bright adj.

  bright 
 TR5.1261 “Ăllás, whĭ léet Ĭ yóu frŏm hénnĕs gó,
 TR5.1262 Fŏr whích wĕl néigh ŏut óf my̆ wít Ĭ bréydĕ?
 TR5.1263 Whŏ shál nŏw trówe ŏn ány̆ óthĕs mó?
 TR5.1264 Gŏd wót, Ĭ wénde, Ŏ lády̆ bríght, Crĭséydĕ,
 TR5.1265 Thăt évery̆ wórd wăs góspĕl thát yĕ séydĕ!
 TR5.1266 Bŭt whó măy bét bĭgílĕ, ýf hy̆m lýstĕ,
 TR5.1267 Thăn hé ŏn whóm mĕn wénĕth bést tŏ trístĕ?

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): Alas, why did I let you leave here, because of which I’m very nearly going out of my mind? Who will ever believe in oaths again? God knows, O fair lady, Criseyde, I believed every word you said was gospel truth. But who is better able to deceive, if he chooses, than one in whom people think it best to trust?
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): ああ、なぜ君をここから行かせてしまったのか。そのためおれは気が狂いそうになっている。これから誰がもう誓いを信じるだろうか。誓って、おお美しい恋人、クリセイデよ、おれは思っていたんだ、君が言った一つ一つの言葉は福音だ！と。しかし最も信頼できる人びとに思われる人ほどその気になれば、人びとをうまく騙せる人なんだ。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 啊！我为何让你离去，而且记得在你别我的时候，我差些要发疯？谁还能再相信盟誓？上帝知道，克丽西德，明媚的女郎，你所说的一字一句，我都当做教义一样，信以为真！然而一个人愈受人信托，他岂不愈易于欺弄人吗？

Word Information

  • Etymology: OA
  • Addresser: Troilus
  • Addressee: Pandarus
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): see 7.30
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (female: lady = Criseyde)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

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

radiant, beautiful, fair

Comments from the Editor

This stanza follows 7.30, in which Boccaccio applied anaphora with repeated ‘perchè’ (why). Troilus regrets having let Criseyde go and questions the meaning of oaths.