bel adj.

  bel 
TR2.288 “Gŏod ávĕntúre, Ŏ béelĕ néce, hăve yé
TR2.289 Fŭl líghtly̆ fóundĕn, ánd yĕ kónne ĭt tákĕ;
TR2.290 Ănd fór thĕ lóve ŏf Gód, ănd ék ŏf mé,
TR2.291 Cáche ĭt ănón, lĕst ávĕntúrĕ slákĕ!
TR2.292 Whăt shólde Ĭ léngĕr prócĕs óf ĭt mákĕ?
TR2.293 Yíf mĕ yŏure hónd, fŏr ín thĭs wórld ĭs nóon --
TR2.294 Ĭf thát yŏw líst -- ă wíght sŏ wél by̆gón.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): O my lovely niece, you’ve found good fortune very easily, if you know how to take it. And for the love of God — and of me too — seize it at once, in case opportunity passes you by! Why should I make a long rigmarole about it? Give me your hand, for — if you want — there’s no one in this world in such a happy situation.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): おお、美しい姪よ、お前はよい機会を易々と見つけ、捕らえることができる。神の愛のために、そして私の愛のためにも、すぐにそれをつかみなさい、好機が逃げないうちに！どうして私はこの長談義をしなければならないのか。手を出しなさい、もしお前が受ければ……この世にお前ほど幸せな人はいないのだから。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 啊，美貌的甥女，好运已轻巧地落上了你的身，单看你能否接受；为了神的爱和我对你的深谊，你应立即抓紧这个机会，不然幸运就跑走了。何须我多说呢？让我握着你的手，这世上没有一个比你更如意的人，只消你愿意。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OF
  • Addresser: Pandarus
  • Addressee: Criseyde
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): see 2.44
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (female: Criseyde)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: (Quoted) 1. (a) Fair, fine, good, excellent; of a woman: beautiful; ~ cher, good company; ~ chose, ~ chist, female sex organ; ~ sone, good son, ?grandson; la ~, the beautiful one; (s.v. bē̆l,adj.)
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 63): beele: fair
  • Fisher (1989): N/A
  • Benson (1987: 493): beele: lovely
  • Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) good, beautiful (s.v. bele, adj.)
  • Donaldson (1975: 759): bele: fair
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

fair, good, beautiful

Comments from the Editor

In the above-quoted stanza and three other stanzas before and after it (see 2.281–308), Pandarus repeatedly emphasizes Criseyde’s good luck and avers that his acts are all for her wellbeing. Though a similar scene exists in Fil, Boccaccio only spares one stanza on this avowal (see 2.44).