TR2.1387 “Ănd réed thăt bówĕth dówn fŏr évery̆ blást,
TR2.1388 Fŭl líghtly̆, céssĕ wýnd, ĭt wól ărýsĕ;
TR2.1389 Bŭt só ny̆l nóught ăn óok, whăn ít ĭs cást;
TR2.1390 Ĭt nédeth mĕ nóught thĕ lóngĕ tó fŏrbísĕ.
TR2.1391 Mĕn shál rĕjóissĕn óf ă grét ĕmprýsĕ
TR2.1392 Ăchévĕd wél, ănd stánt wĭthóutĕn dóutĕ,
TR2.1393 Ăl hán mĕn bén thĕ léngĕr thérăbóutĕ.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): A reed that bends with every gust will straighten up very easily if the wind should drop; but an oak tree will not do so when it is felled. I don’t need to instruct you for long by multiplying examples. People will rejoice at a great undertaking well accomplished—there can be no doubt—even if that much longer has been taken over it.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 風が吹くたびに軽々と頭を垂れる葦は風が止むと、首をもたげます。しかしオーク樫は切り倒されると、そうはなりません。さらにくどくど例を挙げて証明しなくてもいいでしょう。人は立派に成し遂げられた大いなる企てを見て喜ぶものです、疑いの余地はあり得ません、たとえ人がそれに長く携わっていたとしてもです。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 一枝芦苇在风中摇摆，风停了，又轻轻伸直；而一棵橡树却不能倒了再起；但我不必多引譬喻了。对于一件事，如果多化了心力，一旦告成，自可更享受悠久的幸福。

Word Information

• Etymology: OE
• Addresser: Pandarus
• Addressee: Troilus
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: undertaking (empryse)
• 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): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

of considerable importance;

Comments from the Editor

Pandarus compares Criseyde’s heart to an oak and uses the example of the reed and oak to demonstrate that if Troilus overcomes her once, it will be forever. See also my comment of ‘gret’ (adj. & adj. & n., Tr2.1383).