bright adj.

  bright 
 TR2.50 Ĭn Máy, thăt módĕr ís ŏf mónthĕs gládĕ,
 TR2.51 Thăt frésshĕ flóurĕs, bléw ănd whíte ănd rédĕ,
 TR2.52 Bĕn quíke ăgáyn, thăt wýntĕr dédĕ mádĕ,
 TR2.53 Ănd fúl ŏf báwme ĭs fléty̆ng évery̆ médĕ,
 TR2.54 Whăn Phébŭs dóth hĭs brýghtĕ bémĕs sprédĕ
 TR2.55 Rĭght ín thĕ whítĕ Bóle, ĭt só bĭtíddĕ,
 TR2.56 Ăs Í shăl sýnge, ŏn Máyĕs dáy thĕ thrýddĕ,

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): In May, the mother of happy months, when the fresh flowers killed off by winter are quickened into life again — all blue and white and red — and every meadow overflows with balmy fragrance, and when Phoebus spreads his bright beams in the sign of Taurus, the white Bull — it so happened (as I shall sing) on the third day of May …
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 楽しい月々の母、五月、冬のために枯れ死んでいた青と白と赤の鮮やかな花々が速やかに甦る五月、草地という草地が芳香におおわれる五月、日輪フォイボスが白い金牛宮の中で、明るい光を拡散する頃おい、たまたま、五月三日のことを、私は詠おう、
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 五月是良辰之始，这时残冬冻死的花卉怒发，鲜丽的蓝，白，红，各色相衬着，田野中吹着花香；费白斯的阳光照耀，从白牛宫中放出光芒，正是五月初三，这时我唱着这只歌曲，

Word Information

  • Etymology: OA
  • Addresser: Narrator
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: light (beams)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

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): Not quoted
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

luminous, shining

Comments from the Editor

The above quotation is a part of the proem of Book II and Root (1926: 437)’s comment on it is informative, ‘In Chaucer’s time the Sun entered Taurus (“the white Bole”) about April 12, and passed from Taurus into the next sign, Gemini, a month later. We are told in line 50 that the month is May. Line 55 explains that it is early May; and line 56 specifies the date as May 3. On May 3 the Sun would be in about the 20thdegree of Taurus, or a little past the middle of the sign. He would therefore spread his bright beams “right in” the sign…’