwe.
I. wol my seluen sle yf þat ye drecche.
But of my deth þough litel be to recche.
Yet er þat ye me cause so to smerte.
Dwelle raþere here myn owene swete herte.
(208)
For trewely myn owene lady dere.
Tho sleyghtes yet þat I haue herd yow stere.
Ful shaply ben to fayllen alle y-fere.
For þus men seyn þat oon þenkeþ þe bere.
But al a noþer þenketh h[i]s ledere.
Youre sire is wys / and seyd is out of drede.
Men may þe wyse at-renne but not a-rede.
(209)
It is ful hard to halten vn-espied.
By-fore a crepul for he kan on þe craft.
Youre fader is in sleyghte as Argus eyed.
For al be þat his moeble is hym by-raft.
His olde sleyghte is yet so with hym laft.
Ye shal not blende hym for youre womanhede.
Ne feyne a-right / and þat is alle my drede.
(210)
I not yf pes shal euere mo by-tyde.
But pes / or no / for ernest ne for game.
I. wot syn Calkas on þe Grekes syde.
Hath ones ben / and lost so foule his name.
He dar nomore come here a-yen for shame.
For which þat weye for ought I kan espye.
To trusten to / nys but a fantasye.
(211)
Ye shal ek sen yowre fader shal yow glose.
To ben a wyf / and as he kan wel preche.
He shal som grek so prese and wel a-lose.
That rauysshen he shal yow with his speche.
Or do yow don by force as he shal teche.
And Troylus of whom he nyl han rouþe.
Shal causeles so steruen in his trouþe.
(212)
And ouer al þis youre fader shal [first alal] despise.
Vs alle and seyn þis Cite nys but lorn.
And þat þassege neuere shal aryse.
For-why þe grekes han it alle sworn.
Til we be slayn and doun oure walles torn.
Al þus he shal you with his wordes fere.
That ay drede I þat ye wol bleue þere.
(213)
Ye shul ek sen so mani a lusty knyght.
A-mong þe Grekes ful of worþynesse.
And eche of hem with herte wit and myght.
To plesen yow don al his besynesse.
That ye shul dullen of þe rudenesse.
Of vs sely Troians / but yf rouþe.
Remorde yow / or vertue of youre trouþe.
(214)
And þis to me so greuous is to þenke.
That fro my brest it wole my soule rende.
Ne dredles in me þer may not synke.
A good opynyoun yf þat ye wende.
For-why youre faderes sleyghte wole vs shende.
And yf ye gon as I haue told yow yore.
So þenk I am but ded with-oute more.
(215)
For which with humble trewe and pitous herte.
A þousand tymes mercy I yow preye.
So rewes on myn aspre peynes smerte.
And doth somwhat / as þat I shal yow seye.
And lat vs stele a-way by-twext vs tweye.
And þenk þat folye is whan man may chese.
For accident is substaunce ay to lese.
(216)
I mene þis þat syn we mowe er day.
wel stele a-way and ben to-gedre so.
what nede were it to putten in assay.
In cas ye sholde to youre fader go.
If that ye myghte come a-yen or no.
Thus mene I þat it were a gret folye.
To putte þat sikernesse in Iupartie.
(217)
And vulgar[l]y to speken of substaunce.
Of Tresour may we boþe with vs lede.
Y-nowh / to lyue in honour and pleasaunce.
Til in-to tyme þat we shul ben dede.
And þus we may eschewen al þis drede.
For euerych oþer wey ye kan recorde.
Myn herte y-wys / may not ther-with acorde.
(218)
And hardely ne dredeth no pouerte.
For I haue kyn / and frendes elles where.
That þough we comen in oure bare sherte.
Vs sholde neyþer lakke golde ne gere.
But ben honoured while we dwelten þere.
And go we a-noon for as yn myn entente.
This is þe beste yf þat ye wole assente.
(219)
Criseyde with a syk right in þis wyse.
Answered y-wys my dere herte trewe.
we may wel stele a-way as ye deuyse.
And fynde swyche vnthryfty weyes newe.
But afterward ful sore it wole vs rewe.
And helpe me god so at my most nede.
As causeles ye suffren al þis drede.
(220)
For þilke day þat I for cherysshynge.
Or drede of fader or of oþer wight.
Or for estat / delit / or for weddynge.
Be fals to yow my Troylus my knyght.
Saturnus doughter Iuno þorugh here myght.
As wod as Athamante do me dwelle.
Eternaly in Stix þe put of helle.
(221)
And this on euery god celestial.
I swere it yow and ek on eche goddesse.
On euery Nymphe and deite infernal.
On satiry and fawny more lesse.
That halue goddes ben of wildernesse.
And Attropos my þred of lyf þow breste.
If I be fals / now trowe me yf þow leste.
(222)
And þow Symoys þat as an arwe clere.
Thorugh Troye rennest ay downward to þe see.
Bere wittenesse of þis word þat seyd is here.
That þilke day þat ich vntrewe be.
To Troylus myn owen herte free.
That þow retorne bakwarde to þi welle.
And I wiþ body and soule synke in helle.
(223)
But þat ye speke alwey þus for to go.
And leten alle youre frendes god for-bede.
For ony womman þat ye sholden so.
And namly syn Troye hath now swych nede.
Of help and ek of o þyng taketh hede.
If þis were wist my lif lay in balaunce.
And your honour / god shilde vs fro myschaunce.
(224)
And yf so be þat pes her-after take.
As alday happeþ after anger game.
why lord þe sorwe and wo ye wolden make.
That ye ne dorste come a-yen for shame.
And er þat ye Iuparten so youre name.
Beth nought to hasty in þis hote fare.
For hasty man ne wanteth neuere care.
(225)
What trowe ye þat þe peple ek of al aboute.
wolde of it seye / it is ful lyght to arede.
They wolden seye / and swere it out of doute.
That loue ne drof yow nought to don þis dede.
But lust voluptuous / and coward drede.
Thus were al lost y-wys myn herte dere.
Yowre honour which þat now shyneth so clere.
(226)
And also þenketh on myn honeste.
That floureth yet how foule it sholde it shende.
And with what filþe it spotted sholde be.
If in þis forme I sholde with yow wende.
Ne þough I lyuede vn-to þe worldes ende.
My name sholde I neuere a-yenward wynne.
Thus were I lost and þat were rouþe & synne.
(227)
And for-þi sle with reson al þis hete.
Men seyn þe suffraunt ouercometh par de.
Ek who-so wole han leef he leef mote lete.
Thus makeþ vertue of necessite.
By pacient and þenk þat lord is he.
Of fortune ay þat nought wole of here recche.
And she ne daunteth no wight but a wrecche.
(228)
And trusteþ þis þat certes herte swete.
Er Phebus suster lucyna the shene.
The leon passe out of þis ariete.
I wol ben here with-outen ony wene.
I mene as helpe me Iuno heuenes queene.
The tenthe day / but yf þat deth me assayle.
I wol yow sen with-outen ony fayle.
(229)
And now so þis be soth quod Troylus.
I shal wel suffre vn-to the tenþe day.
Syn þat I se þat nede it mot be þus.
But for þe loue of god yf it be may.
So lat vs stele pryuely a-way.
For euere in oon as for to lyue in reste.
Myn herte seyþ it wole ben þe beste.
(230)
O mercy god / what lyf is þis quod she.
Allas ye sle me þus for verray tene.
I se wel now þat ye mystrusten me.
For by youre wordes it is wel I-sene.
Now for þe loue of Cynthes þe shene.
Mystrust me not þus causeles for routhe.
Syn to be trewe I haue yow plyght my trouthe.
(231)
And thenketh wel þat som tyme it is wit.
To spende a tyme / a tyme for to wynne.
Ne parde lorn am I nought fro yow yet.
Though þat we ben a day or two a twynne.
Dryf out þe fantasies yow wiþ-Inne.
And trusteth me / and leueth ek youre sorwe.
Or her my trouþe I wol not lyue til morwe.
(232)
For if ye wiste how sore it doth me smerte.
Ye wolde cesse of þis for god þow wost.
The pure spirit wepeþ in myn herte.
To se yow wepen þat I loue most.
And þat I mot gon to þe Grekes ost.
Ye nere it þat I wist remedie.
To com a-yeyn / right here I wolde dye.
(233)
But certes I am not so nyce a wyght.
That I ne kan ymagynen a weye.
To come a-yen þat day þat I haue hight.
For who may holde þing þat wole a-way.
My fader nought for al his queynte pley.
And by my þryft my wendyng out of Troye.
A-noþer day shal torne vs alle to Ioye.
(234)
For-thy with al myn herte I yow beseche.
Yf þat yow lyst don ough for my preyere.
And for þe loue which þat I loue yow eke.
That er þat I departe fro yow here.
That of þe good of comfort & a chere.
I may you sen / þat [ye] may brynge at reste.
Myn herte / which þat is o poyn to breste.
(235)
And ouer al þis I pray yow quod she þo.
Myn owen hertes sothfast suffisaunce.
Syn I am þyn al hool with-outen mo.
That whil þat I am assent no plesaunce.
Of oþere / do ye me fro youre remembraunce.
For I am euere a-gast / for-whi men rede.
That loue is þing ay ful of bysy drede.
(236)
For yn þis world / þer lyueth lady noon.
If þat ye were vntrewe as god defende.
That so bytraysed were or wo bygon.
As I þat al trouþe in yow entende.
And douteles yf þat ych oþer wende.
I nere but ded / and er ye cause fynde.
For goddes loue / so beth me not vnkynde.
(237)
To þis answerede Troylus and seyde.
Now god to whom þer nys no cause y-wrye.
Me glad as wys I neuere vn-to Criseyde.
Syn þilke day I saw here first with eye.
was fals ne neuere shal til þat I dye.
At short wordes wel ye may me leue.
I kan no more / it shal be founde at preue.
(238)
Graunt mercy good myn y-wys quod she.
And blysful Venus lat me neuere sterue.
Er I may stonde of plesaunce in degre.
To quyte hym wel þat so wel kan deserue.
And whil þat my wit wol me conserue.
I shal so don so trewe I haue yow founde.
That ay honour to meward shal rebounde.
(239)
For trusteþ wel þat youre estat royal.
Ne veyn delit / nor oonly worþinesse.
Of yow in werre / or torney Marcial.
Ne pompe aray / nobley or ek richesse.
Ne made me to Rewe on youre distresse.
But moral vertue grounded vpon trouþe.
That was þe cause / I first hadde on yow rouþe.
(240)
Ek gentil herte and manhod þat ye hadde.
And þat ye hadde as me þoughte in despit.
Euery thing þat souned in-to badde.
As rudenesse an pepelyssħ appetit.
And þat yowre reson brydled youre delit.
This made a-bouen euery creature.
That I was youre and shal whil I may dure.
(241)
And this may lengthe of yeres not for-do.
Ne remuable fortune deface.
But Iuppiter þat of his myght may do.
The sorwful to be glad so yeue vs grace.
Er nyghtes ten / to meten in þis place.
So þat it may youre herte and myn suffice.
And fareth now wel for tyme is þat ye ryse.
(242)
And after þat þey longe y-pleyned hadde.
And ofte I-kyst and streyght in armes folde.
The day gan ryse and Troylus hym cladde.
And rowfullych his lady gan byholde.
As he þat felte dethes cares colde.
And to his grace he gan hym recomaunde.
wher hym was wo / þis holde I no demaunde.
(243)
For mannes hed ymagynen ne kan.
Nen-tendement considere / ne tonge telle.
This cruwel peynes of þis sorwful man.
That passen euery torment doun in helle.
For he saugh þat she ne myghte dwelle.
which þat his soule out of his herte rente.
with-outen more out of þe chaumbre he wente.
Explicit liber Quartus.
[Leaves 80 and 81 have been cut out of the Cambridge MS.]
[Two leaves, 80 and 81, have been cut out of this MS.]
[Camb. Univ. Libr. MS. Gg. 4. 27, leaf 82.]
(17)
¶ Of peril of myn self I schal not lye
Appollo haþ me told sekyrly
I haue ek founde it be astronomye
By sort & be augurye ek trewely
And dar wel seyn þe tyme is faste bye
Þat fer & flaumme on al þe toun schal sprede
And þus schal Troye turne tyl asschyn dede
(18)
// ffor serteyn Phebus & Natyinus boþe
Þat madyn alle þe waɫɫ of þe toun
Ben with þe folk of Troye alwoy so wroþe
Þat þey wele bryngyn it to confusioun
Ryȝt in dispit of kyng lameodoun
Be cause he nulde paye hem here here
Þe toun of Troye schal be set on fere
(19)
¶ Tellynge his tale alwey þis olde greye
Humbele in his speche & in his tellynge eke
Þe salte terys from his eyȝyn tweye
fful faste ronne doun on eyþer cheke
So longe he gan of mercy hem beseke
Þat for to hele hym of his sorwys sore
Þey ȝaf hym antenore with-outyn more
(20)
// But who was glad I-now but calcas þo
And of his þyng his nede ful sone heleyde
On hem þat schulde for þe tretys go
And for antenore ful ofte preyede
To bryngyn hem kyng Toas & Crisseide
And whan priam his saf cundwyt hem sent
Þeem-bassatourys to Troye streyt þey went
(21)
¶ Þe cause I-tolde of here comynge olde
Priam þe kyngys fulle sone in general
Gan þere-vp-on his parlement to holde
Of which þe effect rehersyn ȝow I schal
Þe embassadourys ben answerid for fenal
Þe chaunge of presoneris & al þis nede
Hem likiþ wel & forþ in þey procede
(22)
¶ Þis Troilus was present In þe place
Whan axed was for Antenore Crisseide
ffor wich ful sone chaunge gan his face
As he þat wel ny with þo wordis deyede
But naþeles [þe corrected] he no word to it seyde
Lest men schulde his effeccioun espye
With mannys herte he gan his sorwe drye
(23)
// And ful of anguys & of gresely drede
A-bede what lordis wolde to it seye
And ȝif þey wolde graunte as god forbede
Þe schaunge of hire þanne þouȝte he þyngis tweye
ffyrst to saue hire honour & what weye
He myȝte best þe grauntynge with-stonde
Þis caste he þo how al þis myȝte stonde
(24)
¶ Loue hym made al prest to don hire bide
Or raþere deyen þan sche schulde go
But resoun seide hym on þat oþere syde
With-oute asent of hire ne do not so
Lest for þyn werk sche wolde be þynn fo
And seyn þat þour þyn medelyng is I-blowe
Ȝoure boþeis loue þere it was erst onknowe
(25)
ffor wich he gan deliberyn for þe beste
Þat þow þe lordis wolde þat sche wente
He wolde let hem graunte what hem leste
And telle his lady fyrst what þat þey mente
And whan þat sche hadde told hym hire entente
Þeraftyr wolde werke also blyþe
Þey al þe world a-ȝen it wolde stryue
(26)
¶ Ector with þat wel þe grekis herde
ffor antenor how þey wolde han Criseyde
Gan it withstonde and sobirly answerde
Serys sche is no presoner he seyde
I not on ȝow who þat þis charge [P r later] leyde
But for myn part ȝe may eft sone hem telle
We vsyn here no woman for to selle
(27)
¶ Þe noyse of peple vp sterte þanne atonys
As breme as blase of strawe it set on fere
for infortune wolde for þe nonys
Þey schulde here confusioun desire
Ector quod þey what gost may ȝow enspire
Þis woman þus to schide & doun vs lese
Daun antenore a wrong woye now ȝe chese
(28)
// Þat is so wis and ek so beld baroun
And we han nede of folk as men may se
He ek is on þe gretteste of þis toun
O Ector let sweche fantasijs be
O king Priam quod þey þus seyde we
Þat oure acord is forto forgon Crisseide
And to delyuere antenore þey preyede
(29)
¶ O Iuuenal lord soþ is þyn sentence
Þat litil wetyn folk what is to ȝerne
Þat þey ne fyndyn in here desyr offence
ffor cloude of errour lat hem not desserne
What best is & lo here ensaumpele as ȝerne
Þese folk desiryn now deliberaunce
Of antenor þat brouȝte hem to myschaunce
(30)
// ffor he was aftyr tretour to þey toun
Of troye allas þey quyt hym out to raþe
But þus it fel ryȝt in conclusioun
Crisseide wich þat neuere dede hem schaþe
Schal now no lengere in hyre blysse baþe
But antenore he scnal come in to toune
And sche schal out þus seyde here & hounne
(31)
¶ ffor wich delyueryd was by a parlement
To ȝilde a-non for Antenore Crisseyde
And it pronounced be þe president
Al-þow þat ector nay ful ofte preyede
But fynally what wit þat it withseyde
It was for nouȝt it muste ben an scholde
ffor substaunce of þe parlement it wolde
(32)
¶ DeparTed out of parlemen echon
Þis troylus with-outyn wordis mo
Into his chaubere spede him faste alon
But it were a man of his or too
Þe whiche he dede out faste forto go
Be cause he wolde slepyn as he seyde
And hastely vp on his bed hym leyde
(33)
// And as in wyntyr leuys ben beraffte [eraffte corrected]
Eche aftyr oþer tyl þe tre be bare
So þat þere nys but bark & braunch I-laste
Lyth troylus be-raft of eche wel-fare
I-boundyn in þe blak bark of care
Disposid wod out of his wit to breyde
So sore hym sat þe chaungynge of crisseyde
(34)
¶ He rist hym vp & euery dore he schette
And wyndowe & / þo þis sorweful man
Vp on his beddys side a-doun hym sette
fful lyk a ded ymage pale & wan
And in his brest þe hepede wo by-gan
Out breste / & he to werkyn on þis wyse
In his distreste as I schal ȝow deuyse
(35)
Ryȝt as þe wilde lole gynnyth sprynge
Now here now þere departid to þe herte
And on his deþ ryȝt on compleynynge
Ryȝt so gan he a-boute þe chaumbere sterte
Smytynge his brest ay with his festis smerte
His hed to þe wal his bodi to þe grounde
fful ofte he schop hym selue to confounde
(36)
¶ His eyȝen too for pete of herte
So weptyn þat þey semyn weɫɫ tweye
Þerwith þe sobbis of his sorwis smerte
His speche hym rafte vn-neþe myȝte he seye
O deþ allas why nylt þou me to deye
A-cursid he be þat day. with þat nature
Schop me to ben almesse cryature
(37)
¶ But aftyr whan al þis furye & al þis rage
Whiche þat his herte twyste & faste þryst
Be lenthe of tyme sumwhat gan a-swage
Vp on his bed he leyde hym doun to rest
But þo be-gunne his teris more out to brest
Þat wel oneþe þe body may suffyse
To half þis wo which þat I ȝow deuyse
(38)
// Þanne seyde he þus fortune allas þe while
What haue I don what haue haue I þus agylt
How mayst þu þus for reuthe me begile
Is þere no grace & schal I þus ben spylt
Schal þus Crisseyde allas for þat þou wylt
Allas how mayst þou in þyn herte fynde
To ben to me so crewel & onkynde
(39)
¶ Haue I not honoured al myn lyue
As þou wel wost a-bouyn goddis alle
Whi wilt þou þanne of ioye me depriue
O Troylus what may me now þe calle
But wreche of wrechis out of honour falle
In-to myn deþ in which I wele be-wayle
Crisseide allas til þat þe breþ me fayle
(40)
// Allas fortune ȝif þat myn lyf in foye
Displesid hadde on-to þyn foule envye
Whi ne haddyst þou myn fadyr kyng of troye
Be-reft þe lyf er þan myne breþeryn deye
Or slayn myn self þat þus compleyne & crye
I combere world þat may of noþyng serue
But alwey deþ & neuere fully sterwe
(41)
¶ Ȝif þat Crisseide alone were me left
Nouȝt rouȝte I whedyr þat þou woldist me stere
And hire allas þanne hast þou me be-reft
But eueremore lo þis is þyn manere
To reue which þat most is to hym dere
To preue in þat þyn gery violence
Þus am I lost þere helpyth non defence
(42)
O werray loue o lord o god allas
Þat knowyn best myn herte & al myn þouȝt
How schal myn reuful lyf don in þis cas
Ȝif I forgo þat I so dere haue bouȝt
Syn ȝe Crisseyde & [1 m corrected] me han fully brouȝt
In to ȝoure grace & boþe ȝoure hertys selid
How may ȝe sufferyn þat it be repelyd
(43)
// What schal I don I schal whil I may deure
In wo in turnement & in crewel peyne
Þis infortune or þis mys-auenture
Alone as I was born allas compleyne
Ne neuere whil I it sen schyne or reyne
Ne heuenys lyȝt & þus I in derknes
Myn woful lyf wele endyn for distresse
(44)
¶ O werray gost þat erryst to & fro
Whi nylt þou fle out of þyn wofullest //
Body þat myȝte on grounde go
O soule lurkynge in þis wonest
ffle forþ a-non & do myn herte brest
[1, 307-322, by corrector] And folwe alwoy crisseyde thyn lady deere
Thyn righte place is no lengere here
(45)
// What shulde ye don but for myn disconfort
Stondyn for nought & wepyn out ȝoure ye
Syn sche is queynt that wont was yow to disport
In vayn from this forth have I seyn twye
I for medycyn youre vertu is a-weye
O crewel eyen sythyn that youre dispyt
Was al to sen Crisseydes eyen bryght
(46)
¶ O myn Crisseyde / o lady souereyne
O ye ilke woful soule that thus crieth
Ho shal now yeuyn confort to myn peyne
Allas not but whan myn herte deyeth
Myn spyrit which that so on-to you hyeth
Resseyve in gre for that shal euere serve
ffor-thy no fors whan that the body sterve [1. 307-322, by corrector]
(47)
¶ O ȝe loueris þat hey vp on þe whe corrected whel
Ben set of fortune in good auenture
God leue ay þat ȝe fynde loue stel
And longe mote ȝe in ioye endeure
And whan ȝe comyn to myn sepulture
Re-membrith þat ȝoure felawe restyþ þere
ffor I loued ek þow I onworþy were
(48)
// O olde onholsom & mysbeleuyd man
Calcas I mene allas what aylyth þe
To ben a grek syn þou art born troyan
O calcas wych þat wilt myn bane be
In cursed tyme was þou born for me
As wolde blysful ioue for his ioye
Þat I þe hadde where I wolde in troye
(49)
¶ An hunderid sikys hottere þan þe glede
Out of his bryst eche aftyr oþer went
Medelid with pleyntis newe his wo to fede
Þerwith his woful teris neuere stent
And schortly so his sorwis so to-rent
And wex so mate þat ioye nor penaunce
He felyth non but lyth forth in a trau[n]ce
(50)
// Pandarus which þat in þe parlement
Hadde herd what euery lord & borwis seyde
And how ful grauntid was by on asent
for antenore to chaungyn so crisseyde
Gan wel ny wod out of his 1 wit to breyde 1 [1-1 corrected, and then yde alterd to nt]
So þat for wo he nyste what he mente
But in a res to troylus he wente
(51)
¶ A certeyn knyght [first, knyt] þat for þe tyme kepte
Þe chaumbere dore vndyr hym a-non
And Pandarus þat ful tenderely wepte
In to þis derke chaumbere stylle as ston
Toward þe bed gan softely to gon
So confeus þat he nyste what to seye
ffor werray wo his wit was al aweye
(52)
¶ But with his chere & lokyng al to-torne
Ny ded [MS. dede] for wo & with his armys foldyn
He stod þis sorweful Troilus a-forne
And on his pitous face he gan be-holden
And lord so oftyn gan his herte coldyn
Seinge his frend In woo whos heuynesse
His herte slow as þouȝte hym for distresse
(53)
Þis woful wiȝt þis troylus þat felt
His frend Pandarus was comyn him to se
Gan as þe snow a-ȝen þe sunne to melt
ffor which þis sorweful Pandarus of pete
Gan for to wepe as entirely as he
And specheles þus ben þese ilke tweye
Þat neyþer myȝte a word for sorwe seye
(54)
¶ But at þe laste þis woful Troilus
ffor crewel smert gan brestyn out to rore
And with sorweful noyse he seyde þus
Among his sobbis & his sowis [w corrected] sore
Lo Pandare I am ded with-oute more
Hast þow not herd at parlement he seyde
ffor antenore how lost is myn Crisseyde
(55)
// Þis pandarus ful ded & pale of hew
fful pittously / answerde & seyde þus
As wisely were it fals at it is trewe
Þat I haue herd we wote alle how it is
O mercy lord ho wolde a trowid þis
Who wolde a went þat in so lytil a þrowe
ffortune oure ioye wolde han ouer-throwe
(56)
¶ O in þis world þere nys no cryature
As to myn dom þat euere sau ruyne
Strengere þan þis þour cas or auenture
But who may al eschewe or al deuyne
Wich is þis world forþy I þus defyne
Ne trust ne wit to fyndyn in fortune
Ay properete his ȝiftys [s corrected from n] ben comune
(57)
¶ But telle me þis whi þu art now so mad
To sorewe þus whi lyst þou in þis wise
Syn þyn desyr al holly hast þou had
So þat be ryȝt It auȝte I-now suffyse
But I þat neuere fond in myn seruyse
A frendely cher or schaungyng of an eye
Lat me þus wepe & wayle wil I deye
(58)
// And oueral þis as þow wel wost þyn selue
Þis toun is ful of ladijs al aboute
And to myn dom fayrere þan sweche tweine
As euere sche was schal I fynde in a route
Ȝa to or þre with-outyn ony doute
ffor-þy be glad myn owene dere broþer
Ȝif sche be lost we schal rekeuere a noþer
(59)
¶ What god forbede alwoy þat eche plesaunce
In o þyng were & in non oþer wiȝt
What on can synge a noþer can wel daunce
Ȝif þis is fayr sche þat can good & ryȝt
Ȝif þis is goodly þat is glad & lyȝt
Iche for his vertu holdyn is for dere
Boþe 2 Goshauk 2 [2-2 by corrector] / & facoun of reuere
(60)
// And ek as writ ȝanȝis þat was ful wise
Þe newe loue out schakyth ofte þe olde
And vp-on newe cas lyth a newe auyse
And þyng þyn lyf to saue or þou olde
Swich fyre be proces schal be kynde colde
We schal sen it. is but aunsel plesaunce
Sum cas schal putte it out of remembrance
(61)
¶ ffor al so seur as day comyth aftyr nyȝt
Þe newe loue labour or oþer wo
Or eɫɫ selde seinge of a wyȝt
Don olde effecciounys alle ouergo
And for þi parte þou schat have on of tho
To abregge þynne bittere peynys smerte
Absence of hire schal dryue it out of herte
(62)
¶ Þese wordis seyde he for þe nonys alle
To helpe his frend lest he for sorwe deyede
ffor douteles to make his sorwe to falle
He rouȝte not what onþryft þat he seyde
But troylus þat ny for sorwe deyede
Tok lytyl hed of al þat euere he ment
On ere it herde at þe oþer out it went
(63)
// But at þe laste he answerde & seyde frend
Þis lechecraft or helid þus to be
Were wel sittynge ȝif þat I were a frend
To trostyn hire þat trowis on to me
I preye god lat þis conseyl neuere be
But do me raþere sterue a-non ryȝt here
Or I do as þou woldyst me lere
(64)
¶ Sche þat I serue I-wis what so þou seye
To whom myn herte enabitid is þour ryȝt
Schal ha me holy his þat I deye
What pandarus seþ I haue here be-hyȝt
I wele not ben ontrewe to no wyȝt
But as hire man I wele ay leue & sterue
And neuere oþer cryature serue
(65)
// And þere þou seyst þou schat as fayre fynde
As sche let be mak non comparisoun
To criateure I-formyd hire be kynde
O leue Pandarus lef þyn conclusioun
I nyl not ben of þyn opynyoun
To chonge þus for-þi I þe beseche
So held þyn pes þou slest me with þyn speche
(66)
¶ Þou biddyst me I schulde loue anoþer
Al fresschely newe & lete crysseyde go
It leyth not in myn power leue broþer
And þow I myȝte I nulde not don so
But canstu pleye raket to & fro
Nettil in dokke out now þis now þat pandare
Now foule falle hire for þyn wo þat care
(67)
¶ Þow farst ek by me pandarus
As he þat whan a man is wo-be-gon
He come to him a pas & seyde þus
Þynke not on smert & þou schat fele non
Þu muste me fyrst transmute in to a ston
And reue me mynne pasciounys alle
Or þow so lyȝtely do myn wo to falle
(68)
// Myn deþ may wel out of myn brest departe
Þe lyf so longe may myn sorwe myne
But fro myn soule schal crisseid darte
Out neueremo but out with proserpyne
Whan I am ded I wele go wene in peyne
And þere I wele eternally compleyne
Þis wo / & þanne tweynnyd be we tweyne
(69)
¶ Þou hast here mad an argument ful fyne
How þat I schulde allas pleyne me
Crisseyde for to forgon for sche was myn
And lyuyn in ese & in felicite
Whi gabbist þou þou seydist þus to me
Þat him is wers þat is from wele I-þrowe
Þan he hadde erst non of þat wele I-knowe
(70)
// But sey me þis sithe þat þe þynkith so lyȝt
To chau[n]ge ay so in loue to & fro
Why hast þou not busyed þyn myȝt
To chongyn hire þat doþ þe al þis wo
Why nylt þou lette hire from þyn herte go
Why nylt þou loue a noþer lady swete
Þat may þyn herte sette / in quyete
(71)
¶ Ȝif þou hast had in loue ay ȝit myschaunce
And canst it not ȝit from þyn herte dryf
I þat hauede in loue & in plesaunce
With hire as meche as cryatour on lyf
How schulde I þat forȝete & þat so blyf
Or where hast þou ben hid so longe in mewe
Þat canst so wel & formaly argewe
(72)
¶ Nay Pandarus not worth is al þis red
But douteles for ouȝt þat may be-falle
With-outyn wordis mo I wele ben ded
O deþ þat ender art of sorwis alle
Come now syn I so ofte aftyr þe calle
ffor sely is þat deþ soþ for to seyn
Þat ofte I-clepid comyþ & endith peyn
(73)
// Wel I wot whil myn lyf was in quiete
Or deþ me slow I wolde a ȝeuyn here
But now his comynge is to me so swete
Þat in þis world I noþyng so desyre
O deþ sith þat with þis sorwe I am onfere
Þou oþer do me a-non in teris drenche
Or with pyn colde strok myn herte quenche
(74)
¶ Sithe þat þou slest so fele in sundery wyse
A-ȝens here wil onpreyed day & nyȝt
Do me at myn request þis seruyse
Delyuere þe world þan dost þou gret ryȝt
Of me þat am þe wofuleste wyȝt
Þat euere was for tyme is þat I sterwe
Sithe in þis world of ryȝt nouȝt may I serue
(75)
// Þis Troilus in teris gan distille
As licour out of a lambik ful faste
And Pandarus gan helde his tunge stylle
And to þe ground his eyȝeyn doun he cast
But na-þe-les þus þouȝte he at þe last
What parde raþere þan my felawe deye
Ȝit schal I more / sumwhat to hym seye
(76)
¶ And seyde frend syn þow hast swich distresse
And sithe þe lust myn argument to blame
Whi nylt þyn selue helpe to don redresse
And with þyn manhod lettyn al þis grame
Go rauysch hire canst þou not for schame
And oþer lat hire of þe toun fare
Or hold hire stylle & lef þyn grete care
(77)
¶ Art þou in troye & hast þou none hardy men
A woman wich þat louyth þe
And wolde hire self ben at þyn assen
Now is þis not a nyse vanyte
Rys vp a-non & lat þis sorwe be
And kyþe þou art a man for in þis houre
I wele be ded or sche beleuyn oure
(78)
// To þis answerde troylus ful softe
And seyde parde leue broþer dere
Al þis haue I myn selue þouȝt ful ofte
And more þyng þan þow demys here
But why þis þyng is lest þou schat wel here
And whan þou me hast ȝeue an audience
Þeraftyr mayst þou tellyn þyn sentence
(79)
¶ fyrst syn þou wist þis toun haþ al þis werre
Of rauaschyng of wemen so by myȝt
It schulde not be sufferid me to erre
As it stont now ne don so gret onryȝt
I schulde also han blame of euery wyȝt
Myn faderis graunt if þat I so with-stode
Sithe sche is chaungid for þe tounys goode
(80)
// I haue ek þouȝt ȝif it were hire asent
To aske hire myn fadyr of his grace
Þan þynke I þis were hire acusament
Syn wel I wot I may not hire purchase
ffor sen myn fadyr in so hey a plase
As parlement haþ hire chaunge enselid
He nil not for me his honour ben repelid
(81)
¶ Ȝit drede I moste hire herte to perturbe
With vyolence ȝif I do swych a game
ffor ȝif I wolde it opinly distorbe
It mot ben disclaundyr to hire name
And were leuere ben ded þan hire defame
As nolde god but ȝif I schulde haue
Hyre honour leuere þan myn lyf to saue
(82
Þus am I lost for ouȝt þat I can se
ffor serteyn sithe þat I am hire knyȝt
I haue honour leuere ȝit þan me
Hadde in euery cas as louere ouȝte on ryȝt
Þus am I with desyr & resoun twyȝt
Desyr for to disturbe hire men me redyth
And resoun nyl not so myn [y corrected] herte drediþ
(83)
// So wepynge þat he coude neuere to seche
He seyde allas how schal I wreche fare
ffor wel fele I myn loue alwey encreseþ
And hope is lasse & lasse alway pandare
Encresyn ek þe causis of myn care
So welleawey whi nyl myn herte brest
ffor whi in loue is litil hertis rest
(84)
¶ Pandare answerede frend þou mayst for me
Don as þe lust but hadde I it so hote
And þyn estat / sche schulde gon with me
Þow al þis toun cryed on þis þyng with note
I nylde sette at al þe noyse a grote
ffor whan men han wel cryed let hem roune
ffor wondyr lestyþ but nyne dayis in tounne
(85)
// Deuyne not in resoun ay so depe
Ne preciously but help þynself a-non
Betere it is þat oþere þan þynself wepe
And namelich syþe ȝe to ben alle on
Rys vp for be myn hod sche schal not gon
And raþere be lytil in blame I-founde
Þat sterue hire as a gnatte [n alterd] with-oute wonde
(86)
¶ It is no iape / in myn dom ne vice
Hire to withholdyn þat ȝe louyn most
Parauntyr sche / may holde þe for nyce
To letyn hire gon / in-to þe grekys ost
Þynk how fortune / as wel þyn seluyn wost
Helpith hardi / men to his empryse
And fley from wrechis / for here cowardyse
(87)
¶ And þow þyn ladi / wolde a litil hire greue
Þou schat þyn pes / ful wel hereaftyr make
And parauntyr / it wele be to hire leue
Þat sche wolde it / as now for grif take
whi schulde þanne / for ferd þyn herte quake
Þyng how þat parys / haþ þat is þyn broþer
A loue & whi / schuldist not han anoþer
(88)
// And troylus / on þyng I dare þe swere
Ȝif þat Crisseide / wich þat is þyn lyf
Now louyth þe / as wel as þou dost hire
God helpe me so / sche schal not take at gref
Þat þou do bote / a-non in þis myschif
And ȝif sche / wele nedis fro þe passe
Þanne is sche fals / so loue hire wel þe lasse
(89)
¶ ffor whi tak herte / & þynk þus þat I a knyȝt
Þourw loue is broke / alday euery lawe
Kiþ knowe sumwhat / þyn corage [g, first d] & þyn myȝt
Haue mercy of / þyn self for ony awe
Let not þis wrechede / wo þyn herte gnawe
But nameli set / þe world on sexe or seue
And ȝif þou deye / a martyr go to heuene
(90)
// I wele myn self / be with þe at þis dede
Þow I & al myn / kyn vp-on a stounde
Schulde in strete / as doggis ligge dede
Þourw gyrt with many / wid & blody wounde
In euery cas I wele / a frend ben founde
And ȝif þe luste / here steruyn as a wreche
Adew þe deuyl / haue hym þat reche
(91)
¶ Þis Troilus gan / with þo wordis quikyn
And seyde frend / graunt merci I acente
But serteynly / þow mayȝt me not so prikyn
Ne peyne non / ne may me so turmente
Þat for no cas / it is not myn entente
At schorte wordis / þow I deye schulde
To rauasche hire / but ȝif hire self wolde
(92)
¶ Pandare answerde of þat be as be may
But tel me þan hast þow hire wel a-sayed
Þat sorwist þus & he answerde nay
Wherto quod pandarus art þou þus amayed
Þat wost not ȝif sche wolde ben euele apayed
To rauasche hire sithe þou hast not ben þere
But ony aungel told it þe in þyn ere
(93)
// ffoþ rys vp as nouȝt ne were a-non
And wasch þyn face & to þe kyng þou wende
Or he may wondere whedyr þou art þus gon
Þou mayst with wisdam him & oþere blynde
or vp on a cas he may aftyr þe sende
Ar þou be war & schortely broþer dere
Be glad & lat vs werche in þis manere
(94)
// ffor I schal schapyn it so þat sikirly
Þou schalt þis nyȝt sumtyme in summanere
Come speke with þyn ladi preuyly
And by hire wordis ek & by hire chere
Þou schal ful sone perseyue & wel here
Al hire entent of þis cas þe beste
And far now wel for in þis poynt I reste
(95)
The swyfte fane with þat false þingis
Egal reportyth lik þe þyngis trewe
wich þour-out Troye it fleþ with preste wyngis
ffrom man to man & mad þis tale newe
How calcas douȝtyr with hire bryȝte hewe
At parlement with-oute wordys more
I-grauntid was in chaung for antenore
(96)
¶ Þe which tale a-non ryȝt as Crisseide
Hadde herde sche þe wiche þat of hire fadyr rouȝte
As in þis cas ryȝt nouȝt ne whan he deyede
fful busili to Iubiter be-souȝte
Ȝif hym myschaunce þat þis tretys brouȝte
But schortly ȝif þese talis soþe were
Sche durste at no wiȝt axen it for fere
(97)
¶ As sche þat hade hire herte & al hire mynde
On Troilus be-set so wondyr faste
Þat al þis world ne myȝte hire loue onbynde
Ne Troylus out of hire herte caste
Sche wele ben his whil þat hire lyf caste
And þus sche brennyt boþe in loue & drede
So þat sche nyste what was best to rede
(98)
// But as men seyn in tounnys al aboute
Þat wemen vsyn frendis to visite
So to Crisseyde wemen come a route
ffor pitouse ioye & wende hire to delite
And with here talis / dere I-now of a myte
Þese wemen wich þat in þe cete dwelle
Þey sette hem doun & seyde as I schal telle
(99)
¶ Quod fyrst þat on I am glad trewely
Be cause of ȝow ȝe schal ȝoure fadir se
A noþer seyde I-wis so am not I
ffor alto litil haþ sche with vs be
Þe þrede answerede I hope I-wis þat sche
Schal bryngyn vs to pes in euery side
Þat whan sche goþ almyȝti god hire gide
(100)
// Þo wordis & þo womanliche þyngis
Sche herde riȝt nouȝt þow sche þere were
ffor al þis tyme hire þouȝt on oþer þyng is
Al-þow þe bodi sat amongis hem þere
God wot hire aduertens is eɫɫ where
ffor troilus hire soule ful faste sout
With-outyn alwey on hym sche þouȝt
(101)
¶ Þese wemen þat so wendyn hire to plese
A-boute nouȝt þus gunne here taɫ opende
Swich vanyte can don hire non ese
As sche þat al þis mene while brende
Of oþere passioun þan þey wende
So þat sche wende a-non ryȝt for to deye
ffor wo & wery of þat compaynye
(102) [This stanza is (partly) in Boocaccio, and in Harl. 3943: see our Filostrato and Troilus, p. 196.]
¶ ffor wich myȝte sche no lengere to restreyne
Here teris so gunne þei vp to welle
Þat ȝeuyn signys of þe bittyr peyne
In wich hire spirit was & muste dwelle
Remembrynge hire from heuene in-to wich helle
Sche fallyn was sithe sche forgoþ þe syȝt
Of Troylus hire owene hertys knyȝt
(103)
// And þeilke folis sittynge hire a-boute
Wende þat sche wepte & syȝede sore
Be cause þat sche schulde from þat route
Departe & neuere pleye with hem more
And þey þat haddyn knowyn hire tofore
Saw hire so wepe & þouȝte it kyndenesse
And eche of hem wepte for distresse
(104)
¶ ffor eche of heuyd to clawe hym on his hele
And busily þey gunne hire confortyn
Of þyngis god wot sche gan not fele
And with here wordis wendyn hire disportyn
And to be glad oftyn hire þey hortyn
But swich an ese þerwith þey hyre wrouȝt
Ryȝt as a man is esid þat felyth ryȝt nouȝt
(105)
// But aftyr al þis nyse vanite
Þey toke here leue & hom þey wentyn alle
Cresseyde ful of sorweful pete
In-to þe chambe wente out of þe halle
And on hire bed for ded sche gan to falle
In purpos neuere þens for to ryse
And þus sche wrouȝt as I schal ȝow deuyse
(106)
¶ Þe salte teris from hyre eyȝyn tweyn
Out ran as schour of aprille ful swyþe
Hyre white brest sche bet & for þe peyne
Aftyr þe deþ cryede a þousent sithe
Syn he þat wonyt was hire wo for to lyþe
Sche mot forgon for which disauenture
Sche held hire selue a for-lost creature
(107)
¶ Hyre owene her þat sunneliche was of hewe
Sche rente & ek hire fyngeris longe & smale
Sche wrong ofte & bad god on hire rewe
And with þe deþ don bote on hire bale
Hyre hew whilhom bryȝt þat þo was pale
Bar witnesse of hire wo & hire constreynte
And þus sche spak sobbynge in hire compleynte
(108)
// Alle quod sche out of þis regioun
I woful wreche I onfortune wyȝt
And born in cursede constolacioun
Mot gon & þus departyn from myn knyȝt
Wo worþe þe dayy & namely þat nyȝt
On wich I saw him fyrst with eyen tweyn
Þat causith me & I hym al þis peyn
[See p. 195.]
(109)
¶ What schal he don what scha I don also
How schal I leue ȝif þat I from him twynne
O dere herte ek þat I loue so
Ho schal þat sorwe sle þat ȝe ben inne
O Calcas fadir þyn be al þis synne
And cursed be þat day which þat argyf
Me on hire bodi bar to ben onlef
(110)
// To what fyn schulde I leue or sorwe þus
How schulde fich withoute watyr deure
What is Crisseyde worþ with-outyn Troylus
How schulde a plante or oþer creature
Leuyn with-outyn his kynde nature
ffor wych ful softe a biword here I seye
Þat erbeles grene mot sone deye
(111)
¶ I schal don þus siþyn noþer swerd ne darte
Dar I non handelyn for þe crewelte
Þat ilke day I schal from Ȝow departe
Ȝif sorwe of Þat nyl myn bane be
Þere schal no mete ne drynk come in me
Troilus myn sorwe out of myn brest conueye
And þus myn self wele I don to deye
(112)
¶ And Troilus myne cloþis euerychone
Schul blake ben in tokenynge herte swete
Þat I am as out of þis world I-gone
Þat woned was ȝow to holde in quiete
And of myn ordere til þat þey me mete
Þe obseruance euere I in ȝoure absence
Schal sorwyn ben compleynt & abstynence
(113)
¶ Myn herte ek þe sorweful gost perin
Bequeþe I ȝoure spryȝt to compleyne
Eternally for þey schal neuere twynne
ffor-þy in erþe twynnede ben we tweyne
Ȝe in þe feld of pete out of peyne
Þere Pluteo regnyth schal we ben in fere
As Orpheus with erodice his fere
(114)
¶ Þus herte myn for antenore allas
I sone schal be ȝoldyn as I wene
But how schal ȝe don in þis woful cas
How schal ȝoure tendere herte þis susteyne
But herte myn for-ȝet þis sorwe & tene
And me also for soþly for to sey
So ȝe wel fare I reche not to dey
(115)
¶ How myȝte it euere red be or I-songe
Þe pleynt þat sche made in hire distresse
I not but as for me myn litele tunge
Ȝif I discriue wolde hire heuynesse
It schulde make hire sorwe to seme lesse
Þanne as it was & child lichera deface
Hire hye pleynt & þerfore I it pase
[The next 4 stanzas are not in Gg. 4. 27.]
(120)
¶ Entendyth þan leue in wo or me hey
And euery wordely ioye as þynkyth me
Þe ende of blys ay sorwe it ocupie
And who-so trowyth not þat it so be
Let hym vp-on me woful wreche se
Þat myn self hate & þat is lite fors
ffelynge alwey from wikke I go to wors
(121)
¶ Who so me seþ he seþ sorwe al at onys
Peyne turnement wo & ek distresse
Out of myn sorweful body harm þere non is
As anguys langur crewel & bittyrnesse
Anoy smert dred furie & ek seknesse
I trowe I-wis from heuene terys regne
ffor pete of myn asper & crewel peyne
(122)
// O myn sustyr ful of disconfort
Quod Pandarus what þynkyst þou to do
Whi ne hast þou to þyn self sum report
Whi wilt þou þus þyn self allas so fordo
Leue al þis werk & tak now hede þerto
What I schal seyn & werkene of good entent
Þis þat by me þin Troylus þe sent
(123)
¶ Turnede hire þo Crisseyde & wo makynge
So gret þat it a day was for to se
Allas quod sche what wordis may ȝe bryng
What wil myn dere herte sendyn to me
Which þat I drede neueremore to se
Whil he haue pleynt or terys or I wende
I haue I-now ȝef þat he þeraftyr sende
(124)
¶ Sche was ryȝh [? MS. ryth] swich to se in hire vesage
As is þe wyȝt þat men on bere bynde
Hire fase lyk of radyis þe ymage
Was al chaungid in-to a noþer kynde
Þe pley þe lauȝter men were wone to fynde
In hire & oþere ioyes euerychon
Ben fled & þus from hem sche lyþ a-lon
(125)
¶ A-boute hire eyȝyn to purpure ryngis
Ben trent in soþfast tokenyng of hire peyne
Þat to beholde it was a dedly þyng
ffor wich pandare myȝte not restreyne
Þe teris from his eyȝyn for to reyne [y, alterd from n]
But naþeles as he best myȝt he seyde
ffrom Troilus þese wordys to Cresseyde
(126)
¶ Lo nece trowe I wel ȝe han herd er þis
Þe kynge with oþere lordis for þe beste
Haþ mad þe eschaung for Antenore & ȝow
Þat cause is of þis wo & þis onreste
But now þis cas doþ Troylus moleste
Þat may non wordely mannys tunge sey
As he þat schortely scharpith him to dey
(127)
¶ ffor we han boþe sorwyd he & I
Þat in to lytil wol ner It hade vs slawe
But þour myn conseyl þis day finally
And sumwhat haþ from wepynge hym withdrare
And semyth þat he desiryth fawe
With ȝow to be al nyȝt for to deuyse
Remedi in þis ȝyf þere were ony wise
(128)
¶ Þis is schort & pleyn þe effect of myn massage
And ek þe beste as myn wit can comprehende
ffor ȝe þat ben in turnemen for swich a rage
May now to no long prolong as now entende
And her-vpon ȝe may answere him sende
And for þe loue of god myn nece dere
So leuyth þis er Troylus be here
(129)
¶ GRet is myn wo quod sche & syȝhynge sore
As sche þat felith dedely scharp distrese
But ȝit to me his sorwe is meche more
Allas for me hath he swich heuynesse
And for me cast in swich drerynesse
Can he for me so pitously compleyne
Now I-wis his sorwe doubelith al myn peyne
(130)
¶ Greuous for me god wot is for to twynne
Quod sche but it hardere is to me
To sen him in þat he is in
ffor wel I wot It wele myn bane be
And deye I wolde in sertyn þe quod sche
But bid him come or deþ þat þus me þretyth
Dryf out þat gost þat in myn herte betyth
(131)
¶ Þese seyde sche & on hire armys too
fel grof & gan to wepe pitusely
Quod Pandarus allas whi do ȝe so
Sythe wel ȝe wot þe tyme is faste by
Þat he schal come arys vp softely
Þat he ȝow not be-wepyn þus I-fynde
But ȝe wele haue hym wod out of his mynde
(132)
¶ ffor wiste he þat ȝe ferde in þis manere
He wolde hym self fle & ȝif I wende
To haue þis fare he schal not comyn here
ffor al þe good þat priam may dispende
ffor to what fyn he wolde a-non pretende
Þat wot I wel & þerfore ȝit I sey
Lat be þis sorwe or platly he wele dey
(133)
¶ And schapyth ȝow his sorwe to abregge
And not to encrese o leue nece swete
Be raþere cause to hym flat þan egge
And with sum wisdom ȝe his sorwe bete
What helpith to wepe ful a strete
Or þat ȝe boþe in salte teris drenk
Betere is on tyme of cure þan ay in pleynt
(134)
¶ I mene þus whan I hym hidir brynge
Sythe ȝe ben wis & boþe of on asent
So schapyth to disturbe þis goinge
Or come a-ȝen sone aftyr ȝe ben went
Whan men ben wise of schort auysement
And let sen how ȝoure wit schal now a-vayle
And þat þat I can helpe it schal not fayle
(135)
¶ Go quod criseyde & vnkele trewely
I schal don al myn myȝt me to restreyne
ffrom wepynge in his syȝt & besily
Hym for to glade I schal don al myn peyne
And in myn herte sekyn euery veyne
Ȝif to his sor þere may ben foundyn salue
It schal not lak in serteyn on myn halue
(136)
¶ GOþ pandarus & Troylus he southe [outhe corrected]
Til in a temple he fond hym al-one
As he þat of his lyf no þyng roughthe [ghthe corrected]
But to þe pitouse goddis euerychone
fful tenderely he preyede & mad his mone
To don hym sone out of þis world to pase
ffor wel he þouȝte þer nas non oþer grace
[The next 18 stanzas, 126 lines, about Free-Will, &c., are not in the Cambridge MS. or the long ledgerlike Harleian 1239, leaf 43, or the Harleian 2392, leaf 101, back. These 2 Harl. MSS. leave out also stanza 155, l. 1079-85, thus:—
Harl. 1239, leaf 43.
Be-sykyng hem to sende hym other grace
Or fro thys worlde / to doon̄ hym̄ sone pace
O myghty gode / quod pandarus in Trone
Harl. 2392, leaf 101, back.
to doon him soone out of this word to pace
for wul he thouhte / ther was non othir grace
O myhti god / quod Pandarus / in trone
Harl. 3943 has the 18 stanzas (see p. 205 of our Filos∣trato and Troilus), and so has Addit. MS. 12,044, Brit. Museum, on leaves 80-1. Harl. 4912 stops ct l. 686 of Bk IV, 'They set hem down̄ and seyde as I shaɫɫ telle.']
(155)
¶ Þanne seyde he þus al myȝty god in trone
Þat wost of al þis þyng þe sothfast-nesse
Rew on myn sorwe and do me deye sone
Or bryng Crisseyde & me from þis distresse
And whil he was in al þis heuynesse
Disputynge with him self in þis matere
Com pandarus & seyde as ȝe may here
(156)
¶ O myȝty god quod pandarus in trone
Ey ho say euere a wysman faryn so
Whi troilus what þynkist þow to done
Hast þou swich wil to ben þyn owene fo
[Blank line in MS.]
Whi list þou fordon þyn self for drede
Þat in þyn heuyd þyne eyȝyn semyn dede
(157)
¶ Hast þou not leuyd oftyn in þyn lyf be-forn
With-outyn hire & ferd ful wel at ese
Art þou for hire & for non oþer born
Haþ kynde wrouȝt þe only hire to plese
Canst þou non þynke þus in þyn disese
Þat on þe deþ ryȝt as þere fallyn chaunce
Ryȝt so in loue þere comyth & goþ plesaunce
(158)
¶ And ȝit þis is myn wondir Most of al
Whi þou sorwist þus & wost not ȝit
Touchynge hire goinge how þat it schal falle
Ne ȝif sche can h[i]re self disturbin it
Þu hast not ȝit asayed al hire wit
A man may al be tyme his nekke bede
Whan þe hed schal of & sorwyn at þe nede
(159)
¶ ffor-þi tak hed what I schal þe say
I haue with hire I-spoke & a-lone be
So acord was be-twixe vs twey
Þat eueremore me þynkyth þus þat sche
Haþ sumwhat in hire hertys preuyte
Wher-with sche can ȝif I schal ryȝt arede
Stynt al þis þyng of which þou art in drede
(160)
¶ ffor why myn counseyl is whan it is nyȝt
Þou to hire go & mak of þis an ende
And blysful Ioue þour his grete myȝt
Schal as I hope vn-to vs grace synde
Myn herte seyth serteyn sche wele not wynde
And for-þy put in þyn herte a while in prest
And hold þis purpos for it is þe best
(161)
¶ Þis Troilis answerde & seyde sore
Þow sest ryȝt wel & I wele don ryȝt so
And what hym lyst he seyde to hym more
But whan þat it was tyme for to go
fful priuyly hym silf with-outyn mo
Vn-to hire come as he was wone to done
And how þey wrouȝte I schal ȝow telle sone
(162)
SOþ is þat whan þey gan ferst to mete
Þey gunne þe sorwe of here hertys twiste
Þat oþer [scribe meant to put n before oþer, but mistook] nof hem oþer myȝte grete
But hem in armys hent & ofte kyste
Þe lesse woful of hem boþe nyste
What for to done ne myȝte a word out brynge
As I seyde erst for sorwe & for wepynge
(163)
¶ Þo woful teris þat þey letyn falle
As bittere weryn out of teris kynde
ffor peyne as is lignum aloes or galle
So bittere teris wepyn not þour þe rynde
Þe woful myrra wretyn as I fynde
Þat in þis world þere nys so hard an herte
Þat nulde an rewid of þere peynys smerte
(164)
¶ But whan here woful weri gostis tweyne
Turnede ben þere as hem auȝte to dwelle
And þat sumwhat to lesse gan þe peyne
Be leue of pleynt & ebbyn gan þe welle
Of here terys & þe herte onswelle
With brokyn woys al hors for feynt Crisseyde
To Troilus þese ilke wordis seyde
(165)
// O Ioue I crie & mercy I be-seche
Help troylus & þerwithal hire face
Vp-on his brest sche leyde & loste speche
Hire [first, His] woful spryt from his proper place
Ryȝt with þe word a poynt to a pase
And þus sche lyth with hewys pale & grene
Þat whilehom frosche & fayre were to sene
(166)
¶ Þis troylus on hire gan be-holde
Clepynge hire name & sche lay as for ded
With-oute answere & felte hire semys colde
Hire eyȝyn þrowyn vpward to hire heuyd
Þis sorweful man can now no maner red
But ofte tyme hire colde mout he kyste
Wheþer hym was wo god & hym self wiste
(167)
// He rist hym vp & a long streyt he hire leyde
ffor signe of lyf for ouȝt he can or may
Can he not fynde in no cas of crisseyde
ffor wich his song is ofte welleaway
And whan he say þat specheles sce lay
With sorweful voys & herte & blysse Al bare
He seyde how þat sche from þis word was fare
(168)
¶ So aftyr þat he longe hire hade compleynyd
And hondis wrong / & seyde þat was to sey
And with hise [first, hire] teris salte hire bryst be-reynyd
He gan þo teris wipyn of & dreye
And pitously be gan for þe soule preye
And seyde lord þat set art in þyn trone
Rewe ek on me for I schal folwe sone
(169)
¶ Sche cold was & with-oute sentement
ffor ouȝt he woste & breth ȝit felte he non
And þat was hym a preuaunt argument
Þat sche was forth out of þis world l-gon
And whan he say þere was non oþer won
He gan hire lemys dresse in swich manere
As men don folk þat schal ben leyd on bere
(170)
// And aftyr þis with sterne & crewel herte
His swerd out of þe schede a-non it twyȝt
Hym self to slen how sore þat hym smert
So þat his soule here soule folwe myȝt
Þere as þe dom of orynys wolde it dyȝt
Syn loue & crewel [el, corrector] fortune it ne wolde
Þat in world no more leue ne schulde
(171)
¶ Þanne seyde he þus ful fyld of hey disdeyn
On crewel Ioue and þou fortune aduerse
Þis al and som þat falsely han ȝe slayn
Crisseyde & syn ȝe can don me no werse
ffy on ȝoure myȝt & on ȝoure werkys dyuerse
Þus couardely ȝe schal me neuere wyn
Þere schal no deþ me from myn lady twyn
(172)
// ffor in þis world sithe ȝe han slayn hire þus
Wele lete & folwe hire spiryt forth in hye
Schal louere neuere seyn þat troylus
Dare not for fere with his lady deye
ffor certayn I wele hire bere cumpanye
But for ȝe wil not sufferin / vs leuyn here
Ȝit sufferyth þat oure soulis ben in fere
(173)
// And þou cite wich þat I leue Inne in wo
And þou Priame breþeren alle in fere
And þow myn madyr farwel for I go
Þow antropos þat art ful redy here
And þow Crysseyde swete herte dere
Resseyue now myn spryt wolde he sey
With swerd at herte redy for to dey
(174)
¶ But as god wolde of swow þerwith sche brayd
And gan syhe & Troylus sche cryede
And answerde herte myn Criseyde
Leue ȝe ȝit & let his swerd doun glyde
Ȝa herte myn I-thankede be cupide
Quod sche & þerwith sche sore seyȝt
And he be-gan confortyn hire as he myȝt
(175)
// Tok hire in armys too & kiste hire ofte
And hire to glade he dede al his entent
ffor whiche hire gost þat flekerede ay on loft
Al softe to hire herte a-ȝyn it went
So at þe laste as hire eyȝyn glent
A-non sche gan his swerd aspie
As it lay bare & gan for fere crye
(176)
¶ And axede hym whi he hade it drawe
And troilus a-non þe cause tolde
And how hym self he wolde þerwith a slawe
ffor wich crisseyde vp on hym gan be-holde
And gan hym in hire armys faste folde
And seide o mercy god lo wich a drede
Allas how nyȝ were we boþe dede
(177)
// Þanne ȝif I ne hadde speke as grase was
Ȝe wolde a slayn ȝoure sylf a-non quod sche
Ȝa douteles & sche answerde allas
ffor by þat ilke lord þat made me
I ne wolde a furlongwoy a-lyue a be
Aftyr ȝoure deþ to a ben crounede quene
Of al þe lond þe sunne on schynyth schene
(178)
¶ But with þis seluyn swerd whych þat here is
Myn seluyn wolde I a slawe quod sche þo
But ho for we haue ryȝt I-now of þis
And lat vs ryse & streyȝt to bedde go
And þere lat vs spekyn of oure wo
ffor by þe percher which þat I se brenne
I knowe wel þat day is not fer henne
(179)
¶ Whan þey weryn in bedde in armys foldyn
Nouȝt was it lyk þe nyȝtys þere by-fore
ffor pitousely eche oþer gan be-holdyn
As þey þat haddyn here ioyis alle bore
Seyinge allas þat euere were þey bore
Til at þe laste þis woful wyȝt Crisseyde
To Troilus þese ilke wordis seyde
(180)
// O herte myn þis wote ȝe wel quod sche
Þat alday / a wyȝt his wo compleyne
And sekyth not how helpyn for to be
It nys but foly / & encres of peyne
And sithe þat here assembelyd be we tweyne
To fynde bote of wo þat we ben inne
It were al tyme sone to begynne
(181)
¶ I am a woman as ful wel ȝe wot
And as I am a-vised sodeynly
So wele I tellyn it ȝow whil it is hot
Me þynkith þus þat oþer ȝe nor I
Auȝte half þis wo to make / skilfully
ffor þere is herte I-now for to redresse
Þat ȝit is mys & slen þis heuynesse
(182)
So is þat wo þe wich þat we ben inne
ffor ouȝt I wot for no þyng ellis is
But for cause þat we schuln twynne
Considerid al þere is no more a-mys
But what is a remedie on-to þis
But þat we schape vs sone for to mete
Þis is and sum myn dere herte swete
(183)
¶ Now þat I schal wel bryngyn it a-boute
To comyn a-ȝen sone aftyr þat I go
Þerof am I no maner þyng in doute
ffor dredeles þat in a wouke or to
I schal ben here & þat it schal ben so [later] may
By al ryȝt & in wordis fewe
I schal ȝow wel an hep of woyes schewe
(184)
¶ ffor wich I nyl not make long sarmoun
ffor tyme I-lost may not recouerede ber
But I wele go ryȝt to conclusyoun
And to þe beste in ouȝt þat I can sen
But for þe loue of god forȝeue it me
Ȝif I speke ouȝt a-ȝen ȝoure hertis rest
ffor trewely I speke it for þe best
(185)
// Makynge here a protestacioun
Þat in effect þis þyng þat I schal say
Nis but esschewe þus in mocyoun [y alterd]
To fynde on-to ȝoure helpe þe beste wey
And takyþ it not oþerwyse I prey
ffor fynally what ȝe me comaunde
Þat wele I don for þat is no demaunde
(186)
¶ Now herkenyth þis ȝe han wel vndyrstonde
Myn goinge grauntyd is be parlement
So fer þat it may not be withstonde
ffor al þis world as be myn iugement
And syn þere helpiþ non auysement
To lette it let it passe out of mynde
And let vs schape a bettere woye to fynde
(187)
// Þe soþe þis is þat twynnyng of vs tweyne
Wil vs disese & crewelly ennoye
But hym be-houyth sumtyme to haue peyne
Þat seruyth loue ȝif he wele haue ioye
And syn I schal no ferþere out of troye
Þan I may ryde a-ȝen on hal a morwe
It auȝte lesse causyn vs to sorwe
(188)
¶ So as I schal not now ben hed in mewe
Þat day be day myne owene herte dere
Syn wel ȝe wot it is now a trewe
Ȝe schal ful wel al myn estat here
And or þat trewe is don I schal ben here
And þus have ȝe boþe antenore wonne
And now beþ glad / ȝif þat ȝe now cunne
(189)
¶ And þynkith ryȝt þus crisseyde is not a-gon
But what sche schal comyn hasteliche a-geyn
And whanne allas lo hasteliche a-non
Or dayes ten þat dar I sauely seyn
And þanne at erst schal ȝe ben so fayn
Þat we schal eueremor to-gedere d[w]elle
Þat al þis world / myȝte oure ioye telle
(190)
// I se þat oftyn þere þat as we ben now
Þat for þe beste oure conseyl for to byde
Ȝe speke not with me ne I with ȝow
In fortune nyȝt to se ȝow gon ne ryde
May ȝe not þan / ten dayis a-byde
ffor myn honour / in swich auenture
I-wis ȝe moun ell lityl endure
(191)
¶ Ȝe knowyn ek how þat al myn kyn is here
Only but / if it myn fadidyr be
And ek myne oþer þyngis alle in fere
A namely myn dere herte ȝe
Þat I nolde leuyn for to se
ffor al þis world as meche as it haþ spase
Ȝa eɫɫ se I neuere iouys face [eɫɫ = ellis]
(192)
// Why trowe ȝe myn fadyr in þis wise
Coueytith to se me but for a drede
Lest in þis toun þat folk me dispise
Be cause of hym for his vn-happy dede
What wot myn fadyr what lyf þat I lede
ffor ȝif he wiste in Troye how wel I fare
Vs nedith not for myn goinge 1 to care 1 [1-1 corrector]
(193)
¶ Ȝe se ek euery day more & more
Men trete of pes & it supposid is
Þat men þe quen Elyne schal restore
And grekys vs restoryn þat is mys
So þow þere nere confort non but þis
Þat men purposyn pes on euery syde
Ȝe may þe bettire at ese of herte a-byde
(194)
¶ ffor ȝif þat it be pes myn herte dere
Þe nature of pes mot nedis dreyve
Þat moste nedis / entere þerto in fere
And to & fro ek rydyn & gon as blyue
Alday as þikke / as ben from an heue
And euery wyȝt haue liberteis to be-leue
Where as hem lyst þey beþ with oþere leue
(195)
¶ And ȝif so be þat pes þere may ben non
Ȝit hidir þow þere neuere pes were
I muste com for whidir schulde I gon
Or how myschaunse schulde I dwelle þere
A-mong þe men of armys euere in fere
ffor wich so wisely god myn soule rede
I can not sen wherof ȝe schulde drede
(196)
¶ Haue here a noþer woye ȝif it so be
Þat al þis þyng ne may ȝow not suffyse
Myn fadir as ȝe knowe wel parde
Is holden elde & ful of couetyse
And I ryȝt now haue foundyn al þe gise
With-outyn net / where I schal him hente
And herkenyth now ȝif þat ȝe wele assente
(197)
¶ Lo Troylus men seyn þat hard it is
Þe woful þe wheþer hol to haue (*)
Þis is to seyne þat men ful ofte I-wis
Mot spendyn part þe remenaunt of to haue
ffor ay with gold men may þe herte graue
Of hym þat set is vp-on coueytyse
And how I mene I schal it ȝow deuyse
(198)
¶ Þe mobele wich þat I haue in þis toune
Vn-to myn fadir I schal it take & say
Þat riȝt for trust & for sauacyone
I sent it to a frend of his or twey
ffor wich frendis feruently hym prey
To sendyn aftyr more & in hye
Whil þat þis toun stant þus in iupardye
(199)
// And þat schal ben an heuge quantite
Þat schal I seyn best lest hym self aspiede
Þis may ben sent be no wiȝt but bi me
I schal ek schewyn hym ȝif þes betyde
What frendis þat I haue on euery syde
Toward þe cuntre to don þe wrethe pase
Of Priamus & don hym stondyn in grase
(200)
// So what for on þyng & for oþer swete
I schal hym so enchantyn with myne sawis
Þat ryȝt in heuene his soule schal he mete
ffor al appollo or hese clerkis lawys
Or kakelyng avaylyth not þre hawis
Desyre of gold schal so his soule [soule, corrected] blynde
Þat as me lust I schal make an ende
(201)
¶ And ȝif he wolde ouȝt by his sort it preue
Ȝif þat I [m corrected] may in certayn I schal fonde
Disturbe hym & plokke hym bi þe sleue
Makynge his sort or beryn hym on honde
He haþ not wel þe goddesse vndirstonde
ffor goddis spekyn in amphibologyis
And for a soth þey telle þat lyie [e is, corrected] is
(202)
// Ek dred fond fyrst goddis I suppose
Þus schal I seyn & ek his swerd he herde
Made hym a-mys þe goddys text so glose
Whan he for fer out of displese 4 sterede 4 [4-4 corrector]
And but I make hym sone to conuerede [ede, corrector]
And don myn red with-inne a day or twey
I wele to ȝow oblige me to dey
(203)
¶ And trewely as writyn wel I fynde
Þat al þis þyng was seyd in good entent
And þat hire herte trewe was & kynde
Towardis hym & spak ryȝt as sche ment
And þat sche starf for wo ryȝt whan sche went
And was in purpos euere to ben trewe
Þus write þey þat hire werkis knewe
(204)
This Troilus with herte & eris spradde
herde al þis deuysyn to & fro
And verrily hym semyd þat he hadde
Þe seluyȝt but ȝit to latyn hire go
His herte mys-for-ȝaf hym euere mo
But fynnally he gan his herte wreste
To trustyn hire & tok it for þe beste
(205)
¶ ffor wich þe grete furie of his penaunce
Was queynt with hope & þerwith hem be-twene
By-gunne for ioye þe amerous daunce
And as þese briddis whan þe sunne is schene
Delite in hire song in leuys grene
Ryȝt so þe wordis þat ȝe knowen in feere [nowen in feere, by corrector]
Delite hem & made here hertis clere
(206)
¶ But neuere þe les þe wyndyng of Crisseyde
ffor al þis world may not out of his mynde
ffor which ful ofte pitousely he preyede
Þat of hire hest he myȝte hire trewe fynde
And seyde hire certis ȝif ȝe ben on-kynde
And but ȝe come at day set in troye
Ne schal I neuere haue honour ne ioye
(207)
¶ ffor also sone as sonne rist vp on morwe
And so wisely þow me woful wreche
To reste brynge out of þis crewel sorwe
I wele myn selue sle ȝif þat ȝe dreche
But of myn deþ þow litil be to reche
Ȝit or þat ȝe me cause so to smerte
Dwelle raþere here myn owe dere herte
(208)
¶ ffor trewely myn owene ladi dere
Þe sleiyes ȝit þat I here stire
fful schaply ben to faylyn alle in fere
And þus men sen þat on þynkith þe bere
But al a noþer þynkyth his ledere
Ȝoure syre is wys & seyd is out of drede
Men may þe wise at rennyn & not at rede
(209)
¶ It is ful hard to haltyn on-aspyed
To-forn a crepil for he can þe craft
Ȝowre fadir is in flyȝt as argus I-ȝede
ffor al be þat his mebil is hym be-raft
His olde sleyȝt is ȝit so with hym left
Ȝe schal not blynde him for ȝoure womanhed
Ne feynyn a-ryȝt & þat is al myn dred
(210)
// I not ȝif þis pes schal euere betyde
ffor pes or non for ernest or for game
I wot syn calcas on þe grekys syde
Haþ onys ben & lost so foule his name
He dare no more come here for schame
ffor which 1 that // 1 [1-1 by corrector] for ouȝt I can asspie
To trustyn on it is but folye
(211)
¶ Ȝe schal ek sen ȝoure fadyr schal ȝow glose [ose, che, corrector]
To ben a wif & as he can wel preche [ose, che, corrector]
He schal þat grek preyse & wel a-lose
Þat he rauassch schal ȝow with his speche
Or don ȝow don be fors as he schal teche
And on troylus whan ȝe nyl haue reuthe
2 I schal ben ful wo by god & by myn trouthe 2 [2-2 by corrector]
(212)
// And ouer þis ȝoure fadir schal despise
Vs alle & seyn þis cete is but lorn
And þat þe sege neuere schal a-ryse
ffor-þy þe grekys hauyn it alle I-sworn
Til we be slayn & doun oure waɫɫ torn
And þus he schal ȝow with hise wordis fere
And ay drede I ȝe wele be-leue þere
(213)
¶ Ȝe schal ek sen so manye a lusty knyȝt
A-mong þe grekys ful of worþynes
And eche of hem with herte wit & myȝt
To plesyn ȝow don al here [here, corrector] buxsomnes
Þat ȝe schul dullyn of þe reudenes
Of vs sely Troilus but ȝif reuthe
Remoue ȝow aȝyn al of ȝoure treuthe
(214)
¶ And þis to me so greuous is to þynke
Þat from myn brest it wele þe soule rende
But dredles in me þere can not synke
O good opinyoun ȝif þat ȝe wende
ffor whi ȝoure faderys sleyt wele ȝow schende
And ȝif ȝe gon as I haue ȝow told ȝore
So þynke I may but deye [ye, corrected] with-outyn more
(215)
// ffor which with vmbele trewe & pitous herte
A þousent tymys mercy I ȝow preye
So rewith on myne asper peynys smerte
And doþ come what as þat I schal ȝow seye
And lat vs stele awoy a-twixe vs tweye
And þyng þat foly is whan men may chese
ffor accident his substaunce ay to lese
(216)
¶ I mene þus syn we now or day
Wele stele away & ben to-gedere so
What wit were þat ȝow to puttyn in a-say
In cas þey schuldyn to ȝoure fadir go
Ȝif þat ȝe myȝtyn comyn aȝen or no
Þus mene I þat it were a gret foly
To putte þat sekirnes in iupardy
(217)
And wolgaly to speke of substaunce
Of tresore may we boþe with vs lede
I-now to leue in honour & plesaunce
Tyl in-to tyme þat we schul be dede
And þus may we eschewyn al þis drede
ffor euerych oþer which ȝe can recorde
Myn herte I-wis may not þerwith acorde
(218)
¶ And hardeli dredyth non pouert
ffor I haue kyn & frendis eɫɫ where
Þat thow [thow corrected] we comyn in oure bare schert
We schul noþer lakke gold ne gere
But ben honoured whil we dwelle þere
And go we a-non for as myn entent
Þis is þe beste ȝif ȝe wele assent
(219)
CRisseyde with a syk ryȝt in þis wise
Answerede I-wis myn dere herte trewe
We may wel stele away as we deuyse
Or fyndyn sweche onþrifty woyes newe
But aftyrward ful sore it wele vs rewe
And help me god so at myn moste nede
As causeles ȝe suffere al þis drede
(220)
¶ ffor ilke day þat for cherisyng
Or dred of fadyr or of ony oþer wyȝ
Or for estat delyȝt or for weddyng
Ben fals to ȝow myn Troilus myn knyȝt
Saturnys douȝtyr iuno þour hire myȝt
As wode achamaunt do me dwelle
Eternally 1 with-in 1 [1-1 corrected] þe pit of helle
(221)
¶ And þis on euery god celestial
I [s, corrector] swere it ȝow & ek on eche goddesse
Þat euery nemphe or deþ enfernal
On satarye & fany more & lesse
Þat half goddis ben of wildirnesse
And antropos myn þred only to-breste
Ȝif I be fals now trowe me ȝif þou leste
(222)
¶ And ȝow symoys þat as an arwe schere
Þour Trowe rennyst dounward to þe se se
Bere witnesse of þis word [d, corrected] þat I seye here
Þat ilke day þat I vn-trewe be
To troylus myn owene herte fre [re, thyn, corrected]
Þat þey returne bakward in to thyn [re, thyn, corrected] welle
And I with body & soule synke in-to helle
(223)
¶ But þat ȝe speke swoy þus to go
And lete alle oure frendis god forbede
ffor ony woman þat ȝe schuldyn so
And namely sithe troye haþ now swich nede
Of helpe & ek of on þyng takyþ hede
Ȝif þis were wist myn lyf leye in balaunce
And ȝoure honour god schylde vs from myschaunce
(224)
¶ And ȝif so be þat pes hereaftyr take
As alday happith aftyr angir game
Whi lord þe sorwe þat ȝe wolde make
Þat ȝe ne durstyn comyn a-ȝyn for schame
And er þat ȝe enpartyn so ȝoure name
Beþ not to hastyþ in þis hote fare
ffor hastyf man wantede neuere care
(225)
¶ What trowe ȝe þe pepele ek al aboute
Wolde of it seyn it is ful lyȝt torede
Þey woldyn seyn & sweryn out of doute
Þat loue ne drof ȝow not to do þat dede
But lust volupteuous & ek coward drede
Þus were al lost I-wis myn herte dere
Ȝoure honour wich þat now schynyth so clere
(226)
¶ And also þynkyth on myn honeste
Þat flourith ȝit how foule I schulde it schende
And with what folye it spoylid schulde be
Ȝif in þis forme I schulde with ȝow wynde
Ne þow I leuede in-to þis worldis ende
Myn name schulde I neuere aȝinward wyn
Þis were al lost & þat were reuthe & syn
(227)
¶ And for-þi sle with resoun al þis hete
Aȝen sorwe þe sufferaunt ouercomyth parde
Ek ho so wele haue leue leue mote lete
Þis makyth vertu of necessite
Beþ pacient & þynkith þat lord is he
Of fortune ay þat nouȝt wele of hire reche
And so ne dauntyth no wyȝt but a wreche
(228)
¶ And trustyth þis þat sertis herte swete
Or phebus systyr lucyna þe schene
Þe lyoun passe out of þis aryete
I wele ben here with-outyn ony wene
I mene as helpe me Iuno heuen quene
Þe tente day but ȝif deth me asayle
I wele ȝow sen with-outyn ony fayle
(229)
And now so þis be soth quod Troilus
I schal wel suffere vn-to þe tente day
Syn þat I se þat it muste ben þus
But for þe loue of god ȝif it be may
So lat vs stelyn priuyly away
ffor euere in on as for to leue in rest
Myn herte seyth þat it wele ben þe best
(230)
¶ O mercy god what lyf is þis quod sche
Allas ȝe sle me þus for verray tene
I se wel now þat ȝe mistrostyn [rostyn, corrected] me
ffor by ȝoure wordis it is wel I-sene
Now for þe loue of synthea þe schene
Mistruste me not þus causeles [u, corrector] for reuthe
Syn to ben trewe I haue plyȝt ȝow myn treuthe
(231)
¶ And þynkyth ek þat sumtyme it is wit
To spende a tyme a tyme for to wyn
Ne parde lorn am I not for ȝow ȝit
Þouȝ þat we ben a day or too a-twyn
Dryueþ out þe fantasyis ȝow with-in
And trostyþ me & leuyth ek ȝoure sorwe
Or here myn treuthe I wele not leue to morwe
(232)
¶ ffor ȝif ye wiste how sore it doþ me smert
Ȝe wolde [c, corrected] chese of þis for god þou wist
Þe pore spyryt wepith in myn herte
To se ȝow wepe þat I loue most
And þat I mote gon to þe Grekys ost
Ȝa / nere it þat I nyste remedye
To come a-ȝyn ryȝt here wolde I dye
(233)
But certis I am not so nyse a wiȝt
Þat I ne can / Imagyn alway
To come a-ȝyn / þat day þat I haue hyȝt
ffor who may / heldyn þat wele a-way
Myn fadyr not / for his queynte play
And be myn þryft myn wendyng out of troye
A noþer day schal turne vs alle to Ioye
(234)
¶ ffor-þy with al myn herte I ȝow be-seche
Ȝif þat ȝe luste don ony þyng for myn preyere
And for þe loue wich I loue ȝow ek
Þat ar I departe from ȝow here
Þat of so good confort & chere
I may ȝow se þat ȝe may brynge at reste
Myn herte which þat is o poynt to breste
(235)
¶ And ouer al þis I prey ȝow quod sche þo
Myn owene herte soþfast sufficiaunce
Sithyn I am þyn al hol with-outyn mo
Þat whil þat I am absence no plesaunce
Of oþere do me from ȝoure remembraunce
ffor I am euere a-gast for whi men rede
Þat loue is þyng ay ful of busy drede
(236)
¶ ffor in þis world þere lyuyth lady non
Þif þat ȝe were ontrewe god 1 defende 1 [1-1 corrector]
Þat be-trayed were or wo-begon
As I þat al treuthe in ȝow entende
And douteles ȝif þat I oþer wende
I were but ded & ȝif ȝe cause fynde
ffor goddis loue beþ no more onkynde
(237)
¶ To þis leue Troilus answerde & seyde
Now god to whom þere is no þouȝt I-wrie
Me glade as wis I neuere to Crisseyde
Sin þeilke day I sey here ferst with eye
Was 2 neuere fals ne schal tyl that I deye 2 [2-2 by corrector]
As schorte wordis wel ȝe may me leue
I can nomore it schal be founde at preue
(238)
GRaunt mercy Iwis goode myn quod sche
And blysful venus let me neuere sterue
Oor I may stonde of plesaunse in degre
To quyte hym wel þat so wel can deserue
And whil þat god myn wit wele me conserue
I schal so don so trewe I haue ȝow founde
Þat ay honour to meward schal rebounne
[Leaf 102 is cut out of the MS.]