Troilus and Criseyde

Chaucer begins Book 3 by praising Venus, the goddess of love, extoling how every living species in the world needs love in order to survive. He describes how Venus has the power to make people reform and leave their vices behind as well as how she is the cause of friendship and unity between people. He calls himself a clerk of Venus and asks her to teach him some of the joy felt by people who serve love. The prologue concludes with an invocation to Caliope, the muse of epic poetry, to help him tell about Troilus’ gladness.

Criseyde enters the chamber where Troilus is pretending to be sick as Troilus prays for help. When Criseyde speaks to him, he becomes so nervous that he is unable to respond. He eventually asks to be allowed to serve her and for her to look upon him in a friendly manner, which she agrees to. Criseyde asks him to stop being sad but warns him that just because he is a king’s son does not mean that she will allow him to have mastery over her and become her husband. She leaves