caitif adj.

2022-07-20 caitif

TR3.379 “Thăt ráthĕr déye Ĭ wólde, ănd détĕrmýnĕ,
TR3.380 Ăs thýnkĕth mé, nŏw stókkĕd ín prĭsóun,
TR3.381 Ĭn wrécchĭdnésse, ĭn fílthe, ănd ín vĕrmýnĕ,
TR3.382 Căytíf tŏ crúĕl kýng Ăgámĕnóun;
TR3.383 Ănd thís ĭn áll thĕ témplĕs óf thĭs tówn
TR3.384 Ŭpón thĕ góddĕs álle, Ĭ wól thĕ swérĕ
TR3.385 Tŏ-mórwĕ dáy, ĭf thát ĭt líkĕth heŕĕ.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): I would rather die and come to an end, as it seems to me, in the stocks in prison, in wretchedness, in filth, and among vermin, captive to cruel King Agamemnon! And I will swear this to you upon all the gods in all the temples of this town tomorrow morning, if you would care to hear it.
Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): おれはむしろ死にたい、そしてこう生を終えるように思われる、残酷なアガメムノン王に捕らわれて、牢の中でさらしものにされ、惨めな状態のまま、汚辱の中に置かれ、虫に食われるままになって、そしてこの町の全寺院のすべての神々にかけて、この決心を聞きたいと望むなら、明日の朝、そなたに誓おう。
Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): 我愿惨死，我愿在残酷的阿格曼农王的监狱里，手脚锁进木枷，和虫秽同归于尽，明天我愿向城中各庙神前照样宣誓给你听，只要你愿听。

Word Information

Etymology: AF
Addresser: Troilus
Addressee: Pandarus
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): see 3.15
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: Troilus)
Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

OED: Not quoted
MED: Not quoted

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 138): Caytif to: prisoner of
Fisher (1989: 454): Caytif: captive
Benson (1987: 518): Caytif to: captive of
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975: 824): Caitif: captive
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

captive

Comments from the Editor

With Pandarus’s words reminding him to keep Criseyde’s name, Troilus claims that he would never let another person know about their affair. He swears that if he lies, he would rather let Achille’s spear (3.374) pierce his heart and be captive to Agamemnon. However, it is ironic to mention that Troilus is killed by Achille (5.1806).

In the quotation, Agamemnon refers to the leader of the Greek army against Troy.