benigne adj.

  benigne 
TR5.1863 Thŏw óon, ănd twó, ănd thré, ĕtérne ŏn lývĕ,
TR5.1864 Thăt régnĕst áy ĭn thré, ănd twó, ănd óon,
TR5.1865 Ŭncírcŭmscrípt, ănd ál măist círcŭmscrívĕ,
TR5.1866 Ŭs fróm vĭsíble ănd ínvĭsíblĕ fóon
TR5.1867 Dĕfénde, ănd tó thy̆ mércy̆, éverĭchón,
TR5.1868 Sŏ máke ŭs, Jésŭs, fór thĭ mércy̆, dígnĕ,
TR5.1869 Fŏr lóve ŏf máyde ănd módĕr thýn bĕnígnĕ. Ámĕn.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): You one, and two, and three, eternally living, who ever in three, and two, and one, reign uncircumscribed, and yet all-circumscribing, defend us from visible and invisible enemies, and, of your mercy, Jesus, make us each one worthy of your mercy, for love of her, Blessed Virgin and your mother most benign. Amen.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 自ら制限されることなく、すべてを限られ、三と二と一のうちに常に統べたまえる永生の貴方、一と二と三よ、目に見える敵からも、目に見えない敵からも、私たちを守りたまえ。そして、イエスよ、私たちそれぞれが、処女にして貴方の恵み深い御母なる人の愛にかけて、貴方の慈悲を受けるに足るものであらしめたまえ。アーメン
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 你一、二、三、永生的神，永以三、二、一、统治着未受割礼的人们，让他们收到割礼，愿你保佑我们，勿受一切见得到的与见不到的敌人的残害，主耶稣，凭着你仁慈的处女圣母的爱，求你使我们每人都受得起你的眷怜！阿门。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OF
  • Addresser: Narrator
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (female: Virgin Mary)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: Not quoted
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 347): benigne: gracious
  • Fisher (1989): N/A
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) gracious (s.v. benigne, adj.)
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

gracious

Comments from the Editor

Though the appellation “God” is employed several times through the narrative, all previous mentions can be related to the pagan gods of Troy. However, the poet refers directly to Jesus and Christianity in the above quote that concludes the narrative. Chaucer thus ends the story by admonishing young people that only God’s love is immortal (see 1835–48).