heigh adj.

2022-09-15 heigh

TR3.281 “Whěrfóre, ěr Í wǒl férthěr gón ǎ pás,
TR3.282 Thě préie ǐch éft, ǎlthógh thǒw shúlděst déyě,
TR3.283 Thǎt prívěté gǒ wíth ǔs ín thǐs cás;
TR3.284 Thǎt ís tǒ séyn, thǎt thów ǔs néverě wréyě;
TR3.285 Ǎnd bé nǒught wróth, thǒugh Í thě óftě préyě
TR3.286 Tǒ hólděn sécrěe swích ǎn héigh mǎtérě,
TR3.287 Fǒr skílfǔll ís, thǒw wóost wěl, mý prǎiérě.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And so, before I’ll go a step further, I beg you again, even if you should die for it, that secrecy accompany us in this affair—that’s to say, that you never give us away. And don’t be angry though I often ask you to keep secret such an important affair, for you well know that my request is reasonable.
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): だから、私は一歩先に進む前に、再度お願いしますが、たとえ死ぬことがありましょうとも、このことについて私たちの間で秘密を守るということ、すなわち、若君は決してお漏らしにならないということです。このような重要な問題の秘密をお守りくださいとたびたびお願いしようとも、お怒りにならないでください、私の依頼は妥当であることがよくお分かりでしょうから。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 因此，在我没有更向前推进之前，我求你以生命担保，务必保守秘密，决不可泄漏出去；且这件事很重要，非守秘密不可，你也很知道，我的请求是合理的，我这样恳求再三，愿你不要生气。

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Pandarus
Addressee: Troilus
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 3.10
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: topic, subject-matter
Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

OED: Not quoted
MED: Not quoted

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 135): heigh: important
Fisher (1989): N/A
Benson (1987): N/A
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975): N/A
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

important

Comments from the Editor

This conversation between Pandarus and Troilus takes place after Pandarus successfully arranged the first private meeting for the two lovers in Deiphebus’s house. Criseyde cares nothing more than her reputation, and as one of her kin, Pandarus also share the character. In this scene, Pandarus makes a long speech (see 3.239–43) in which he repeatedly reminds Troilus to keep the secret, so that to keep Criseyde’s reputation and that of his own.