TR1. 897 "Ǎnd álsǒ thýnk, ǎnd thérwǐth gládě thé,
TR1. 898 Thǎt síth thy̌ lády̌ vértǔóus ǐs ál,
TR1. 899 Sǒ fólǒweth ít thǎt thére ǐs sómě pítěe
TR1. 900 Ǎmóngěs álle thǐse óther ǐn géněrál;
TR1. 901 Ǎnd fórthǐ sé thǎt thów, ǐn spécǐál,
TR1. 902 Rěquérě náught thǎt ís ǎyéyns hy̌re námě;
TR1. 903 Fǒr vértǔ strécchěth náught hy̌msélf tǒ shámě.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): Think too—and cheer yourself up with the thought—that since your lady is altogether virtuous, then it follows that there is some pity amongst all these other virtues in general. So see that you particularly ask for nothing that is contrary to her good name, for virtue does not stretch so far as to include anything shameful.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): そして考えてもみてください、そう思ってお喜びください、若君の意中の人は徳がすべて備わったお方ですから、全般にわたるこれらの徳の中に幾分か哀れみの気持が当然おありだということを。そこで分かっていただきたいのですが、若君は、特に、彼女の名に反することをお求めになってはならないということです。何しろ徳は恥辱まで身を伸ばしておりませんから。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 再试想，更可使你兴奋的是，你的意中人既然德行完美，当然就不会缺乏怜悯之心；可是要特别注意，切莫要求她做下任何有损她的声誉的事；因为美德与羞辱是不能相容的。

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Pandarus
• Addressee: Troilus
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (female: Criseyde)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: Not quoted

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003): N/A
• Fisher (1989): N/A
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): virtuous (s.v. vertuous, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

virtuous

Comments from the Editor

Pandarus asserts that since Criseyde possesses virtue, she must also possess compassion. This aligns with the sentiment expressed in Chaucer’s Complaint Unto Pity (58), where it is stated that pity is the chief ornament of all virtues.