IN the Proem to the Second Book, the poet hails the clearweather that enables him to sail out of those black waves inwhich his boat so laboured that he could scarcely steer — that is,“the tempestuous matter of despair, that Troilus was in; butnow of hope the kalendes begin.” He invokes the aid of Clio;excuses himself to every lover for what may be found amiss in abook which he only translates; and, obviating any lover’sobjection to the way in which Troilus obtained his lady’s grace -- through Pandarus’ mediation — says it seems to him nowonderful thing:
“For ev’ry wighte that to Rome wentHeld not one path, nor alway one mannere;Eke in some lands were all the game y-shentIf that men far’d in love as men do here,As thus, in open dealing and in cheer,In visiting, in form, or saying their saws;* *speechesFor thus men say: Each country hath its laws.
“Eke scarcely be there in this place threeThat have in love done or said *like in all;”* *alike in all respects*
And so that which the poem relates may not please the reader —but it actually was done, or it shall yet be done. The Book setsout with the visit of Pandarus to Cressida:—
In May, that mother is of monthes glade,* *gladWhen all the freshe flowers, green and red,Be quick* again, that winter deade made, *aliveAnd full of balm is floating ev’ry mead;When Phoebus doth his brighte beames spreadRight in the white Bull, so it betid* *happenedAs I shall sing, on Maye’s day the thrid, <11>
That Pandarus, for all his wise speech,Felt eke his part of Love’s shottes keen,That, could he ne’er so well of Love preach,It made yet his hue all day full green;* *paleSo *shope it,* that him fell that day a teen* *it happened* *accessIn love, for which full woe to bed he went,And made ere it were day full many a went.* *turning <12>
The swallow Progne, <13> with a sorrowful lay,When morrow came, gan make her waimenting,* *lamentingWhy she foshapen* was; and ever lay *transformedPandare a-bed, half in a slumbering,Till she so nigh him made her chittering,How Tereus gan forth her sister take,That with the noise of her he did awake,
And gan to call, and dress* him to arise, *prepareRememb’ring him his errand was to do’nFrom Troilus, and eke his great emprise;And cast, and knew in *good plight* was the Moon *favourable aspect*To do voyage, and took his way full soonUnto his niece’s palace there besideNow Janus, god of entry, thou him guide!
Pandarus finds his niece, with two other ladies, in a pavedparlour, listening to a maiden who reads aloud the story of theSiege of Thebes. Greeting the company, he is welcomed byCressida, who tells him that for three nights she has dreamed ofhim. After some lively talk about the book they had beenreading, Pandarus asks his niece to do away her hood, to showher face bare, to lay aside the book, to rise up and dance, “andlet us do to May some observance.” Cressida cries out, “Godforbid!” and asks if he is mad — if that is a widow’s life, whom itbetter becomes to sit in a cave and read of holy saints’ lives.Pandarus intimates that he could tell her something which couldmake her merry; but he refuses to gratify her curiosity; and, byway of the siege and of Hector, “that was the towne’s wall, andGreekes’ yerd” or scourging-rod, the conversation is broughtround to Troilus, whom Pandarus highly extols as “the wiseworthy Hector the second.” She has, she says, already heardTroilus praised for his bravery “of them that her were liefestpraised be” [by whom it would be most welcome to her to bepraised].
“Ye say right sooth, y-wis,” quoth Pandarus;For yesterday, who so had with him been,Might have wonder’d upon Troilus;For never yet so thick a swarm of been* *beesNe flew, as did of Greekes from him flee’n;And through the field, in ev’ry wighte’s ear,There was no cry but ‘Troilus is here.’
“Now here, now there, he hunted them so fast,There was but Greekes’ blood; and TroilusNow him he hurt, now him adown he cast;Ay where he went it was arrayed thus:He was their death, and shield of life for us,That as that day there durst him none withstand,While that he held his bloody sword in hand.”
Pandarus makes now a show of taking leave, but Cressidadetains him, to speak of her affairs; then, the business talkedover, he would again go, but first again asks his niece to ariseand dance, and cast her widow’s garments to mischance,because of the glad fortune that has befallen her. More curiousthan ever, she seeks to find out Pandarus’ secret; but he stillparries her curiosity, skilfully hinting all the time at her goodfortune, and the wisdom of seizing on it when offered. In theend he tells her that the noble Troilus so loves her, that with herit lies to make him live or die — but if Troilus dies, Pandarusshall die with him; and then she will have “fished fair.” <14> Hebeseeches mercy for his friend:
“*Woe worth* the faire gemme virtueless! <15> *evil befall!*Woe worth the herb also that *doth no boot!* *has no remedial power*Woe worth the beauty that is rutheless!* *mercilessWoe worth that wight that treads each under foot!And ye that be of beauty *crop and root* *perfection <16>If therewithal in you there be no ruth,* *pityThen is it harm ye live, by my truth!”
Pandarus makes only the slight request that she will showTroilus somewhat better cheer, and receive visits from him, thathis life may be saved; urging that, although a man be soon goingto the temple, nobody will think that he eats the images; andthat “such love of friends reigneth in all this town.”
Cressida, which that heard him in this wise,Thought: “I shall feele* what he means, y-wis;” *test“Now, eme* quoth she, “what would ye me devise? *uncleWhat is your rede* that I should do of this?” *counsel, opinion“That is well said,” quoth he;” certain best it isThat ye him love again for his loving,As love for love is *skilful guerdoning.* *reasonable recompense*
“Think eke how elde* wasteth ev’ry hour *ageIn each of you a part of your beauty;And therefore, ere that age do you devour,Go love, for, old, there will no wight love theeLet this proverb a lore* unto you be: *lesson‘“Too late I was ware,” quoth beauty when it past;And *elde daunteth danger* at the last.’ *old age overcomes disdain*
“The kinge’s fool is wont to cry aloud,When that he thinks a woman bears her high,‘So longe may ye liven, and all proud,Till crowes’ feet be wox* under your eye! *grownAnd send you then a mirror *in to pry* *to look in*In which ye may your face see a-morrow!* *in the morning*I keep then wishe you no more sorrow.’”* *I care to wish you nothing worse*Weeping, Cressida reproaches her uncle for giving her suchcounsel; whereupon Pandarus, starting up, threatens to killhimself, and would fain depart, but that his niece detains him,and, with much reluctance, promises to “make Troilus goodcheer in honour.” Invited by Cressida to tell how first he knowher lover’s woe, Pandarus then relates two soliloquies which hehad accidentally overheard, and in which Troilus had pouredout all the sorrow of his passion.
With this he took his leave, and home he wentAh! Lord, so was he glad and well-begone!* *happyCresside arose, no longer would she stent,* *stayBut straight into her chamber went anon,And sat her down, as still as any stone,And ev’ry word gan up and down to windThat he had said, as it came to her mind.
And wax’d somedeal astonish’d in her thought,Right for the newe case; but when that she*Was full advised,* then she found right naught *had fully considered*Of peril, why she should afeared be:For a man may love, of possibility,A woman so, that his heart may to-brest,* *break utterlyAnd she not love again, *but if her lest.* *unless it so please her*
But as she sat alone, and thoughte thus,In field arose a skirmish all without;And men cried in the street then:”Troilus hath right now put to flight the Greekes’ rout.”* *hostWith that gan all the meinie* for to shout: *(Cressida’s) household“Ah! go we see, cast up the lattice wide,For through this street he must to palace ride;
“For other way is from the gates none,Of Dardanus,<18> where open is the chain.” <19>With that came he, and all his folk anon,An easy pace riding, in *routes twain,* *two troops*Right as his *happy day* was, sooth to sayn: *good fortune <20>*For which men say may not disturbed beWhat shall betiden* of necessity. *happen
This Troilus sat upon his bay steedAll armed, save his head, full richely,And wounded was his horse, and gan to bleed,For which he rode a pace full softelyBut such a knightly sighte* truly *aspectAs was on him, was not, withoute fail,To look on Mars, that god is of Battaile.
So like a man of armes, and a knight,He was to see, full fill’d of high prowess;For both he had a body, and a mightTo do that thing, as well as hardiness;* *courageAnd eke to see him in his gear* him dress, *armourSo fresh, so young, so wieldy* seemed he, *activeIt was a heaven on him for to see.* *look
His helmet was to-hewn in twenty places,That by a tissue* hung his back behind; *ribandHis shield to-dashed was with swords and maces,In which men might many an arrow find,That thirled* had both horn, and nerve, and rind; <21> *piercedAnd ay the people cried, “Here comes our joy,And, next his brother, <22> holder up of Troy.”
For which he wax’d a little red for shame,When he so heard the people on him cryenThat to behold it was a noble game,How soberly he cast adown his eyen:Cresside anon gan all his cheer espien,And let it in her heart so softly sink,That to herself she said, “Who gives me drink?”<23>
For of her owen thought she wax’d all red,Rememb’ring her right thus: “Lo! this is heWhich that mine uncle swears he might be dead,But* I on him have mercy and pity:” *unlessAnd with that thought for pure shame sheGan in her head to pull, and that full fast,While he and all the people forth by pass’d.
And gan to cast,* and rollen up and down *ponderWithin her thought his excellent prowess,And his estate, and also his renown,His wit, his shape, and eke his gentlenessBut most her favour was, for his distressWas all for her, and thought it were ruthTo slay such one, if that he meant but truth.
. . . . . . . . . .
And, Lord! so gan she in her heart argueOf this mattere, of which I have you toldAnd what to do best were, and what t’eschew,That plaited she full oft in many a fold.<24>Now was her hearte warm, now was it cold.And what she thought of, somewhat shall I write,As to mine author listeth to endite.
She thoughte first, that Troilus’ personShe knew by sight, and eke his gentleness;And saide thus: *“All were it not to do’n,’* *although it wereTo grant him love, yet for the worthiness impossible*It were honour, with play* and with gladness, *pleasing entertainmentIn honesty with such a lord to deal,For mine estate,* and also for his heal.** *reputation **health
“Eke well I wot* my kinge’s son is he; *knowAnd, since he hath to see me such delight,If I would utterly his sighte flee,Parauntre* he might have me in despite, *peradventureThrough which I mighte stand in worse plight. <25>Now were I fool, me hate to purchase* *obtain for myselfWithoute need, where I may stand in grace,* *favour
“In ev’rything, I wot, there lies measure;* *a happy mediumFor though a man forbidde drunkenness,He not forbids that ev’ry creatureBe drinkeless for alway, as I guess;Eke, since I know for me is his distress,I oughte not for that thing him despise,Since it is so he meaneth in good wise.
“Now set a case, that hardest is, y-wis,Men mighte deeme* that he loveth me; *believeWhat dishonour were it unto me, this?May I *him let of* that? Why, nay, pardie! *prevent him from*I know also, and alway hear and see,Men love women all this town about;Be they the worse? Why, nay, withoute doubt!
“Nor me to love a wonder is it not;For well wot I myself, so God me speed! —*All would I* that no man wist of this thought — *although I would*I am one of the fairest, without drede,* *doubtAnd goodlieste, who so taketh heed;And so men say in all the town of Troy;What wonder is, though he on me have joy?
“I am mine owen woman, well at ease,I thank it God, as after mine estate,Right young, and stand untied in *lusty leas,* *pleasant leashWithoute jealousy, or such debate: (of love)*Shall none husband say to me checkmate;For either they be full of jealousy,Or masterful, or love novelty.
“What shall I do? to what fine* live I thus? *endShall I not love, in case if that me lest?What? pardie! I am not religious;<26>And though that I mine hearte set at restAnd keep alway mine honour and my name,By all right I may do to me no shame.”
But right as when the sunne shineth brightIn March, that changeth oftentime his face,And that a cloud is put with wind to flight,Which overspreads the sun as for a space;A cloudy thought gan through her hearte pace,* *passThat overspread her brighte thoughtes all,So that for fear almost she gan to fall.
The cloudy thought is of the loss of liberty and security, thestormy life, and the malice of wicked tongues, that love entails:
[But] after that her thought began to clear,And saide, “He that nothing undertakesNothing achieveth, be him *loth or dear.”* *unwilling or desirous*And with another thought her hearte quakes;Then sleepeth hope, and after dread awakes,Now hot, now cold; but thus betwixt the tway* *twoShe rist* her up, and wente forth to play.** *rose **take recreation
Adown the stair anon right then she wentInto a garden, with her nieces three,And up and down they made many a went,* *winding, turn <12>Flexippe and she, Tarke, Antigone,To playe, that it joy was for to see;And other of her women, a great rout,* *troopHer follow’d in the garden all about.
This yard was large, and railed the alleys,And shadow’d well with blossomy boughes green,And benched new, and sanded all the ways,In which she walked arm and arm between;Till at the last Antigone the sheen* *bright, lovelyGan on a Trojan lay to singe clear,That it a heaven was her voice to hear.
Antigone’s song is of virtuous love for a noble object; and it issingularly fitted to deepen the impression made on the mind ofCressida by the brave aspect of Troilus, and by her owncogitations. The singer, having praised the lover and rebukedthe revilers of love, proceeds:
“What is the Sunne worse of his *kind right,* *true nature*Though that a man, for feebleness of eyen,May not endure to see on it for bright? <27>Or Love the worse, tho’ wretches on it cryen?No weal* is worth, that may no sorrow drien;** <28> *happiness **endureAnd forthy,* who that hath a head of verre,** *therefore **glass <29>From cast of stones ware him in the werre. <30>
“But I, with all my heart and all my might,As I have lov’d, will love unto my lastMy deare heart, and all my owen knight,In which my heart y-growen is so fast,And his in me, that it shall ever last*All dread I* first to love him begin, *although I feared*Now wot I well there is no pain therein.”
Cressida sighs, and asks Antigone whether there is such blissamong these lovers, as they can fair endite; Antigone repliesconfidently in the affirmative; and Cressida answers nothing,“but every worde which she heard she gan to printen in herhearte fast.” Night draws on:
The daye’s honour, and the heaven’s eye,The nighte’s foe, — all this call I the Sun, —Gan westren* fast, and downward for to wry,** *go west <31> **turnAs he that had his daye’s course y-run;And white thinges gan to waxe dunFor lack of light, and starres to appear;Then she and all her folk went home in fere.* *in company
So, when it liked her to go to rest,And voided* were those that voiden ought, *gone out (of the house)She saide, that to sleepe well her lest.* *pleasedHer women soon unto her bed her brought;When all was shut, then lay she still and thoughtOf all these things the manner and the wise;Rehearse it needeth not, for ye be wise.
A nightingale upon a cedar green,Under the chamber wall where as she lay,Full loude sang against the moone sheen,Parauntre,* in his birde’s wise, a lay *perchanceOf love, that made her hearte fresh and gay;Hereat hark’d* she so long in good intent, *listenedTill at the last the deade sleep her hent.* *seized
And as she slept, anon right then *her mette* *she dreamed*How that an eagle, feather’d white as bone,Under her breast his longe clawes set,And out her heart he rent, and that anon,And did* his heart into her breast to go’n, *causedOf which no thing she was *abash’d nor smert;* *amazed nor hurt*And forth he flew, with hearte left for heart.
Leaving Cressida to sleep, the poet returns to Troilus and hiszealous friend — with whose stratagems to bring the two loverstogether the remainder of the Second Book is occupied.Pandarus counsels Troilus to write a letter to his mistress,telling her how he “fares amiss,” and “beseeching her of ruth;”he will bear the letter to his niece; and, if Troilus will ride pastCressida’s house, he will find his mistress and his friend sittingat a window. Saluting Pandarus, and not tarrying, his passagewill give occasion for some talk of him, which may make hisears glow. With respect to the letter, Pandarus gives someshrewd hints:
“Touching thy letter, thou art wise enough,I wot thou *n’ilt it dignely endite* *wilt not write it haughtily*Or make it with these argumentes tough,Nor scrivener-like, nor craftily it write;Beblot it with thy tears also a lite;* *littleAnd if thou write a goodly word all soft,Though it be good, rehearse it not too oft.
“For though the beste harper *pon live* *aliveWould on the best y-sounded jolly harpThat ever was, with all his fingers fiveTouch ay one string, or *ay one warble harp,* *always play one tune*Were his nailes pointed ne’er so sharp,He shoulde maken ev’ry wight to dull* *to grow boredTo hear his glee, and of his strokes full.
“Nor jompre* eke no discordant thing y-fere,** *jumble **togetherAs thus, to use termes of physic;In love’s termes hold of thy mattereThe form alway, and *do that it be like;* *make it consistent*For if a painter woulde paint a pikeWith ass’s feet, and head it as an ape,<32>It *’cordeth not,* so were it but a jape.” *is not harmonious*
Troilus writes the letter, and next morning Pandarus bears it toCressida. She refuses to receive “scrip or bill that toucheth suchmattere;” but he thrusts it into her bosom, challenging her tothrow it away. She retains it, takes the first opportunity ofescaping to her chamber to read it, finds it wholly good, and,under her uncle’s dictation, endites a reply telling her lover thatshe will not make herself bound in love; “but as his sister, himto please, she would aye fain [be glad] to do his heart an ease.”Pandarus, under pretext of inquiring who is the owner of thehouse opposite, has gone to the window; Cressida takes herletter to him there, and tells him that she never did a thing withmore pain than write the words to which he had constrainedher. As they sit side by side, on a stone of jasper, on a cushionof beaten gold, Troilus rides by, in all his goodliness. Cressidawaxes “as red as rose,” as she sees him salute humbly, “withdreadful cheer, and oft his hues mue [change];” she likes “ally-fere, his person, his array, his look, his cheer, his goodlymanner, and his gentleness;” so that, however she may havebeen before, “to goode hope now hath she caught a thorn, sheshall not pull it out this nexte week.” Pandarus, striking the ironwhen it is hot, asks his niece to grant Troilus an interview; butshe strenuously declines, for fear of scandal, and because it is alltoo soon to allow him so great a liberty — her purpose being tolove him unknown of all, “and guerdon [reward] him withnothing but with sight.” Pandarus has other intentions; and,while Troilus writes daily letters with increasing love, hecontrives the means of an interview. Seeking out Deiphobus,the brother of Troilus, he tells him that Cressida is in danger ofviolence from Polyphete, and asks protection for her.Deiphobus gladly complies, promises the protection of Hectorand Helen, and goes to invite Cressida to dinner on the morrow.Meantime Pandarus instructs Troilus to go to the house ofDeiphobus, plead an access of his fever for remaining all night,and keep his chamber next day. “Lo,” says the crafty promoterof love, borrowing a phrase from the hunting-field; “Lo, holdthee at thy tristre [tryst <33>] close, and I shall well the deerunto thy bowe drive.” Unsuspicious of stratagem, Cressidacomes to dinner; and at table, Helen, Pandarus, and others,praise the absent Troilus, until “her heart laughs” for very pridethat she has the love of such a knight. After dinner they speakof Cressida’s business; all confirm Deiphobus’ assurances ofprotection and aid; and Pandarus suggests that, since Troilus isthere, Cressida shall herself tell him her case. Helen andDeiphobus alone accompany Pandarus to Troilus’ chamber;there Troilus produces some documents relating to the publicweal, which Hector has sent for his opinion; Helen andDeiphobus, engrossed in perusal and discussion, roam out ofthe chamber, by a stair, into the garden; while Pandarus goesdown to the hall, and, pretending that his brother and Helen arestill with Troilus, brings Cressida to her lover. The SecondBook leaves Pandarus whispering in his niece’s ear counsel tobe merciful and kind to her lover, that hath for her such pain;while Troilus lies “in a kankerdort,” <34> hearing thewhispering without, and wondering what he shall say for this“was the first time that he should her pray of love; O! mightyGod! what shall he say?”