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Troilus and Cressida
Geoffrey Chaucer
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Troilus and Cressida
Geoffrey Chaucer
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About This Book
Frequently referred to as the first great English novel, this story of two lovers brims with romance, warfare, and betrayal. Set during the siege of Troy, the epic poem tells of Troilus, a Trojan prince who has fallen hopelessly in love with Cressida, the daughter of a Trojan priest who has defected to the Greeks.
Remarkable for his beauty and bravery, Troilus is an engaging youth--noble, sensitive, and pure-souled--who lives, and eventually dies, for Cressida, a virtuous, tenderhearted young woman driven to infidelity by circumstance.
Regarded by many as Chaucer's most noble work of art, Troilus and Cressida has long been praised by critics as the most perfect of his completed works. The volume is an outstanding choice for readers of mythology and medieval poetry.
Remarkable for his beauty and bravery, Troilus is an engaging youth--noble, sensitive, and pure-souled--who lives, and eventually dies, for Cressida, a virtuous, tenderhearted young woman driven to infidelity by circumstance.
Regarded by many as Chaucer's most noble work of art, Troilus and Cressida has long been praised by critics as the most perfect of his completed works. The volume is an outstanding choice for readers of mythology and medieval poetry.
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LittératureSubtopic
Poésie antiqueBOOK V
THE BETRAYAL
THE end approacheth of the destiny
Which Jove so long hath had in preparation,
And you, O Parcae, angry sisters three,
He trusteth with the fatal consummation!
Now Cressida must suffer love’s probation,
And Troilus to grief himself resign
Which Lachesis his thread of life shall twine.
Which Jove so long hath had in preparation,
And you, O Parcae, angry sisters three,
He trusteth with the fatal consummation!
Now Cressida must suffer love’s probation,
And Troilus to grief himself resign
Which Lachesis his thread of life shall twine.
The gold-crowned Phoebus, high in heaven aloft,
Three times upon the earth below had seen
The molten snows, and Zephyrus as oft
Had brought again the tender leaflets green,
Since first the son of Hecuba the queen,
Began to cherish her for whom this sorrow
Had come, that she must leave him on the morrow.
Three times upon the earth below had seen
The molten snows, and Zephyrus as oft
Had brought again the tender leaflets green,
Since first the son of Hecuba the queen,
Began to cherish her for whom this sorrow
Had come, that she must leave him on the morrow.
Before the hour of nine came Diomede,
With him now Cressida from Troy must go;
The sorrows of her suffering heart exceed
All sorrow she had ever thought to know;
Yet all this inner grief she may not show,
But forth from out the Trojan town must fare,
And all the weight of woe in silence bear.
With him now Cressida from Troy must go;
The sorrows of her suffering heart exceed
All sorrow she had ever thought to know;
Yet all this inner grief she may not show,
But forth from out the Trojan town must fare,
And all the weight of woe in silence bear.
And Troilus, a lost and wandering sprite,
From whose sad heart all happiness was fled,
Had thoughts but of his lady fair and bright,
Who now, as ever, was the fountain-head
Of all his hope, the cure for all his dread.
But Troilus, farewell to hope of joy,
For thou shalt never see her back in Troy!
From whose sad heart all happiness was fled,
Had thoughts but of his lady fair and bright,
Who now, as ever, was the fountain-head
Of all his hope, the cure for all his dread.
But Troilus, farewell to hope of joy,
For thou shalt never see her back in Troy!
And since he could do nothing now but wait,
Full manfully he strove his grief to hide
Full manfully he strove his grief to hide
From curious eyes, and at the city gate,
Whence forth upon her journey she should ride,
He and her friends to do her honor bide,
Though on his horse his seat he scarcely kept,
For grief unknown, unspoken and unwept.
Whence forth upon her journey she should ride,
He and her friends to do her honor bide,
Though on his horse his seat he scarcely kept,
For grief unknown, unspoken and unwept.
What anger at his heart began to gnaw
When Diomede upon his steed drew near!
But anger now must yield to higher law,
Checked by his promised pledge, though not by fear.
“Alas,” he sighed, “that I stand idle here!
Were it not better death should end this anguish,
Than evermore in lonely grief to languish?
When Diomede upon his steed drew near!
But anger now must yield to higher law,
Checked by his promised pledge, though not by fear.
“Alas,” he sighed, “that I stand idle here!
Were it not better death should end this anguish,
Than evermore in lonely grief to languish?
“Why do I not the world and all defy,
And put a stop to this so hateful deed?
Why do I not all Trojan power deny?
Why do I not destroy this Diomede,
And carry her away upon my steed?
Why do I this misfortune so endure?
Why do I not risk all for my own cure?”
And put a stop to this so hateful deed?
Why do I not all Trojan power deny?
Why do I not destroy this Diomede,
And carry her away upon my steed?
Why do I this misfortune so endure?
Why do I not risk all for my own cure?”
But there was reason why he could not do
These things, and must them sadly all resign;
For in his heart the fear of danger grew,
Not to himself, but fear lest any sign
Of violence should make the Greeks combine,
And in the wild disorder of the fray,
His helpless lady they in wrath would slay.
These things, and must them sadly all resign;
For in his heart the fear of danger grew,
Not to himself, but fear lest any sign
Of violence should make the Greeks combine,
And in the wild disorder of the fray,
His helpless lady they in wrath would slay.
NOW Cressida is ready forth to ride,
Though far more gladly she would stay than go;
But to the Greeks she must, whate’er betide,
And to the world a willing face must show;
Thus forth she paces, statelily and slow,
And who can wonder that her heart should grieve,
Since all her love and joy she now must leave!
Though far more gladly she would stay than go;
But to the Greeks she must, whate’er betide,
And to the world a willing face must show;
Thus forth she paces, statelily and slow,
And who can wonder that her heart should grieve,
Since all her love and joy she now must leave!
And Troilus, by way of courtesy,
With hawk on hand, and with an escort strong
Of knights, this lady doth accompany;
Across the valley rode the noble throng,
And even farther Troilus did long
To ride, but though it grieved him to do so,
Return he must, he may no farther go.
With hawk on hand, and with an escort strong
Of knights, this lady doth accompany;
Across the valley rode the noble throng,
And even farther Troilus did long
To ride, but though it grieved him to do so,
Return he must, he may no farther go.
For at that moment forth Antenor came
From out the Grecian host, and those of Troy
Rejoiced and greeted him with loud acclaim;
And Troilus, though sharing not their joy,
Took heed restraining caution to employ,
And let no sign of sorrow mar his face,
But met Antenor with a kind embrace.
From out the Grecian host, and those of Troy
Rejoiced and greeted him with loud acclaim;
And Troilus, though sharing not their joy,
Took heed restraining caution to employ,
And let no sign of sorrow mar his face,
But met Antenor with a kind embrace.
Such greetings made, his leave he now must take;
On Cressida he cast his lingering eye,
And to her side his way doth sadly make,
And took her hand to say a last goodbye,
While she, alas, doth naught but weep and sigh;
One word he softly said beneath his breath,
“Now hold your day, on that hangs life and death!
On Cressida he cast his lingering eye,
And to her side his way doth sadly make,
And took her hand to say a last goodbye,
While she, alas, doth naught but weep and sigh;
One word he softly said beneath his breath,
“Now hold your day, on that hangs life and death!
His courser then he wheeled and rode away,
With face all pale, and unto Diomede
No word did he or any Trojan say,
Of which the son of Tydeus took heed,
Who knew a thing or two not in the Creed;
He took the lady’s bridle at his side,
While back to Troy lone Troilus must ride.
With face all pale, and unto Diomede
No word did he or any Trojan say,
Of which the son of Tydeus took heed,
Who knew a thing or two not in the Creed;
He took the lady’s bridle at his side,
While back to Troy lone Troilus must ride.
NOW Diomede, who held her horse’s bridle,
When all the folk of Troy had gone away,
Reflected, “All my labor shan’t be idle,
If I have anything in this to say;
’Twill help at least at putting in the day.
I’ve heard it said, and read it in a book,
‘He is a fool who doth himself o’erlook.’”
When all the folk of Troy had gone away,
Reflected, “All my labor shan’t be idle,
If I have anything in this to say;
’Twill help at least at putting in the day.
I’ve heard it said, and read it in a book,
‘He is a fool who doth himself o’erlook.’”
But Diomede was wise, with wit enough,
And mused, “I shall, I’m sure, accomplish naught
If I begin too soon, or treat her rough;
For if that man is dwelling in her thought
Whom I suppose, so soon he can’t be brought
Out of her mind; but I shall find a way,
So she shan’t guess what game I mean to play.”
And mused, “I shall, I’m sure, accomplish naught
If I begin too soon, or treat her rough;
For if that man is dwelling in her thought
Whom I suppose, so soon he can’t be brought
Out of her mind; but I shall find a way,
So she shan’t guess what game I mean to play.”
Then Diomede, attending at her side,
Remarked to her, she seemed a trifle sad,
And hoped she would not weary of the ride,
And anything she wanted, he’d be glad
Remarked to her, she seemed a trifle sad,
And hoped she would not weary of the ride,
And anything she wanted, he’d be glad
To get for her, and do whate’er she bade,
For he was hers to order and command,
Till at her father’s tent-door she should stand.
For he was hers to order and command,
Till at her father’s tent-door she should stand.
He swore upon his honor as a knight,
That nothing in the world would him more please,
Than to exert himself with will and might
To add unto her pleasure and her ease,
And hoped she would grow gladder by degrees,
“Because,” he said, “we Greeks will all enjoy
Your company as much as those of Troy.
That nothing in the world would him more please,
Than to exert himself with will and might
To add unto her pleasure and her ease,
And hoped she would grow gladder by degrees,
“Because,” he said, “we Greeks will all enjoy
Your company as much as those of Troy.
“Just now,” he said, “you feel a little strange—
No wonder, since it’s all so fresh and new,
From Trojan friends to Grecian friends to change,
Who all as yet are quite unknown to you;
But take my word for it, that just as true
A Greek you shall among our people find
As any Trojan, and just as well inclined.
No wonder, since it’s all so fresh and new,
From Trojan friends to Grecian friends to change,
Who all as yet are quite unknown to you;
But take my word for it, that just as true
A Greek you shall among our people find
As any Trojan, and just as well inclined.
“And since your friend I’ll be, forever steady,
As I have sworn, to help you all I can,
And since we’re old acquaintances already,
And since you know me best of any man,—
I mean of course among the Grecian clan—,
I hope that you will always feel quite free,
In case of any need, to call on me.
As I have sworn, to help you all I can,
And since we’re old acquaintances already,
And since you know me best of any man,—
I mean of course among the Grecian clan—,
I hope that you will always feel quite free,
In case of any need, to call on me.
“Regard me as your brother, let me pray,
And take my friendship kindly, as ’tis meant;
And if perhaps some griefs upon you weigh,
I know not why, but all my heart is bent
On aiding you, if you will but consent;
And if your troubles deep I can’t amend,
For sympathy at least on me depend.
And take my friendship kindly, as ’tis meant;
And if perhaps some griefs upon you weigh,
I know not why, but all my heart is bent
On aiding you, if you will but consent;
And if your troubles deep I can’t amend,
For sympathy at least on me depend.
“You Trojans towards us Greeks are filled with hate,
But so in every case it need not be;
For Greeks and Trojans likewise venerate
The God of Love as their divinity.
Hate whom you will, but be not wroth with me,
For no man living, you may well believe,
If you were angry, would more deeply grieve.
But so in every case it need not be;
For Greeks and Trojans likewise venerate
The God of Love as their divinity.
Hate whom you will, but be not wroth with me,
For no man living, you may well believe,
If you were angry, would more deeply grieve.
“But now we’re drawing near your father’s tent,
Whose eyes, I have no doubt, are turned this way;
With what I’ve said, I now must be content,
And leave the rest until some other day.
Give me your hand! I am, and shall be aye,
So heaven help me, while my life shall last,
In friendship yours, forever firm and fast.
Whose eyes, I have no doubt, are turned this way;
With what I’ve said, I now must be content,
And leave the rest until some other day.
Give me your hand! I am, and shall be aye,
So heaven help me, while my life shall last,
In friendship yours, forever firm and fast.
“Such words to woman never have I spoken,
For by my hope of earthly happiness,
No woman have I given any token
Of love, and shall hereafter give still less,
If with your friendship, you my soul will bless;
Forgive me if my thought I rudely blurt,
For in these matters I am not expert.
For by my hope of earthly happiness,
No woman have I given any token
Of love, and shall hereafter give still less,
If with your friendship, you my soul will bless;
Forgive me if my thought I rudely blurt,
For in these matters I am not expert.
“And do not be surprised, my lady bright,
That thus I speak to you of love so soon;
For I have heard of many a noble knight
Who, sigh...
That thus I speak to you of love so soon;
For I have heard of many a noble knight
Who, sigh...