TR1.246 Ănd tréwĕlích ĭt sít wĕl tó bĕ só,
TR1.247 Fŏr áldĕrwísĕst hán thĕrwíth bĕn plésĕd;
TR1.248 Ănd théy thăt hán bĕn áldĕrmóst ĭn wó,
TR1.249 Wĭth lóve hăn bén cŏmfórtĕd móost ănd ésĕd;
TR1.250 Ănd ófte ĭt háth thĕ crúĕl hérte ăpésĕd,
TR1.251 Ănd wórthĭ fólk măad wórthĭér ŏf námĕ,
TR1.252 Ănd cáusĕth móost tŏ drédĕn více ănd shámĕ.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): And it is truly very fitting that it should be so, for the wisest of all have been pleased by love; and those who have been most of all in misery have been most comforted and relieved. Love has often appeased the cruel heart, made noble folk nobler in repute, and causes most people to fear wrong and disgrace.
• Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): 実際それがうまい具合に当てはまる、そうなっているのだ。最高の賢者でさえ愛を楽しんでいるし、最も悲しみに沈んでいる人でも、愛に慰められるのだから。愛はしばしば残酷な心を和らげ、高貴な人びとには名声をさらに高め、悪徳と恥を最も恐れさせるのだ。
• Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): 确实也是理所当然；因为最聪明的人也都曾在此中讨得乐趣；而且最愁痛的人也得过爱情最亲切的抚慰；它常能使凶恶的心肠化软，使高尚的德性更得高尚的美名，又能使多数的人去邪归正。

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: seat of the emotions (herte)
• 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

fierce, cruel, pitiless

Comments from the Editor

The narrator speaks of Troilus’s behaviour in this instance in an ironic tone. The expressions ‘alderwisest’ in the quotation and ‘aldermost in wo’ in the following line (not quoted here) emphasise the inevitable ties of love. Love’s effect in ennobling lovers is also emphasised at 1.1076–85, 3.24–6 and 1772–1806.

See also my comment of ‘alderwisest’ (adj., Tr1.247) for a discussion on adjectives beginning with the prefix ‘alder-’.