TR2.764 Bŭt ríght ăs whén thĕ sónnĕ shýnĕth bríghtĕ TR2.765 Ĭn Márch, thăt cháungĕth óftĕ týme hĭs fácĕ, TR2.766 Ănd thát ă clóude ĭs pút wĭth wýnd tŏ flíghtĕ, TR2.767 Whĭch óvĕrsprát thĕ sónne ăs fór ă spácĕ, TR2.768 Ă clóudy̆ thóught găn thŏrúgh hĭre sóulĕ pácĕ, TR2.769 Thăt óvĕrsprádde hĭre bríghtĕ thóughtĕs állĕ, TR2.770 Sŏ thát fŏr féere ălmóst shĕ gán tŏ fállĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): But just as when the sun is shining brightly in March, which often changes its countenance, and the wind puts a cloud to flight which overspreads the sun for a while, a thought like a cloud passed through her soul and overshadowed all her bright thoughts, so that she almost collapsed for fear.
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): しかし空模様をよく変える弥生３月に太陽が明るく輝いているちょうどその時、一切れの雲が風に追い立てられてしばらくその間太陽を覆い隠してしまうように、まさに彼女の明るい思いを覆い隠す一切れの雲のような思いが、彼女の心の中を通り始めた。そのために彼女は恐ろしさに殆ど倒れんばかりになった。
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 可是正如多变的三月，当太阳照得明亮，忽而一阵风吹过云来，把太阳遮蔽了一下，如是在她的心灵上浮起一片云似的思虑，把她那光明的心念遮掩起来，她这时恐怖得差些要昏倒。
Word Information
- Etymology: OA
- Addresser: Narrator
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 2.75)
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: thought (thoughts)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: (Quoted) 15. a. Of a thought, dream, etc.: happy, positive; hopeful, optimistic. Frequently in bright hopes. (s.v. bright, adj. & n.)
- MED: (Quoted) 1. (c) full of light, sunny, fair; of a house: brightly lighted; also fig. enlightened; cheerful; (s.v. bright, adj.)
- 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
positive, optimistic, cheerful
Comments from the Editor
Criseyde is intoxicated by witnessing Troilus’s triumphant return, and she seems to have fallen in love. However, the quotation tells us that she suddenly stopped being optimistic about love. Chaucer changed Boccaccio’s ‘poi si rivolgea nell’altra parte’ (she turned her thought in the opposite direction) (2.75, 1–2) into a vivid simile. Proving that Chaucer’s spring starts with April is not difficult, and by comparing Criseyde’s thoughts with March as the quotation does, the narrator seems to imply that the time is not yet ripe for her to accept Troilus.