TR3. 813 “Ŏ Gód,” quŏd shé, “sŏ wórldly̆ sély̆néssĕ, TR3. 814 Whĭch clérkĕs cállĕn fáls fĕlícĭtée, TR3. 815 Ĭmédlĕd ís wĭth mány ̆a bíttĕrnéssĕ! TR3. 816 Fŭl ángwĭssóus thăn ís, Gŏd wóot,” quŏd shé, TR3. 817 “Cŏndícĭóun ŏf véyn prŏspérĭtée: TR3. 818 Fŏr éithĕr jóĭes cómĕn nóught y̆féerĕ, TR3. 819 Ŏr éllĕs nó wĭght háth hĕm álwĕy hérĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): ‘O God,’ said she, ‘how worldly happiness, which scholars call “false felicity”, is intermingled with much bitterness! God knows’ she said, ‘the condition of vain prosperity is very painful: for either joys don’t come together, or else no one has them here continuously.
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 「おお神様」とクリセイデは言った。「学者様たちが偽の幸せと呼ぶ、この幸せには何と多くの苦しいものが混じり合っていることでしょう！空虚な繁栄には、確かに、苦しみが満ちています。いろいろな喜びは一緒にやって来ないし、誰もそれらをこの世で必ずしも味わえるとは限りませんもの。
- Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): “啊，天哪！”她续道，“人间的快乐，哲人们名之曰空虚的幸福，确是内中夹杂着无限的痛楚！上天知道，所谓顺境其实满藏着烦恼，不是福无双至，就是好事多磨。
Word Information
- Etymology: OF&L
- Addresser: Criseyde
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): Based on Boethius (see Boece, 2. pr.4, 75-8)
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others (prosperity)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: 3. Without basis, groundless; false, illusory; deceptive, misleading; of religion, worship, etc.: superstitious, misguided; maken ~, to dispel (hope). (s.v. vein, adj.)
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 156): veyn: idle
- Fisher (1989: 460): veyn: empty
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): worthless (s.v. veyn, adj.)
- Donaldson (1975): N/A
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
idle, empty
Comments from the Editor
Criseyde’s speech of false felicity (3.813–33) is closely draws from Boethius. See also my comment of ‘angwisshous’ (adj., Tr3.816).