98. And also blisful Venus, wel arayed, 680
Sat in hir seventhe hous of hevene tho,
Disposed wel, and with aspectes payed,
To helpen sely Troilus of his wo.
And, sooth to seyn, she nas nat al a fo
To Troilus in his nativitee; 685
God woot that wel the soner spedde he.
99. Now lat us stinte of Troilus a throwe,
That rydeth forth, and lat us tourne faste
Un-to Criseyde, that heng hir heed ful lowe,
Ther-as she sat allone, and gan to caste 690
Wher-on she wolde apoynte hir at the laste,
If it so were hir eem ne wolde cesse,
For Troilus, up-on hir for to presse.
100. And, lord! so she gan in hir thought argue
In this matere of which I have yow told, 695
And what to doon best were, and what eschue,
That plyted she ful ofte in many fold.
Now was hir herte warm, now was it cold,
And what she thoughte somwhat shal I wryte,
As to myn auctor listeth for to endyte. 700
101. She thoughte wel, that Troilus persone
She knew by sighte and eek his gentillesse,
And thus she seyde, 'al were it nought to done,
To graunte him love, yet, for his worthinesse,
It were honour, with pley and with gladnesse, 705
In honestee, with swich a lord to dele,
For myn estat, and also for his hele.
102. Eek, wel wot I my kinges sone is he;
And sith he hath to see me swich delyt,
If I wolde utterly his sighte flee, 710
Paraunter he mighte have me in dispyt,
Thurgh which I mighte stonde in worse plyt;
Now were I wys, me hate to purchace,
With-outen nede, ther I may stonde in grace?
103. In every thing, I woot, ther lyth mesure. 715
For though a man forbede dronkenesse,
He nought for-bet that every creature
Be drinkelees for alwey, as I gesse;
Eek sith I woot for me is his distresse,
I ne oughte not for that thing him despyse, 720
Sith it is so, he meneth in good wyse.
104. And eek I knowe, of longe tyme agoon,
His thewes goode, and that he is not nyce.
Ne avauntour, seyth men, certein, is he noon;
To wys is he to do so gret a vyce; 725
Ne als I nel him never so cheryce,
That he may make avaunt, by Iuste cause;
He shal me never binde in swiche a clause.
105. Now set a cas, the hardest is, y-wis,
Men mighten deme that he loveth me: 730
What dishonour were it un-to me, this?
May I him lette of that? why nay, pardee!
I knowe also, and alday here and see,
Men loven wommen al this toun aboute;
Be they the wers? why, nay, with-outen doute. 735
106. I thenk eek how he able is for to have
Of al this noble toun the thriftieste,
To been his love, so she hir honour save;
For out and out he is the worthieste,
Save only Ector, which that is the beste. 740
And yet his lyf al lyth now in my cure,
But swich is love, and eek myn aventure.
107. Ne me to love, a wonder is it nought;
For wel wot I my-self, so god me spede,
Al wolde I that noon wistë of this thought, 745
I am oon the fayreste, out of drede,
And goodlieste, who-so taketh hede;
And so men seyn in al the toun of Troye.
What wonder is it though he of me have Ioye?
108. I am myn owene woman, wel at ese, 750
I thank it god, as after myn estat;
Right yong, and stonde unteyd in lusty lese,
With-outen Ialousye or swich debat;
Shal noon housbonde seyn to me "chekmat!"
For either they ben ful of Ialousye, 755
Or maisterful, or loven novelrye.
109. What shal I doon? to what fyn live I thus?
Shal I nat loven, in cas if that me leste?
What, par dieux! I am nought religious!
And though that I myn herte sette at reste 760
Upon this knight, that is the worthieste,
And kepe alwey myn honour and my name,
By alle right, it may do me no shame.'
110. But right as whan the sonne shyneth brighte,
In March, that chaungeth ofte tyme his face, 765
And that a cloud is put with wind to flighte
Which over-sprat the sonne as for a space,
A cloudy thought gan thorugh hir soule pace,
That over-spradde hir brighte thoughtes alle,
So that for fere almost she gan to falle. 770
111. That thought was this, 'allas! sin I am free,
Sholde I now love, and putte in Iupartye
My sikernesse, and thrallen libertee?
Allas! how dorste I thenken that folye?
May I nought wel in other folk aspye 775
Hir dredful Ioye, hir constreynt, and hir peyne?
Ther loveth noon, that she nath why to pleyne.
112. For love is yet the moste stormy lyf,
Right of him-self, that ever was bigonne;
For ever som mistrust, or nyce stryf, 780
Ther is in love, som cloud is over the sonne:
Ther-to we wrecched wommen no-thing conne,
Whan us is wo, but wepe and sitte and thinke;
Our wreche is this, our owene wo to drinke.
113. Also these wikked tonges been so prest 785
To speke us harm, eek men be so untrewe,
That, right anoon as cessed is hir lest,
So cesseth love, and forth to love a newe:
But harm y-doon, is doon, who-so it rewe.
For though these men for love hem first to-rende, 790
Ful sharp biginning breketh ofte at ende.
114. How ofte tyme hath it y-knowen be,
The treson, that to womman hath be do?
To what fyn is swich love, I can nat see,
Or wher bicomth it, whan it is ago; 795
Ther is no wight that woot, I trowe so,
Wher it bycomth; lo, no wight on it sporneth;
That erst was no-thing, in-to nought it torneth.
115. How bisy, if I love, eek moste I be
To plesen hem that Iangle of love, and demen, 800
And coye hem, that they sey non harm of me?
For though ther be no cause, yet hem semen
Al be for harm that folk hir freendes quemen;
And who may stoppen every wikked tonge,
Or soun of belles whyl that they be ronge?' 805
116. And after that, hir thought bigan to clere,
And seyde, 'he which that no-thing under-taketh,
No-thing ne acheveth, be him looth or dere.'
And with an other thought hir herte quaketh;
Than slepeth hope, and after dreed awaketh; 810
Now hoot, now cold; but thus, bi-twixen tweye,
She rist hir up, and went hir for to pleye.
117. Adoun the steyre anoon-right tho she wente
In-to the gardin, with hir neces three,
And up and doun ther made many a wente, 815
Flexippe, she, Tharbe, and Antigone,
To pleyen, that it Ioye was to see;
And othere of hir wommen, a gret route,
Hir folwede in the gardin al aboute.
118. This yerd was large, and rayled alle the aleyes, 820
And shadwed wel with blosmy bowes grene,
And benched newe, and sonded alle the weyes,
In which she walketh arm in arm bi-twene;
Til at the laste Antigone the shene
Gan on a Troian song to singe clere, 825
That it an heven was hir voys to here.--
119. She seyde, 'O love, to whom I have and shal
Ben humble subgit, trewe in myn entente,
As I best can, to yow, lord, yeve ich al
For ever-more, myn hertes lust to rente. 830
For never yet thy grace no wight sente
So blisful cause as me, my lyf to lede
In alle Ioye and seurtee, out of drede.
120. Ye, blisful god, han me so wel beset
In love, y-wis, that al that bereth lyf 835
Imaginen ne cowde how to ben bet;
For, lord, with-outen Ialousye or stryf,
I love oon which that is most ententyf
To serven wel, unwery or unfeyned,
That ever was, and leest with harm distreyned. 840
121. As he that is the welle of worthinesse,
Of trouthe ground, mirour of goodliheed,
Of wit Appollo, stoon of sikernesse,
Of vertu rote, of lust findere and heed,
Thurgh which is alle sorwe fro me deed, 845
Y-wis, I love him best, so doth he me;
Now good thrift have he, wher-so that he be!
122. Whom sholde I thanke but yow, god of love,
Of al this blisse, in which to bathe I ginne?
And thanked be ye, lord, for that I love! 850
This is the righte lyf that I am inne,
To flemen alle manere vyce and sinne:
This doth me so to vertu for to entende,
That day by day I in my wil amende.
123. And who-so seyth that for to love is vyce, 855
Or thraldom, though he fele in it distressse,
He outher is envyous, or right nyce,
Or is unmighty, for his shrewednesse,
To loven; for swich maner folk, I gesse,
Defamen love, as no-thing of him knowe; 860
They speken, but they bente never his bowe.
124. What is the sonne wers, of kinde righte,
Though that a man, for feblesse of his yën,
May nought endure on it to see for brighte?
Or love the wers, though wrecches on it cryen? 865
No wele is worth, that may no sorwe dryen.
And for-thy, who that hath an heed of verre,
Fro cast of stones war him in the werre!
125. But I with al myn herte and al my might,
As I have seyd, wol love, un-to my laste, 870
My dere herte, and al myn owene knight,
In which myn herte growen is so faste,
And his in me, that it shal ever laste.
Al dredde I first to love him to biginne,
Now woot I wel, ther is no peril inne.' 875
126. And of hir song right with that word she stente,
And therwith-al, 'now, nece,' quod Criseyde,
'Who made this song with so good entente?'
Antigone answerde anoon, and seyde,
'Ma dame, y-wis, the goodlieste mayde 880
Of greet estat in al the toun of Troye;
And let hir lyf in most honour and Ioye.'
127. 'Forsothe, so it semeth by hir song,'
Quod tho Criseyde, and gan ther-with to syke,
And seyde, 'lord, is there swich blisse among 885
These lovers, as they conne faire endyte?'
'Ye, wis,' quod fresh Antigone the whyte,
'For alle the folk that han or been on lyve
Ne conne wel the blisse of love discryve.
128. But wene ye that every wrecche woot 890
The parfit blisse of love? why, nay, y-wis;
They wenen al be love, if oon be hoot;
Do wey, do wey, they woot no-thing of this!
Men mosten axe at seyntes if it is
Aught fair in hevene; why? for they conne telle; 895
And axen fendes, is it foul in helle.'
129. Criseyde un-to that purpos nought answerde,
But seyde, 'y-wis, it wol be night as faste.'
But every word which that she of hir herde,
She gan to prenten in hir herte faste; 900
And ay gan love hir lasse for to agaste
Than it dide erst, and sinken in hir herte,
That she wex somwhat able to converte.
130. The dayes honour, and the hevenes yë,
The nightes fo, al this clepe I the sonne, 905
Gan westren faste, and dounward for to wrye,
As he that hadde his dayes cours y-ronne;
And whyte thinges wexen dimme and donne
For lak of light, and sterres for to appere,
That she and al hir folk in wente y-fere. 910
131. So whan it lyked hir to goon to reste,
And voyded weren they that voyden oughte,
She seyde, that to slepe wel hir leste.
Hir wommen sone til hir bed hir broughte.
Whan al was hust, than lay she stille, and thoughte 915
Of al this thing the manere and the wyse.
Reherce it nedeth nought, for ye ben wyse.
132. A nightingale, upon a cedre grene,
Under the chambre-wal ther as she lay,
Ful loude sang ayein the mone shene, 920
Paraunter, in his briddes wyse, a lay
Of love, that made hir herte fresh and gay.
That herkned she so longe in good entente,
Til at the laste the dede sleep hir hente.
133. And, as she sleep, anoon-right tho hir mette, 925
How that an egle, fethered whyt as boon,
Under hir brest his longe clawes sette,
And out hir herte he rente, and that a-noon,
And dide his herte in-to hir brest to goon,
Of which she nought agroos ne no-thing smerte, 930
And forth he fleigh, with herte left for herte.
134. Now lat hir slepe, and we our tales holde
Of Troilus, that is to paleys riden,
Fro the scarmuch, of the whiche I tolde,
And in his chambre sit, and hath abiden 935
Til two or three of his messages yeden
For Pandarus, and soughten him ful faste,
Til they him founde, and broughte him at the laste.
135. This Pandarus com leping in at ones
And seide thus, 'who hath ben wel y-bete 940
To-day with swerdes, and with slinge-stones,
But Troilus, that hath caught him an hete?'
And gan to Iape, and seyde, 'lord, so ye swete!
But rys, and lat us soupe and go to reste;'
And he answerde him, 'do we as thee leste.' 945
136. With al the haste goodly that they mighte,
They spedde hem fro the souper un-to bedde;
And every wight out at the dore him dighte,
And wher him list upon his wey he spedde;
But Troilus, that thoughte his herte bledde 950
For wo, til that he herde som tydinge,
He seyde, 'freend, shal I now wepe or singe?'
137. Quod Pandarus, 'ly stille, and lat me slepe,
And don thyn hood, thy nedes spedde be;
And chese, if thou wolt singe or daunce or lepe; 955
At shorte wordes, thow shall trowe me.--
Sire, my nece wol do wel by thee,
And love thee best, by god and by my trouthe,
But lak of pursuit make it in thy slouthe.
138. For thus ferforth I have thy work bigonne, 960
Fro day to day, til this day, by the morwe,
Hir love of freendship have I to thee wonne,
And also hath she leyd hir feyth to borwe.
Algate a foot is hameled of thy sorwe.'
What sholde I lenger sermon of it holde? 965
As ye han herd bifore, al he him tolde.
139. But right as floures, thorugh the colde of night
Y-closed, stoupen on hir stalkes lowe,
Redressen hem a-yein the sonne bright,
And spreden on hir kinde cours by rowe; 970
Right so gan tho his eyen up to throwe
This Troilus, and seyde, 'O Venus dere,
Thy might, thy grace, y-heried be it here!'
140. And to Pandare he held up bothe his hondes,
And seyde, 'lord, al thyn be that I have; 975
For I am hool, al brosten been my bondes;
A thousand Troians who so that me yave,
Eche after other, god so wis me save,
Ne mighte me so gladen; lo, myn herte,
It spredeth so for Ioye, it wol to-sterte! 980
141. But lord, how shal I doon, how shal I liven?
Whan shal I next my dere herte see?
How shal this longe tyme a-wey be driven,
Til that thou be ayein at hir fro me?
Thou mayst answere, "a-byd, a-byd," but he 985
That hangeth by the nekke, sooth to seyne,
In grete disese abydeth for the peyne.'
142. 'Al esily, now, for the love of Marte,'
Quod Pandarus, 'for every thing hath tyme;
So longe abyd til that the night departe; 990
For al so siker as thow lyst here by me,
And god toforn, I wol be there at pryme,
And for thy werk somwhat as I shal seye,
Or on som other wight this charge leye.
143. For pardee, god wot, I have ever yit 995
Ben redy thee to serve, and to this night
Have I nought fayned, but emforth my wit
Don al thy lust, and shal with al my might.
Do now as I shal seye, and fare a-right;
And if thou nilt, wyte al thy-self thy care, 1000
On me is nought along thyn yvel fare.
144. I woot wel that thow wyser art than I
A thousand fold, but if I were as thou,
God helpe me so, as I wolde outrely,
Right of myn owene hond, wryte hir right now 1005
A lettre, in which I wolde hir tellen how
I ferde amis, and hir beseche of routhe;
Now help thy-self, and leve it not for slouthe.
145. And I my-self shal ther-with to hir goon;
And whan thou wost that I am with hir there, 1010
Worth thou up-on a courser right anoon,
Ye, hardily, right in thy beste gere,
And ryd forth by the place, as nought ne were,
And thou shalt finde us, if I may, sittinge
At som windowe, in-to the strete lokinge. 1015
146. And if thee list, than maystow us saluwe,
And up-on me makë thy contenaunce;
But, by thy lyf, be war and faste eschuwe
To tarien ought, god shilde us fro mischaunce!
Ryd forth thy wey, and hold thy governaunce; 1020
And we shal speke of thee som-what, I trowe,
Whan thou art goon, to do thyne eres glowe!
147. Touching thy lettre, thou art wys y-nough,
I woot thow nilt it digneliche endyte;
As make it with thise argumentes tough; 1025
Ne scrivenish or craftily thou it wryte;
Beblotte it with thy teres eek a lyte;
And if thou wryte a goodly word al softe,
Though it be good, reherce it not to ofte.
148. For though the beste harpour upon lyve 1030
Wolde on the beste souned Ioly harpe
That ever was, with alle his fingres fyve,
Touche ay o streng, or ay o werbul harpe,
Were his nayles poynted never so sharpe,
It shulde maken every wight to dulle, 1035
To here his glee, and of his strokes fulle.
149. Ne Iompre eek no discordaunt thing y-fere,
As thus, to usen termes of phisyk;
In loves termes, hold of thy matere
The forme alwey, and do that it be lyk; 1040
For if a peyntour wolde peynte a pyk
With asses feet, and hede it as an ape,
It cordeth nought; so nere it but a Iape.'
150. This counseyl lyked wel to Troilus;
But, as a dreedful lover, he seyde this:-- 1045
'Allas, my dere brother Pandarus,
I am ashamed for to wryte, y-wis,
Lest of myn innocence I seyde a-mis,
Or that she nolde it for despyt receyve;
Thanne were I deed, ther mighte it no-thing weyve.' 1050
151. To that Pandare answerde, 'if thee lest,
Do that I seye, and lat me therwith goon;
For by that lord that formed est and west,
I hope of it to bringe answere anoon
Right of hir hond, and if that thou nilt noon, 1055
Lat be; and sory mote he been his lyve,
Ayeins thy lust that helpeth thee to thryve.'
152. Quod Troilus, 'Depardieux, I assente;
Sin that thee list, I will aryse and wryte;
And blisful god preye ich, with good entente, 1060
The vyage, and the lettre I shal endyte,
So spede it; and thou, Minerva, the whyte,
Yif thou me wit my lettre to devyse:'
And sette him doun, and wroot right in this wyse.--
153. First he gan hir his righte lady calle, 1065
His hertes lyf, his lust, his sorwes leche,
His blisse, and eek this othere termes alle,
That in swich cas these loveres alle seche;
And in ful humble wyse, as in his speche,
He gan him recomaunde un-to hir grace; 1070
To telle al how, it axeth muchel space.
154. And after this, ful lowly he hir prayde
To be nought wrooth, though he, of his folye,
So hardy was to hir to wryte, and seyde,
That love it made, or elles moste he dye, 1075
And pitously gan mercy for to crye;
And after that he seyde, and ley ful loude,
Him-self was litel worth, and lesse he coude;
155. And that she sholde han his conning excused,
That litel was, and eek he dredde hir so, 1080
And his unworthinesse he ay acused;
And after that, than gan he telle his wo;
But that was endeles, with-outen ho;
And seyde, he wolde in trouthe alwey him holde;--
And radde it over, and gan the lettre folde. 1085
156. And with his salte teres gan he bathe
The ruby in his signet, and it sette
Upon the wex deliverliche and rathe;
Ther-with a thousand tymes, er he lette,
He kiste tho the lettre that he shette, 1090
And seyde, 'lettre, a blisful destenee
Thee shapen is, my lady shal thee see.'
157. This Pandare took the lettre, and that by tyme
A-morwe, and to his neces paleys sterte,
And faste he swoor, that it was passed pryme, 1095
And gan to Iape, and seyde, 'y-wis, myn herte,
So fresh it is, al-though it sore smerte,
I may not slepe never a Mayes morwe;
I have a Ioly wo, a lusty sorwe.'
158. Criseyde, whan that she hir uncle herde, 1100
With dreedful herte, and desirous to here
The cause of his cominge, thus answerde,
'Now by your feyth, myn uncle,' quod she, 'dere,
What maner windes gydeth yow now here?
Tel us your Ioly wo and your penaunce, 1105
How ferforth be ye put in loves daunce.'
159. 'By god,' quod he, 'I hoppe alwey bihinde!'
And she to-laugh, it thoughte hir herte breste.
Quod Pandarus, 'loke alwey that ye finde
Game in myn hood, but herkneth, if yow leste; 1110
Ther is right now come in-to toune a geste,
A Greek espye, and telleth newe thinges,
For which come I to telle yow tydinges.
160. Into the gardin go we, and we shal here,
Al prevely, of this a long sermoun.' 1115
With that they wenten arm in arm y-fere
In-to the gardin from the chaumbre doun.
And whan that he so fer was that the soun
Of that he speke, no man here mighte,
He seyde hir thus, and out the lettre plighte, 1120
161. 'Lo, he that is al hoolly youres free
Him recomaundeth lowly to your grace,
And sent to you this lettre here by me;
Avyseth you on it, whan ye han space,
And of som goodly answere yow purchace; 1125
Or, helpe me god, so pleynly for to seyne,
He may not longe liven for his peyne.'
162. Ful dredfully tho gan she stonde stille,
And took it nought, but al hir humble chere
Gan for to chaunge, and seyde, 'scrit ne bille, 1130
For love of god, that toucheth swich matere,
Ne bring me noon; and also, uncle dere,
To myn estat have more reward, I preye,
Than to his lust; what sholde I more seye?
163. And loketh now if this be resonable, 1135
And letteth nought, for favour ne for slouthe,
To seyn a sooth; now were it covenable
To myn estat, by god, and by your trouthe,
To taken it, or to han of him routhe,
In harming of my-self or in repreve? 1140
Ber it a-yein, for him that ye on leve!'
164. This Pandarus gan on hir for to stare,
And seyde, 'now is this the grettest wonder
That ever I sey! lat be this nyce fare!
To deethe mote I smiten be with thonder, 1145
If, for the citee which that stondeth yonder,
Wolde I a lettre un-to yow bringe or take
To harm of yow; what list yow thus it make?
165. But thus ye faren, wel neigh alle and some,
That he that most desireth yow to serve, 1150
Of him ye recche leest wher he bicome,
And whether that he live or elles sterve.
But for al that that ever I may deserve,
Refuse it nought,' quod he, and hente hir faste,
And in hir bosom the lettre doun he thraste, 1155
166. And seyde hir, 'now cast it away anoon,
That folk may seen and gauren on us tweye.'
Quod she, 'I can abyde til they be goon,'
And gan to smyle, and seyde him, 'eem, I preye,
Swich answere as yow list your-self purveye, 1160
For trewely I nil no lettre wryte.'
'No? than wol I,' quod he, 'so ye endyte.'
167. Therwith she lough, and seyde, 'go we dyne.'
And he gan at him-self to iape faste,
And seyde, 'nece, I have so greet a pyne 1165
For love, that every other day I faste'--
And gan his beste Iapes forth to caste;
And made hir so to laughe at his folye,
That she for laughter wende for to dye.
168. And whan that she was comen in-to halle, 1170
'Now, eem,' quod she, 'we wol go dyne anoon;'
And gan some of hir women to hir calle,
And streyght in-to hir chaumbre gan she goon;
But of hir besinesses, this was oon
A-monges othere thinges, out of drede, 1175
Ful prively this lettre for to rede;
169. Avysed word by word in every lyne,
And fond no lak, she thoughte he coude good;
And up it putte, and went hir in to dyne.
And Pandarus, that in a study stood, 1180
Er he was war, she took him by the hood,
And seyde, 'ye were caught er that ye wiste;'
'I vouche sauf,' quod he, 'do what yow liste.'
170. Tho wesshen they, and sette hem doun and ete;
And after noon ful sleyly Pandarus 1185
Gan drawe him to the window next the strete,
And seyde, 'nece, who hath arayed thus
The yonder hous, that stant afor-yeyn us?'
'Which hous?' quod she, and gan for to biholde,
And knew it wel, and whos it was him tolde, 1190
171. And fillen forth in speche of thinges smale,
And seten in the window bothe tweye.
Whan Pandarus saw tyme un-to his tale,
And saw wel that hir folk were alle aweye,
'Now, nece myn, tel on,' quod he, 'I seye, 1195
How lyketh yow the lettre that ye woot?
Can he ther-on? for, by my trouthe, I noot.'
172. Therwith al rosy hewed tho wex she,
And gan to humme, and seyde, 'so I trowe.'
'Aquyte him wel, for goddes love,' quod he; 1200
'My-self to medes wol the lettre sowe,'
And held his hondes up, and sat on knowe,
'Now, goode nece, be it never so lyte,
Yif me the labour, it to sowe and plyte.'
173. 'Ye, for I can so wryte,' quod she tho; 1205
'And eek I noot what I sholde to him seye.'
'Nay, nece,' quod Pandare, 'sey not so;
Yet at the leste thanketh him, I preye,
Of his good wil, and doth him not to deye.
Now for the love of me, my nece dere, 1210
Refuseth not at this tyme my preyere.'
174. 'Depar-dieux,' quod she, 'god leve al be wel!
God helpe me so, this is the firste lettre
That ever I wroot, ye, al or any del.'
And in-to a closet, for to avyse hir bettre, 1215
She wente allone, and gan hir herte unfettre
Out of disdaynes prison but a lyte;
And sette hir doun, and gan a lettre wryte,
175. Of which to telle in short is myn entente
Theffect, as fer as I can understonde:-- 1220
She thonked him of al that he wel mente
Towardes hir, but holden him in honde
She nolde nought, ne make hir-selven bonde
In love, but as his suster, him to plese,
She wolde fayn, to doon his herte an ese. 1225
176. She shette it, and to Pandarus gan goon,
There as he sat and loked in-to strete,
And doun she sette hir by him on a stoon
Of Iaspre, up-on a quisshin gold y-bete,
And seyde, 'as wisly helpe me god the grete, 1230
I never dide a thing with more peyne
Than wryte this, to which ye me constreyne;'
177. And took it him: he thonked hir and seyde,
'God woot, of thing ful ofte looth bigonne
Cometh ende good; and nece myn, Criseyde, 1235
That ye to him of hard now ben y-wonne
Oughte he be glad, by god and yonder sonne!
For-why men seyth, "impressiounes lighte
Ful lightly been ay redy to the flighte."
178. But ye han pleyed tyraunt neigh to longe, 1240
And hard was it your herte for to grave;
Now stint, that ye no longer on it honge,
Al wolde ye the forme of daunger save.
But hasteth yow to doon him Ioye have;
For trusteth wel, to longe y-doon hardnesse 1245
Causeth despyt ful often, for distresse.'
179. And right as they declamed this matere,
Lo, Troilus, right at the stretes ende,
Com ryding with his tenthe some y-fere,
Al softely, and thiderward gan bende 1250
Ther-as they sete, as was his wey to wende
To paleys-ward; and Pandare him aspyde,
And seyde, 'nece, y-see who cometh here ryde!
180. O flee not in, he seeth us, I suppose;
Lest he may thinke that ye him eschuwe.' 1255
'Nay, nay,' quod she, and wex as reed as rose.
With that he gan hir humbly to saluwe,
With dreedful chere, and ofte his hewes muwe;
And up his look debonairly he caste,
And bekked on Pandare, and forth he paste. 1260
181. God woot if he sat on his hors a-right,
Or goodly was beseyn, that ilke day!
God woot wher he was lyk a manly knight!
What sholde I drecche, or telle of his aray?
Criseyde, which that alle these thinges say, 1265
To telle in short, hir lyked al y-fere,
His persone, his aray, his look, his chere,
182. His goodly manere and his gentillesse,
So wel, that never, sith that she was born,
Ne hadde she swich routhe of his distresse; 1270
And how-so she hath hard ben her-biforn,
To god hope I, she hath now caught a thorn.
She shal not pulle it out this nexte wyke;
God sende mo swich thornes on to pyke!
183. Pandare, which that stood hir faste by, 1275
Felte iren hoot, and he bigan to smyte,
And seyde, 'nece, I pray yow hertely,
Tel me that I shal axen yow a lyte.
A womman, that were of his deeth to wyte,
With-outen his gilt, but for hir lakked routhe, 1280
Were it wel doon?' Quod she, 'nay, by my trouthe!'
184. 'God helpe me so,' quod he, 'ye sey me sooth.
Ye felen wel your-self that I not lye;
Lo, yond he rit!' Quod she, 'ye, so he dooth.'
'Wel,' quod Pandare, 'as I have told yow thrye, 1285
Lat be your nyce shame and your folye,
And spek with him in esing of his herte;
Lat nycetee not do yow bothe smerte.'
185. But ther-on was to heven and to done;
Considered al thing, it may not be; 1290
And why, for shame; and it were eek to sone
To graunten him so greet a libertee.
'For playnly hir entente,' as seyde she,
Was for to love him unwist, if she mighte,
And guerdon him with no-thing but with sighte.' 1295
186. But Pandarus thoughte, 'it shal not be so,
If that I may; this nyce opinioun
Shal not be holden fully yeres two.'
What sholde I make of this a long sermoun?
He moste assente on that conclusioun 1300
As for the tyme; and whan that it was eve,
And al was wel, he roos and took his leve.
187. And on his wey ful faste homward he spedde,
And right for Ioye he felte his herte daunce;
And Troilus he fond alone a-bedde, 1305
That lay as dooth these loveres, in a traunce,
Bitwixen hope and derk desesperaunce.
But Pandarus, right at his in-cominge,
He song, as who seyth, 'lo! sumwhat I bringe.'
188. And seyde, 'who is in his bed so sone 1310
Y-buried thus?' 'It am I, freend,' quod he.
'Who, Troilus? nay helpe me so the mone,'
Quod Pandarus, 'thou shalt aryse and see
A charme that was sent right now to thee,
The which can helen thee of thyn accesse, 1315
If thou do forth-with al thy besinesse.'
189. 'Ye, through the might of god!' quod Troilus.
And Pandarus gan him the lettre take,
And seyde, 'pardee, god hath holpen us;
Have here a light, and loke on al this blake.' 1320
But ofte gan the herte glade and quake
Of Troilus, whyl that he gan it rede,
So as the wordes yave him hope or drede.
190. But fynally, he took al for the beste
That she him wroot, for sumwhat he biheld 1325
On which, him thoughte, he mighte his herte reste,
Al covered she the wordes under sheld.
Thus to the more worthy part he held,
That, what for hope and Pandarus biheste,
His grete wo for-yede he at the leste. 1330
191. But as we may alday our-selven see,
Through more wode or col, the more fyr;
Right so encrees of hope, of what it be,
Therwith ful ofte encreseth eek desyr;
Or, as an ook cometh of a litel spyr, 1335
So through this lettre, which that she him sente,
Encresen gan desyr, of which he brente.
192. Wherfore I seye alwey, that day and night
This Troilus gan to desiren more
Than he dide erst, thurgh hope, and dide his might 1340
To pressen on, as by Pandarus lore,
And wryten to hir of his sorwes sore
Fro day to day; he leet it not refreyde,
That by Pandare he wroot somwhat or seyde;
193. And dide also his othere observaunces 1345
That to a lovere longeth in this cas;
And, after that these dees turnede on chaunces,
So was he outher glad or seyde 'allas!'
And held after his gestes ay his pas;
And aftir swiche answeres as he hadde, 1350
So were his dayes sory outher gladde.
194. But to Pandare alwey was his recours,
And pitously gan ay til him to pleyne,
And him bisoughte of rede and som socours;
And Pandarus, that sey his wode peyne, 1355
Wex wel neigh deed for routhe, sooth to seyne,
And bisily with al his herte caste
Som of his wo to sleen, and that as faste;
195. And seyde, 'lord, and freend, and brother dere, God woot that thy disese dooth me wo. 1360 But woltow stinten al this woful chere, And, by my trouthe, or it be dayes two, And god to-forn, yet shal I shape it so, That thou shalt come in-to a certayn place, Ther-as thou mayst thy-self hir preye of grace. 1365
196. And certainly, I noot if thou it wost,
But tho that been expert in love it seye,
It is oon of the thinges that furthereth most,
A man to have a leyser for to preye,
And siker place his wo for to biwreye; 1370
For in good herte it moot som routhe impresse,
To here and see the giltles in distresse.
197. Paraunter thenkestow: though it be so
That kinde wolde doon hir to biginne
To han a maner routhe up-on my wo, 1375
Seyth Daunger, "Nay, thou shalt me never winne;
So reuleth hir hir hertes goost with-inne,
That, though she bende, yet she stant on rote;
What in effect is this un-to my bote?"
198. Thenk here-ayeins, whan that the sturdy ook, 1380
On which men hakketh ofte, for the nones,
Receyved hath the happy falling strook,
The grete sweigh doth it come al at ones,
As doon these rokkes or these milne-stones.
For swifter cours cometh thing that is of wighte, 1385
Whan it descendeth, than don thinges lighte.
199. And reed that boweth doun for every blast,
Ful lightly, cesse wind, it wol aryse;
But so nil not an ook whan it is cast;
It nedeth me nought thee longe to forbyse. 1390
Men shal reioysen of a greet empryse
Acheved wel, and stant with-outen doute,
Al han men been the lenger ther-aboute.
200. But, Troilus, yet tel me, if thee lest,
A thing now which that I shal axen thee; 1395
Which is thy brother that thou lovest best
As in thy verray hertes privetee?'
'Y-wis, my brother Deiphebus,' quod he.
'Now,' quod Pandare, 'er houres twyes twelve,
He shal thee ese, unwist of it him-selve. 1400
201. Now lat me allone, and werken as I may,'
Quod he; and to Deiphebus wente he tho
Which hadde his lord and grete freend ben ay;
Save Troilus, no man he lovede so.
To telle in short, with-outen wordes mo, 1405
Quod Pandarus, 'I pray yow that ye be
Freend to a cause which that toucheth me.'
202. 'Yis, pardee,' quod Deiphebus, 'wel thow wost,
In al that ever I may, and god to-fore,
Al nere it but for man I love most, 1410
My brother Troilus; but sey wherfore
It is; for sith that day that I was bore,
I nas, ne never-mo to been I thinke,
Ayeins a thing that mighte thee for-thinke.'
203. Pandare gan him thonke, and to him seyde, 1415
'Lo, sire, I have a lady in this toun,
That is my nece, and called is Criseyde,
Which som men wolden doon oppressioun,
And wrongfully have hir possessioun:
Wherfor I of your lordship yow biseche 1420
To been our freend, with-oute more speche.'
204. Deiphebus him answerde, 'O, is not this,
That thow spekest of to me thus straungely,
Crisëyda, my freend?' He seyde, 'Yis.'
'Than nedeth,' quod Deiphebus hardely, 1425
'Na-more to speke, for trusteth wel, that I
Wol be hir champioun with spore and yerde;
I roughte nought though alle hir foos it herde.
205. But tel me, thou that woost al this matere,
How I might best avaylen? now lat see.' 1430
Quod Pandarus, 'if ye, my lord so dere,
Wolden as now don this honour to me,
To prayen hir to-morwe, lo, that she
Com un-to yow hir pleyntes to devyse,
Hir adversaries wolde of hit agryse. 1435
206. And if I more dorste preye as now,
And chargen yow to have so greet travayle,
To han som of your bretheren here with yow,
That mighten to hir cause bet avayle,
Than, woot I wel, she mighte never fayle 1440
For to be holpen, what at your instaunce,
What with hir othere freendes governaunce.'
207. Deiphebus, which that comen was, of kinde,
To al honour and bountee to consente,
Answerde, 'it shal be doon; and I can finde 1445
Yet gretter help to this in myn entente.
What wolt thow seyn, if I for Eleyne sente
To speke of this? I trowe it be the beste;
For she may leden Paris as hir leste.
208. Of Ector, which that is my lord, my brother, 1450
It nedeth nought to preye him freend to be;
For I have herd him, o tyme and eek other,
Speke of Criseyde swich honour, that he
May seyn no bet, swich hap to him hath she.
It nedeth nought his helpes for to crave; 1455
He shal be swich, right as we wole him have.
209. Spek thou thy-self also to Troilus
On my bihalve, and pray him with us dyne.'
'Sire, al this shal be doon,' quod Pandarus;
And took his leve, and never gan to fyne, 1460
But to his neces hous, as streyt as lyne,
He com; and fond hir fro the mete aryse;
And sette him doun, and spak right in this wyse.
210. He seyde, 'O veray god, so have I ronne!
Lo, nece myn, see ye nought how I swete? 1465
I noot whether ye the more thank me conne.
Be ye nought war how that fals Poliphete
Is now aboute eft-sones for to plete,
And bringe on yow advocacyës newe?'
'I? no,' quod she, and chaunged al hir hewe. 1470
211. 'What is he more aboute, me to drecche
And doon me wrong? what shal I do, allas?
Yet of him-self no-thing ne wolde I recche,
Nere it for Antenor and Eneas,
That been his freendes in swich maner cas; 1475
But, for the love of god, myn uncle dere,
No fors of that, lat him have al y-fere;
212. With-outen that, I have ynough for us.'
'Nay,' quod Pandare, 'it shal no-thing be so.
For I have been right now at Deiphebus, 1480
And Ector, and myne othere lordes mo,
And shortly maked eche of hem his fo;
That, by my thrift, he shal it never winne
For ought he can, whan that so he biginne.'
213. And as they casten what was best to done, 1485
Deiphebus, of his owene curtasye,
Com hir to preye, in his propre persone,
To holde him on the morwe companye
At diner, which she nolde not denye,
But goodly gan to his preyere obeye. 1490
He thonked hir, and wente up-on his weye.
214. Whanne this was doon, this Pandare up a-noon,
To telle in short, and forth gan for to wende
To Troilus, as stille as any stoon,
And al this thing he tolde him, word and ende; 1495
And how that he Deiphebus gan to blende;
And seyde him, 'now is tyme, if that thou conne,
To bere thee wel to-morwe, and al is wonne.
215. Now spek, now prey, now pitously compleyne;
Lat not for nyce shame, or drede, or slouthe; 1500
Som-tyme a man mot telle his owene peyne;
Bileve it, and she shal han on thee routhe;
Thou shalt be saved by thy feyth, in trouthe.
But wel wot I, thou art now in a drede;
And what it is, I leye, I can arede. 1505
216. Thow thinkest now, "how sholde I doon al this?
For by my cheres mosten folk aspye,
That for hir love is that I fare a-mis;
Yet hadde I lever unwist for sorwe dye."
Now thenk not so, for thou dost greet folye. 1510
For right now have I founden o manere
Of sleighte, for to coveren al thy chere.
217. Thow shall gon over night, and that as blyve,
Un-to Deiphebus hous, as thee to pleye,
Thy maladye a-wey the bet to dryve, 1515
For-why thou semest syk, soth for to seye.
Sone after that, doun in thy bed thee leye,
And sey, thow mayst no lenger up endure,
And lye right there, and byde thyn aventure.
218. Sey that thy fever is wont thee for to take 1520
The same tyme, and lasten til a-morwe;
And lat see now how wel thou canst it make,
For, par-dee, syk is he that is in sorwe.
Go now, farewel! and, Venus here to borwe,
I hope, and thou this purpos holde ferme, 1525
Thy grace she shal fully ther conferme.'
219. Quod Troilus, 'y-wis, thou nedelees
Counseylest me, that sykliche I me feyne!
For I am syk in ernest, doutelees,
So that wel neigh I sterve for the peyne.' 1530
Quod Pandarus, 'thou shalt the bettre pleyne,
And hast the lasse nede to countrefete;
For him men demen hoot that men seen swete.
220. Lo, holde thee at thy triste cloos, and I
Shal wel the deer un-to thy bowe dryve.' 1535
Therwith he took his leve al softely,
And Troilus to paleys wente blyve.
So glad ne was he never in al his lyve;
And to Pandarus reed gan al assente,
And to Deiphebus hous at night he wente. 1540
221. What nedeth yow to tellen al the chere
That Deiphebus un-to his brother made,
Or his accesse, or his syklych manere,
How men gan him with clothes for to lade,
Whan he was leyd, and how men wolde him glade? 1545
But al for nought, he held forth ay the wyse
That ye han herd Pandare er this devyse.
222. But certeyn is, er Troilus him leyde,
Deiphebus had him prayed, over night,
To been a freend and helping to Criseyde. 1550
God woot, that he it grauntede anon-right,
To been hir fulle freend with al his might.
But swich a nede was to preye him thenne,
As for to bidde a wood man for to renne.
223. The morwen com, and neighen gan the tyme 1555
Of meel-tyd, that the faire quene Eleyne
Shoop hir to been, an houre after the pryme,
With Deiphebus, to whom she nolde feyne;
But as his suster, hoomly, sooth to seyne,
She com to diner in hir playn entente. 1560
But god and Pandare wiste al what this mente.
224. Come eek Criseyde, al innocent of this,
Antigone, hir sister Tarbe also;
But flee we now prolixitee best is,
For love of god, and lat us faste go 1565
Right to the effect, with-oute tales mo,
Why al this folk assembled in this place;
And lat us of hir saluinges pace.
225. Gret honour dide hem Deiphebus, certeyn,
And fedde hem wel with al that mighte lyke. 1570
But ever-more, 'allas!' was his refreyn,
'My goode brother Troilus, the syke,
Lyth yet'--and therwith-al he gan to syke;
And after that, he peyned him to glade
Hem as he mighte, and chere good he made. 1575
226. Compleyned eek Eleyne of his syknesse
So feithfully, that pitee was to here,
And every wight gan waxen for accesse
A leche anoon, and seyde, 'in this manere
Men curen folk; this charme I wol yow lere.' 1580
But there sat oon, al list hir nought to teche,
That thoughte, best coude I yet been his leche.
227. After compleynt, him gonnen they to preyse,
As folk don yet, whan som wight hath bigonne
To preyse a man, and up with prys him reyse 1585
A thousand fold yet hyer than the sonne:--
'He is, he can, that fewe lordes conne.'
And Pandarus, of that they wolde afferme,
He not for-gat hir preysing to conferme.
228. Herde al this thing Criseyde wel y-nough, 1590
And every word gan for to notifye;
For which with sobre chere hir herte lough;
For who is that ne wolde hir glorifye,
To mowen swich a knight don live or dye?
But al passe I, lest ye to longe dwelle; 1595
For for o fyn is al that ever I telle.
229. The tyme com, fro diner for to ryse,
And, as hem oughte, arisen everychoon,
And gonne a while of this and that devyse.
But Pandarus brak al this speche anoon, 1600
And seyde to Deiphebus, 'wole ye goon,
If yourë wille be, as I yow preyde,
To speke here of the nedes of Criseyde?'
230. Eleyne, which that by the hond hir held,
Took first the tale, and seyde, 'go we blyve;' 1605
And goodly on Criseyde she biheld,
And seyde, 'Ioves lat him never thryve,
That dooth yow harm, and bringe him sone of lyve!
And yeve me sorwe, but he shal it rewe,
If that I may, and alle folk be trewe.' 1610
231. 'Tel thou thy neces cas,' quod Deiphebus
To Pandarus, 'for thou canst best it telle.'--
'My lordes and my ladyes, it stant thus;
What sholde I lenger,' quod he, 'do yow dwelle?'
He rong hem out a proces lyk a belle, 1615
Up-on hir fo, that highte Poliphete,
So hëynous, that men mighte on it spete.
232. Answerde of this ech worse of hem than other,
And Poliphete they gonnen thus to warien,
'An-honged be swich oon, were he my brother; 1620
And so he shal, for it ne may not varien.'
What sholde I lenger in this tale tarien?
Pleynly, alle at ones, they hir highten,
To been hir helpe in al that ever they mighten.
233. Spak than Eleyne, and seyde, 'Pandarus, 1625
Woot ought my lord, my brother, this matere,
I mene, Ector? or woot it Troilus?'
He seyde, 'ye, but wole ye now me here?
Me thinketh this, sith Troilus is here,
It were good, if that ye wolde assente, 1630
She tolde hir-self him al this, er she wente.
234. For he wole have the more hir grief at herte,
By cause, lo, that she a lady is;
And, by your leve, I wol but right in sterte,
And do yow wite, and that anoon, y-wis, 1635
If that he slepe, or wole ought here of this.'
And in he lepte, and seyde him in his ere,
'God have thy soule, y-brought have I thy bere!'
235. To smylen of this gan tho Troilus,
And Pandarus, with-oute rekeninge, 1640
Out wente anoon to Eleyne and Deiphebus,
And seyde hem, 'so there be no taryinge,
Ne more pres, he wol wel that ye bringe
Crisëyda, my lady, that is here;
And as he may enduren, he wole here. 1645
236. But wel ye woot, the chaumbre is but lyte,
And fewe folk may lightly make it warm;
Now loketh ye, (for I wol have no wyte,
To bringe in prees that mighte doon him harm
Or him disesen, for my bettre arm), 1650
Wher it be bet she byde til eft-sones;
Now loketh ye, that knowen what to doon is.
237. I sey for me, best is, as I can knowe,
That no wight in ne wente but ye tweye,
But it were I, for I can, in a throwe, 1655
Reherce hir cas, unlyk that she can seye;
And after this, she may him ones preye
To ben good lord, in short, and take hir leve;
This may not muchel of his ese him reve.
238. And eek, for she is straunge, he wol forbere 1660
His ese, which that him thar nought for yow;
Eek other thing, that toucheth not to here,
He wol me telle, I woot it wel right now,
That secret is, and for the tounes prow.'
And they, that no-thing knewe of this entente, 1665
With-oute more, to Troilus in they wente.
239. Eleyne in al hir goodly softe wyse,
Gan him saluwe, and womanly to pleye,
And seyde, 'ywis, ye moste alweyes aryse!
Now fayre brother, beth al hool, I preye!' 1670
And gan hir arm right over his sholder leye,
And him with al hir wit to recomforte;
As she best coude, she gan him to disporte.
240. So after this quod she, 'we yow biseke,
My dere brother, Deiphebus, and I, 1675
For love of god, and so doth Pandare eke,
To been good lord and freend, right hertely,
Un-to Criseyde, which that certeinly
Receyveth wrong, as woot wel here Pandare,
That can hir cas wel bet than I declare.' 1680
241. This Pandarus gan newe his tunge affyle,
And al hir cas reherce, and that anoon;
Whan it was seyd, sone after, in a whyle,
Quod Troilus, 'as sone as I may goon,
I wol right fayn with al my might ben oon, 1685
Have god my trouthe, hir cause to sustene.'
'Good thrift have ye,' quod Eleyne the quene.
242. Quod Pandarus, 'and it your wille be,
That she may take hir leve, er that she go?'
'Or elles god for-bede,' tho quod he, 1690
'If that she vouche sauf for to do so.'
And with that word quod Troilus, 'ye two,
Deiphebus, and my suster leef and dere,
To yow have I to speke of o matere,
243. To been avysed by your reed the bettre':-- 1695
And fond, as hap was, at his beddes heed,
The copie of a tretis and a lettre,
That Ector hadde him sent to axen reed,
If swich a man was worthy to ben deed,
Woot I nought who; but in a grisly wyse 1700
He preyede hem anoon on it avyse.
244. Deiphebus gan this lettre to unfolde
In ernest greet; so dide Eleyne the quene;
And rominge outward, fast it gan biholde,
Downward a steyre, in-to an herber grene. 1705
This ilke thing they redden hem bi-twene;
And largely, the mountaunce of an houre,
They gonne on it to reden and to poure.
245. Now lat hem rede, and turne we anoon
To Pandarus, that gan ful faste prye 1710
That al was wel, and out he gan to goon
In-to the grete chambre, and that in hye,
And seyde, 'god save al this companye!
Com, nece myn; my lady quene Eleyne
Abydeth yow, and eek my lordes tweyne. 1715
246. Rys, take with yow your nece Antigone,
Or whom yow list, or no fors, hardily;
The lasse prees, the bet; com forth with me,
And loke that ye thonke humblely
Hem alle three, and, whan ye may goodly 1720
Your tyme y-see, taketh of hem your leve,
Lest we to longe his restes him bireve.'
247. Al innocent of Pandarus entente,
Quod tho Criseyde, 'go we, uncle dere';
And arm in arm inward with him she wente, 1725
Avysed wel hir wordes and hir chere;
And Pandarus, in ernestful manere,
Seyde, 'alle folk, for goddes love, I preye,
Stinteth right here, and softely yow pleye.
248. Aviseth yow what folk ben here with-inne, 1730
And in what plyt oon is, god him amende!
And inward thus ful softely biginne;
Nece, I coniure and heighly yow defende,
On his half, which that sowle us alle sende,
And in the vertue of corounes tweyne, 1735
Slee nought this man, that hath for yow this peyne!
249. Fy on the devel! thenk which oon he is,
And in what plyt he lyth; com of anoon;
Thenk al swich taried tyd, but lost it nis!
That wol ye bothe seyn, whan ye ben oon. 1740
Secoundelich, ther yet devyneth noon
Up-on yow two; com of now, if ye conne;
Whyl folk is blent, lo, al the tyme is wonne!
250. In titering, and pursuite, and delayes,
The folk devyne at wagginge of a stree; 1745
And though ye wolde han after merye dayes,
Than dar ye nought, and why? for she, and she
Spak swich a word; thus loked he, and he;
Lest tyme I loste, I dar not with yow dele;
Com of therfore, and bringeth him to hele.' 1750
251. But now to yow, ye lovers that ben here,
Was Troilus nought in a cankedort,
That lay, and mighte whispringe of hem here,
And thoughte, 'O lord, right now renneth my sort
Fully to dye, or han anoon comfort'; 1755
And was the firste tyme he shulde hir preye
Of love; O mighty god, what shal he seye?
EXPLICIT SECUNDUS LIBER.
RUBRIC. So Cp. H. 1-84. Lost in Cm. 4. Ed. connyng; H. coniynge(!); Cl. H2. comynge; Cp. c[=o]myng. 6. Cp. desespeir; H. desespeyre; Cl. desper. 8. H2. Clyo; rest Cleo. 11. Cl. H2. om. other. 15. Cl. nel. 17. H. Desblameth. 21. can nat] Cl. ne kan. 25. H. Ed. thynketh; Cl. Cp. thenketh. 37. Cl. al o; rest om.. al. 38. H. Ed. gamen; rest game. 39. Cl. om. that. 40. Ed. open; rest opyn. 41. H2. seying; rest seyde. 42. Cl. seyth. 46. H2. to me; rest thee. 49. H. Cp. folwen; Cl. folwe. 55. Cl. so it. 58. H2. shottis; Ed. shottes; Cl. H. shotes. 59. Cl. om. of loving. 61. fil] Cl. felt(!) 64. H. Proignee. 68. Cl. hym so neigh. // Cl. Cp. cheterynge; H. H2. chiteringe. 69. H2. Ed. Thereus (for Tereus); Cl. Cp. Tireux; H. Tryeux. 73. his] Cl. þe. 75. Cl. tok weye soone. 79. Cl. vn-to. 80. Cl. in forth. 81. Cl. sette; Cp. H. sete; H2. sate. 84. So all. 86. Cl. Cp. H. faire book; rest om. faire. 90. H. Cm. goode; Cl. good. H. Cm. mote; Cl. mot. 94. Cl. om. that. 95. H. herknen; rest herken (herkyn). 97. Cp. H. o; Cm. Ed. or; Cl. om. H2. Is it of love, some good ye may me lere. 99. Cl. om. tho. 101. Cl. that the; rest om. the. 102. All Edippus. 104. So all. 107. Cp. H. Ed. thassege. Cl. al the care; rest om. al. 110. barbe] Cm. wimpil. 113. Cl. A; Ed. Eighe; rest I. 115. So Cp. Cl. H. Ed.; Cm. H2. Ye makyn me be iouys sore adradde (a-drad). 116. as] Cl. that. 117. H. H2. sate; Cp. satte; rest sat; read sete. Cl. H. om. a. 120. Cl. I thriue; om. this. 123. Cp. H. Ed. thassege; Cm. H2. the sege. 124. Cp. fered. 126. So Cp. H. H2. Ed.; Cm. better (for wel bet); Cl. corrupt; see l. 128. 128. Ed. eighe (better ey); Cl. Cp. H. Cm. I. 131. Cl. om. vs. 134. H2. borow; Cm. borw; Cp. H. borugh; Ed. borowe; Cl. bourgh. 138. Cl. were; rest is. 141. wondren] Cl. Iape. 155. Cp. H. Ed. it; rest om. 159. H2. Ed. euery; Cl. H. al; Cp. alle. 160. H2. In; rest As (usually with al). 164. Cl. trewly; Cp. H. trewelich; Cm. trewely. 176. Cm. nought; H2. no thing (om. for); rest no more. 177. H. Cm. ther; Cl. ner. 179. Cp. H. Cm. than; Cl. that. 185. H. Cp. dredelees; Cl. Cm. dredles. 188. Cm. al the; Cl. Cp. H. alle; rest al. 194. Cl. Cm. gonne fro him. 195. Cl. fleld (for feld). 201. Cl.
lyf and sheld; Cp. H. Ed. sheld and lif; H2. sheld of lyf; Cm. schild and spere. 202. as] Cl. al. 204. H. Cm. freendlyeste; Cl. frendlyest. 206. Cl. felawship; H. felaweschipe. 207. Cl. thenketh. 212. Cl. womman; H2. woman; rest wommen. 215. Cl. two; Cm. to; rest tho. 216. Cm. Ed. herde; rest herd. 217. they two] Cl. that they. 220. Cm. H2. it; rest om. 221. Cl. Cm. H2. and lat. 223. Cl. yow-; rest your-. 224. Cl. it; rest is. // fair] Cp. gladde; Cm. H2. Ed. glad. 226. witen] Cl. wete. 227. Cl. om. this and tho. 238. Cl. Cm. wete; Cp. H. Ed. weten; H2. wite. // your] Cl. yow. 239. Cl. Cp. H. om. myn. 247. Cl. Cm. truste. 248. Cl. om. to me. // Cp. H. frende (error for fremde); H2. frend; Ed. fremed; Cl. Cm. frendly. 250. Cl. here he keste; rest om. he. 255. Cl. lo alwey. 259. Cl. tales (!) 260. H. sithen; Cp. Cm. sithe; Cl. sith. // Cl. Cm. H2. the ende. // Cl. ins. of after is. 262. H2. Ed. peynt; Cm. pente; rest poynte. 265. Cl. loke. 266. Cp. H. goode; rest good. 269. Cl. litel (!) 276. Cl. om. faste. // Cp. H. mauise. 279. Cm. thoughte; Cl. Cp. thought. 284. that] Cl. than. // Cl. weylen (!) 287. Cl. om. a. 289. and] Cl. if. 291. H. it slake; rest om. it. 296. Cl. toforn; rest biforn. 299. Cl. to yow; rest om. to. // Cl. H. Ed. sworne; rest sworn. 300. or] Cl. and. 301. All eye (eighe). 303. chaungeth] Cl. quaketh (!) 308. Cl. nolde; rest wolde. 309. Cl. H. Cp. om. my. 315. Cl. shal yow; rest om. yow. 317. H. Cm. goode; Cl. Cp. good. 323. Cl. thow; rest ye. // H2. lete; Cl. Cp. Cm. late; H. lat. 324. Cl. nel. // Cl. H. lye. 325. Cl. myn owene; rest my (myn). 326. All eyen (eighen). 328. Cl. giltles; H. Cm. gilteles. 329. mende] H2. wyn. 338. H. Cm. liste; Ed. lysteth; Cl. lyst. 349. If] Cl. And. 350. Cl. that ye; rest om. that. 351. this] Cm. H2. it; H. om. 359. Cl. behest. 368. Cl. to se; Cp. H. sen. 369. H2. a-yens; Ed. ayenst; H. ayeyn; Cm. ayen. 370. fool] Cl. fel (for fol). 371. Cl. frenship. 372. Cl. om. //What. 374. Cl. om. wel and. 380. Ed. wrie; Cm. wri; Cl. Cp. wre; H. were (!); H2. couere. 381. Cp. H. Cm. Ed. sauacioun; rest saluacioun. 383. Cm. H2. Ed. put alwey after nece. // Cm. goode; rest good. 384. Ed. H2. sugred. 385. Cp. Cm. for; Ed.
al; Cl. H. om. 386. Cl. herd. 387. meneth] H. Cm. mene. 388. Cl. wole. 389. sholde] Cl. shal. 395. Cl. H2. om. that. 401. Read think'th, ber'th (Cl. thenketh; Cp. H. berth). // Cl. Cp. H. heighe; Ed. Cm. hye. 403. Cl. ben growen; Cp. H. be growe; Ed. growe; Cm. hem waxen; H2. be wox. // All eye (eighe, ey, eyen). 405. H. H2. whiche; Cl. Cm. which; Cp. Ed. which that. 406. Cm. H2. om. Nece. // Cm. I bidde with (!); H2. I kepe than wisshe; (read Nec' I bidd' wisshë). 411. Cl. Cp. Ed. straunge; H. H2. straunge folk; Cm. straunge men. 413. Cp. H2. Ret; Ed. Rate; Cm. Redith; Cl. Bet (!); H. Let (!) 414. H. tristed. 421. this] Cl. that. 423. Cl. behest. 429. Cl. Ay; Cm. O; Ed. Ne; rest A. 435. H. dispitouse; Cm. dispituse; rest dispitous (despitous). 438. Cl. ins. ony (Cp. H. any, H2. eny) before vilanye. // Cl. vylonye. 446. Cl. certaynly. 448. Cl. hym agayn. 456. Cl. falles (sic). 460. Cl. wyl; Cp. H. wol. 461. Cl. of hit wold. 466. lyth] Cp. H. is. 468. Cl. don so. 474. Cl. H2. y-wis; rest wis. 480. Cm. H2. plese; rest plesen. 482. Cp. Ed. dredde; rest drede. 483. H. Ed. Cp. cesse; Cm. sese; (see l. 1388); Cl. cesseth. 486. H. Cm. Ed. sauacioun; rest saluacioun. 490. Cp. Ed. H2. Pandare; rest Pandarus. 491. Cp. H. truste; Cm. troste; rest trust. 494. Cp. Cm. doutelees; Cl. doutles. 496. Cm. Cp. after; H. efter; rest ofter (!) 500. love of god] Cl. Cp. H. his love. 505. a litel gan to] Cl. bygan for to. 507. Cl. go. // Cp. H. Ed. longe; rest long. 516. Cm. Ed. after; Cl. Cp. H. ther-after. 519. Cl. softly hym. 523. upon] Cl. on. 534. All eyen (eighen). 535. Cl. om. botme. 536. Cl. Cp. Cm. deyen. 537. Cp. Cm. Ed. bywreyen; Cl. H2. bywryen; H. wryen. 539. hem] Cl. hym. // asshen] Cl. asshe. 540. Cl. adown his hed. 541. Cp. H. Cm. trewely; rest trewly. 542. Cl. puts awey after I. 543. Cp. leet; H. lete; Cl. Cm. let. 549. Cl. ye do. 554. Cl. passede. 555. Cp. com; Cm. cam; rest come. 556. his] Cl. a. 562. Cp. com; rest come. 563. Cl. saluacioun. 564. Cl. ne hadde I routhe. 567. Cp. H. Cm. Ed. herte; rest hert. 570. Cl. puts was after depe. 574. see] Cl. do. // Cl. H. swone. 576. Cl. dreuen. 577. Cl. hath vs. 588. Cp. H. houre; Cl. Cm. oure. 589. Ed. H2. a ha; H.
ha a; Cm. Cp. ha ha; Cl. om. 590, 592, 593. Cl. del, wele, stel. 595. Cm. Cp. Ed. wel; H2. wele; Cl. H. wole I. 597. Cm. H2. Ed. Ye; rest And. // Cl. Cp. H. H2. om. how. 602. Cp. com; H2. cam; Ed. came; rest come. 603. Cm. wex; H2. wax; Ed. woxe; rest was. 611. Ed. Thascrye; Cm. The acry (sic); H2. In the skye (!); Cl. Cp. H. Ascry. 612. MSS. cryede, cried, criedyn. 615. H2. latis; rest yates. 616. this] Cl. that. 617. Cm. from; Ed. H2. fro; Cl. Cp. H. to. 618. Cl. Gardanus; H2. Cardanus; Cm. dardannis; rest Dardanus. // open] Cl. Cm. vp on. 624. Cl. H. Thus. Cp. Ed. baye; Cm. bay[gh]e; rest bay. 628. Cp. H. Cm. sighte; rest sight. 636. weldy] Cm. worthi. 642. Cl. thrilled. 643. Cp. cryde; Cl. cryede. 644. Cl. nexst. 648. All eyen, eighen. 650. Cl. Ed. it so softe. 651. Cl. seluen. 658. for] Cl. Ed. forth. 659. Cl. casten. 662. Cl. om. his bef. shap. 666. Read envýous. 669. All syght (wrongly). 670. thee] Cp. H. y-the. 677. H2. ins. hert (error for herte) bef. for. 681. Cl. seuenethe. 686. Cm. sonere; Ed. sooner; rest sonner. 694. Cl. she yn thought gan to. 696. Ed. don; H2. do; rest done. 697, 8. Cl. folde, colde. 700. Cp. H. Ed. tendite. 701. Cl. thought; see l. 699. 702. his] Cl. Cm. Ed. by. 710. H. sighte; rest sight. 713. H. No (for Now). // wys] H2. a fole. 718. Cl. drynklees; Cm. Cp. drynkeles. 719. Cl. Ek for me sith I wot. // Cl. al his; rest om. al. 720. Cp. Cm. aughte; rest ought, aught. 722. Cl. om. And. // Cl. Cm. long. 723. he] Cl. she (!) 724. Cl. Ne auaunter; Ed. No vauntour; Cp. H. Nauauntour. 725. vyce] Cl. nyse. 726. Cl. cherishe; rest cherice. 729. y-wis] Cl. wys. 733. H. Ed. alway. 734. wommen] Cl. a woman. // Cl. H. Cp. al bysyde hire leue; Cm. þour al this town aboute; Ed. H2. al this towne aboute. 735. So Cm. H2. Ed.; Cl. H. Cp. // And whanne hem leste no more lat hem byleue. 736. Cl. Ed. H2. om. for. 737. Cl. Cp. H. this ilke; rest om. ilke. // Cl. thryftiest (also worthiest in l. 739, and best in l. 740). 745. Cm. H2. no man; rest noon (none). 746. Cm. Cp. H. fayreste; rest fairest. 747. Cp. H. goodlieste; rest goodliest. 752. Ed. H. vnteyd; Cp. vnteyde; Cm. onteyed; rest vntyd. 753. Cl. H2. With-out. 757. Cl. om. 2nd I. 758. Cp. Ed.
leste; rest lyst (liste). 759. H. Cp. nought; rest not. 763. Cp. alle; rest al. 764. H. brighte; rest bright. 765. H. Cm. March; rest Marche. 766. All flight. 772. H. Cm. putte; rest put. 777. Cm. why; rest (except H2) weye (wey). // H2. Ther lovith none with-out bothe care and peyn (wrongly). 778. Cm. moste; Cl. meste. 781. Cp. Cm. the; rest that. 787. Cp. H. Ed. cessed; Cl. Cm. sesed. 791. Cl. at the; rest om. the. 792. Cp. H. y-knowen; Cl. knowe. // Cm. H2. Ed. tyme may men rede and se. 795. Cl. Cm. go; Cp. H. ago. 797. All bycometh; see l. 795. 800. Cl. Cp. H. dremen; rest demen (deme). 801. Cl. H. om. that. 804. Cp. H. Ed. stoppen; rest stoppe. 804, 5. Cl. tungen (!), rungen. // whyl] Cl. whanne. 814, 9. Cl. gardeyn. 819. Cm. folwede; Cl. folweden. 820. yerd] // Cl. gardeyn. 821. Cl. shadwede (om. wel). // Cl. bowes blosmy and grene. 830. Cl. herte. 833. Cp. H. alle; rest al; see 763. Cl. surete; H. Cm. H2. seurte. 834. Cp. H2. Ye; rest The. 838. Cl. om. that. 840. Cp. H. leest; Cl. Ed. H2. lest. 843. Of wit] Cl. With (!) // Cl. H. secrenesse (!) 844. lust] Cl. luf (!) 845. Cl. Cm. al; rest alle. 847. Cl. om. so. 851. Cm. ryghte; rest right. 857. Cf. l. 666. 860. Ed. H2. him; rest it; see 861. 862, 4. H. righte, bryghte; rest right, bryght. 863. Cl. Cp. feblesse; rest fieblenesse (febilnesse). // All eyen (eighen). 867. who] Cl. he (for ho). 872. Cl. H2. is growen. 876. Cl. stynte; H2. stynt. 882. Cp. H. Cm. let; rest led. 884. See note. 894. Cl. Cp. H. moste; Cm. miste; Ed. mote; H2. must. // at] Cl. of. 896. H2. axe; Ed. aske; Cl. H. Cp. axen; Cm. axith. // Cl. ful (for foul). 903. Cp. Cm. wex; Cl. was; rest wax. 904. Cl. heighe; Cp. H. heye; rest eye; read yë. 909. H. Cp. for tapere. 910. Cl. om. al. // in] Cm. H2. hom. 916. Cl. alle. 919. Under] Cl. Vp-on. 923. Cl. Cm. Ed. herkened; Cp. H. herkned. 924. Til] Cl. That. 934. H. scarmich; H2. Ed. scarmysshe. 936. yeden] Cm. ridyn. 937. Cl. sought. 938. Cp. H. Cm. laste; rest last. 939. Ed. came; rest come. 941. Cl. Cp. H2. slyng; H. sleynge (for slynge); Ed. slonge; Cm. slynging of. 942. Cl. now an; rest om. now. 943. Ed. Cm. om. so. 945. H. Ed. answerde; Cl. answered. 947. Cp. H. Ed. the; H2.
her; rest om. 950. Cl. Cp. H. Ed. om. that. 953. Cl. vs; rest me. 954. don] Cm. Ed. do on. // Cl. H2. sped; rest spedde. 955. Cl. om. And. 956. Cp. H. Cm. Ed. shorte; rest short. 957. So all. 959. lak] Cl. lat (!) // Cl. om. thy. 967. Cl. of the; rest om. the. 968. Ed. stalkes; H2. stalkys; Cm. stalke; rest stalk. 973. Cl. y-hered. 974. Cp. H2. Pandare; rest Pandarus. 976. Cl. bonden; Cm. woundis (!) 979. Cl. myght; Cp. H. Cm. myghte. 982. Cl. Whanne; nexst. 983. Cl. ben y-dreuen. 987. Cl. dishese. 995. Cp. H. Cm. yit; rest yet. 999. fare] Cl. do. 1001. along] Cl. y-long. 1002. Cl. om. wel. 1003. as] Cl. a. 1005. Cl. Cp. H. om. // Right. 1006. Cp. H. Ed. tellen; rest telle. 1009. Cl. myn-. // Cl. wil; Cp. H. wol; rest shal. 1011. Cl. Cm. om. thou. 1012. right] Cm. and that; Cl. om. 1015. All strete. 1016. H. leste; Cm. lyste; Cl. lyke; rest list. 1017. make] Cp. H. Ed. make thou; H2. thow make. 1022. Whan] Cl. Than. 1023. Cl. that thow; rest om. that. 1025. Cp. H. Ed. tough; Cl. towh; rest tow. 1026. Cm. om. it. 1030. Cm. Cp. Ed. beste; rest best. 1031. H. Cm. Cp. Ed. beste; rest best. // Cl. sounded. 1033. H2. werble; Ed. warble; H. warbul; Cm. warbele. 1035. Cp. H. maken; rest make. 1037. Cm. iumpere; Ed. iombre. 1039. of] Cl. vp. 1043. nere] Cl. Ed. were. 1044. H2. to; rest vn-to. 1049. Cl. Cm. om. it. 1051. H. Cm. answerde; Cl. answered. // Cp H. leste; Cm. Ed. lest; rest lyst. 1053. that lord] Cl. hym. 1055. Cl. Cp. H. om. Right. 1060. Cl. I pray; Cm. preye I; rest prey ich. 1063. Cp. H. Cm. Yif; Cl. Yef. 1064. Cp. H. sette; Cl. Ed. set; Cm. sat. 1065. Cl. om. hir. // Cm. ryghte; rest right. 1066. Cl. lece. 1068. Cl. alle these loueres. 1071. Cp. H. muchel; Cl. muche. 1072. Cl. H2. om. this. // Cl. louely; Ed. H2. lowly; rest lowely. 1077. Cp. H. leigh; H2. Ed. lyed. 1079. Cl. wold (for sholde). 1086. Cl. salty; Cp. Cm. Ed. salte; rest salt. 1090. H. Cm. Cp. Ed. kiste; Cl. cussed. 1093. Cl. Cm. Pandarus. 1095. it] Cl. is (!) 1097. Cp. Ed. H. sore; Cl. so. 1107. Cp. H. Cm. hoppe; rest hope. 1108. Cl. Ed. laughe; H. laugh; H2. lagh; Cm. law. // H. breste; rest brest. 1109. Ed. alway that ye; Cm. that ye alwey; rest om. that. 1111. come] Cl. y-come. 1112.
Cl. griek; Cp. greek; rest greke. 1113. Cm. H2. come I; Cl. I am come; Cp. H. Ed. I come. // Cl. Cp. H. Ed. ins. newe after yow. 1116. Cl. wente. 1119. Cl. they spoke; H. Ed. he spake (read speke); Cp. he spak; Cm. H2. his wordis. 1123. Cp. Ed. sente; rest sent. // H2. to; rest om. 1130. Ed. scripte. 1131. swich] Cl. this. 1137. Cm. H. seyn; Cl. sey. 1145. Cm. H2. Ed. dethe; rest deth. // smiten be] Cl. be smet. 1148. Cl. H2. to; rest it (better). 1149. Cp. H. neigh; Cl. nyh. // Cp. Cm. alle; Cl. H. al. 1154. Cl. hent. 1155. H2. doun the lettre cast; perhaps read doun the lettre thraste. 1156. Cl. or noon (for anoon). 1157. Cl. gaueren; rest gauren. 1159. Cl. Cm. om. him. 1160. your] Cl. yow. 1161. Cl. Ed. wol. 1162. Cl. thanne wole. 1172. Cl. som; rest some. 1174. Cp. Ed. besynesses; rest besynesse. 1181. Cl. Cp. H. om. him. 1182. Cl. H. H2. om. that. 1186. Cl. wyndowe nexst. 1188. Cl. aforn-yeyn; Cp. afor[gh]eyn; Ed. aforyene; H. aforyeynes; H2. aforyens; Cm. aforn. 1193. vn-to] Cl. Cm. to. 1194. Cl. Cp. H. weren. // Cl. H2. om. alle. 1198. Cl. Cm. om. tho. // Cp. H. Cm. wex; Cl. wax. 1202. Cl. honde. // Cm. fel; H2. fil; rest sat. 1214. Cl. wrote; ony. 1215. in-to] H2. in. 1217. Cm. disdainys; Ed. disdaynes; Cp. desdaynes; Cl. H. disdayns; H2. disdeynous. 1223. Cl. wolde. // Ed. Cp. seluen; H. selfen; rest self. 1225. Cp. fayn; Cl. H. fayne; Cm. ay fayn. // Cm. om. to. 1227. Cp. Ed. in-to; Cl. in-to a; rest in-to the. 1229. Cp. quysshyn; Cm. quysschyn; H. Ed. quysshen; Cl. quysshon; H2. cusshyn. 1238. All impressions. 1245. Cp. H. y-doon; Ed. ydone; rest don. 1247. they] Cl. he. 1250. Cl. softly: thederwardes. 1252. Cl. paylays; H. payleysse; rest paleys. // Ed. H2. Pandare; rest Pandarus. 1254. Cp. seeth; H. seth; Ed. sethe; Cl. seyth; Cm. sey. 1256. Cp. H. Cm. wex; Cl. wax. // Cl. as the rose; rest om. the. 1260. Cl. om. he. 1270. Cl. a routhe; rest om. a. 1273. Cp. Cm. nexte; Cl. nexst. 1278. Cl. H. Telle; rest Tel. 1284. Cp. Ed. H. yonde; Cl. H2. yend; Cm. yondir. // Cl. ritt; Cp. Cm. rit; Ed. rydeth; H. ride. // Cl. om. ye. 1298. Cp. H. Ed. holden; rest holde (hold). 1309. Ed. lo; rest om. 1313. Cl. Cp. ryse; Ed. vp ryse; rest aryse. 1317. Cl. Cp.
