cruel adj.

2022-07-26 cruel

TR2.337 “Ĭf ít bĕ só thăt yé sŏ crúĕl bé
TR2.338 Thăt óf hĭs déth yŏw lístĕ nóught tŏ récchĕ,
TR2.339 Thăt ís sŏ tréwe ănd wórthĭ, ás yĕ sé,
TR2.340 Nămóore thăn óf ă jápĕr ór ă wrécchĕ --
TR2.341 Ĭf yé bĕ swích, yŏure béautĕ máy năt strécchĕ
TR2.342 Tŏ máke ăméndĕs óf sŏ crúĕl ă dédĕ;
TR2.343 Ăvýsĕmént ĭs góod by̆fóre thĕ nédĕ.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): If it turns out you’re so cruel as not to bother caring any more about the death of him (who, as you see, is so noble and true) than of some trickster or wretch—if you’re such a person, your beauty can’t go far enough to make amends for such a cruel act. It’s a good idea to think carefully before the need arises.
Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): 仮にお前は非常に残酷であるがゆえに、お前が見るように、真実で立派である男子の死について、ペテン師か卑しむべき男子の死ぐらいしか、まったく何も気にしないならば・・・・・・もしお前がそのようであれば、せっかくのお前の美貌もそのような残酷な行為を償うには充分でないだろう。慎慮はまさかの時が生じないうちにするのがいいんだよ。
Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): 你若果真硬着心肠，眼见这位忠诚高贵的人死去而无动于衷，只当死了一个小丑似的，那就使尽你那美色也弥补不了这样残酷的行为；最好能未雨绸缪，不可临渴掘井。

Word Information

Etymology: OF
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): 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

cruel, pitiless

Comments from the Editor

Pandarus indicates that if Criseyde does not show mercy to Troilus, she will kill Troilus, which doubtlessly, is a threat to her. On the other hand, he emphasises that refusing Troilus’s love is a huge mistake, which is difficult for Criseyde’s beauty to make amends for. This statement praises Criseyde for her beauty and indicates that if Criseyde does not show mercy to Troilus, her beauty will be in vain.