TR3.1359 Thĕrwíth hĕ gán hĭre fáste ĭn ármĕs tákĕ,
TR3.1360 Ănd wél ă thóusănd týmĕs gán hĕ sýkĕ --
TR3.1361 Năught swíchĕ sórwfŭll síkĕs ás mĕn mákĕ
TR3.1362 Fŏr wó, ŏr éllĕs whén thăt fólk bĕn síkĕ,
TR3.1363 Bŭt ésy̆ sýkĕs, swíche ăs bén tŏ líkĕ,
TR3.1364 Thăt shéwĕd hís ăfféccĭóun wĭthínnĕ;
TR3.1365 Ŏf swíchĕ síkĕs kóude hĕ nóught bĭlýnnĕ.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): With that he took her tightly in his arms and sighed a good thousand times—not such sorrowful sighs as people heave when unhappy, or else when folk are ill, but gentle sighs, such as are pleasing and that showed his inner feelings. He could not stop such sighing.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): そう言って彼女を両腕にしっかりと抱いて、千回も数限りなくため息をついた。悲しみのためにつくような悲嘆のため息ではなく、また新しい病気の時につく悲痛なため息でもなく、楽しいため息、たとえば喜んでいる時のような、内心の感情を表す穏やかなため息。そのようなため息をどうしても抑えることができなかった。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 说着，又把她紧紧拥抱，不断地叹息，不过这并非哀痛之声，而是情意缠绵中的微吟；他如是嗟叹不已。

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 3.37
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: suffering, sorrow or grief (Troilus’ sigh)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: (Quoted) 3. (c) of an utterance: gentle, not loud (s.v. ēsī̆, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 179): esy: contented
• Fisher (1989): N/A
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) enjoyable (s.v. esy, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

contented

Comments from the Editor

Now that Troilus has Criseyde in his arms, he is no longer sorrowful. In a similar scene in Fil, Troiolo kisses Criseida’s entire face and bosom. However, this detail is omitted in Chaucer. Boccaccio describes the sighs as devoted ones, which reveal Troiolo and Criseida’s affection and delight.