worth adj.

2023-07-09 Uncategorized

TR5. 876 "Kǎn Í nǎt séyn whǎt máy thě cáusě bé,
TR5. 877 Bǔt íf fǒr lóve ǒf sóm Trǒían ǐt wérě,
TR5. 878 Thě whích rǐght sórě wólde ǎthýnkěn mé
TR5. 879 Thǎt yé fǒr ány̌ wíght thǎt dwéllěth thérě
TR5. 880 Shólděn spílle ǎ quártěr óf ǎ térě
TR5. 881 Ǒr pítǒuslý yǒuresélvěn só bǐgílě --
TR5. 882 Fǒr drédělés, ǐt ís nǒught wórth thě whílě.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): I can’t say what the cause may be, unless it were for love of some Trojan, and it would greatly grieve me that you should spill a quarter of a tear, or delude yourself so pitifully, for anyone who lives there—for without a doubt it’s not worth your while.
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): あるトロイアのお方を懸想していらっしゃらなければ、何が原因か見当がつかないんです。もしそうなら、そこに住んでおられるお方のために貴女が一クォートものあまたの涙を流すなんて、また可哀想なほど自らを欺いておられるなんて、僕はひどく悲しくなります、だって明らかに、そんなことは割に合いませんから。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 除非你爱上了一个特洛亚人，这事倒叫我为你发愁，你竟为了一个住在那里边的人枉流半滴眼泪，或竟如此没来由的欺弄你自己；老实说，这太不值得了。

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Diomede
Addressee: Criseyde
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 6.15
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others
Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

OED: 9. Sufficiently valuable or important to be treated or regarded in the way specified; deserving of the time or effort spent. a. With simple noun or pronoun as complement, as worth the effort. In later use frequently in to be worth it: having, or likely to have, an outcome that justifies the time or effort spent. (s.v. worth, adj.)
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

worthy, of value

Comments from the Editor

Diomede asserts that it is futile for Criseyde to grieve over her love for someone residing in Troy because the Greeks intend to destroy the city and offer no forgiveness. This sentiment is conveyed in Diomede’s subsequent speech and is also present in the counterpart of this stanza in Fil.6.15.