Troilus and Criseyde

The poem begins by recounting how the city of Troy was besieged by the Greek army after the Trojan prince Paris abducted Helen. A skilled astronomer named Calkas (also spelled “Calchas”) discovers through his astrological calculation that Troy will fall to the Greeks. Realizing that there is no way to save the city, Calkas flees Troy and goes to pledge his loyalty to the Greek army instead. Calkas leaves behind his daughter, Criseyde, who is a beautiful young maiden. Ector (also spelled “Hector”), the Prince of Troy, pardons Criseyde for her father’s betrayal and allows her to remain in the city.

During the month of April, the young people of Troy go to the temple of Athena, known as the Palladion, for a celebration. Criseyde is there, dressed in somber black. A young knight and prince of Troy named Troilus is also present. He is known to scorn other knights who fall in love, mocking them and calling love foolish. The god of love, Cupid, seeks to avenge himself upon Troilus for this insult by wounding him with love’s arrow when he first looks at Criseyde.

After being struck with the god of love’s dart at the sight of Criseyde, Troilus falls immediately in love with her. However, he seeks to conceal his love, knowing that he will be mocked for so quickly falling in love after mocking it for his whole life. He returns to his room and then collapses at the foot of the bed, singing a song about the paradoxical nature of love, which is both painful and desirable. He feels as if he will die because of his love, describing it as burning and painful. In combat against the Greeks, he does great deeds, but only so that Criseyde will hear of his renown. Outside of battle, he is unable to sleep or eat, becoming so sickly that people believe he has caught a fever.

Troilus is visited by his friend Pandarus, who sees that Troilus is ill and asks if he is terrified of the Greeks or if he suffers from a guilty conscious after committing a terrible sin. Troilus angrily responds that he is sick and will soon die, but the cause is not fear or guilt. Pandarus begs Troilus to tell him what is wrong, reminding him of their old friendship, and Troilus admits that he is in love, correctly guessing that his feelings are a punishment for having derided love. Pandarus offers to help Troilus with his love, but Troilus is skeptical that a man like Pandarus—foolish and unlucky in his own love life—could help him. Pandarus reminds him that those who seem foolish can sometimes guide the wisest men and that a whetstone can help sharpen a blade even though it is not sharp itself. Trying to persuade Troilus to confide in him, Pandarus recounts other stories from classical literature such as the myth of Queen Niobe. However, Troilus just lays silently on his bed and does not reply. Pandarus tries to wake him, thinking that he is asleep, and Troilus irritably responds that he is not asleep, he just does not care about proverbs and old tales, seeing them as irrelevant to his situation.

Pandarus tries a different rhetorical tactic then, accusing Troilus of being too cowardly to pursue his love. Troilus is swayed by this attack on his manliness and courage but still worries that he will be unfortunate in his love. Pandarus persuades him to say Criseyde’s name, causing him to blush and tremble as though terrified. Pandarus is, however, delighted that Troilus has fallen in love with a lady who is noble, honorable, and wise. Criseyde is also his niece, and he promises to help unite the couple. Before they begin, however, Pandarus instructs Troilus to pray for forgiveness to the god of love, asking his pardon for the way that he once mocked love. Troilus obeys, and Pandarus reminds him that those sinners who convert to a religion are often the most loyal followers since they can spot error and temptation the best. The book concludes with Pandarus plotting to find a time and place for Troilus and Criseyde to meet while Troilus returns to focusing on battling the Greeks.