angwisshous adj.

  angwisshous 
TR3.813 “Ŏ Gód,” quŏd shé, “sŏ wórldly̆ sély̆néssĕ,
TR3.814 Whĭch clérkĕs cállĕn fáls fĕlícĭtée,
TR3.815 Ĭmédlĕd ís wĭth mány ̆a bíttĕrnéssĕ!
TR3.816 Fŭl ángwĭssóus thăn ís, Gŏd wóot,” quŏd shé,
TR3.817 “Cŏndícĭóun ŏf véyn prŏspérĭtée:
TR3.818 Fŏr éithĕr jóĭes cómĕn nóught y̆féerĕ,
TR3.819 Ŏr éllĕs nó wĭght háth hĕm álwĕy hérĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): ‘O God,’ said she, ‘how worldly happiness, which scholars call “false felicity”, is intermingled with much bitterness! God knows’ she said, ‘the condition of vain prosperity is very painful: for either joys don’t come together, or else no one has them here continuously.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 「おお神様」とクリセイデは言った。「学者様たちが偽の幸せと呼ぶ、この幸せには何と多くの苦しいものが混じり合っていることでしょう！空虚な繁栄には、確かに、苦しみが満ちています。いろいろな喜びは一緒にやって来ないし、誰もそれらをこの世で必ずしも味わえるとは限りませんもの。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): “啊，天哪！”她续道，“人间的快乐，哲人们名之曰空虚的幸福，确是内中夹杂着无限的痛楚！上天知道，所谓顺境其实满藏着烦恼，不是福无双至，就是好事多磨。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OF
  • Addresser: Criseyde
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): Based on Boethius (see Boece, 2. pr.4, 75-8)
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: deceit (false felicity)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: (Quoted) 1. a. That causes or is accompanied by anguish; extremely painful or distressing; agonizing, tormenting. Also: that causes anxiety or worry. (s.v. † anguishous, adj.)
  • MED: (Quoted) 1. (b) arousing anxiety or apprehension (s.v. angwisshǒus, adj.)
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 156): angwissous: painful  
  • Fisher (1989): N/A
  • Benson (1987: 524): angwissous: painful
  • Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) painful, distressing (s.v. anguiss(ch)ous, adj.)
  • Donaldson (1975: 840): anguisshous: anguished
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

painful, distressing, anguished; arousing anxiety or apprehension  

Comments from the Editor

Criseyde is upset at the news that Troilus believes the rumor that she has fallen in love with another man. In this monolog (3.813–54) based on Boethius (see Boece, 2.pr.4), she concludes no true happiness exists in this world (3.836).