ABSTRACT
The minor changes that Chaucer made in Troilus and Criseyde, changes of a word, revisions of a line or two, the shifting and cancellation of stanzas, present a special opportunity and a challenge to the critic. A fifteenth-century manuscript of the Troilus shows us in an illumination the poet reading his work to a distinguished group of auditors which included royalty. The eighteen complete and almost complete versions of the Troilus that derive from the manuscript tradition include not a single copy from the century of the poem’s composition. The speech Pandarus makes in response to Troilus’ confession centres on a relatively few themes. The change helps to emphasize the already striking parallel between Troilus’ response to the exchange and Criseyde’s. Troilus learns of the projected exchange at the “parlement,” where he can neither speak out against the proposal for fear of compromising his lady’s reputation nor express his feelings at the outcome of the debate.
