Book III.

Incipit Prohemium Tertii Libri.

O blessed planet of which the clear beams adorn all the third fair sphere of heaven, O darling of the sun, dear daughter of Jove, giver of love's pleasance goodly gracious one, ever ready to repair to gentle hearts, O very cause of weal and of gladness, praised be thy might and bounty! In heaven and hell, in earth and in the salt sea, is felt thy power; man and beast, bird and fish, herb and green tree, if I see clearly, in their due seasons feel thy heavenly exhalation. God loves, and will not forbid to love, and no living creature in this world without love is worth aught or can endure. Thou first didst move Jove to those joyous deeds through which all things live and are, and madest him amorous of mortal beings; and as thou wouldst thou ever gavest him in love content or adversity, and madest him to come down in a thousand forms for love on earth, and to take whom thou wouldst. Thou dost appease the ire of fierce Mars. As thou wilt thou makest hearts noble; those that thou wilt set a-fire, they abandon vices and dread shame, thou makest them to be courteous, lusty and benign, and to high and low, after a wight's deserts, thy might sends what joys they have. Thou holdest kingdom and house in unity, thou art the faithful cause of friendship. Thou knowest all those covert properties of things at which folk wonder so, when they cannot construe how it may come about that she loves him or he her, even as why this fish and not that comes to the net. Thou hast set a law for folk through all the world, and this I know from lovers, that whoso strives with thee hath the worse. Now, lady bright of thy benignity teach me to describe in honor of those who serve thee, whose clerk I am, some of that joy which is felt in thy service. Pour feeling into my barren heart, and let me show thy sweetness! Calliope, be thy voice now present, for now is need! Seest thou not the strait I am in, how I must tell anon in Venus' praise the joy of Troilus? To which joy may God bring hint who has need!

Explicit prohemium tercii Libri

Incipit Liber Tercius.

All this meanwhile lay Troilus repeating his lesson in this wise: 'My faith! I will say thus and thus; I will lament thus to my dear lady. This word is good, and thus and thus I avid look. This and that I will be sure not to forget.' God grant him to do as he plans! And Lord, how his heart began to flutter and his sighs to come short, as he heard her come! Pandarus leading her by the robe, approached and began to peep in at the curtain, and said, 'God work a cure on all the sick! See who is come here to visit you; here she is who is to blame for your death'; and thereat it seemed as if he wept almost.

'Ah, ah,' said Troilus ruefully, 'God knows that I fare ill enough! Who is there? In faith, I see nothing.'

'Sir,' Criseyde said, 'it is Pandarus and I.'

'You, dear heart? Alas! I am not able to rise to kneel and do you honor'; and therewith he raised himself upright and she at once put both her hands softly upon him. 'Ah, for the love of God, do not so to me,' said she. 'Ah, what means this? Sir, I am come to you for only two causes-- first to thank you, and then to beseech you for continuance of your friendly lordship.'

When Troilus heard his lady pray him for lordship, he was between life and death for shame, nor could he have said a word in reply, though one had been about to smite off his head; and Lord, how ruddy he waxed all suddenly! And, sirs, the lesson that he thought he knew by heart to pray his lady with, was all run out of his memory.

Criseyde, who had a good wit, espied all this well enough and loved him none the less, though he were not malapert or pertinacious or over-bold, to sing a fool a mass. But what he said, when his shame had begun to go by, I will tell you as well as I can, as l find it in old books. The first word that escaped him was, twice, 'Mercy, mercy, dear heart!' And this he spoke in a voice changed and trembling for very fear, and his goodly bearing abashed his hue now red now pale, and his look down- cast, humble, and submissive. After these words he stopped a while, and his next words, when he could bring them out, were, 'God wot, so far as I have any wit at all, I have ever been all yours, and shall be till I am buried. Though I neither dare nor know how to make my lament to you, in faith I suffer none the less pain. This much I can utter now to the perfect woman whom I serve. If this displease you, right soon I will wreak it upon my own life, and do your heart a pleasure if my death can appease your wrath; for since you have once heard me say some- what, I reck not how soon I die.'

Therewith to behold his manly sorrow might have melted a heart of stone. Pandarus wept as if he would turn to water, and ever poked his niece and said, 'It is true hearts that suffer! For the love of God, make an end of this thing, or slay us both at once in this place!'

'Why, what?' quoth she. 'By my troth. I wot not what you would have me say.'

'Hy, what?' he answered. 'That you will have pity him and not kill him.'

'Well, then,' she said, 'I would pray him first to tell me his object and intent. I have never yet truly known what he means.'

'What I mean, sweet dear heart, goodly blooming noble one?' said Troilus. 'That you would sometimes look on me kindly with the beams of your clear eyes; and then agree that without hint of evil in any way I may be he always to do you faithful service, as to my own lady and chief delight, with all my wit and diligence; and that I should have, at your good pleasure and subject to your rod, comfort as great as my pain has been, and death if I break your commands; and that you deign to honor me so much as to lay any order upon me at any hour; and that I should be your true, humble, trusty servant, patient in my pains, evermore freshly desirous of diligent ser- vice, ready to receive your every desire with good will, however sorely I suffer:--this is my meaning, my own dear heart.'

'Lo, here is a hard request,' quoth Pandarus, 'reasonable for a lady to refuse! Now, my niece, were I a god you should die without mercy before the feast of Jove's birth, who have heard that this man desires naught but your honor, and see him wellnigh dying, and yet are so loath to suffer him to serve you.'

At that she began to turn her eyes on Troilus full simply and gently, whilst she considered with herself, and hastened not too fast with ever a word, but said soberly, 'Saving mine honor and in such form as he has now said, I am truly willing to receive hiln fully to my service; beseeching him for God's love and to the honor of faithfulness and nobility, that as I mean well to him so will he to me, and ever safeguard mine honor with prudence and diligence. And if from henceforth I can give him joys in truth I will not fail.--Now be all whole again, and mourn no longer. But nevertheless I give you this warning--king's son though you be, you shall have no more sovereignty over me in love than is right in such a case. If you do amiss, I will not forbear angering you; and whilst you serve me I will cherish you after your deserts. And in a word be glad, dear heart and all my knight, and be lusty and strong once more, and I will truly with all my power turn all your bitter into sweet. If I am she who may do you joy, for every woe you shall recover a felicity.' And then she took him in her arms and began to kiss him.

Pandarus fell on his knees, threw up his eyes to heaven and held his hands on high: 'Immortal god Cupid,' quoth he, 'of this thou mayst boast; and Venus, thou mayst make melody. For this miracle I seem to hear each bell in the town ring with- out hands! But stop, no more now of this, for these folk ere now will have read the letter and will be up anon. Hark! I hear them. But I conjure you, Criseyde, and you, Troilus, when you are able to walk, that you be in my house at my sum- mons when I shall devise your coming. There you shall re- lieve your hearts right well, and we shall see which shall bear the palm in talking of love,' and therewith he laughed, 'for there you shall have leisure for it!'

'How long must I wait ere this be done?' quoth Troilus.

'When you are up and about,' he replied, 'this shall be done as I have said.'

With that Helen and Deiphobus were coming up even at the top of the stair. And Lord! how Troilus began to groan, to hoodwink his brother and sister! Quoth Pandarus, 'It is time for us to go. Take your leave of all three, niece, and let them speak together, and come forth with me.'

She took her leave of them full discreetly, as she well knew how, and they saluted her with all regard, I warrant you; and when she was gone, they commended her demeanor, her distinction and her wit, till it was a joy to hear them.

Now we will leave her on the way to her own house, and turn again to Troilus, who full lightly dismissed the letter that Deiphobus had seen in the garden, and would fain have been rid of Helen and of him. He said that he would fain sleep, and after all that talk have rest. Helen kissed him and took her leave betimes, and Deiphobus also; and every wight went home, Pandarus, as fast as he could, came back to Troilus, and all that joyous night he lay on a pallet by him to chat, and glad they were to be together.

When every other wight was gone out and the doors were shut fast, to tell it shortly, Pandarus rose up and sat on the bedside, and began to speak soberly to Troilus as I shall tell you: 'My most loved lord and dear brother, God knows, and you know, how sore I grieved this year when I saw you so languishing more and more for love; so that with all my might and wit I have ever since done my diligence to bring you to Joy, and I have now brought you to the state you wot of, so that through me you stand now in a fair way to thrive. Yet I say this for no boast, and know you why? Because (and a shame it is to say it) for your sake I have begun a sort of game which I will never do again for any man, though he were my brother a thousand-fold. That is to say, betwixt sport and earnestIam become for your sake such a go-between as brings women to men,--you know yourself what I mean. I have made my innocent niece so fully to trust your honor that all shall be even as you desire. But I take the all-wise God to witness that I never wrought this out of covetousness, but only to relieve that distress for which I thought you were wellnigh dying. So good brother, for God's love, since you have discretion, spare her fair name. You well know that amongst the people her name as yet is wellnigh sainted, for I dare to say that there never was wight that ever knew her to do amiss. Woe is me that I who have caused all this new affair should know that she is my dear niece, and I at once her uncle and betrayer. Were it known that I had contrived to put the fantasy into my niece's head to do your pleasure and to be wholly yours, why! all the people would cry out upon it and say that I did the worst treachery in the world, she ruined and you profited nothing. Wherefore, ere I go a step further, I pray you again on your life that secrecy go with us in this affair, that is, that you never reveal it. Be not wroth though I often pray you to hold so high a matter secret, for my request you well know is reasonable. Think what woe has betided from making boasts, of old time as we read, and what mischances there are yet in this world from day to day for that same wicked offense. Wherefore these wise clerks that are dead have ever handed down such saws to us their posterity:

"The first of virtues is to hold thy tongue." And were it not for diffuseness of speech, I could produce for you nigh a thousand old stories of women lost through men's false and foolish bragging. You know proverbs enough yourself against that fault o telling tales, even though men told truth as often as they lie. Alas, how often has one tongue made many a bright lady to say, "Alack the day that I was born!", and kept alive many a maiden's sorrow; and for the more part, if it were brought to the test, it is all untrue that men boast of. In the very nature of the thing, no braggart is to be believed. Vaunter and liar, both are one. Suppose thus: a woman grants me her love and says she will have none other, swears me to keep it secret, and afterwards I go and tell it to two or three-- surely at the best I am a braggart, and a liar too, for I broke my promise. Look then if they are not to blame, such manner of folk,--indeed, what shall I call them?,--who make their boast of women, and name their names, who never yet promised them anything, nor knew them more than my old hat! It is no wonder, so God save me!, that women fear to deal with us men. I say not this for mistrust of you or of any wise man, but because of silly fools and the harm that comes in this world as much from folly as from malice. No woman, if she consider well, fears that fault in wise folk; for the wise are cautioned by the harm that fools run into.

'But now to the point. Dear brother, have all this that I have said in mind; keep your counsel and be of good cheer. In due season you shall find me faithful, and I will set your affair in such train that you shall be well content, for it shall be right as you would have it. I know well that your intent is honest, and therefore I dare fully undertake this. you know what your lady has granted you; the day is set to draw up the charter! And now good-night, for I can no longer wake, but now that you are in bliss pray for rne that God send me soon I either death or relief!'

Who could tell half the joy and jubilation which the soul of Troilus felt when he heard Pandarus' promises? His old woe, that had made his heart faint, wasted and melted away in his joy, and all his store of sore sighs took wings at once, and be felt them no longer. Even as these hedge-rows and woods, that have been dead and dry through the winter, revest themselves in green when May is come and every lusty wight is gamesome even so of a sudden was his heart full of rapture, and never was there a gladder man in all Troy. He cast up his look on Pandarus full gravely and friendly, and said, 'Friend, in April last you will remember how nigh death for woe you found me, and how busily you tried to learn from me the cause of my distress. You know how long I forbore to tell it, to you who are the man whom most of all I trust; yet there was no peril in reveal- ing it to you, as I knew well. Tell me if you please, how could I dare to tell others of this matter, who am of a tremble now, when no man can hear us? But nevertheless I swear to you by that God who governs all this world at His own pleasure, and may Achilles with his spear cleave my heart, though mv life were as eternal as it truly is mortal, if I swear falsely and if I late or soon would or durst or could reveal it, for all the wealth that God made under the sun, I swear to you that I would rather die, come to my end in cruel King Agamemnon's prison, in the stocks amongst vermin and filth and wretchedness; and this I will swear to you to-morrow in all the temples of this town upon all the gods, if you wish to hear me. And I know well that you have done so much for me that I can nevermore deserve it though I could die for you a thousand times a day. What more can I say than that I will serve you as your very slave, whithersoever you go, forever unto my life's end?

'But here I beseech you heartily that you never fancy in me Buch folly as this,--methought I saw in your speech your fear that I might deem what you are doing for me for friendship's sake to be the acts of a bawd. I am not mad, though I be unfettered; I know well the difference, perdy. He that goes on such a message for gold or riches, call him what you will; but this which you do, call it a gentle deed, and compassion and fellowship and trustfulness. All men know that distinctions must be made betwixt things that look alike. And that you may know to think not this service of yours to be a shame or scorn; here is my fair sister Polyxena, or Cassandra or Helen or any of the company; be she never so fair and shapely, tell me whichever of all you will have for yours, and let me alone to give her you! But since you have done me this benefit, to save my life and out of no hope of reward, now for the love of God perform this great emprise to the end, for now is greatest need, and I will ever obey all your behests, great and small. So now good-night, and let us both sleep.'

Thus was each of them well content with the other, so that all the world could not have made them tnore so. On the morrow, when they were up and arrayed, each went about his own affairs. But Troilus, though hope and pleasure made him burn in the sharp flames of desire, forgot not his prudent self-control blat restrained in manly wise each hasty act and unbridled look, so that not a living person could have known by word or manner what was in his mind. His true thoughts were as far as the clouds from every wight, so well he could dissemble. And all this tithe that I am speaking of, this was his life: by day with all his power he served Mars in knightly arms, and for the most part he lay the long night and thought how he might best serve his lady and win her thanks. And though he lay full soft, I will not say that he was not somewhat discomforted in his thoughts, and that he turned not often on his pillows, and often longed not after the thing he lacked. In such cases, for aught I know, other men find it not all pleasure, any more than he did. But meanwhile, to come to the main thing, it certainly is written in the story that he saw his lady sometimes, and also that she spoke with him when she durst and would, and that they both considered full warily how they should proceed in everything in this matter. But thev spoke so hurriedly and in such watchful dread blest any wight should guess or overhear that more than aught else they wished that Cupid would let them have their say out. But in the little that they spoke or did together, he was so heedful of alla that he seemed to her to know what she thought without a word from her, so that she had no need to ask him to do aught, or to forbid aught. Wherefore it seemed to her that love, though it had come late, was opening to her the door to all joys. And, briefly to pass on in this tale, he so well employed his words and acts that he stood fully in his lady's grace, and twenty thousand times before she was done she thanked God that ever she had met with him so well he knew how to bear himself in this lover's-service that no one in the world could have shown a better way. For she found him in all things so discreet, so secret and so compliant, that she felt he was to her a wall of steel, a shield against every thing displeasing, so that she was no longer afraid to be under the governance of so prudent a man,Imean so far as the case required.

And to keep up this fire Pandarus was ever alike ready and diligent: all his thoughts were set on easing his friend, and ever he pushed on. He was sent to and fro, he fetched letters when Troilus was away. Never a wight bore himseif better to help his friend in time of need.

But now peradventure some man may look for me to rehearse every word or message, every look or smile of Troilus to his lady dear in all this time. I trow that were long to listen to, or to show all the words or every look of a man that stands in such a plight! in sooth I have never heard it done in any story, nor anyone here, l trow. I could not tell it all, though I would for, as mine author says, there was one letter y assed betwixt them that may well have contained a hundred verses, which he list not write of; how then should I endite a line of it?

But now to the consummation of it all. I say this, that,-- whilst these two were in quiet and concord, as I have said, during this time that was so sweet, save only that they could not often come together or have leisure to say all they would,--Pan- darus thought he had found a time for that which he had long Striven for, to bring some time his fair niece and Troilus together at his house, where all this high matter of their love might be fully unraveled at leisure. Earnestly deliberating, he had fore- seen and executed everything which might help his plan, and had spared no cost or labor. Let them come if they would, nothing would be lacking to them. And as to being espied there at all, that he knew to be impossible. Of a surety the wind was clear of every prating magpie and every spoil-sport; thus all was well, nor all the world was blind to the thing. The timber is all ready to set up; naught is lacking but that we should know the hour in which she is to come.

Troilus, who knew fully of all this planning and watched it longingly, had founded his own plans upon it and devised his pretext, namely, that, if he were missed night or day whilst he was about this love-matter, he was gone to do sacrifice, and must watch alone at such and such a temple to receive an answer of Apollo, and to see the holy laurel-tree shake before Apollo spoke from it, to tell him when the Greeks should flee. Therefore let no man hinder him (God forbid!), but rather pray Apollo to speed him!

Now there was little more to do; but Pandarus was up and at it, and (in brief ) just after the changing of the moon, when the world is lightless a night or two, and when the heavens seemed preparing a rain, he went straightway on a morning to his niece, with what intent you have all heard. When he was come, he began to make sport as he was wont; and to make a mock of him self, and finally he swore by that and this that she should not evade him or make him longer gape after her, but she must certainly vouchsafe to come and sup in his house that evening. At which she laughed and made excuses, and said, 'It is raining,-- why, how can I go? '

'A truce to this,' he replied; 'stand not thus debating! This must be done, and you shall soon be there.'

So at the last they agreed upon it; otherwise, as he softly swore to her in her ear, he would never come where she was again. And she began sportively to whisper him, and asked if Troilus were to be there. Nay, he swore to her, for he was out of town, and added, 'Supposing he were, niece, you need never have the more fear, for rather than folk should espy him there, I would die a thousand times.'

Mine author list not fully declare what she thought when he told her that Troilus was gone out of town, whether she thought he spoke truth therein or no; but he says that without more delay she agreed to go with him, since he begged her, and gave him due obedience as his niece. But nevertheless she besought him, though there were no real cause of fear, to beware the talk of goosish people, who fancy things that never were, and to con- sider well whom he brought to his house. 'Uncle, since I must trust you,' she said, 'Look that all be well, for I am doing as you wish.' He swore this to her, by stock and stone and by the gods that dwell in heaven; or else, flesh and blood, he would abide with King Pluto as deep in hell as Tantalus! Why should I make a long story? When all was fixed, he arose and took leave.

That night she came to supper, with a certain attendance of her own men, and her fair niece Antigone and eight or nine other of her women. But who was glad now? Who but Troilus, think you, that stood and saw them through a little window in a closet where he was mewed up till midnight, unknowing to everybody but Pandarus? But now to our point. When she was come, with all joy and friendly greeting her uncle took her anon in his arms, and after, when the time came, one and all sat them down full quietly to the supper. God wot, there was no dainty needed to be fetched! After supper they rose, well content with the world, and with hearts lusty and glad. Happy was he who had the best device to please her, or who made her laugh! One sang, another played, one told a tale of Wade's boat. But at the last, as everything comes to an end, she must be going home, and took leave.

But ah, fortune, executrix of destiny! Ah, influences of the high heavens! True it is that, under God, ye are our governors, though the manner is veiled from us beasts! This I say now that Criseyde was about to hasten homeward-- but all without her leave the gods' will was executed, wherefore she must remain. The bent moon with her pale horns, and Saturn and Jupiter were conjunct in Cancer, so that such a rain came down front heaven that every woman there was in a very fright for that pounding rain; at which Pandarus laughed and said 'Now were the time for a lady to get her hence! But, good niece, if I ever pleased you in anything, I beg you now to do my heart such a pleasure as to remain here all night with me, for niece this is your own house, perdy! Now, by my troth, I say it not in sport,--for you to go now would shame me.'

Criseyde who had as much prudence as half the world all together, took heed of his request, and since it rained so and all vvas a-flood, she thought, 'I may as well remain and agree gladly with a friendly cheer, and win his thanks as grumble and then remain; for as to going home, that may not be.--I will,' she said, 'Sweet dear uncle; since you wish me, it is only reason, and I am right glad to remain here with vou, and I was but jesting when I said I would go.'

'Gramercy, niece, verily,' he said. ' hether you were jesting or no, I am right glad now that you will remain.'

Thus far all was well. And then again began new joy and festivity. But Pandarus would fain, if he could in manners, have hastened her to bed; and said, 'Lord, this is a huge rain, this is a storm to sleep through, and my counsel is that we soon begin to try! And, niece, know you where I shall lodge you? Right yonder in my little inner chamber, that you may hear no noise of thunder or of rain, and I alone in the outer house will be guardian of all your women. They shall all sleep soft and well in this middle chamber that vou see here, and you shall be there within; and if you rest well to-night, come often, whatever weather is above you.--The wine anon!--Whenever you are ready, it is time to go to rest.'

There is nothing more to say but that straightway they drank their final draught, and drew curtains, and every wight that had no more business there went out of the chamber. And evermore it rained and blew so marvellous loud that scarce could one hear another. Then her uncle Pandarus, as was fitting, with such of her women as were most privy with her, brought her full cheerily to her bed's side, and took his leave, bowing full low and saying, ' Without this chamber door and just across, lie all your wornen, so that you may call hither whom you will of them.' So when she was laid down in the inner chamber, and all her women in order a-bed as I have told, there was no more skipping or tramping about; but if any man were anywhere stirring he was hidden get to bed, Devil take him! and let those who were a-bed get to sleep.

But Pandarus, who knew well the old game and every point of it, when he saw that all was well so far thought he would begin his work. He softly undid Troilus' closet door, sat down by him as still as a stone, and (to come briefly to the point) told him every word of all this thing, and said, 'Make you ready anon, for you shall go into the bliss of heaven!'

'Now Saint Venus,' quoth Troilus, 'send me grace, for never yet such need had I before, nor half the fear!'

'Fear never a bit,' said Pandarus, 'for it shall be even as you would have it. By my thrift, this night shall I make all well, or else cast ail the gruel in the fire!'

'Yet do thou inspire me, blessed Venus,' quoth Troilus, 'as surely as I serve thee now and ever shall better and better till I die! And, O mirthful goddess, if I had evil aspects of Mars or Saturn when I was born, or thou wart combust or feeble, pray thy father of his grace to turn away all that harm, that I may go my way rejoicing, for the love of him whom thou didst love in the wood-shaw, I mean Adonis, that was slain by the boar. And help, Jove, for the love of fair Europa, whom thou in the form of a bull didst fetch away! Marsha with thy bloody mantle, hinder me not, for the love of the Cyprian dame! Phcebus, think how Daphne shut herself under the bark and for fear became a laurel-tree; vet for her love, help me now at this need! Mercury too, for the love of Herse, for which Pallas was wroth with Aglaurus, now help! And Diana, I beseech thee that this emprise be not hateful to thee! O three fatal sisters, who spun me my destiny ere any garment was shapen for me, now help this work that is beginning!'

'You wretched mouse's heart!' quoth Pandarus. 'Are you aghast that she will bite you? Why, don this furred cloak over your shirt and follow me. I will take the blame!--But abide, and let me go before a little.' With that word he began to undo a trap, and led Troilus in by the skirt of his garment.

The stern wind snorted so loud that no wight could hear any other noise, and they who lay without the door were all safely asleep. Pandarus with a full sober cheer went anon to the door where they lay and softlv shut it. As he was coming back privily, his nicce awoke and asked, 'Who is walking there?'

'My dear niece,' quoth he, 'it is I. Wonder not at it, and fear not.' And he came close and said in her ear, Not a word, for the love of God, I beseech you! Let no wight arise and hear us talking.'

'Why, benedicite, what way came you in,' she asked, 'thus without their knowing?'

'Here at this little trap-door,' said he.

'Let me call someone,' she said then.

'Ah, God forbid that you should do such a folly!' quoth Pandarus. 'They might imagine what they have never once thought of. It is not good to wake a sleeping hound, nor to give any wight cause for conjecturing. I will be bound vour women are all asleep, and will be till sun-up, so that, for all them men could mine the house. And when I have said all my say I will go away unnoticed even as I came.

'Now, my niece, you must understand, as all you women will grant, that for a woman to hold a man long time in hand and let him call her "sweeting" and "dear heart," and then clap a cox-comb above his hood, I mean love another all this time,--she beguiles him and shames herself. Now why tell I you all this? You wet yourself as well as any that your love is fully granted to Troilus, the worthiest knight of this world, and you have thereto plighted your troth; so that, unless it were his fault, you should never be false to him w hilst you Iive. Now it stands thus: sinve I left you, Troilus, to speak out flatly, has come in all this rain over a gutter by a secret route into my chamber, quite unknown to everyone save to myself, I swear by the faith I owe King Priam. And in such pain and distress he has come that unless by now he is quite mad, he must speedily fall into madness, without Goct's help. And the cause why is this,--he says he has been told by a friend that you are said to love another, named Horastes, for sorrow at which this night is to be the end of all for him!'

Criseyde, when she heard all this strange talk, began to grow cold about her heart, and answered straightway with a sigh 'Alas, I believed that, whoso told tales, mv dear heart would not so lightly hold me false! Alas for mistaken fancies, what harm they do! Now I have lived too long! Horastes! And beguile Troihls! I know him not, so God help me! Alas what wicked spirit told such a thing? Now certes, uncle, if I see him to-morrow, I will as fully acquit myself of that as ever woman did, if he will have me. Oh God!' she sighed, 'how worldly happiness, that clerks call false felicity, is mingled with many a bitterness! God wot, the condition of vain prosperity is full of anguish, for either joys come not together or else they will not last. Oh fickle weal, and unstable earthly joy! With whatsoever wight thou showest thee merry, either he knows thou art changeful or knows it not; it must he one of the twain Now if he knows it not, how can he say that he has true joy and bliss, who is ever in the darkness of ignorance? And if he knows that joy is fleeting, as every worldly joy must needs be, then every time he remembers this, the dread of losing joy keeps him from perfect happiness: and if he cares a farthing to lose his joy, it must seem that joy is worth full little. Where fore I must conclude thus, that verily, for aught I can see, there is no true weal here in this world. But ah jealousy, thou wicked serpent, thou misbelieving envious folly, why hast thou made rroilus distrust me, who never yet wittingly offended him?'

'This matter has befallen thus,--' Pandarus began.

'Why, uncle mine,' she cried, 'who told him such a thing? Alas! why does my dear heart thus?'

'You know, my niece, what it is,' said he. 'I hope all that is amiss shall yet he well; you can quench all this if you will. And I believe it is best that you do right so.'

'So I will to-morrow, in truth, before God,' she said, 'so that it shall suffice.'

'To-morrow? Alas, that were a fair deed!' he replied. 'Nay, nay, it may not stand so, for clerks write that peril goes with delay; nay, such dallying is not worth a bean. There is a time for everything, I dare avow. When a chamber or a hall is afire there is more need to save it promptly than to dispute and ask about, "How did that candle fall into the straw? "Ah benedicite! in all this pother the harm is done, and--farewell, fieldfare! And now, my niece, take this not ill, but if you suffer him to be all night in this woe, so God help me, you never loved him; here betwixt you and me alone I am bold to say that. But I know well you will not do so, you are too wise to do so great folly as tO jeopardize his life all night.'

'Never loved him? By heaven, I trow you never loved aught so well,' said she.

'By my thrift now,' quoth he, 'we shall see that. For since you make this comparison with one, if I would see him all night in sorrow for all the treasure in Troy-town I pray God I may never see happiness again! Look now, if you that are his love put his fife in Jeopardy all night for a thing of naught, by the God above us this delay comes not only from folly but from malice, and that I swear to. What! I tell you flatly if you leave him in his pain it is neither a wise nor a gentle deed!'

'You may do one thing,' answered Criseyde, 'and therewith Cure his distress. Take this blue ring and bear it to him, for there is nothing might better please him, save I myself, or more rest his heart. And tell my dear heart that his grief is causeless and that he shall see to-morrow.'

'A ring?' quoth he. 'Yea, the hazel-woods shake! Ah niece, that ring should have a stone that could make dead men live, and such a ring I trow you have not! Discretion is gone clean out of your head, that I can see, and more is the pity! Ah time lost, well thou mayst curse sloth! Know you not that a noble and high heart neither sorrows nor is calmed for a little thing? Were a fool in a jealous rage, I should not care a farthing for his sorrow, but should present him with a few soft words some day when I should chance to see him. But this thing stands in quite another fashion. This man is so noble and so tender of heart that he will wreak his sorrow on himself by his own death, for trust well, however he may suffer, he will speak no jealous word to you. And therefore before you break his heart, niece, speak yourself to him of this matter, for with a single word you can control his heart. Now I have told you his peril, and his coming is unknown to everybody, and there can be no harm or sin in it, perdy. I will be with you myself all the time. you know how he is your own knight and that by rights you ought to trust him; so I am all ready to fetch him when you say the word.'

All this tale was so piteous to hear, and sounded at first thought so like a truth, and Troilus her knight was so dear to her, that, what with his privy coming and the security of the place, it is no wonder she granted him such a favor, since she did all in innocence. 'So God rest my soul, she answered, 'as I am truly sorry for him! And if heaven grant me grace, I fain would do the best I can. But in faith, unless God send me better guidance, I am right at my wit's end on the pons asinorum, whether you stay or go for him!'

'Ah niece, but listen,' quoth Pandarus; 'pons asinoram is the Bridge of Asses; it seems hard that asses will never learn for very sloth and wilfulness. But this is only for those who are not worth two peas in any case; you are wise, and know that this cause of mine is neither hard, nor reasonable to withstand.'

'Well, uncle,' she replied, 'do herein as you will. But be- fore he comes I will first arise; and for the love of God, since all my trust is on you two prudent men, now manage so dis- creetly that I may keep my fair name as well as he his happiness, for I am here in your power.'

'That is well said, dear niece,' he replied; 'blessings on that wise, gentle heart! But lie still, you need not spring up for him; receive him even here, and each of you for God's love relieve the othet's pain! And ah! Venus, I praise thee, for I hope soon we shall be all merry.'

Full soon Troilus was on his knees even at her bedside, and full soberly in his best wise greeted his lady. But Lord! how red she waxed all suddenly! Nor, though men would have cut her neck asunder, could she have brought out a word, for his sudden coming. But Pandarus, whose feeling was so quick in every case, began anon to make sport, and said 'Niece, see how this lord can kneel now to beg for your troth! Only see this nobleman now!' And with that word he ran for a cushion and said, 'Kneel now as long as you will! And may Ceod soon bring your hearts to rest!'

If she let him kneel for a time, I cannot say whether sorrow made her forget, or whether she took it as only due from her suitor; but well I wot that she did him thus much pleasure that she kissed him, though she was sighing sore, and then bade him sit down.

'Now you shall make a fair beginning,' quoth Pandarus. 'Now, good dear niece! make him sit within there upon your bedside, that each may hear the other better.' And at that he drew toward the fire, and took a light and showed himself busy at looking over an old romance.

Criseyde, who felt herself truly Troilus' lady and upon a clear ground of sureness, thought her servant and knight should not have fancied any falsity in her; yet nevertheless, considering his distress and that greatness of love is one cause of such folly, she spoke thus gently to him of his jealousy. 'Lo, my dear heartt, it is the excellent glory of love, against which no man can or ought to make resistance, that drives me thus to take pity on your pain, and also because I know your heart to be all mine, and I have felt well and always seen your great fidelity and daily service and your constant goodness; for which, my dear heart and own knight, I thank you as far as my wit extends though I cannot as much as were right. And to the extent of my knowledge and power I ever have been, and shall be whatever it may cost me, true to you and wholly yours with all my heart, and doubt you not that the test shall find it so.

'What this is all about, dear heart, I shall well say to you, so you grieve not though I complain to you of yourself; for thereby I mean to put a final end to the pain that holds your heart and mine in heavy case, and to redress every wrong. My own good knight, I know not why or how that wicked viper jealousy has crept into you so causelessly; I fain would do away the harm which he has wrought. Alas that he, or a piece of him, should make his haunt in so worthy a place, whence may Jove soon tear him out! But O Jove, author of nature, is it an honor to thy godhead that innocent folk suffer injury and he who is guilty goes quit ? Ah! were it lawful to Complain against thee who permittest undeserved Jealousy, I should cry out on thee. And all my woe is that now folk are wont to say, "Yea, jealousy is love," and would excuse a bushel of venom because one grain of love is dropped into it! But the great God in heaven knows if it be like love or hate or anger! And thereafter it ought to have its name.

'But certain it is that one kind of jealousy is more to be excused than another; as when there is cause, or when the jealous fantasy is so well and duteously repressed that it scarce does or says aught amiss, but generously consumes all its own distress. Such jealousy I excuse for the nobleness of it. Some jealousy is so full of fury and despite that it surmounts all repression. But you, dear heart, are not in such case, as I thank God, wherefore this passion of yours I will but call an illusion wrought by abundance of love and busy anxiety, which causes your heart to endure this pain; for which I am right sorry, but I am not wroth. But now, to clear me and rest your heart, for the love of God let us test this suspicion, whether by ordeal or by oath, by casting of lots, or in whatever wise you will! If I am guilty, let me be slain! Alas, what more can I do or say?' With that a few bright fresh tears fell from her eyes, and she cried, 'O God! Thou knowest that never yet was Criseyde false to Troilus in act or thought!' And then she laid her head down in the bed, covered it with the sheet, sighing sore, and held her peace.

But now may God help to quench this sorrow, and so I trust He will, for He can best! I have often seen a full misty morrow follow a merry summer's day, and again green May follows after winter. Ever men see, and read in books, that after Sharp conflicts come victories.

When Troilus heard her words, trust me, he cared not to sleep! it seemed to him no light chastisement to see his lady Criseyde's tears, but indeed, for every tear that escaped her, he felt the cramp of death creep and clutch him about the heart. In his mind he began to curse the time that ever he came there, or ever was born, for now was bad turned into worse, and all the labor which he had done already he deemed but lost, and him- self lost as well. 'Ah Pandarus, alas!' he thought, 'your wiles serve for nothing, alack the day!' He hung down his head and fell on his knees and sorrowfully sighed. What could he say? He felt himself a dead man, for she was wroth who only could lighten his sorrows. But nevertheless, when he was able to speak, he faltered out, 'God knows that I am not to blame, when all is known, for this pleasant sport!' And then grief so shut up his heart that not a tear fell from his eyes; his spirits were so astonied and oppressed that they crushed his strength, till sorrow and fear and every feeling else faded away from him, and down he fell suddenly in a swoon.

It was no little sorrow to see this, but all remained quiet, for in a trice Pandarus was up and whispering, 'Not a word, niece, or we are lost! Be not afraid!' At last in spite of any- thing he cast him upon the bed, saying, 'Thief, have you a man s heart?' and rent off his mantle. 'Niece,' he said, 'unless you help now, your own Troilus is lost.'

'In faith,' she said, 'I would gladly if I but knew how,-- alas that I was born!'

'Ah! my niece, if you would pull out the knife,' said he, that sticks in his heart, say "All is forgiven," and all the trouble will be over.'

'Yea,' she answered, 'grant me that, and take all the rest the sun goes round!' And thereat she vowed to him in his ear, 'Indeed, dear heart, I am not wroth, I pledge my word,' and she swore many another vow; 'Now speak to me, for it is I, Criseyde.'

Yet none the more did he come to. They began to rub his wrists and the palms of his hands and to wet his temples; and to deliver him from his bitter bonds she often kissed him, and in a word she did all she could to revive him. At last he began to draw breath, and soon after that to come out of his swoons and memory and reason to dawn upon him. When he was more fully awake, 'Oh mercy, God!' he cried, 'What is this?'

'This is pretty conduct!' quoth Criseyde. 'Is this a man's sport ? What, Troilus, for shame! Will you do thus?' Therewith she laid her arm over him, oftentimes kissed him, and forgave him all. And he thanked her, and relieved his heart by talking to her, and she answered him, and with her goodly words diverted him, and comforted his sorrows.

Then said Pandarus, 'For aught I can see, neither I nor this candle serve any purpose here. Light is not good for sick folks' eyes! But now for the love of God, since you are brought into this goodly plight, let no heavy thought be hanging in your two hearts!' And then he carried his candle to the chimney.

And then, when she had taken of Troilus such oaths as she wished, though there were no need of them, she felt no fear or cause to bid him rise. In some cases a less thing than an oath may be enough, for every wight who truly loves means naught but what is noble. But she wished to know of what man, and why, and on what occasion he felt this jealousy, since there was no cause; and she bade him tell her carefully the signs from which he conceived it, or otherwise certainly she averred that this was of malice, to test her. In a word, he must obev his lady's behest, and feign a cause to avoid a greater ill. He told her, 'When she was out at such and such a festival she might at last have looked at him,'--I know not what he said, somewhat not worth a farthing, having to fish for an excuse.

'Sweet, even were it so,' Criseyde answered, 'what harm was that, since I meant no evil ? For, by that God who made us both my intent is innocent in all things. Such talk is not worth a bean! Will you do as the childish jealous lover? Now truly you deserve to be beaten!'

When Troilus began to sigh sorrowfully, and his heart died within him lest she should be wroth, and he said, 'Alas, my sweetest heart Criseyde, have mercy upon my sick fancies. If there be any wrong in those words that I said, I will trespass no more; do what you list, I hang on your grace!'

'For guilt, mercy,' answered Criseyde. 'That is to say, I forgive it all. And evermore you must remember this night, and be sure that you offend no more!'

'Nay, my dear heart, in truth,' quoth he.

'And now,' she said, 'forgive me that I caused you pain, my own sweet heart!'

This faithful, loving Troilus, taken by surprise with the bliss of it, put all in God's hand, as one who meant naught but good, and by a sudden resolve caught her to him fast in his arms. And thereupon Pandarus benevolently quitted them, saying, 'If you be prudent, swoon no more now, lest more folk arose!'

What can the poor lark do when the sparrow-hawk has her in his foot? (--Though I tarry a year, some time I can do no less than follow mine author in telling of their joy as well as in telling their heaviness, whoever may find the tale sweet or sour!) Criseyde, as clerks write in their old books, began to quake like an aspen-leaf, when she felt him fold her in his arms. And Troilus, all whole after his cold cares, began to thank the seven bright gods. And thus sundry pains bring folk to paradise. So Troilus began to strain her in his arms, and said, 'Oh sweet, as sure as I am alive now you are caught! Now there is none but we two! Now yield you, for there is no escape!'

And to that Criseyde answered, 'Had I not before this yielded myself, my sweet, dear heart, in truth I were not here now!'

Ah, truly it is said, and men may ever see, that to be healed of a fever or other great sickness men must drink full bitter drink; and to win gladness men oft must swallow pain and great woe. And here we see it, for this adventure after pain has won its cure. And now sweetness seems more sweet because bitterness was tasted before. Out of woe they are floating into bliss, such as they had never felt since they were born. Is not this better than that both should be lost? Let every woman take heed, for the love of heaven to do thus when need comes!

Criseyde, all free now from dread and vexation, and with just cause to trust him, now that she knew his faithfulness and honest intent, made so much ado over him that it was a joy to see. As the sweet woodbine with many a twist twines about a tree, each around arms about the other. And as the little abashed nightingale stops at first when she begins to sing, if she hear any herdsman voice or any wight stirring in the hedge, and afterwards confidently lets her voice ring out, so Criseyde, when her fear was over, opened her heart and told all that was in it. And as a man who sees certain death before him, for aught that he can tell, and by a sudden rescue escapes, and out of death is brought into security, for all the world in even such present gladness was I roilus with his lady dear.--God grant we never meet with worse hap!--Thus he began to delight himself in this heaven, and therewithal he kissed her a thousand times till he scarce knew what to do for joy.

'O Love, O Charity,' then he cried out, 'and thy mother, Cytherea the sweet, next after thee be she praised, Venus the benignant planet! And next I salute thee, Hymen! For never was man so beholden to you gods as 1, whom ye have brought out of my cold cares. Benign Love, holy bond of all creatures, whose would have grace and will not honor thee, his desire attempts to fly without wings. All were lost, unless thy grace passed our deserts, unless thou of thy loving-kindness didst succor them that alway do for thee best labor and service. Me that have least desert amongst all that are admitted to thy grace, me thou hast helped where I was in point to die, and hast bestowed me in so high a station that no bliss can go beyond it. I can say no more, but reverence and laud be to thy kindness and thy might!' And thereat he kissed Criseyde, at which in truth she felt no discomfort!

'Now would to God, my sweetest heart,' he began again, 'I knew how I could please you! What man ever had so happy a lot as 1, upon whom the best and fairest that ever I saw has deigned to rest her hear.! Here men can see that mercy goes beyond Justice. I am unworthy of you, lady bright; but I pray you of your benignity to think that, though I be unworthy I must needs grow better in some wise through the virtue of your high service. And for the love of God, dear lady, as He has created me to serve you and wills that you should be my governor, to let me live, if you will, or die; teach me how to deserve your thanks, so that through my ignorance I may do naught to displease you. For certes I dare swear, blooming perfect woman, that all my life you shall find in me fidelity and devotion, and that I shall never break your command- and I do, present or absent, for the love of God let me instantly slain, if it so please your womanhood!'

'On this is all my trust,' quoth she; 'gramercy indeed, my own dear heart, rny own heart's joy, my ground of comfort! But let us forget all this, for we have said enough. And finally in one word, welcome, my knight, my peace, my sufficiency.'

One of the least of their joys it were impossible for my wit to tell. But ye who have been at such a feast of gladness, judge if they were glad! I can say no more but that this time, betwixt dread and security, these two felt the fuil worthiness of love. O blissful time, sought of them so long, how blithe thou wert unto them both! Why had I not bought such a time with my soul, yea, or the least joy that was there! Away, thou foul fear and thou coy disdain, and leave them dwelling in this heavenly bliss, which is so high that none can tell it! But though I cannot tell ail, as mine author can with his goodly pen, yet, before God, I have ever told and shall tell the main part of his words. And if, in reverence of love, I have added in anything, do therewith as ye will. For all my words, here and everywhere, I speak under your correction who have feeling in the art of love, and commit them wholly to your discretion, to increase or diminish what I have written; and to do so I beseech you.--But now to my former narrative.

These two that we left in each other's arms were so loath to go asunder that it would have seemed violent ravishment-- or rather this was their chiefest fear, that all this might prove to have been a fond dream. Wherefore full oft each of them said 'Sweet, am I holding you thus, or dream I it? 'And Lord! with so goodly a look he gazed upon her that his eyes never moved from her face. 'Oh dear heart!' he said, 'can it be that you are really here?'

'Yea, my own heart, God be thanked for His goodness,' said Criseyde, and kissed him till for joy he knew not where his spirit was. full often he kissed her two eyes, and said, 'Oh bright eyes, it was ye that wrought me this woe, ye humble nets of my dear lady! Though there be mercy written in your looks God knows the text is full hard to read. How were ye able to bind me without cords?' And then once more he would take her strongly in his arms, and would sigh a thousand times; not such grievous stghs as men utter for woe, or when they are sick, but gentle sighs, such as give ease and show the feeling within. Of such sighs he could never heave enough.

And then soon they fell to speaking of sundry matters which had to do with their case, and in sport exchanged rings, of which I find nothing more in my books. But I know well that Criseyde gave him a brooch of gold and azure, in which was set a ruby like a heart, and stuck it on his garment.

Lord! Could a man believe that a covetous wretch, who blames love and thinks scorn of it, was ever yet granted such delight from all the pence that he can scratch together and hoard, as there is in one moment of perfect love? Nay, so God save me no niggard can have such perfect joy. They will say yea, but l ord! how the anxious wretches lie in their throats, full of woe and fear! They call love a folly or madness, but it only befalls them to forego the wine of life both white and red, and to live in woe; may God give them ill chance, and promote every faithful lover! Would to God that these wretches who despise the service of love had ears as long as covetous Midas had, and had drunk as hot and strong a draught as Crassus drank for his evil lusts, to teach them that covetousness is sin, and love, for all that men hold it folly, is virtue!

These two of whom I am telling you were talking jovously in full trust of each other, and began to rehearse how and when and where tach first knew the other, and every woe and fear that was over. All that heaviness, God be thanked, was turned to joy. When they came to speak of any woe of times past, ever the tale would break off in kissing and fall into a new joy; and since they were now one, they did all their might to recover their bliss and he at rest, and to countervail past woe with joy. Reason will not that I even speak of sleep for it accords not with my matter. God wot, they thought of it full little! Lest this time so dear to them should in any wise escape in vain, it was passed in all eager and noble Joy.

But soon the cock, the general time-keeper, began to flap on his breast and crow, and Lucifer, messenger of day, began to rise and throw out his beams, and eastward ekc rose Jupiter for any man to see, and then with sore heart Criseyde said to Troilus 'Alas that I was born, my heart's life, my trust, my joy! What woe that day must sever us! For it is time for you to go hence or else I am ruined forever. Alas, night, why wilt thou not hover over us as long as when Jove lay with Alcmena? O black night, that wast created by God, as folk read in books, at certain times to hide this world with thy black weeds, that thereunder men may rest them, well may beasts complain and men chide thee, that when day is to break us with labor, thou fleest thus away and deignest not to give us rest. Too shortly thou dost thine office, thou hasty night! because thou in malice so hastest thee downwards, may God, author of nature, curse thee and bind thee to our hemisphere so that nevermore thou shalt revolve under the earth! For it is through thy rash hying out of Troy that I have so soon foregone my heaven!'

At those words Troilus seemed to feel bloody tears distill out of his heart; never yet had he felt such heaviness to grow out of such joy. Idle began to strain his lady dear in his arms and said, ' Cruel day, accuser ofthe happiness that love and night have stolen and covered up, cursed be thy coming into Troy-town, for every little hole has one of thy bright eyes! Envious day, why wilt spy so? What hast thou lost? What seekest thou here? May God of His grace quench thy light forever! Alas, pitiless day, how have lovers offended thee? Thine be the pain of hell! Many a lover hast thou slain, and shalt slay! Thou pourest in and lettest them nowhere rest. Why dost thou proffer thy light here for sale? Go sell it to them that engrave little seals. We wish thee not, we need thee not!'

And he would chide Titan, the sun, and say, 'O fool, well may men despise thee, that hast Aurora all night by thy side, and sufferest her so soon to rise up from thee, thus to plague lovers! What! Keep thy bed, thou and thy precious Morn! I pray God for ill luck to both of you!'

Shun he sighed sore and said, 'My own lady, very root of my weal and woe, goodly Criseyde, must I be gone too? Must 1, alas? My heart will burst in two! Flow shall I keep my life an hour, since with you is all the joy I have? What shall I do? I know not how or when I shall see the time to be with you again thus. God wot how it will fare with my life. Since longing for you even now so constrains me that I am dead unless I return, how can I remain long away from you? But, my own bright lady, if I knew utterly that your own servantand knight were as firmly enclosed its your heart as you in mine (which were more precious to me to know than to possess two such worlds as this), I should the better endure my pain.'

To this Criseyde answered with a sigh, 'Dear heart, in verity the game has now gone so far that sooner shall Phoebus fall from his sphere, and every eagle mate with the dove, and every rock move from his place, than Troilus shall fade from Criseyde's heart! You are so deeply graven upon my heart that, though 1 were to die upon the rack and even though I wished to turn you from nay thoughts, so God save me, I could not! For the love of God who made us, let no other fancy creep into your brain and cause me to die! I beseech you to have me as fast in mind as I have you; if I verily knew that to be true, God could not increase my happiness a jot. Dear heart, be true to me, or else it were a rueful thing, for by heaven and by my troth I am yours. Be glad therefore, and live in trust; this I never said before, nor shall to another. If it were a great gladness to you to return after you are gone, I were as fain as you that you should, as surely as I hope for rest for my soul!' And then she took him in her arms and kissed him often.

Against his will, since it must needs be, Troilus rose up and prepared to go, and a hundred times took his lady dear in his arms; and sped on his way, saying in such voice as though his heart were bleeding, 'Farewell, dear sweet heart, God grant us safe and soon to meet!' To which she answered not a word for sorrow, so sore did their parting pain her, and Troilus went to his own palace as woe-begone, to say the truth, as she was.

So hard wrung him the pain of sharp desire to be again in bliss that it would not out of nis remembrance. Returned to his royal palace, he crept softly to his bed, to sleep long, as he was wont. But all for naught; for all he lay and shut his eyes sleep would not sink into his heart, for thinking how she for whom desire burned him was worth a thousand-fold more than he had believed. And in his mind lose begat to revolve up and down every word and look of her, and firmly to imprint in his thoughts even the least point of al! that joy; and truly, from the very remembrance, longing burned him all newly, and the swef ness of love began to breed more than before, and yet there was naught that he could do.

Criseyde also, in the selfsame wise, was enclosing in her heart the worthiness of Troilus, his lustiness, his prudent acts, his nobility, and every point of their meeting; thanking Love that he had bestowed her so well, and longing to have her dear love again in such wise that she durst make him cheer.

In the morning came Pandarus to his niece and greeted her fairly, saying, 'All night long it rained so hard that, alas!, all my fear is lest you had little chance for sleep and dreams, sweet niece! All night the rain so kept me awake that some of us must have the headache, I trow!' When he Canoe nearer and said, 'How is it now, this bright morning? Niece, how do you fare?'

'Never the better for you,' Criseyde answered, 'fox that you are, bad luck to you! Before God, for all your innocent words it was you caused all these doings. Ah, one who first sees you knows you full little!' With that she covered her face with the sheet, and waxed red for shame.

Pandarus began to pry under it, and said, 'Niece, if I am to be slain, here is a sword; smite off my head!' With that he thrust his arm behind her neck, and at last kissed her.

I pass over all that which it needs not say. What! God for- gives our sins, and she also forgave, and began to play (l. 1578) with her uncle, for she had nothing else against him save this. But to make an end of this thing, when the time came she went home to her house. So now Pandarus has wholly gained his purpose (eds trans: Pandarus fully had his intent).

Now let us turn again to Troilus, who lay full long a-bed restless, and privily sent after Pandarus to come to him in all haste. He came anon, full little did he refuse!, and greeted Troilus gravely and sat down upon his bed's side. With all the emotion of friendly love that heart can think of, Troilus fell on his kneer before l'andarus, and before he would arise from the spot he thanked him earnestly a thousand times and blessed the dav that Pandarus was born to bring him out of his trouble. 'Ah friend best of all friends that ever were,' he said, you have brought my soul to rest in heaven out of Phlegethon, the fiery flood of hell. Though I could give up my life a thousand times a day in your service, it would not avail a jot to pay my debt. The sun which sees all the world saw never yet, I dare stake my life, one so wholly fair and good as she whose I am wholly and ever shall be till I die. And that I am hers thus thanks be to the high majesty of Love, and to your kind dili- gence! It is no little thing that you have given me, wherefore my life is your property forever. For it is through your help that I live, or else I had been dead now many a day!' And with that word he laid him down in his bed.

Pandarus listened full gravely till he had said all, and then answered, 'My dear friend, if I have done aught for you, God wot I am glad, as glad as a man could be of it, so God help me. But,--take not ill what I say,--for the love of God beware of this, that you yourself should bring to an end the joy into which you are come. For of all fortune's sharp adversities the worst is this,--for a man to have been in weal and to remember it when it is gone. you are wise enough, therefore make no error. Though now you sit warm and safe, be not too rash; if you are, of a surety it will ruin you. Now you are at ease-- keep yourself well in hand therein. For as sure as fire burns, it is as great a craft to keep as to gain. Bridle vour speech always, and your passions, for we hold to worldly joy but by a wire, as we know well because it ever breaks so often. Therefore we must needs be gentle with it!'

'Before God, mv dear friend,' quoth Troilus, 'I hope I shall so bear me that naught shall be lost through my guilt; nor shall I ever be so rash as to hurt her. We need not always take thought nicely about this matter. If you knew my heart well Pandarus, in faith you would have small anxiety for this!'

Then he began to tell him about that happy time, and how at first he feared that he had angered her. And then, 'Friend, as I am a true knight,' he said, 'and by the faith that I owe to God and to you, I had it never half so hot as at this moment! And ever the more love stings me, the more it delights me. I wot not certainly how it is, but now I feel a new quality in my love, yea, quite another than I felt before now.'

'He that once has been in the joy of heaven,' answered Pandarus, 'I dare be sworn ever afterwards feels otherwise than when he first heard tell of it.'

To say all in one word, Troilus was never sated with speaking of this thing, with praising to Pandarus the goodness of his own dear lady and with thanking and making much of him This talk was ever new till night parted them.

Soon after this, as Fortune would have it, came the blissful sweet time when Troilus was forewarned that he should meet his lady again where they met before, for which he felt his heart swim in joy, and duly praised all the gods. Let us see now if he can be merry! The form and manner of her coming, and of his, were observed as before, and need not be described; in joy and security Pandarus brought the two together when they would, and left them in quiet and peace. Now that they are met you necd not ask me if they are blithe. If it was well before, it flow was better a thousand-fold, I need not tell you; gone was every sorrow and fear, each sought only to please the other, and both had and knew they had as much joy as heart may contain. This is no little thing to sav, it passes every Wit to describe. It is not enough to call it that perfect felicity which these wise clerks so commend. This joy cannot be written with ink; this passes all that heart can conceive.

But (alas the while!) they began to see the well-known signs of day's approach, for which they seemed to feel death's wound. They changed color for woe, and they began anew to revile dav calling it envious, traitor, and more evil names, and bitterly cursing the morning light. 'Alas!' quoth Troilus, 'now I see that Pyroeis and the three other swift steeds that draw the sun's car have gone by some short by-path in my despite, which makes it so soon day. And now because the sun so hastens to be up, I will never again do sacrifice to him!' But day needs must part them as before, and when their loving talk and endearments were over, they set a time for another meeting.

And many a time they did the same and thus for a while Fortune left in bliss Criseyde and the Trojan prince. So in contentment, bliss and singing Troilus led his life. He spent, jousted, made festival, he gave freely on all sides and wore many a gay garment, and ever kept about hints as suited his estate, a world of folk the best and lustiest that he could find; so that such a report of him for honor and largesse spread throughout the would that it rang upwards to the gate of heaven! And as to his love, he was in such gladness that in his heart he deemed I trow, that there was no lover in the world so well at ease as he. The goodliness or charm which nature had placed in any other lady could not untie so much as one knot of the net which Criseyde had woven about his heart. It was so closely meshed and knit that to undo it anywhere,--for aught that could betide that might never be. Full often he would lead Pandarus by the hand into a garden, and there make such a long and joyous tale of Criseyde and her womanhood and beauty that it was heaven to hear his words; and then he would sing, in this manner:--

'Love, that hath the rule of earth and sea, Love that hath set his behests in high heaven, Love, that with a saving bond holdeth the peoples joined as he will, Love, that frameth laws for true friendships ancl maketh wedded couples to dwell in virtue may he make binding the harmony of which I tell! That the work with eternal fidelity holdeth his diverse times and seasons in concord; that the warring elements observe an ever-during bond; that Pyroeis must lead forth his rosy day, and that the moon hath lordship over the nights,--all this is caused by Love, ever praised be his power!The sea, ever greedy to flow, constrainoth his floods in a certain limit that they wax not fiercely to drown the earth and all things for evermore. And if Love ever relaxed his bridle, all that now loveth should leap asunder, and all were lost that now Love holdeth together And so would to God, Who is the author of nature, that Love with his strong bond would encircle all hearts and so fast tie them that none should know the way out of his bondage! And to cold hearts I would that he should give a wrench, to make them love and have pity on sore hearts and protect them that be faithful.'

In all that the siege demanded he was foremost, ever the first to be clad in arms, and certainly unless books err, most dreaded of any wight save Hector. And this increase of hardihood came to him from love, to gain his lady's thanks, which so changed the spirit within him. In time of truce he would ride a-hawking or else hunt boar, lion or bear (the small beasts he let go!). When he came riding back to town, full often his lady, as fresh as falcon come out of the mew, was ready at her window to give him a goodly salute. His talk was most of love and virtue, and held all pitiful lowness in scorn, and there was no need, I promise you, to beg him to honor the worthy and relieve those in distress, and right glad he was when he heard that any lover was faring well. For he held every wight but lost, to say the sooth, unless he were in love's high service, I mean folk who might well be so. And besides all this, so well could he talk of love, and order his array so richly, that every lover thought all well whatsoever he did or said. 'I hough he were come of royal blood, yet he never cared out of pride to gird at anyone; to each one he was benign which won him thanks on every side. Love (praised be his grace!) made him flee pride and envy, ire and avarice, and every other vice.

Thou bright lady, daughter to Dione, and eke thy blind and winged son Dan Cupid, ye nine sisters that by Helicon on the hill Parnassus choose your abode, since ye must leave me now, I can say no more but praised be ye forever, without end! Through you I have told in my song fully the joyous course of Troilus' love, albeit there were some distress mingled in it, as mine author chooses to describe. My third book thus I now end, and leave Troilus in joy and peace with Criseyde, his own dear heart.

Explicit Liber Tercius

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San Diego State University