TR1.659 ‘Phĕbús, thăt fírst fŏnd árt ŏf médĭcýnĕ,’ TR1.660 Quŏd shé, ‘ănd cóuthe ĭn évery̆ wíghtĕs cárĕ TR1.661 Rĕmédye ănd réed, by̆ hérbĕs hé knĕw fýnĕ, TR1.662 Yĕt tó hy̆msélf hĭs kónny̆ng wás fŭl bárĕ, TR1.663 Fŏr lóve hădde hým sŏ bóundĕn ín ă snárĕ, TR1.664 Ál fŏr thĕ dóughtĕr óf thĕ kýng Ămétĕ, TR1.665 Thăt ál hĭs cráft nĕ kóude hĭs sórwĕs bétĕ.’
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): “It was Phoebus who first invented the art of medicine,” she said, “and knew the remedy and best advice for the care of every patient through herbs he knew thoroughly, and yet his knowledge was worthless to himself, because love for King Admetus’ daughter had so bound him in a snare that all his skill could not cure his sorrows”.
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 『初めて医術を考え出されたフォイボス様は』と彼女は言っています。『十分に精通された薬草によって、あらゆる人の苦しみの治療法を熟知し最高の診断をされましたが、ご自分のことにはその知識はまったく役に立ちませんでした。すべてアドメートゥス王の娘への恋のために、愛によって罠にしっかりと縛りつけられたので、お心得の腕でもご自分の悲しみを癒すことができなかったのです。』
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): ‘费白斯本是医药的始祖，他懂得救治伤痛的各种药草，可是他的医术竟救不了自己；为了爱国王阿米德的女儿他投进了情网无法自释，凭他任何高明的技能却不能治疗自己的愁恨。’
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Oenone (in her letter to Paris)
- Addressee: Paris
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see Ovid, Heroides, 5)
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: skill or knowledge (Phoebus’s knowledge)
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: (Quoted) 12. Deficient, impotent, unavailing, vain; poor (bargain); sterile (person); scanty (beard). (s.v. bār, adj.)
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 32): ful bare: completely useless
- Fisher (1989: 414): bare: i.e., of little use
- Benson (1987: 482): ful bare: completely barren, useless
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975: 733): bare: i.e., useless
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
impotent, useless
Comments from the Editor
Paris, Troilus’s brother, deserted Oenone for Helen. In her letter to Paris, Oenone mentions Phoebus, whose sorrow (attributed to his love for King Admetus’ daughter) could not be resolved even though he was the one who first invented the art of medicine. In this reference, Pandarus quotes Oenone’s letter to demonstrate that a wise man may not always be able to save himself, but a fool like him can use failure to offer someone remedy.