TR4.841 “Whŏsó mĕ séeth, hĕ séeth sŏrwe ál ătóny̆s -- TR4.842 Péynĕ, tórmĕnt, pléyntĕ, wó, dĭstréssĕ! TR4.843 Ŏut óf my̆ wófŭl bódy̆ hárm thĕr nóon ĭs, TR4.844 Ăs ángwĭssh, lángŏur, crúĕl bíttĕrnéssĕ, TR4.845 Ănóy̆, smért, drĕde, fúry̆, and ék sĭknéssĕ. TR4.846 Ĭ trówe, y̆wýs, frŏm hévenĕ téerĭs réynĕ TR4.847 Fŏr píte ŏf mýn ăspré ănd crúĕl péynĕ.”
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): Whoever looks at me sees all grief in one — pain, torment, lamentation, misery, distress! No hurt is absent from my sorrowful body, such as anguish, suffering, cruel bitterness, trouble, smarting pain, fear, fury, and also sickness. I truly believe tears rain down from heaven for pity of my cruel and bitter pain!’
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): どなたがご覧になろうと、一度に悲しみがすべてご覧になれますわ、苦痛、苦悶、悲嘆、悲哀、苦悩が！このみじめな体に苦痛が欠けているなんてことはありませんわ。たとえば、激しい苦痛、大きな悩み、過酷な苦しみ、不快、疼き、恐怖、激怒があります、病気もあります。きっとわたしの過酷でしか堪らない苦痛を憐れんで天から涙が、雨となって降り注ぐと思いますわ。」
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 谁见到我，就见到忧痛、悲苦、泣诉、都会集一身。我这里有的是损伤、惨哭、沮丧、烦恼、剧痛、恐惧、激愤、和疾病。我确信天公为了心生怜悯，也要落下泪雨来。”
Word Information
- Etymology: OF
- Addresser: Criseyde
- Addressee: Pandarus
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: cruel
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 4.97)
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: suffering, sorrow or grief (Criseyde’s pain)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: Not quoted
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 233): aspre: harsh
- Fisher (1989: 496): aspre: bitter
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975: 905): aspre: bitter
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
harsh, bitter, severe, sharp, cruel
Comments from the Editor
Pandarus comes to Criseyde to arrange another meeting between the two lovers after the parliament decides to exchange Criseyde for Antenor. Criseyde is extremely upset, and Chaucer spares approximately 150 lines (from 4.666) to describe her despair. A speech by Pandaro similar to this reference occurs in Fil (4.97).