TR2.302 “Bĕth náught ăgást, nĕ quákĕth náught! Whĕrtó?
TR2.303 Nĕ cháungĕth náught fŏr férĕ só yŏure héwĕ!
TR2. 304 Fǒr hárdělý thě wérst ǒf thís ǐs dó;
TR2. 305 Ǎnd thóugh my̌ tále ǎs nów bě tó yǒw néwě,
TR2. 306 Yět tríst ǎlwéy yě shál mě fýndě tréwě;
TR2. 307 Ǎnd wére ǐt thýng thǎt mé thǒughte únsǐttýngě,
TR2. 308 Tǒ yów wǒlde Í nǒ swíchě tálěs brýngě."

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translation (Windeatt: 1998): Don’t be afraid! Don’t tremble so! Why should you? Don’t go so pale with fright! For certainly, the worst part of this is over and, though what I’ve said may be new to you now, you can always rely on it that you’ll find me loyal. If it were anything I thought unsuitable, I wouldn’t bring it up with you.’
• Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 怯えないでおくれ、戦かないでおくれ！どうしてそうするのだ？恐ろしいために顔色を変えないでおくれ！確かにこの最悪の場合は終わったのだから目下今の話はお前には初耳だったとしても、私は嘘をつかないことを見て、いつも信頼しておくれ。お前に相応しくないことだと思えば、お前にこのような話はもって来ないよ。」
• Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 不必害怕，不必战栗；何苦来呢？不要吓得脸都变了色；这重关口已经过去，在你听去这件事似觉离奇，但尽管相信我，决不会叫你上当，我若认为不合适就不会来向你提起。”

Word Information

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

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: Not quoted

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 64): agast: afraid
• Fisher (1989: 427): agast … Wherto: frightened, What for?
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

afraid, frightened

Comments from the Editor

This extract forms a part of Pandarus’s speech before he tells Criseyde about Troilus’s love. Ironically, he compels his niece to show Troilus grace even though he knows she would be afraid: she would tremble, and her face would pale.