Of Troilus

            How would any of us react if all at once, a man we trusted came to us and spoke of another who loved us dearly, who desperately wanted us, and who would die without us. It gives you pause, as it did Criseyde. But Troilus is a complex man. How to describe him? First and foremost, a knight, brave and skilled in battle, one who, like his brothers, drives the Greeks away from his city. His skill is impressive; the training and diligence mark his commitment and maturity. He bears all the same superficial merits of men from an age long past, however, Criseyde notices there is something more to Troilus as she watches his victorious parade through the streets. She sees a man tired and worn from battle, bleeding from his wounds, still in armor, but vulnerable to her eyes in his uncovered head and, thanks to Pandarus, his unveiled heart. For this is not merely a mechanical general who has won a battle, this is a humble man who has put aside his broken heart, his all-consuming love, his every emotion and thrown himself entirely into battle, to fiercely protect his city and countrymen. As all of us know, one of the greatest and most tragic challenges we face is putting aside our sorrows, heartbreak or grief to put one foot in front of the other. Troilus has gone even farther; he has driven back an entire army, all the while, Criseyde knows, suffering inside.