From Geoffrey Chaucer's "Troilus and Criseyde", Book II, lines 1352-1400

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From Troilus and Criseyde, Book II, lines 1296-1351:
Troilus reads Criseyde's letter and his love increases

Geoffrey Chaucer (1342 - 1400):
Troilus and Criseyde
Book II, lines 1352-1400: Pandarus says he will ask Troilus' brother Deiphebus for help

	But to Pandare alwey was his recours,
	And pitously gan ay til him to pleyne,
	And him bisoughte of rede and som socours;
1355	And Pandarus, that sey his wode peyne,
	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;

And seyde, `Lord, and freend, and brother dere,

1360 God woot that thy disese dooth me wo.

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,

1365 Ther as thou mayst thyself hir preye of grace.

`And certainly, I noot if thou it woost,

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,

1370 And siker place his wo for to biwreye;

For in good herte it moot som routhe impresse,

To here and see the giltles in distresse.

`Paraunter thenkestow: though it be so

That kinde wolde doon hir to biginne

1375 To han a maner routhe upon my wo,

Seyth Daunger, "Nay, thou shalt me never winne;

So reuleth hir hir hertes goost withinne,

That, though she bende, yet she stant on rote;

What in effect is this unto my bote?"

1380 `Thenk here-ayeins, whan that the sturdy ook,

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 milnestones.

1385 For swifter cours cometh thing that is of wighte,

Whan it descendeth, than don thinges lighte.

`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;

1390 It nedeth me nought thee longe to forbyse.

Men shal reioysen of a greet empryse

Acheved wel, and stant withouten doute,

Al han men been the lenger theraboute.

`But, Troilus, yet tel me, if thee lest,

1395 A thing now which that I shal axen thee;

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,

1400 He shal thee ese, unwist of it himselve.

Next:
From Troilus and Criseyde, Book II, lines 1401-1491:
Pandarus asks Deiphebus to organise a dinner at his hous and to invite Troilus and Criseyde and some other people

	And seyde, `Lord, and freend, and brother dere,
1360	God woot that thy disese dooth me wo.
	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,
1365	Ther as thou mayst thyself hir preye of grace.

	`And certainly, I noot if thou it woost,
	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,
1370	And siker place his wo for to biwreye;
	For in good herte it moot som routhe impresse,
	To here and see the giltles in distresse.

	`Paraunter thenkestow: though it be so
	That kinde wolde doon hir to biginne
1375	To han a maner routhe upon my wo,
	Seyth Daunger, "Nay, thou shalt me never winne;
	So reuleth hir hir hertes goost withinne,
	That, though she bende, yet she stant on rote;
	What in effect is this unto my bote?"

1380	`Thenk here-ayeins, whan that the sturdy ook,
	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 milnestones.
1385	For swifter cours cometh thing that is of wighte,
	Whan it descendeth, than don thinges lighte.

	`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;
1390	It nedeth me nought thee longe to forbyse.
	Men shal reioysen of a greet empryse
	Acheved wel, and stant withouten doute,
	Al han men been the lenger theraboute.

	`But, Troilus, yet tel me, if thee lest,
1395	A thing now which that I shal axen thee;
	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,
1400	He shal thee ese, unwist of it himselve.