CHAPTER V

Summary

At the end of the third book of Caxton's translation of the ‘Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye,’ which we have so often quoted, is the following most curious passage: “Thus end I this book, which I have translated after mine author, as nigh as God hath given me cunning, to whom be given the laud and praises. And for as much as in the writing of the same my pen is worn, mine hand weary and not stedfast, mine eyen dimmed with overmuch looking on the white paper, and my courage not so prone and ready to labour as it hath been, and that age creepeth on me daily and feebleth all the body; and also because I have promised to divers gentlemen and to my friends to address to them as hastily as I might this said book, therefore I have practised and learned, at my great charge and dispense [expense], to ordain this said book in print, after the manner and form as you may here see; and is not written with pen and ink as other books are, to the end that every man may have them at once. For all the books of this story named the ‘Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye,’ thus imprinted as ye here see, were begun in one day, and also finished in one day.