Sign-In
Cart
The Testament of Cresseid
Paperback
Literary CriticismGeneral Poetry
ISBN13: 9781026029039
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 54
Weight: 0.20
Height: 0.11 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Testament of Cresseid is a profound and tragic narrative poem by the renowned 15th-century Scottish poet Robert Henryson. Conceived as a poignant sequel to Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde, this masterpiece of Middle Scots literature explores the moral and physical decline of its titular heroine. Following her abandonment by Diomede, Cresseid falls into despair and blasphemes against the gods of love, resulting in a divine sentence of leprosy. Through her suffering, the work examines themes of infidelity, the harshness of fate, and the possibility of spiritual redemption.
Henryson's narrative is celebrated for its psychological complexity and its stark, realistic portrayal of illness and poverty. Set within the legendary framework of the Trojan War, the poem reaches its emotional climax during a brief, wordless encounter between the leper Cresseid and the noble Troilus. Written in elegant rhyme royal, the poem is a cornerstone of the Scottish Makars' tradition, blending medieval morality with a deeply human sense of pathos. The Testament of Cresseid remains an essential work for readers of medieval literature and those interested in the evolution of the Trojan cycle in British letters.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
1 different editions
Also available
Also from
Henryson, Robert
Mediaeval Scottish Poetry: King James I, Robert Henryson, William Dunbar, Gavin Douglas (1892)
Douglas, Gavin
Henryson, Robert
Dunbar, William
Paperback
Mediaeval Scottish Poetry: King James I, Robert Henryson, William Dunbar, Gavin Douglas (1892)
Douglas, Gavin
Henryson, Robert
Dunbar, William
Paperback
Mediaeval Scottish Poetry: King James I, Robert Henryson, William Dunbar, Gavin Douglas (1892)
Dunbar, William
Douglas, Gavin
Henryson, Robert
Hardcover
Also in
General Poetry
Dante's Vita Nuova, New Edition: A Translation and an Essay
Pitavy, Francois
Alighieri, Dante
Paperback
Sounding the Seasons Enlarged Edition: One Hundred and Ten Sonnets for the Christian Year
Guite, Malcolm
Paperback
They Bloom Because of You: Poems on the Infinite Love, Growth, and Magic of Motherhood
Urlichs, Jessica
Paperback
Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching: A Book about the Way and the Power of the Way
Le Guin, Ursula K.
Lao Tzu
Paperback
This Is the Main Event: Discovering the Life You Long for in the Life You Have
Smith, Joshua Luke
Hardcover