Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Geoffrey Chaucer
A Complete Modernisation by
A. S. Kline
Pubished with Selected Illustrations
POETRY IN TRANSLATION
www.poetryintranslation.com
© Copyright 2001 A. S. Kline
Digital scans or photographs of the images in the main text have been released into
the public domain by a variety of institutions, either through their own websites or
via the Flickr Commons portal (https://www.flickr.com/commons.
Textual content of this work may be freely reproduced, stored and transmitted,
electronically or otherwise, for any non-commercial purpose. Restrictions apply to
adaptation of the work. Usage of any material for commercial purposes resulting in
direct, indirect or incidental commercial gain requires permission to be sought and
granted in writing from the copyright holder.
Refer to the Poetry in Translation copyright statement
(www.poetryintranslation.com/Admin/Copyright.htm)
Any statements or opinions expressed in this book reflect the views of the author
alone. Although the author has made every effort to ensure that the information in
this book was correct at the time of going to press, the author does not assume and
hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused
by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence,
accident, or any other cause.
ISBN-10: 1539886654
ISBN-13: 978-1539886655
Contents
Notes 449
About the Author 461
About the Translator 462
About This Work
5
‘Tisiphone takes revenge on Athamas and Ino’
Crispijn van de Passe (I), 1602 - 1607
The Rijksmuseum
6
Book I - Troilus's Love
1.
2.
7
Troilus and Cressida
3.
4.
5.
8
Book I - Troilus's Love
6.
7.
8.
9
Troilus and Cressida
9.
10.
11.
10
Book I - Troilus's Love
12.
13.
14.
11
Troilus and Cressida
‘Cressida’
The Stratford gallery (p233, 1859) -
Palmer, Henrietta Lee, b. 1834
Internet Archive Book Images
12
Book I - Troilus's Love
15.
16.
17.
13
Troilus and Cressida
18.
19.
20.
14
Book I - Troilus's Love
21.
22.
23.
15
Troilus and Cressida
16
Book I - Troilus's Love
24.
25.
26.
17
Troilus and Cressida
27.
28.
29.
18
Book I - Troilus's Love
30.
31.
32.
19
Troilus and Cressida
33.
34.
35.
20
Book I - Troilus's Love
36.
37.
38.
21
Troilus and Cressida
39.
40.
41.
22
Book I - Troilus's Love
42.
43.
44.
23
Troilus and Cressida
45.
46.
47.
24
Book I - Troilus's Love
48.
49.
50.
25
Troilus and Cressida
51.
52.
53.
26
Book I - Troilus's Love
54.
55.
56.
27
Troilus and Cressida
57.
58.
59.
28
Book I - Troilus's Love
60.
61.
62.
29
Troilus and Cressida
30
Book I - Troilus's Love
63.
64.
65.
31
Troilus and Cressida
66.
67.
68.
32
Book I - Troilus's Love
69.
70.
71.
33
Troilus and Cressida
72.
73.
74.
34
Book I - Troilus's Love
75.
76.
77.
35
Troilus and Cressida
78.
79.
80.
36
Book I - Troilus's Love
81.
82.
83.
37
Troilus and Cressida
84.
85.
86.
38
Book I - Troilus's Love
87.
88.
89.
39
Troilus and Cressida
90.
91.
92.
40
Book I - Troilus's Love
93.
94.
95.
41
Troilus and Cressida
96.
97.
98.
42
Book I - Troilus's Love
99.
100.
101.
43
Troilus and Cressida
102.
103.
104.
44
Book I - Troilus's Love
105.
106.
107.
45
Troilus and Cressida
108.
109.
110.
46
Book I - Troilus's Love
111.
112.
113.
47
Troilus and Cressida
‘Tityus in hell’
Cornelis Cort, after Titiaan, 1566
The Rijksmuseum
48
Book I - Troilus's Love
114.
115.
116.
49
Troilus and Cressida
117.
118.
119.
50
Book I - Troilus's Love
120.
121.
122.
51
Troilus and Cressida
123.
124.
125.
52
Book I - Troilus's Love
126.
127.
128.
53
Troilus and Cressida
129.
130.
131.
54
Book I - Troilus's Love
132.
133.
134.
55
Troilus and Cressida
135.
136.
137.
56
Book I - Troilus's Love
138.
139.
140.
57
Troilus and Cressida
141.
142.
143.
58
Book I - Troilus's Love
144.
145.
146.
59
Troilus and Cressida
147.
148.
149.
60
Book I - Troilus's Love
150.
151.
152.
61
Troilus and Cressida
153.
154.
155.
62
Book I - Troilus's Love
156.
63
64
Book II - Love Encouraged
1.
2.
65
Troilus and Cressida
‘Clio’
Hendrick Goltzius, 1592
The Rijksmuseum
66
Book II - Love Encouraged
3.
4.
5.
67
Troilus and Cressida
6.
7.
8.
68
Book II - Love Encouraged
9.
10.
11.
69
Troilus and Cressida
70
Book II - Love Encouraged
71
Troilus and Cressida
12.
13.
14.
72
Book II - Love Encouraged
‘Siege of Thebes’
Epicteti Enchiridium una cum Cebetis
Thebani tabula Graec. & Lat. (p226, 1723)
Gronovius, Jacobus, 1645-1716
Schröder,Johann Caspar Hooghe, Romeyn de, 1645-1708
Internet Archive Book Images
73
Troilus and Cressida
15.
16.
17.
74
Book II - Love Encouraged
18.
19.
20.
75
Troilus and Cressida
21.
22.
23.
76
Book II - Love Encouraged
24.
25.
26.
77
Troilus and Cressida
27.
28.
29.
78
Book II - Love Encouraged
30.
31.
32.
79
Troilus and Cressida
‘Minerva’
Jan Harmensz. Muller, 1598 - 1602
The Rijksmuseum
80
Book II - Love Encouraged
33.
34.
35.
81
Troilus and Cressida
36.
37.
38.
82
Book II - Love Encouraged
39.
40.
41.
83
Troilus and Cressida
42.
43.
44.
84
Book II - Love Encouraged
45.
46.
47.
85
Troilus and Cressida
48.
49.
50.
86
Book II - Love Encouraged
51.
52.
53.
87
Troilus and Cressida
54.
55.
56.
88
Book II - Love Encouraged
57.
58.
59.
89
Troilus and Cressida
90
Book II - Love Encouraged
60.
61.
62.
91
Troilus and Cressida
‘Mars’
Abraham Bloteling, after Gerard de Lairesse, 1682
The Rijksmuseum
92
Book II - Love Encouraged
63.
64.
65.
93
Troilus and Cressida
94
Book II - Love Encouraged
66.
67.
68.
95
Troilus and Cressida
69.
70.
71.
96
Book II - Love Encouraged
72.
73.
74.
97
Troilus and Cressida
75.
76.
77.
98
Book II - Love Encouraged
78.
79.
80.
99
Troilus and Cressida
81.
82.
83.
100
Book II - Love Encouraged
84.
85.
86.
101
Troilus and Cressida
87.
88.
89.
102
Book II - Love Encouraged
90.
91.
92.
103
Troilus and Cressida
93.
94.
95.
104
Book II - Love Encouraged
96.
97.
98.
105
Troilus and Cressida
99.
100.
101.
106
Book II - Love Encouraged
102.
103.
104.
107
Troilus and Cressida
105.
106.
107.
108
Book II - Love Encouraged
108.
109.
110.
109
Troilus and Cressida
111.
112.
113.
110
Book II - Love Encouraged
114.
115.
116.
111
Troilus and Cressida
117.
118.
119.
112
Book II - Love Encouraged
120.
121.
122.
113
Troilus and Cressida
114
Book II - Love Encouraged
123.
124.
125.
115
Troilus and Cressida
126.
127.
128.
116
Book II - Love Encouraged
129.
130.
131.
117
Troilus and Cressida
132.
133.
134.
118
Book II - Love Encouraged
135.
136.
137.
119
Troilus and Cressida
138.
139.
140.
120
Book II - Love Encouraged
141.
142.
143.
121
Troilus and Cressida
144.
145.
146.
122
Book II - Love Encouraged
147.
148.
149.
123
Troilus and Cressida
150.
151.
152.
124
Book II - Love Encouraged
153.
154.
155.
125
Troilus and Cressida
156.
157.
158.
126
Book II - Love Encouraged
159.
160.
161.
127
Troilus and Cressida
162.
163.
164.
128
Book II - Love Encouraged
165.
166.
167.
129
Troilus and Cressida
168.
169.
170.
130
Book II - Love Encouraged
171.
172.
173.
131
Troilus and Cressida
174.
175.
176.
132
Book II - Love Encouraged
177.
178.
179.
133
Troilus and Cressida
180.
181.
182.
134
Book II - Love Encouraged
183.
184.
185.
135
Troilus and Cressida
186.
187.
188.
136
Book II - Love Encouraged
189.
190.
191.
137
Troilus and Cressida
192.
193.
194.
138
Book II - Love Encouraged
195.
196.
197.
139
Troilus and Cressida
198.
199.
200.
140
Book II - Love Encouraged
201.
202.
203.
141
Troilus and Cressida
204.
205.
206.
142
Book II - Love Encouraged
207.
208.
209.
143
Troilus and Cressida
210.
211.
212.
144
Book II - Love Encouraged
213.
214.
215.
145
Troilus and Cressida
216.
217.
218.
146
Book II - Love Encouraged
219.
220.
221.
147
Troilus and Cressida
222.
223.
224.
148
Book II - Love Encouraged
225.
226.
227.
149
Troilus and Cressida
228.
229.
230.
150
Book II - Love Encouraged
231.
232.
233.
151
Troilus and Cressida
234.
235.
236.
152
Book II - Love Encouraged
237.
238.
239.
153
Troilus and Cressida
240.
241.
242.
154
Book II - Love Encouraged
243.
244.
245.
155
Troilus and Cressida
‘Helen’
The Stratford gallery (p241, 1859)
Palmer, Henrietta Lee, b. 1834
Internet Archive Book Images
156
Book II - Love Encouraged
246.
247.
248.
157
Troilus and Cressida
249.
250.
251.
158
Book III - The Consummation
1.
2.
159
Troilus and Cressida
3.
4.
5.
160
Book III - The Consummation
6.
7.
8.
161
Troilus and Cressida
162
Book III - The Consummation
9.
10.
11.
163
Troilus and Cressida
12.
13.
14.
164
Book III - The Consummation
15.
16.
17.
165
Troilus and Cressida
18.
19.
20.
166
Book III - The Consummation
21.
22.
23.
167
Troilus and Cressida
24.
25.
26.
168
Book III - The Consummation
27.
28.
29.
169
Troilus and Cressida
30.
31.
32.
170
Book III - The Consummation
33.
34.
35.
171
Troilus and Cressida
36.
37.
38.
172
Book III - The Consummation
39.
40.
41.
173
Troilus and Cressida
42.
43.
44.
174
Book III - The Consummation
45.
46.
47.
175
Troilus and Cressida
48.
49.
50.
176
Book III - The Consummation
51.
52.
53.
177
Troilus and Cressida
54.
55.
56.
178
Book III - The Consummation
57.
58.
59.
179
Troilus and Cressida
60.
61.
62.
180
Book III - The Consummation
63.
64.
65.
181
Troilus and Cressida
66.
67.
68.
182
Book III - The Consummation
69.
70.
71.
183
Troilus and Cressida
72.
73.
74.
184
Book III - The Consummation
75.
76.
77.
185
Troilus and Cressida
78.
79.
80.
186
Book III - The Consummation
81.
82.
83.
187
Troilus and Cressida
‘Tantalus’
Giulio Sanuto, after Titiaan, 1565
The Rijksmuseum
188
Book III - The Consummation
84.
85.
86.
189
Troilus and Cressida
87.
88.
89.
190
Book III - The Consummation
90.
91.
92.
191
Troilus and Cressida
93.
94.
95.
192
Book III - The Consummation
96.
97.
98.
193
Troilus and Cressida
99.
100.
101.
194
Book III - The Consummation
102.
103.
104.
195
Troilus and Cressida
196
Book III - The Consummation
‘Apollo en Daphne’
Robert van Audenaerd, after Carlo Maratti,
Giovanni Paolo Melchiori, 1685 - 1728
The Rijksmuseum
105.
197
Troilus and Cressida
198
Book III - The Consummation
106.
107.
108.
199
Troilus and Cressida
109.
110.
111.
200
Book III - The Consummation
112.
113.
114.
201
Troilus and Cressida
115.
116.
117.
202
Book III - The Consummation
118.
119.
120.
203
Troilus and Cressida
121.
122.
123.
204
Book III - The Consummation
124.
125.
126.
205
Troilus and Cressida
127.
128.
129.
206
Book III - The Consummation
130.
131.
132.
207
Troilus and Cressida
133.
134.
135.
208
Book III - The Consummation
136.
137.
138.
209
Troilus and Cressida
139.
140.
141.
210
Book III - The Consummation
142.
143.
144.
211
Troilus and Cressida
145.
146.
147.
212
Book III - The Consummation
148.
149.
150.
213
Troilus and Cressida
151.
152.
153.
214
Book III - The Consummation
154.
155.
156.
215
Troilus and Cressida
157.
158.
159.
216
Book III - The Consummation
160.
161.
162.
217
Troilus and Cressida
163.
164.
165.
218
Book III - The Consummation
166.
167.
168.
219
Troilus and Cressida
169.
170.
171.
220
Book III - The Consummation
172.
173.
174.
221
Troilus and Cressida
175.
176.
177.
222
Book III - The Consummation
178.
179.
180.
223
Troilus and Cressida
181.
224
Book III - The Consummation
182.
183.
184.
225
Troilus and Cressida
185.
186.
187.
226
Book III - The Consummation
188.
189.
190.
227
Troilus and Cressida
191.
192.
193.
228
Book III - The Consummation
194.
195.
196.
229
Troilus and Cressida
197.
198.
199.
230
Book III - The Consummation
231
Troilus and Cressida
200.
201.
202.
232
Book III - The Consummation
203.
204.
205.
233
Troilus and Cressida
234
Book III - The Consummation
206.
207.
208.
235
Troilus and Cressida
‘Sol’
Heinrich Aldegrever, 1533
The Rijksmuseum
236
Book III - The Consummation
209.
210.
211.
237
Troilus and Cressida
212.
213.
214.
238
Book III - The Consummation
215.
216.
217.
239
Troilus and Cressida
218.
219.
220.
240
Book III - The Consummation
221.
222.
223.
241
Troilus and Cressida
224.
225.
226.
242
Book III - The Consummation
227.
228.
229.
243
Troilus and Cressida
230.
231.
232.
244
Book III - The Consummation
233.
234.
235.
245
Troilus and Cressida
236.
237.
238.
246
Book III - The Consummation
239.
240.
241.
247
Troilus and Cressida
242.
243.
244.
248
Book III - The Consummation
245.
249
Troilus and Cressida
246.
247.
248.
250
Book III - The Consummation
249.
250.
251.
251
Troilus and Cressida
252.
253.
254.
252
Book III - The Consummation
255.
256.
257.
253
Troilus and Cressida
258.
259.
260.
254
Book III - The Consummation
255
256
Book IV - The Separation
1.
2.
257
Troilus and Cressida
3.
4.
5.
258
Book IV - The Separation
259
Troilus and Cressida
260
Book IV - The Separation
261
Troilus and Cressida
6.
7.
8.
262
Book IV - The Separation
9.
10.
11.
263
Troilus and Cressida
12.
13.
14.
264
Book IV - The Separation
15.
16.
17.
265
Troilus and Cressida
18.
19.
20.
266
Book IV - The Separation
21.
22.
23.
267
Troilus and Cressida
24.
25.
26.
268
Book IV - The Separation
27.
28.
29.
269
Troilus and Cressida
30.
31.
32.
270
Book IV - The Separation
33.
34.
35.
271
Troilus and Cressida
36.
37.
38.
272
Book IV - The Separation
39.
40.
41.
273
Troilus and Cressida
42.
43.
44.
274
Book IV - The Separation
45.
46.
47.
275
Troilus and Cressida
48.
49.
50.
276
Book IV - The Separation
51.
52.
53.
277
Troilus and Cressida
54.
55.
56.
278
Book IV - The Separation
57.
58.
59.
279
Troilus and Cressida
60.
And then, as Zeuxis [p. 455] wrote who was full wise,
the new love often chases out the old
and a new case requires new advice.
Think then, save yourself, as you are told.
Such fire will by due process turn to cold:
for since it is but pleasure come by chance,
something will put it from remembrance.
61.
62.
280
Book IV - The Separation
63.
64.
65.
281
Troilus and Cressida
66.
67.
68.
282
Book IV - The Separation
69.
70.
71.
283
Troilus and Cressida
72.
73.
74.
284
Book IV - The Separation
75.
76.
77.
285
Troilus and Cressida
78.
79.
80.
286
Book IV - The Separation
81.
82.
83.
287
Troilus and Cressida
84.
85.
86.
288
Book IV - The Separation
87.
88.
89.
289
Troilus and Cressida
90.
91.
92.
290
Book IV - The Separation
93.
94.
95.
291
Troilus and Cressida
96.
97.
98.
292
Book IV - The Separation
99.
100.
101.
293
Troilus and Cressida
102.
103.
104.
294
Book IV - The Separation
105.
106.
107.
295
Troilus and Cressida
108.
109.
110.
296
Book IV - The Separation
111.
112.
113.
297
Troilus and Cressida
298
Book IV - The Separation
114.
115.
116.
299
Troilus and Cressida
117.
118.
119.
300
Book IV - The Separation
120.
121.
122.
301
Troilus and Cressida
123.
124.
125.
302
Book IV - The Separation
126.
127.
128.
303
Troilus and Cressida
129.
130.
131.
304
Book IV - The Separation
132.
133.
134.
305
Troilus and Cressida
135.
136.
137.
306
Book IV - The Separation
138.
139.
140.
307
Troilus and Cressida
141.
142.
143.
308
Book IV - The Separation
144.
145.
146.
309
Troilus and Cressida
147.
148.
149.
310
Book IV - The Separation
150.
151.
152.
311
Troilus and Cressida
153.
154.
155.
312
Book IV - The Separation
156.
157.
158.
313
Troilus and Cressida
159.
160.
161.
314
Book IV - The Separation
162.
163.
164.
315
Troilus and Cressida
316
Book IV - The Separation
165.
166.
167.
317
Troilus and Cressida
168.
169.
170.
318
Book IV - The Separation
‘Scylla en Minos’
Crispijn van de Passe (I), 1602 - 1607
The Rijksmuseum
319
Troilus and Cressida
171.
172.
173.
320
Book IV - The Separation
‘Three Fates’
Jan Harmensz. Muller, after
Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem, 1587 - 1591
The Rijksmuseum
174.
321
Troilus and Cressida
175.
176.
177.
322
Book IV - The Separation
178.
179.
180.
323
Troilus and Cressida
181.
182.
183.
324
Book IV - The Separation
184.
185.
186.
325
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‘Juno’
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after Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt, 1595 - 1612
The Rijksmuseum
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‘Cassandra’
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Palmer, Henrietta Lee, b. 1834
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Thou one and two, and three [p. 459], eternally alive,
who reign forever, in three and two and one,
un-circumscribed, that may all circumscribe,
us from foes visible, and the invisible one
defend: and of Thy mercy, everyone,
so make us, Jesus, worthy this grace of thine,
for love of Maid and Mother thine benign. Amen.
447
448
Notes
Notes
449
Troilus and Cressida
BkI:65 Polyxene [p. 31]: Polyxena was one of the daughters of King Priam of Troy
and Queen Hecuba, and sister of Troilus. See Ovid’s Metamorphoses Bk XIII:429-
480. She was sacrificed to appease the ghost of Achilles.
BkII:2 Clio [p. 65]: The Muse of History. The nine Muses were the virgin daughters
of Jupiter and Mnemosyne (Memory). They were the patronesses of the arts. Clio
(History), Melpomene (Tragedy), Thalia (Comedy), Enterpe (Lyric Poetry),
Terpsichore (Dance), Calliope (Epic Poetry), Erato (Love Poetry),Urania
(Astronomy), and Polyhymnia (Sacred Song).
450
Notes
BkII:12 Thebes [p. 72]: They were listening to a reading from the Thebaid of Statius.
The poet Publius Papinius Statius, born at Naples c 50AD, died there c 96AD. He
lived at Rome in Vespasian’s and Domitian’s reigns, and dedicated his Thebaid to
the latter, an epic about the War of the Seven against Thebes. His Achilleid, dealing
with the Trojan War, was left unfinished.
BkII:34 Minerva, Jupiter, Venus Also Bk II:61 Pallas [p. 91]: Minerva was
[p. 81]:
the Roman name for Pallas Athene the goddess of the mind and women’s arts (also
a goddess of war and the goddess of boundaries – see the Stele of Athena, bas-
relief, Athens, Acropolis Museum). Jupiter was the sky-god, son of Saturn and
Rhea, born on Mount Lycaeum in Arcadia and nurtured on Mount Ida in Crete.
The oak is his sacred tree. His emblems of power are the sceptre and lightning-bolt.
His wife and sister is Juno (Iuno). (See the sculpted bust (copy) by Brassides, the
Jupiter of Otricoli, Vatican). Venus was the Goddess of Love. The daughter of
Jupiter and Dione. She is Aphrodite, born from the waves, an incarnation of
Astarte, Goddess of the Phoenicians. The mother of Cupid by Mars. (See
Botticelli’s painting – Venus and Mars – National Gallery, London)
BkII:63 Mars [p. 93]: The war god, son of Jupiter and Juno.
BkII:63 Furies [p. 93]: The Furies, Eumenides, or The Three Sisters, were Alecto,
Tisiphone and Megaera, the daughters of Night and Uranus. They were the
personified pangs of cruel conscience that pursued the guilty. (See Aeschylus – The
Eumenides). Their abode is in Hades by the Styx.
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BkII:64 Neptune [p. 93]: God of the sea, brother of Pluto and Jupiter. The trident is
his emblem.
BkIII:7 Calliope [p. 161]: The Muse of epic poetry. The mother of Orpheus.
BkIII:85 Tantalus [p. 189]: The king of Phrygia, son of Jupiter, father of Pelops and
Niobe. He served his son Pelops to the gods at a banquet and was punished by
eternal thirst in Hades.
452
Notes
BkIII:90 Joined in Cancer [p. 191]: The relatively rare conjunction of the new Moon
with Saturn and Jupiter in Cancer, occurred in the spring of 1385.
BkIII:104 Europa, Cypris, Daphne [p. 195]: Europe (Europa) was the daughter of
Agenor, king of Phoenicia, abducted by Jupiter disguised as a white bull. Cypris was
beloved by Mars. Daphne was the Daughter of Peneus the river-god, loved and
pursued by Phoebus Apollo. See Ovid’s MetamorphosesBook I:525-552. She was
turned into the laurel bough.
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BkIII:199: Crassus and Midas [p. 230]: Midas King of Phrygia turned all he touched
to gold. See Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book XI:85-145. Crassus was killed in the
Roman war against the Parthians in 53BC. Orodes the Parthian King showed his
contempt for his wealth by pouring molten gold into his dead mouth.
BkIII:210: Titan Sun [p. 237]: The name Titan is applied to Sol the sun god, son of
the Titan Hyperion. See Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book I:1-30.
BkIII:259: Dione, The Nine, Helicon, Parnassus [p. 254]: Venus was the daughter
of Jupiter and Dione (an ancient goddess of Dodona in Greece).The nine are the
nine Muses, the daughters of Jupiter and Mnemosyne (Memory). They are the
patronesses of the arts. Clio (History), Melpomene (Tragedy), Thalia (Comedy),
Euterpe (Lyric Poetry), Terpsichore (Dance), Calliope (Epic Poetry), Erato (Love
Poetry),Urania (Astronomy), and Polyhymnia (Sacred Song).Helicon was their
mountain in Boeotia from which flowed the stream Hippocrene. Parnassus was
their mountain in Phocis.
454
Notes
BkIV:4 The Holy Ones: Megaera, Alecto, Tisiphone [p. 258]: The Furies (Erinys,
Erinnys, or Eumenides), The Three Sisters, were Alecto, Tisiphone and Megaera,
the daughters of Night and Uranus. They were the personified pangs of cruel
conscience that pursued the guilty. (See Aeschylus – The Eumenides). Their abode
is in Hades by the Styx.
BkIV:4 Quirinus [p. 258]: The name for the deified Romulus, the son of Mars and
Ilia, hence Iliades, the father of the Roman people (genitor).
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Troilus and Cressida
BkIV:163 Myrrha [p. 315]: The daughter of Cinyras, mother of Adonis, incestuously,
by her father. See Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book X:298-502. She conceives an
incestuous passion for her father, attempts suicide, and is rescued by her nurse who
promises to help her.
She sleeps with her father, is impregnated by him, and when discovered flees
to Sabaea, and is turned into the myrrh-tree, weeping resin. Adonis is born from
the tree.
BkIV:170 Minos [p. 318]: The King of Crete, ruler of a hundred cities. Son of Jupiter
and Europa. With his brother Rhadamanthus Jupiter (Zeus) made him a judge of
the underworld. (See Dante’s Divine Comedy)
BkIV:209 Argus [p. 333]: A creature with a thousand eyes, the son of Arestor, set to
guard Io by Juno. See Ovid’s Metamorphoses
Book I:622-746. He was killed by Mercury and after his death, Juno set his
eyes in the peacock’s tail.
456
Notes
BkIV:222 Simois [p. 339]: With the Scamander (Xanthus) one of the two great rivers
of Troy. (See Homer’s Iliad)
BkIV:228 Diana (Lucina in the original text) [p. 341]: Lucina is a name for Diana
as Moon Goddess. Diana is Artemis the sister of Apollo (Phoebus). The moon is
here in Aries the Ram, and Cressid promises to return when it has passed through
Taurus, Gemini, and Cancer that is in ten days time when the moon will be at the
new in the sun-sign Leo.
BkIV:230 Cynthia [p. 343]: A name for Diana, the Moon goddess.
BkV:1 Parcae, the Fates [p. 349]: The Three Fates. The Three Sisters, the daughters
of Night. Clotho, the spinner of the thread of life, Lachesis, chance or luck, and
Atropos, inescapable destiny. Clotho spins, Lachesis draws out, and Atropos shears
the thread. Their unalterable decrees may be revealed to Jupiter but he cannot
change the outcome. Here Chaucer makes Lachesis the spinner of the thread of
Troilus’s life.
BkV:31 Ixion [p. 359]: King of the Lapithae, father of Pirithoüs, and of the Centaurs.
He was punished in Hades for attempting to seduce Juno by being fastened to a
continually turning wheel.
BkV:92 Charybdis [p. 382]: The whirlpool between Italy and Sicily in the Messenian
straits. Charybdis was the voracious daughter of Mother Earth and Neptune, hurled
457
Troilus and Cressida
into the sea, and thrice, daily, drawing in and spewing out a huge volume of water.
(See Homer’s Odyssey)
BkV:95 Phaethon [p. 383]: Son of Clymene, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys whose
husband was the Ethiopian king Merops. His true father is Sol, the sun-god (
Phoebus). He asked his mother for proof of his divine origin, and went to the
courts of the Sun to see his father who granted him a favour. He asked to drive the
Sun chariot but lost control and was destroyed by Jupiter in order to save the earth
from being consumed by fire. See Ovid’s Metamorphoses end of Book I and Book
II:1-328.
458
Notes
maid in verse 211 is Atalanta, whom Meleager loved. For Meleager’s death see
Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book VIII:515-546.
BkV:219 Alceste [p. 428]: Alcestis, the daughter of Pelias who married Admetus. He
was allowed to avoid death if a member of his family voluntarily died for him. This
Alceste offered to do.
BkV:259 The Eighth Sphere [p. 445]: The sphere of the fixed stars above the orbits
of the ‘planets’ (Greek for wanderers from their visually erratic positions relative to
the fixed stars as viewed from Earth) in their seven spheres of the Ptolemaic
scheme. (Earth, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn)
459
460
About the Author
461
About the Translator
462