Other editions of book Troilus & Criseyde

The career of Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400) developed from a period of French influence in the late 1630s, through the 'middle period' of both French and Italian influences. Troilus and Criseyde (c.1385) is from the most important mature Italian-influenced work. Troilus and Criseyde is Chaucer's longest complete poem. The story is taken from Boccaccio's Il Filostrato. In the midst of the Trojan war, and on opposing sides, Troilus falls in love with Criseyde, aided by Criseyde's uncle Pandarus, to tragic consequence. Chaucer deepens the sense of seriousness by showing Criseyde's deliberations, and by calling into question the lovers' freedom of action. Trust not in unstable fortune, the narrator seems to be saying, but in God.

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 - 1400) was an English author, poet, bureaucrat, philosopher and diplomat. Chaucer has been called the father of English literature. Chaucer is credited as being the first author to demonstrate the artistic legitimacy of the vernacular English language, rather than French or Latin. Troilus and Criseyde is set against the epic backdrop of the battle for Troy. It is a tale of love and loss. When Troilus, the son of Priam, falls in love with the beautiful Criseyde, he is able to win her heart with the help of his cunning uncle Pandarus. The lovers experience a brief period of bliss. The pair is soon forced apart by the inexorable tide of war, and despite their oath to remain faithful Troilus is ultimately betrayed.

The tragedy of Troilus and Criseyde is one of the greatest narrative poems in English literature. Set during the siege of Troy, it tells how the young knight Troilus, son of King Priam, falls in love with Criseyde, a beautiful widow. Brought together by Criseyde’s uncle, Pandarus, the lovers are then forced apart by the events of war, which test their oaths of fidelity and trust to the limits. Described by editor Barry Windeatt as Chaucer’s";most ambitious single achievement, his masterpiece,"; Troilus and Criseyde is the first work in English to depict human passion with such sympathy and understanding. A new, authoritative original-spelling edition with on-page glossing Includes introduction, suggestions for further reading, chronology, and explanatory notes Appendices include a table comparing Chaucer's poem with its source, Boccacio's Il Filistrato; glossary; and bibliography<

Excerpt: ...me, that coude leest deserve Of hem that nombred been un-to thy grace, Hast holpen, ther I lykly was to sterve, 1270 And me bistowed in so heygh a place That thilke boundes may no blisse pace, I can no more, but laude and reverence Be to thy bounte and thyn excellence!' And therwith-al Criseyde anoon he kiste, 1275 Of which, certeyn, she felte no disese, And thus seyde he, Now wolde god I wiste, Myn herte swete, how I yow mighte plese! What man,' quod he, was ever thus at ese As I, on whiche the faireste and the beste 1280 That ever I say, deyneth hir herte reste. Here may men seen that mercy passeth right; The experience of that is felt in me, That am unworthy to so swete a wight. But herte myn, of your benignitee, 1285 So thenketh, though that I unworthy be, Yet mot I nede amenden in som wyse, Right thourgh the vertu of your heyghe servyse. And for the love of god, my lady dere, Sin god hath wrought me for I shal yow serve, 1290 As thus I mene, that ye wol be my stere, To do me live, if that yow liste, or sterve, So techeth me how that I may deserve Your thank, so that I, thurgh myn ignoraunce, Ne do no-thing that yow be displesaunce. 1295 For certes, fresshe wommanliche wyf, This dar I seye, that trouthe and diligence, That shal ye finden in me al my lyf, Ne wol not, certeyn, breken your defence; And if I do, present or in absence, 1300 For love of god, lat slee me with the dede, If that it lyke un-to your womanhede.' Y-wis,' quod she, myn owne hertes list, My ground of ese, and al myn herte dere, Graunt mercy, for on that is al my trist; 1305 But late us falle awey fro this matere; For it suffyseth, this that seyd is here. And at o word, with-outen repentaunce, Wel-come, my knight, my pees, my suffisaunce!' Of hir delyt, or Ioyes oon the leste 1310 Were impossible to my wit to seye; But iuggeth, ye that han ben at the feste, Of swich gladnesse, if that hem liste pleye! I can no more, but thus thise ilke tweye That night, be-twixen dreed and...

The tragedy of Troilus and Criseyde is one of the greatest narrative poems in English literature. Set during the siege of Troy, it tells how the young knight Troilus, son of King Priam, falls in love with Criseyde, a beautiful widow. Brought together by Criseyde’s uncle, Pandarus, the lovers are then forced apart by the events of war, which test their oaths of fidelity and trust to the limits. Described by editor Barry Windeatt as Chaucer’s“most ambitious single achievement, his masterpiece,” Troilus and Criseyde is the first work in English to depict human passion with such sympathy and understanding. A new, authoritative original-spelling edition with on-page glossing Includes introduction, suggestions for further reading, chronology, and explanatory notes Appendices include a table comparing Chaucer's poem with its source, Boccacio's Il Filistrato; glossary; and bibliography

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.