Troilus And Criseyde Translation

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Kyle Jones ENG 311 Prof. Fahrenbach April 25, 2011 Troilus and Criseyde Translation The section of Geoffrey Chaucer’s book Troilus and Criseyde that I will translate takes place in book two of the story around lines 1198-1211. At this point in the book Troilus and Criseyde have not met each other, but they are aware of each other and Criseyde knows that Troilus is madly in love with her. Her love for him isn’t as strong, she is skeptical about Troilus as a person and isn’t sure if she wants another lover herself, but she is slowly accepting this new love. A little time before the lines I am about to translate she sees Troilus on horseback riding through the plaza while she was with Pandarus. This image of him portrayed as a heroic man of great importance is the initial turning point in her train of thought when she starts to see him as a good man and potentially good lover. Then, Troilus’s good friend Pandarus, seeing that his efforts trying to get the two together are working instructs Troilus to write a love letter to her. He writes it very modestly and passionately, saying that she is his ‘true lady’, and quoting the Il Filostrato “Although I am a small gift, and of little power, and may be worth much less, I am without fail yours” (105). He finishes the letter, bathes it in his tears and Pandarus runs right off to take it to Criseyde. Criseyde receives it just before dinner time, reads it alone before dinner and after dinner she meets back up with Pandarus. He asks her if she thinks Troilus is a skilled writer and if she is pleased with the letter. They have the following conversation: Right away she became rosy hued, And began to hum, and said, “So I believe.” 1200 “Repay him well for the love of God,” said he; “I myself in return will sew the letter” And he held his hands up, and knelt; “Now, good niece, be it never so small,
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