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Ane doolie sessoun to ane cairfull dyte Suld correspond and be equivalent Richt sa it wes quhen I began to wryte This tragedie, the wedder richt fervent Quhen Aries in middis of the Lent Schouris of haill gart fra the north discend That scantlie fra the cauld I micht defend, Yit nevertheles within myne oratur I stude quhen Titan had his bemis bricht Withdrawin doun and sylit under cure And fair Venus the bewtie of the nicht Uprais and set unto the west full richt Hir goldin face in oppositioun Of god Phebus direct discending doun. Throwout the glas hir bemis brast sa fair That I micht se on everie syde me by The northin wind had purifyit the air And sched the mistie cloudis fra the sky, The froist freisit, the blastis bitterly Fra pole artick come quhisling loud and schill And causit me remufe aganis my will. For I traistit that Venus luifis quene To quhome sum tyme I hecht obedience My faidit hart of lufe scho wald mak grene, And therupon with humbill reverence I thocht to pray hir hie magnificence. Bot for greit cald as than I lattit was And in my chalmer to the fyre can pas. Thocht lufe be hait yit in ane man of age It kendillis nocht sa sone as in youtheid Of quhome the blude is flowing in ane rage, And in the auld the curage doif and deid Of quhilk the fyre outward is best remeid. To help be phisike quhair that nature faillit I am expert for baith I have assaillit. I mend the fyre and beikit me about Than tuik ane drink my spreitis to comfort And armit me weill fra the cauld thairout. To cut the winter nicht and mak it schort I tuik ane quair, and left all uther sport, Writtin be worthie Chaucer glorious Of fair Creisseid and worthie Troylus. And thair I fand efter that Diomeid Ressavit had that lady bricht of hew How Troilus neir out of wit abraid And weipit soir with visage paill of hew For quhilk wanhope his teiris can renew Quhill Esperus rejoisit him agane. Thus quhyle in joy he levit, quhyle in pane. Of hir behest he had greit comforting, Traisting to Troy that scho suld mak retour Quhilk he desyrit maist of eirdly thing For quhy scho was his only paramour. Bot quhen he saw passit baith day and hour Of hir ganecome than sorrow can oppres His wofull hart in cair and hevines. Of his distres me neidis nocht reheirs For worthie Chauceir in the samin buik In gudelie termis and in joly veirs Compylit hes his cairis quha will luik. To brek my sleip ane uther quair I tuik In quhilk I fand the fatall destenie Of fair Cresseid that endit wretchitlie. Quha wait gif all that Chauceir wrait was trew? Nor I wait nocht gif this narratioun Be authoreist or fenyeit of the new Be sum poeit throw his inventioun, Maid to report the lamentatioun And wofull end of this lustie Creisseid And quhat distres scho thoillit and quhat deid. Quhen Diomeid had all his appetyte And mair fulfillit of this fair ladie, Upon ane uther he set his haill delyte And send to hir ane lybell of repudie And hir excludit fra his companie. Than desolait scho walkit up and doun And, sum men sayis, into the court commoun. O fair Creisseid the flour and A per se Of Troy and Grece, how was thow fortunait To change in filth all thy feminitie And be with fleschelie lust sa maculait And go amang the Greikis air and lait Sa giglotlike takand thy foull plesance! I have pietie thee suld fall sic mischance. Yit nevertheles, quhatever men deme or say In scornefull langage of thy brukkilnes, I sall excuse als far furth as I may Thy womanheid, thy wisdome and fairnes, The quhilk Fortoun hes put to sic distres As hir pleisit, and nathing throw the gilt Of thee — throw wickit langage to be spilt. This fair lady, in this wyse destitute Of all comfort and consolatioun, Richt privelie, but fellowschip, on fute, Disagysit passit far out of the toun Ane myle or twa unto ane mansioun Beildit full gay quhair hir father Calchas Quhilk than amang the Greikis dwelland was. Quhen he hir saw, the caus he can inquyre Of hir cumming. Scho said, siching full soir, “Fra Diomeid had gottin his desyre He wox werie and wald of me no moir.” Quod Calchas, “Douchter, weip thow not thairfoir, Peraventure all cummis for the best. Welcum, to me thow art full deir ane gest.” This auld Calchas efter the law was tho Wes keiper of the tempill as ane preist In quhilk Venus and hir sone Cupido War honourit, and his chalmer was thame neist, To quhilk Cresseid with baill aneuch in breist Usit to pas, hir prayeris for to say Quhill at the last upon ane solempne day, As custome was, the pepill far and neir Befoir the none unto the tempill went With sacrifice devoit in thair maneir. Bot still Cresseid, hevie in hir intent, Into the kirk wald not hirself present For giving of the pepill ony deming Of hir expuls fra Diomeid the king Bot past into ane secreit orature Quhair scho micht weip hir wofull desteny. Behind hir bak scho cloisit fast the dure And on hir kneis bair fell doun in hy, Upon Venus and Cupide angerly Scho cryit out and said on this same wyse, “Allace that ever I maid yow sacrifice! “Ye gave me anis ane devine responsaill That I suld be the flour of luif in Troy, Now am I maid ane unworthie outwaill And all in cair translatit is my joy. Quha sall me gyde, quha sall me now convoy Sen I fra Diomeid and nobill Troylus Am clene excludit as abject odious? “O fals Cupide, is nane to wyte bot thow And thy mother of lufe the blind goddes. Ye causit me alwayis understand and trow The seid of lufe was sawin in my face And ay grew grene throw your supplie and grace, Bot now allace that seid with froist is slane And I fra luifferis left and all forlane.” Quhen this was said, doun in ane extasie, Ravischit in spreit intill ane dreame scho fell And be apperance hard quhair scho did ly, Cupide the king ringand ane silver bell Quhilk men micht heir fra hevin unto hell, At quhais sound befoir Cupide appeiris The sevin planetis discending fra thair spheiris Quhilk hes power of all thing generabill To reull and steir be thair greit influence Wedder and wind and coursis variabill, And first of all Saturne made apparence Quhilk gave to Cupide litill reverence Bot as ane busteous churle on his maneir Come crabitlie with auster luik and cheir. His face fronsit, his lyre was lyke the leid, His teith chatterit and cheverit with the chin, His ene drowpit, how sonkin in his heid, Out of his nois the meldrop fast can rin, With lippis bla and cheikis leine and thin. The ice schoklis that fra his hair doun hang Was wonder greit and as ane speir als lang. Atouir his belt his lyart lokkis lay Felterit unfair, ovirfret with froistis hoir, His garmound and his gyte full gay of gray, His widderit weid fra him the wind out woir, Ane busteous bow within his hand he boir, Under his girdill ane flasche of felloun flanis Fedderit with ice and heidit with hailstanis. Than Juppiter richt fair and amiabill, God of the starnis in the firmament And nureis to all thing generabill, Fra his father Saturne far different With burelie face and browis bricht and brent, Upon his heid ane garland wonder gay Of flouris fair as it had bene in May. His voice was cleir, as cristall wer his ene, As goldin wyre sa glitterand was his hair, His garmound and his gyte full gay of grene With goldin listis gilt on everie gair. Ane burelie brand about his middill bair, In his richt hand he had ane groundin speir Of his father the wraith fra us to weir. Nixt efter him come Mars the god of ire, Of strife, debait, and all dissensioun, To chide and fecht als feirs as ony fyre In hard harnes, hewmound, and habirgeoun, And on his hanche ane roustie, fell fachioun And in his hand he had ane roustie sword. Wrything his face with mony angrie word. Schaikand his sword, befoir Cupide he come With reid visage and grislie glowrand ene And at his mouth ane bullar stude of fome, Lyke to ane bair quhetting his tuskis kene, Richt tuilyeour-lyke, but temperance in tene. Ane horne he blew with mony bosteous brag Quhilk all this warld with weir hes maid to wag. Than fair Phebus, lanterne and lamp of licht Of man and beist, baith frute and flourisching, Tender nureis and banischer of nicht And of the warld causing be his moving And influence lyfe in all eirdlie thing, Without comfort of quhome, of force to nocht Must all ga die that in this warld is wrocht. As king royall he raid upon his chair The quhilk Phaeton gydit sumtyme upricht. The brichtnes of his face quhen it was bair Nane micht behald for peirsing of his sicht. This goldin cart with fyrie bemis bricht Four yokkit steidis full different of hew But bait or tyring throw the spheiris drew. The first was soyr with mane als reid as rois Callit Eoye, into the orient. The secund steid to name hecht Ethios, Quhitlie and paill, and sumdeill ascendent. The thrid, Peros, richt hait and richt fervent. The feird was blak and callit Philogie Quhilk rollis Phebus doun into the sey. Venus was thair present, that goddes gay, Hir sonnis querrell for to defend and mak Hir awin complaint, cled in ane nyce array, The ane half grene, the uther half sabill blak, Quhyte hair as gold kemmit and sched abak Bot in hir face semit greit variance, Quhyles perfyte treuth, and quhyles inconstance. Under smyling scho was dissimulait, Provocative with blenkis amorous And suddanely changit and alterait, Angrie as ony serpent vennemous, Richt pungitive with wordis odious. Thus variant scho was, quha list tak keip, With ane eye lauch and with the uther weip In taikning that all fleschelie paramour Quhilk Venus hes in reull and governance Is sumtyme sweit, sumtyme bitter and sour, Richt unstabill and full of variance Mingit with cairfull joy and fals plesance, Now hait, now cauld, now blyith, now full of wo, Now grene as leif, now widderit and ago. With buik in hand than come Mercurius, Richt eloquent and full of rethorie, With polite termis and delicious, With pen and ink to report all reddie, Setting sangis and singand merilie. His hude was reid, heklit atouir his croun Lyke to ane poeit of the auld fassoun. Boxis he bair with fyne electuairis And sugerit syropis for digestioun, Spycis belangand to the pothecairis With mony hailsum sweit confectioun — Doctour in phisick, cled in ane skarlot goun And furrit weill as sic ane aucht to be, Honest and gude and not ane word culd lie. Nixt efter him come lady Cynthia The last of all and swiftest in hir spheir, Of colour blak, buskit with hornis twa And in the nicht scho listis best appeir Haw as the leid, of colour nathing cleir, For all hir licht scho borrowis at hir brother Titan, for of hirself scho hes nane uther. Hir gyte was gray and full of spottis blak, And on hir breist ane churle paintit full evin Beirand ane bunche of thornis on his bak Quhilk for his thift micht clim na nar the hevin. Thus quhen thay gadderit war, thir goddes sevin, Mercurius thay cheisit with ane assent To be foirspeikar in the parliament. Quha had bene thair and liken for to heir His facound toung and termis exquisite, Of rethorick the prettick he micht leir In breif sermone ane pregnant sentence wryte.1 Befoir Cupide veiling his cap alyte, Speiris the caus of that vocatioun And he anone schew his intentioun. “Lo,” quod Cupide, “quha will blaspheme the name Of his awin god, outher in word or deid, To all goddis he dois baith lak and schame And suld have bitter panis to his meid. I say this by yone wretchit Cresseid, The quhilk throw me was sumtyme flour of lufe, Me and my mother starklie can reprufe, “Saying of hir greit infelicitie I was the caus and my mother Venus Ane blind goddes hir cald that micht not se, With sclander and defame injurious. Thus hir leving unclene and lecherous Scho wald returne on me and my mother, To quhome I schew my grace abone all uther. “And sen ye ar all sevin deificait, Participant of devyne sapience, This greit injure done to our hie estait Me think with pane we suld mak recompence. Was never to goddes done sic violence, Asweill for yow as for myself I say. Thairfoir ga help to revenge, I yow pray.” Mercurius to Cupide gave answeir And said, “Schir king, my counsall is that ye Refer yow to the hiest planeit heir And tak to him the lawest of degre The pane of Cresseid for to modifie, As god Saturne with him tak Cynthia.” “I am content,” quod he, “to tak thay twa.” Than thus proceidit Saturne and the mone Quhen thay the mater rypelie had degest: For the dispyte to Cupide scho had done And to Venus, oppin and manifest, In all hir lyfe with pane to be opprest And torment sair with seiknes incurabill And to all lovers be abhominabill. This duleful sentence Saturne tuik on hand And passit doun quhair cairfull Cresseid lay And on hir heid he laid ane frostie wand Than lawfullie on this wyse can he say, “Thy greit fairnes and all thy bewtie gay, Thy wantoun blude and eik thy goldin hair Heir I exclude fra thee for evermair. “I change thy mirth into melancholy Quhilk is the mother of all pensivenes, Thy moisture and thy heit in cald and dry, Thyne insolence, thy play and wantones To greit diseis, thy pomp and thy riches In mortall neid and greit penuritie. Thow suffer sall and as ane beggar die.” O cruell Saturne fraward and angrie, Hard is thy dome and to malitious! On fair Cresseid quhy hes thow na mercie Quhilk was sa sweit, gentill, and amorous? Withdraw thy sentence and be gracious — As thow was never — sa schawis throw thy deid, Ane wraikfull sentence gevin on fair Cresseid. Than Cynthia quhen Saturne past away Out of hir sait discendit doun belyve And red ane bill on Cresseid quhair scho lay Contening this sentence diffinityve, “Fra heit of bodie I thee now depryve And to thy seiknes sall be na recure Bot in dolour thy dayis to indure. Thy cristall ene mingit with blude I mak, Thy voice sa cleir, unplesand, hoir and hace, Thy lustie lyre, ovirspred with spottis blak And lumpis haw appeirand in thy face. Quhair thow cummis, ilk man sall fle the place. This sall thow go begging fra hous to hous With cop and clapper lyke ane lazarous.” This doolie dreame, this uglye visioun Brocht to ane end, Cresseid fra it awoik, And, all that court and convocatioun Vanischit away, than rais scho up and tuik Ane poleist glas and hir schaddow culd luik And quhen scho saw hir face sa deformait, Gif scho in hart was wa aneuch, God wait. Weiping full sair, “Lo, quhat it is,” quod sche, “With fraward langage for to mufe and steir Our craibit goddis and sa is sene on me. My blaspheming now have I bocht full deir. All eirdlie joy and mirth I set areir. Allace this day, allace this wofull tyde Quhen I began with my goddis for to chyde!” Be this was said, ane chyld, come fra the hall To warne Cresseid the supper was reddy, First knokkit at the dure and syne culd call, “Madame, your father biddis yow cum in hy. He hes merwell sa lang on grouf ye ly And sayis your beedes bene to lang sumdeill. The goddis wait all your intent full weill.” Quod scho, “Fair chyld, ga to my father deir And pray him cum to speik with me anone,” And sa he did and said, “Douchter, quhat cheir?” “Allace,” quod scho, “father, my mirth is gone.” “How sa?” quod he, and scho can all expone As I have tauld, the vengeance and the wraik For hir trespas Cupide on hir culd tak. He luikit on hir uglye lipper face The quhylk befor was quhite as lillie flour. Wringand his handis oftymes he said allace That he had levit to se that wofull hour For he knew weill that thair was na succour To hir seiknes, and that dowblit his pane, Thus was thair cair aneuch betuix thame twane. Quhen thay togidder murnit had full lang, Quod Cresseid, “Father, I wald not be kend, Thairfoir in secreit wyse ye let me gang Unto yone hospitall at the tounis end And thidder sum meit for cheritie me send To leif upon, for all mirth in this eird Is fra me gane, sic is my wickit weird.” Than in ane mantill and ane baver hat With cop and clapper, wonder prively He opnit ane secreit yet and out thairat Convoyit hir that na man suld espy Unto ane village half ane myle thairby, Delyverit hir in at the spittaill hous And daylie sent hir part of his almous. Sum knew hir weill and sum had na knawledge Of hir becaus scho was sa deformait With bylis blak ovirspred in hir visage And hir fair colour faidit and alterait, Yit thay presumit for hir hie regrait And still murning, scho was of nobill kin. With better will thairfoir they tuik hir in. The day passit and Phebus went to rest. The cloudis blak overheled all the sky. God wait gif Cresseid was ane sorrowfull gest, Seing that uncouth fair and harbery. But meit or drink scho dressit hir to ly In ane dark corner of the hous allone And on this wyse, weiping, scho maid hir mone: The Complaint of Cresseid O sop of sorrow, sonkin into cair, O cative Cresseid, now and evermair Gane is thy joy and all thy mirth in eird! Of all blyithnes now art thow blaiknit bair, Thair is na salve may saif or sound thy sair, Fell is thy fortoun, wickit is thy weird, Thy blys is baneist and thy baill on breird. Under the eirth God gif I gravin wer Quhair nane of Grece nor yit of Troy micht heird! Quhair is thy chalmer wantounlie besene With burely bed and bankouris browderit bene, Spycis and wyne to thy collatioun, The cowpis all of gold and silver schene, The sweitmeitis servit in plaittis clene With saipheron sals of ane gude sessoun, Thy gay garmentis with mony gudely goun, Thy plesand lawn pinnit with goldin prene, All is areir, thy greit royall renoun. Quhair is thy garding with thir greissis gay And fresche flowris, quhilk the quene Floray Had paintit plesandly in everie pane, Quhair thou was wont full merilye in May To walk and tak the dew be it was day And heir the merle and mawis mony ane, With ladyis fair in carrolling to gane And se the royall rinkis in thair ray, In garmentis gay garnischit on everie grane? Thy greit triumphand fame and hie honour Quhair thou was callit of eirdlye wichtis flour, All is decayit, thy weird is welterit so Thy hie estait is turnit in darknes dour. This lipper ludge tak for thy burelie bour And for thy bed tak now ane bunche of stro, For waillit wyne and meitis thou had tho Tak mowlit breid, peirrie and ceder sour. Bot cop and clapper, now is all ago. My cleir voice and courtlie carrolling, Quhair I was wont with ladyis for to sing, Is rawk as ruik, full hiddeous, hoir, and hace. My plesand port, all utheris precelling, Of lustines I was hald maist conding, Now is deformit the figour of my face, To luik on it na leid now lyking hes. Sowpit in syte, I say, with sair siching, Ludgeit amang the lipper leid, allace! O ladyis fair of Troy and Grece, attend My miserie quhilk nane may comprehend, My frivoll fortoun, my infelicitie, My greit mischeif quhilk na man can amend. Be war in tyme, approchis neir the end, And in your mynd ane mirrour mak of me. As I am now, peradventure that ye For all your micht may cum to that same end Or ellis war, gif ony war may be. Nocht is your fairnes bot ane faiding flour, Nocht is your famous laud and hie honour Bot wind inflat in uther mennis eiris; Your roising reid to rotting sall retour. Exempill mak of me in your memour Quhilk of sic thingis wofull witnes beiris. All welth in eird, away as wind it weiris,2 Be war thairfor, approchis neir the hour, Fortoun is fikkill quhen scho beginnis and steiris.” Thus chydand with hir drerie destenye, Weiping scho woik the nicht fra end to end Bot all in vane, hir dule, hir cairfull cry Micht not remeid nor yit hir murning mend. Ane lipper lady rais and till hir wend And said, “Quhy spurnis thow aganis the wall To sla thyself and mend nathing at all? “Sen thy weiping dowbillis bot thy wo, I counsall thee mak vertew of ane neid, To leir to clap thy clapper to and fro, And leif efter the law of lipper leid.” Thair was na buit, bot furth with thame scho yeid Fra place to place quhill cauld and hounger sair Compellit hir to be ane rank beggair. That samin tyme of Troy the garnisoun Quhilk had to chiftane worthie Troylus Throw jeopardie of weir had strikken doun Knichtis of Grece in number mervellous. With greit tryumphe and laude victorious Agane to Troy richt royallie thay raid The way quhair Cresseid with the lipper baid. Seing that companie, all with ane stevin Thay gaif ane cry and schuik coppis gude speid, Said, “Worthie lordis, for goddis lufe of hevin, To us lipper part of your almous deid!” Than to thair cry nobill Troylus tuik heid Having pietie — neirby the place can pas Quhair Cresseid sat, not witting quhat scho was. Than upon him scho kest up baith hir ene And with ane blenk it come into his thocht That he sumtime hir face befoir had sene Bot scho was in sic plye he knew hir nocht, Yit than hir luik into his mynd it brocht The sweit visage and amorous blenking Of fair Cresseid, sumtyme his awin darling. Na wonder was suppois in mynd that he Tuik hir figure sa sone, and lo now quhy: The idole of ane thing in cace may be Sa deip imprentit in the fantasy That it deludis the wittis outwardly And sa appeiris in forme and lyke estait Within the mynd as it was figurait. Ane spark of lufe than till his hart culd spring And kendlit all his bodie in ane fyre, With hait fevir ane sweit and trimbling Him tuik quhill he was reddie to expyre, To beir his scheild his breist began to tyre, Within ane quhyle he changit mony hew, And nevertheles not ane ane uther knew. For knichtlie pietie and memoriall Of fair Cresseid, ane gyrdill can he tak, Ane purs of gold and mony gay jowall, And in the skirt of Cresseid doun can swak, Than raid away and not ane word he spak, Pensive in hart, quhill he come to the toun And for greit cair oft syis almaist fell doun. The lipper folk to Cresseid than can draw To se the equall distributioun Of the almous, bot quhen the gold thay saw, Ilkane to uther prevelie can roun, And said, “Yone lord hes mair affectioun, However it be, unto yone lazarous Than to us all, we knaw be his almous.” “Quhat lord is yone,” quod scho, “have ye na feill Hes done to us so greit humanitie?” “Yes,” quod a lipper man, “I knaw him weill, Schir Troylus it is, gentill and fre.” Quhen Cresseid understude that it was he, Stiffer than steill thair stert ane bitter stound Throwout hir hart, and fell doun to the ground. Quhen scho ovircome with siching sair and sad, With mony cairfull cry and cald ochane — “Now is my breist with stormie stoundis stad, Wrappit in wo, ane wretch full will of wane!” — Than swounit scho full oft or ever scho fane And ever in hir swouning cryit scho thus, “O fals Cresseid and trew knicht Troylus! “Thy lufe, thy lawtie, and thy gentilnes I countit small in my prosperitie, Sa elevait I was in wantones And clam upon the fickill quheill sa hie. All faith and lufe I promissit to thee Was in the self fickill and frivolous, O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!” “For lufe of me thow keipt continence, Honest and chaist in conversatioun. Of all wemen protectour and defence Thou was and helpit thair opinioun. My mynd in fleschelie foull affectioun Was inclynit to lustis lecherous, Fy fals Cresseid, O trew knicht Troylus!” “Lovers be war and tak gude heid about Quhome that ye lufe, for quhome ye suffer paine, I lat yow wit thair is richt few thairout Quhome ye may traist to have trew lufe agane. Preif quhen ye will, your labour is in vaine, Thairfoir, I reid ye tak thame as ye find For thay ar sad as widdercok in wind. “Becaus I knaw the greit unstabilnes Brukkil as glas into myself I say, Traisting in uther als greit unfaithfulnes, Als unconstant and als untrew of fay, Thocht sum be trew, I wait richt few ar thay, Quha findis treuth, lat him his lady ruse; Nane but myself as now I will accuse.” Quhen this was said, with paper scho sat doun And on this maneir maid hir testament. “Heir I beteiche my corps and carioun With wormis and with taidis to be rent. My cop and clapper and myne ornament And all my gold the lipper folk sall have Quhen I am deid to burie me in grave. “This royall ring set with this rubie reid Quhilk Troylus in drowrie to me send, To him agane I leif it quhen I am deid To mak my cairfull deid unto him kend. Thus I conclude schortlie and mak ane end: My spreit I leif to Diane quhair scho dwellis To walk with hir in waist woddis and wellis. “O Diomeid, thou hes baith broche and belt Quhilk Troylus gave me in takning Of his trew lufe!” and with that word scho swelt. And sone ane lipper man tuik of the ring, Syne buryit hir withouttin tarying. To Troylus furthwith the ring he bair And of Cresseid the deith he can declair. Quhen he had hard hir greit infirmitie, Hir legacie and lamentatioun And how scho endit in sic povertie, He swelt for wo and fell doun in ane swoun, For greit sorrow his hart to brist was boun, Siching full sadlie, said, “I can no moir: Scho was untrew, and wo is me thairfoir.” Sum said he maid ane tomb of merbell gray And wrait hir name and superscriptioun And laid it on hir grave quhair that scho lay In goldin letteris conteining this ressoun: “Lo fair ladyis, Cresseid of Troyis toun Sumtyme countit the flour of womanheid Under this stane, lait lipper, lyis deid.” Now worthie wemen, in this ballet schort, Maid for your worschip and instructioun, Of cheritie I monische and exhort Ming not your lufe with fals deceptioun; Beir in your mynd this sore conclusioun Of fair Cresseid as I have said befoir. Sen scho is deid, I speik of hir no moir.

A dismal season; sad poem; (see note) Should answer; concordant Just as; when weather very bitter; (see note) When; in the middle; (see note) Made showers of hail fall from the north; (see note); (t-note) So that hardly could I shelter from the cold Yet; my private chapel; (see note) stood; Phoebus; bright sunbeams down; retracted; cover beauty; night; (see note) Rose up; directed to; straight To; directly; down Through; window; rays broke so clearly could see all around me northern; purified; (see note) scattered; from frost froze; gusts; (see note) From; came whistling; shrill forced; step back against believed; queen of love whom for some time; vowed withered; she would make green with love to that purpose; devout intended; pray to her high great cold just then; prevented to the fire in my room did go hot still; an old man; (see note) kindles not; soon; youth In whom; blood; in haste vigor [is] faint; dead For which; externally; remedy with medicine where; failed; (see note) for I have tried both stoked; warmed myself all around took; to soothe my spirits protected myself well from night; make; (see note) book; abandoned; pastime; (see note) by great, renowned Chaucer About lovely; great Troilus there I discovered after; (see note) Had received; lovely of hue almost went out of his mind wept bitterly; a face pale which despair; tears did revive Until Hesperus gladdened; (t-note) awhile; lived; torment her vow; consolation Trusting; she should; return Which; wanted most [of] any earthly Because she; lover when; elapsed both the coming again then; did heart; care; dejection need not be repeated by me; (see note) same book eloquent words; lively verse Has compiled; whoever; look prevent; another book; took; (see note) which; found; fated died in distress Who knows if; wrote; true; (see note) Nor do I know if; narrative authoritative; devised anew By some poet through; creative skill Devised; narrate; lament sorrowful death; beautiful Both what; suffered; death When more sated by another; whole pleasure sent; declaration; divorce; (see note) banished her from; (see note) left alone; wandered (see note) flower; first and foremost; (see note) did it befall you into; womanliness so defiled early and late lewdly taking; (see note) pity such misfortune should befall you whatever; [may] judge about your frailty to the utmost that I can; (see note) womanhood which; has placed in such; (t-note) pleased her; not at all; guilt to be ruined by slander deprived in this way; (see note) Very discreetly, without; foot; (see note); (t-note) In disguise departed; town; (t-note) A mile or two Built very finely where Who then; was living When; saw her; did ask visit; sighing very bitterly Once; taken his pleasure; (see note) grew weary; wanted no more of me Said; Daughter, weep; about that; (see note) Perhaps everything comes a very dear guest old; according to; then keeper; priest which; son Were; chamber; nearest to them; (t-note) which; sorrow aplenty; breast; (see note) Used to go, her prayers Until; a holy feast day was the custom; people; near Before noon devout; according to; custom gloomy; mind church would; show herself To give people any inkling About; expulsion from went; a private chapel Where; could bemoan she closed the door tight bare knees; down; haste angrily in this very way Alas; offered sacrifice to you once a divine reply would; flower; love made into; outcast into sorrow; transferred Who shall guide me; convey Since; from; (see note) utterly; as a hateful castoff no one is to blame but you the blind goddess of love; (see note) caused; believe; (see note) seed; love; sown always; help; favor killed apart from lovers; utterly shunned When; trance; (see note) Enraptured; spirit, into a in an illusion heard where was ringing Which; could hear from the sound of which; [there] appear from their spheres; (see note) have; over all created things; (see note) rule; control Weather; mutable processes made his appearance; (t-note) Who showed; scant respect blustering peasant in; (see note) angrily; grim; expression; (see note) wrinkled; complexion; lead; (see note); (t-note) shivered along with eyes drooped, sunk deep; head nose; thin mucus; did run livid lips; cheeks lean icicles; from; hung down; (see note) Were amazingly large; spear; long Over; gray hair Matted unattractively, spangled; hoarfrost robe; very attractive gown of gray; (t-note) faded clothing; stretched out; (see note) powerful; in; carried belt; quiver; sturdy arrows Feathered; tipped; hailstones very pleasant; friendly over; stars; heavens nurse; engendered things; (see note) From; very noble; fine; unwrinkled head; very splendid wreath; (see note) flowers; as if it; been May clear; crystal were his eyes; (see note) wire; glittering most attractive in green; (t-note) edgings gilded; pleat sturdy sword; at; waist [he] wore right; held; sharpened spear To avert his father’s wrath from us came; anger; (see note) Keen as any fire to quarrel and fight sturdy armor, helmet; habergeon hip; rusty, deadly falchion rusty Distorting Brandishing; in front of; came red face; frightful staring eyes hung a blob of spittle boar whetting; sharp tusks like a brawler, without; wrath many a harsh bray; (see note) Which; war has made; shake Then; light; (see note) For; both fruit; flowers nurturer; banisher; night for; by his motion earthly from whom, perforce to nothing go to die; created rode; chariot which; once guided upwards; (see note); (t-note) when; uncovered No one could; piercing; sight fiery sunbeams harnessed horses; altogether; color; (see note) Without rest or wearying sorrel; as red; rose at the sunrise horse; was called Whitish; somewhat higher third; very hot; burning fourth; (t-note) Which; down; sea present there; goddess; (t-note) son’s accusation; to make own; clad; showy outfit one; green; other; sable; (see note) Blonde; combed; pulled back; (t-note) appeared; variability; (see note) Sometimes; faith; inconstancy While smiling; two-faced Alluring; loving glances altered any poisonous snake Very caustic; offensive words fickle; whoever cared to; heed one; to laugh; other to weep As token; passion Which; under control sometimes sweet Wholly unstable; variability Mixed; anxious; delight hot; blithe leaf; withered; bygone book; came; (see note) Very; rhetorical skill polished and delightful diction to record the proceedings Composing songs; singing hood; red, fringed over; crown old style carried; medicinal compotes sugared apothecaries health-giving sweet nostrum of medicine, clad; scarlet furred well; such; ought good; did lie; (see note) Next after; came; (see note) sphere adorned; two horns night; most prefers to appear Livid; lead; not at all bright from The sun; has no other [light] gown; black spots; (see note); (t-note) [was] painted very accurately Bearing; bundle; back Who because of; theft; could; nearer when; were convened, these they chose unanimously chairman; (see note) been there; [had] liking; hear; (t-note) eloquent tongue rhetoric; art; could learn (see note) tipping; a little; (see note) [He] asks; summoning promptly revealed; purpose whoever chooses to; (see note) own; either; or deed; (t-note) does; insult; shame should; torments as his reward about that wretched She who because of; once [who] brazenly denounces great misfortune cause called her who could not see slander; harmful defamation her way of life would deflect back upon; (t-note) whom; bestowed; above since; deified Sharing in; wisdom high rank; (t-note) It seems to me; torment; should make [There] was; gods; such As much; speak For which reason; pray you answer; (see note) counsel Entrust yourself; highest take with him; lowest; rank punishment; determine Namely; [and] with; select select those two Then; proceeded; [Cynthia] the moon thoroughly; pondered injury; she [Cresseid] patient and revealed Through; pain; oppressed tormented; incurable sickness detestable grievous; took in descended to where sad upon her head; placed; (see note) according to law in; way did great; glorious beauty lustful blood; also Here; banish from; forever bilious depression Which; gloomy anxiety heat into cold arrogance; pleasure; lust Into great distress; wealth Into desperate need; poverty shalt suffer; (see note) spiteful; (see note) judgment; too why hast thou no Who Retract; merciful as is plain through; deed; (t-note) vengeful; delivered upon when; went throne descended; promptly read a document over; where Containing; determinative sentence Of bodily heat; deprive; (t-note) for; sickness; remedy misery; span of life crystal eyes mingled; blood; cause to be clear [I cause to be]; harsh and hoarse; (t-note) lovely skin, [to be] purplish lumps appearing on you approach, each; shall flee Thus; from begging bowl; rattle; leper dismal; (see note) Brought; awoke from it assembly rose; took polished mirror; saw her reflection when; deformed; (see note) If; woeful enough; knows; (see note) Weeping; bitterly; what; said bold; incite; provoke ireful gods; thus; proven; (see note) paid very dearly for earthly; set behind me Alas; time When; to upbraid Once; boy [who had]; from; (see note) knocked; door; then did commands you; haste is amazed; long you lie prone prayers are too; somewhat; (t-note) understand; very well dear speak; at once Daughter; how [is your] mood happiness she explained everything retaliation offense [that]; had taken looked upon; leprous which; white; lily flower Wringing; repeatedly; (t-note) lived; see well; there; no remedy For; sickness; doubled; pain sorrow enough between; both had lamented together very do not want to be recognized So help me get away unobserved that; edge of town; (see note); (t-note) there some food; charity send me subsist; on this earth departed from me, such; miserable fate cloak; hat of beaver fur; (see note) bowl; rattle, very furtively opened; gate; from there Guided; should catch sight nearby lepers’ lodge each day; priestly income of donations; (see note) Some; well she; so deformed black boils covering her face complexion faded; altered surmised from; loud sobbing; (see note) unceasing; noble family greater eagerness passed black clouds blanketed; (t-note) knows whether; guest unfamiliar food; lodging Without food; prepared herself; lie alone in; manner; made her lament (t-note) wafer; dipped deep in care; (see note) wretched; (t-note) Gone; on earth bleached bare ointment; cure; heal your disease; (t-note) Cruel; fate bliss; banished; sorrow in first bud; (see note) God grant that I were buried Where no one; hear of it lavishly furnished chamber; (see note) fine; well embroidered cushions for your repast cups; gleaming gold and silver desserts; on clean plates; (t-note) saffron; seasoning many a fine gown linen [dress]; brooch in the past; renown garden; such pretty grasses; (see note) which; queen Flora painted; separate part accustomed; merrily collect; as soon as; (see note) hear; thrush; blackbird singing and dancing to go see; princes; splendor (array); (t-note) ornamented; stitch; (t-note) triumphant; high; (see note) worldly people the flower decayed; fate; overwhelmed high rank; turned into; grim leper’s lodge in the place of; fine bedroom straw choice wine; foods [which]; then moldy; pear and apple cider Except; over and gone clear In which; accustomed; (t-note) raucous; crow; most hoarse; harsh bearing; surpassing; (t-note) attractiveness; fitting appearance look; no man; takes pleasure Steeped; grief; bitter sighing Lodged; leper folk, alas consider; (see note) (t-note) unstable; lack of felicity great distress which; alleviate Be prepared; the end draws nigh; (t-note) use me as a mirror perhaps you power else worse, if; could Nothing; flower praise; high puffed up; other; ears rosy red; rottenness; revert make; memory such; bears (see note) the hour draws near; (t-note) fickle; begins to move; (t-note) complaining against; cruel she stayed awake; from; (see note) vain; distress; sorrowful Could; cure; heal got up; went over to her Why do you dash yourself against; (see note) kill Since; only redoubles; woe advise; to make a virtue of necessity; (see note) learn to shake; rattle; (t-note) live following; leper folk; (t-note) There; no use; out; went until; grinding hunger Forced; full-fledged beggar same; defending army; (see note) Which; as chieftain Through exploit; war; cut Knights; in prodigious numbers great; exultant praise Back; very regally; rode By the route; lepers waited in one voice; (t-note) gave; shook cups promptly for the love of the gods in; (t-note) give some; donations Then; paid notice pity — did pass near the place realizing what she raised; both her eyes; (see note) in a glance; his mind at some time; before; seen such straits But even so; look; brought expression; glances once; own if mentally; (see note) Perceived; form so readily; why mental image; by chance; (see note) deeply imprinted; imagination frustrates; outer senses thus appears; equivalent state as it was perceived mentally then into; heart did leap; (see note) kindled his whole body A sweat and tremor with hot fever Overcame him until; die; (see note) carry; shield; chest; tire In a short time; hues neither recognized one another pity; remembrance belt did; take many a fine jewel onto; did hurl down; (see note) rode; he spoke not a word; (t-note) until; town sorrow often nearly did approach make sure about when they saw the gold Each one; whispered quietly That; more fondness might be, for yonder leper for; know; donation What lord is that; any notion [Who] has; kindness know; well noble; generous When; (see note) Harder; steel; shot; pain; (see note) Straight through; [she] fell recovered; bitter and sad sighing sorrowful; gloomy “alas” by; beleaguered very far from home swooned; before; stopped; (t-note) she cried loyalty; nobility; (see note) regarded as; during exalted; lustfulness; (t-note) climbed; fickle wheel so high; (see note) (see note) in itself; superficial practiced self-restraint Honorable; chaste; conduct defender sustained their reputation sensuality given over be alert; take careful thought Whom I’ll have; know there; around can trust; in return Try when; wish advise; judge; find [them] they; stable; weather vane know; great unreliability Brittle; within; declare Expecting; others as great an As disloyal; faith Although; know they are very few Whoever; loyalty; let; praise; (see note) No one; at this time When in; manner made her last will Here; bequeath; dead body; (see note) toads; lacerated shall dead red ruby as a love token gave to me; (see note); (t-note) leave make; sorrowful death known to him spirit; Diana where; resides; (see note) among deserted forests; springs you have both brooch; (see note) in token died at once; took off Then buried; delay immediately; brought he reported heard about; great ended her life; such fainted was ready to burst Sighing; am able to do nothing more; (see note) unfaithful Some; made; marble; (see note) inscription where statement; (see note) (t-note) stone; at the end a leper poem; (see note) Made; honor For; admonish [that you] [That you] mix Bear; bitter; (t-note) declared it previously Since; more; (t-note)