fre adj.

  fre
TR4.1548 “Ănd thów, Sy̆móis, thăt ás ăn árwĕ clérĕ
TR4.1549 Thŏrŭgh Tróĭe rénnĕst dównwărd tó thĕ sé,
TR4.1550 Bĕr wítnĕsse óf thĭs wórd thăt séyd ĭs hérĕ:
TR4.1551 Thăt thílkĕ dáy thăt ích ŭntréwĕ bé
TR4.1552 Tŏ Tróĭlús, my̆n ówenĕ hértĕ fré,
TR4.1553 Thăt thów rĕtóurnĕ bákwărd tó thĭ wéllĕ,
TR4.1554 Ănd Í wĭth bódy ănd sóulĕ sýnke ĭn héllĕ!

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And you, Simois, that like a bright arrow run through Troy ever downwards to the sea, bear witness to this word that is spoken here: that, on the day I am untrue to Troilus, my own noble heart, you flow backwards to your source, and I sink body and soul into hell!
  • Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): そして願わくは、輝き飛ぶ矢のようにトロイアを貫いて海に流れ下るシモイス川よ、ここで言われたこの言葉の証人となりたまえ。わたしの気高い恋人、トロイルス様に対してわたしが不実をはたらくその日に、汝は源流へと逆流しますように、そしてわたしは心身共に地獄に沈みますように!
  • Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 你这赛漠亚斯河像箭一般流下海去,请你作证,我若有一天对我可敬爱的特罗勒斯负了心,背了信,你就可倒流入源,而我就灵肉同降地狱!

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Criseyde
  • Addressee: Troilus
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: owene
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: Not quoted
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 261): fre: noble
  • Fisher (1989: 501): fre: generous
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
  • Donaldson (1975: 929): free: noble
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

generous; noble

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘cler’ (adj., Tr4.1548).