TR3. 827 "Nǒw íf hě wóot thǎt jóie ǐs tránsǐtórǐe, TR3. 828 Ǎs évery̌ jóye ǒf wórldly̌ thýng mǒt flée, TR3. 829 Thǎn évery̌ týme hě thát hǎth ín měmórǐe, TR3. 830 Thě dréde ǒf lésy̌ng mákěth hým thǎt hé TR3. 831 Mǎy ín nǒ pérfǐt sély̌néssě bé; TR3. 832 Ǎnd íf tǒ lése hǐs jóie hě sétte ǎ mýtě, TR3. 833 Thǎn séměth ít thǎt jóie ǐs wórth fǔl lítě.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And if he knows that joy is transient, as every joy in worldly things must pass away, then every time he remembers that, the fear of loss affects him so that he can’t be in perfect happiness; and if he doesn’t care a bit about losing his joy, then it seems that joy is worth very little.
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 世事のあらゆる喜びは必ず逃げ去るように、喜びは移ろいやすいということを知っている人がいたら、その時その人はそれを思い出す度ごとに、喜びを失うという恐れのために、完全な幸せに浸れないでしょう。喜びを失いはしないかと少しでも気に病むとすれば、その時喜びはほとんど価値がないように思えますわ。
- Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 假若他知道幸福立刻就会消失，正如人间任何欢乐一样，那么他每念及此，心上就惟恐失掉了欢乐，因而仍不能安享。反之，他若让它消失而并不在意，那种欢乐又有什么价值。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Criseyde
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others (thyng)
- 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
earthly
Comments from the Editor
Criseyde’s speech on false felicity in lines 3.813-833 draws significant inspiration from Boethius’ writings. See also my comment of ‘angwisshous’ (adj., Tr3.816).