wrecched adj.

2023-07-09 Uncategorized

TR4. 617 "Fǒrthí tǎk hérte, ǎnd thýnk rǐght ás ǎ knýght:
TR4. 618 Thorǔgh lóve ǐs brókěn ál dǎy évery̌ láwě.
TR4. 619 Kǐth nów sǒmwhát thǐ córǎge ánd thǐ mýght;
TR4. 620 Hǎve mércy̌ ón thǐsélf fǒr ány̌ áwě.
TR4. 621 Lǎt nát thǐs wrécchěd wó thy̌n hértě gnáwě,
TR4. 622 Bǔt mánly̌ sétte thě wórld ǒn síx ǎnd séveně;
TR4. 623 Ǎnd íf thǒw déye ǎ márty̌r, gó tǒ héveně!

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): So take heart, and remember you’re a knight! Laws are broken all the time through love. Show a bit of your spirit and your strength! Take pity on yourself, despite any fear you feel. Don’t let this miserable depression gnaw at your heart but, like a man, stake the world on a throw of the dice, and if you die a martyr—go to heaven!
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): だから元気を出して、騎士らしくお考えください。どんな法も絶えず愛によって破られます。今度こそ貴方の勇気と力を少し知らしめてください。是が非でも御身をおいたわりください。このみじめな悲しみに若君の心を齧らせず、男らしく一か八か賭けてみてください。愛の殉教者として死ねば、若君は天国へ行けますよ。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 所以，你应该振作，要知道你是一个武士，并且晓得为了爱情而破坏法律，本是司空见惯的事。你现在应拿出勇气和本领来；不要害怕，不可自取末路。千万莫让愁烦来剥蚀你的心，抖擞精神，作孤注的一掷；假如你殉了难，还可以升天。

Word Information

Etymology: From wrecche, adj.
Addresser: Pandarus
Addressee: Troilus
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 4.75
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: suffering, sorrow or grief (Troilus’ woe)
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

despicable

Comments from the Editor

Chaucer expands on the content found in Fil.4.75 and incorporates it into this stanza and the following one. Pandarus suggests Troilus to force himself upon Criseyde and promises that he will be on Troilus’ side no matter what happens. Furthermore, the concept of love being considered a greater law is also addressed in the Knight’s Tale, lines 1163-68.