HKB
horse, could with difficulty resist an impulse to slay him — but restrained himself, lest his lady should be also slain in the tumult. When Cressida was ready to go,
This Troilus, in guise of courtesy, With hawk on hand, and with a huge rout* retinue, crowd Of knightes, rode, and did her company, Passing alle the valley far without; And farther would have ridden, out of doubt, Full fain, and woe was him to go so soon, *gladly But turn he must, and it was eke to do’n.
And right with that was Antenor y-come Out of the Greekes’ host, and ev’ry wight Was of it glad, and said he was welcome; And Troilus, all n’ere his hearte light, although his heart He pained him, with all his fulle might, was not light Him to withhold from weeping at the least; And Antenor he kiss’d and made feast.
And therewithal he must his leave take, And cast his eye upon her piteously, And near he rode, his cause* for to make *excuse, occasion To take her by the hand all soberly; And, Lord! so she gan weepe tenderly! And he full soft and slily gan her say, “Now hold your day, and do me not to dey.” do not make me die
With that his courser turned he about, With face pale, and unto Diomede No word he spake, nor none of all his rout; Of which the son of Tydeus <81> tooke heed, As he that couthe* more than the creed <82> knew In such a craft, and by the rein her hent; *took And Troilus to Troye homeward went.
This Diomede, that led her by the bridle, When that he saw the folk of Troy away, Thought, “All my labour shall not be on idle, in vain If that I may, for somewhat shall I say; For, at the worst, it may yet short our way; I have heard say eke, times twice twelve, He is a fool that will forget himselve.”
But natheless, this thought he well enough, That “Certainly I am aboute naught, If that I speak of love, or make it tough; make any violent For, doubteless, if she have in her thought immediate effort Him that I guess, he may not be y-brought So soon away; but I shall find a mean, That she not wit as yet shall what I mean.” shall not yet know
So he began a general conversation, assured her of not less friendship and honour among the Greeks than she had enjoyed in Troy, and requested of her earnestly to treat him as a brother and accept his service — for, at last he said, “I am and shall be ay, while that my life may dure, your own, aboven ev’ry creature.
“Thus said I never e’er now to woman born; For, God mine heart as wisly* gladden so! surely I loved never woman herebeforn, As paramours, nor ever shall no mo’; And for the love of God be not my foe, All can I not to you, my lady dear, although Complain aright, for I am yet to lear. *teach
“And wonder not, mine owen lady bright, Though that I speak of love to you thus blive;* *soon For I have heard ere this of many a wight That loved thing he ne’er saw in his live; Eke I am not of power for to strive Against the god of Love, but him obey I will alway, and mercy I you pray.”