cler adj.

2022-07-24 cler

TR5.806 Crĭséydĕ ménĕ wás ŏf híre stătúrĕ;
TR5.807 Thĕrtó ŏf sháp, ŏf fáce, ănd ék ŏf chéerĕ,
TR5.808 Thĕr mýghtĕ bén nŏ fáirĕr créătúrĕ.
TR5.809 Ănd óftĕ týmĕs thís wăs híre mănérĕ:
TR5.810 Tŏ gón y̆tréssĕd wíth hĭre hérĕs clérĕ

TR5.811 Dŏun bý hĭre cólĕr át hĭre bák by̆hýndĕ,
TR5.812 Whĭch wíth ă thréd ŏf góld shĕ wóldĕ býndĕ;

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): Criseyde was of average height; there could not be a more beautiful creature in figure, in face, and also in manner. And this was often her custom: to go with her shining hair down over her collar at the back in plaits, which she would tie with a golden thread.
Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): クリセイデは背丈については高からず低からず、加えて、姿、顔かたち、物腰の点では、誰よりも美しくすぐれていた。そしてしばしこのような身だしなみをした。輝く髪を編み、後ろの襟元にそれを垂らし、よく一本の金糸で結わえて出歩いた。
Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): 克丽西德身段玲珑，她的体态，容貌，以及表情等确是超群。她常爱编起光耀的头发，披过头项，用一根金丝束住。

Word Information

Etymology: OF
Addresser: Narrator
Addressee: N/A
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: hair (Criseyde’s hair)
Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

OED: Not quoted
MED: Not quoted

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 303): To gon ytressed with hire heres clere Doun by hire coler at hire bak byhynde: To go about with her bright hair braided and hanging down over her collar behind
Fisher (1989: 516): cleere: shining
Benson (1987: 571): clere: bright
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975: 962): To goon ytressed with hir heres clere Down by hir coler at hir bak bihinde: To go about with her bright hair braided and hanging down over her collar behind
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

bright, shining; beautiful

Comments from the Editor

This portrait of Criseyde finds no counterpart in Fil, and Chaucer most likely borrows it from Joseph’s Ylias, 4.156–62. However, in Joseph’s description of Briseis, her hair is said to be plaited into coils of equal length, but Chaucer simply mentions that Criseyde would tie her hair into plaits with a golden thread and have them down over her collar at the back. If we keep Criseyde’s custom in mind and read 4.813–819, in which she is described as wet in tears and that the great tresses of her hair are hanging dishevelled all about her ears, we gain a clear depiction of her distress.