gret adj. & adv. & n.

  gret
TR2.1324 Bŭt fínălý, hĕ tóok ăl fór thĕ béstĕ
TR2.1325 Thăt shé hy̆m wróot, fŏr sómwhăt hé by̆héld
TR2.1326 Ŏn whích hy̆m thóughte hĕ mýghte hĭs hértĕ réstĕ,
TR2.1327 Ăl cóverĕd shé thŏ wórdĕs úndĕr shéld.
TR2.1328 Thŭs tó thĕ mórĕ wórthĭ párt hĕ héld,
TR2.1329 Thăt whát fŏr hópe ănd Pándărús by̆héstĕ,
TR2.1330 Hĭs grétĕ wó fŏrýede hĕ át thĕ léstĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translations (Windeatt: 1998): But in the end he took everything that she wrote to him for the best, for he noticed something in which it seemed to him his heart might find grounds for hope, even if she wrote guardedly. In this way he clung to the more worthwhile part, so that, what with hopefulness and Pandarus’ promise, he at least put most of his unhappiness to one side.
  • Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): しかしついに、彼女が彼に書き送った内容は万事首尾の好いように図ってあると解した。たとえ彼女が言葉の真意を盾の下に隠すように覆い隠していようとも、心が休まるように思われる部分があるのに気付いたからである。このようにして彼はよりやりがいのある方に執着していった。そのため、前途有望の感やら、パンダルスの約束やらで、彼は少なくともどん底の悲しみをかなぐり捨てた。
  • Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 但最后,他认为很有希望,因他觉得还可以自慰的是,她的字眼中间都有所含蓄。于是他姑从有含义的部分去解释,又加以心中的期望和彭大瑞的若言,至少使他减轻了那最深沉的悲痛。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Narrator
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): 2. 129
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: suffering, sorrow or grief (Troilus’s woe)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: Not quoted
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003): N/A
  • Fisher (1989): N/A
  • Benson (1987: 507): grete: the greater part of
  • Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

considerable in degree; intense, severe

Comments from the Editor

Pandarus delivers Criseyde’s first letter to Troilus. In a similar stanza in Fil, Troilus finds hope in Criseyde’s letter and in the next stanza, although his pain is relieved to some extent, his desire and fire of love become stronger. He cannot wait to receive another message from his lady.