knotteles adj.

2022-09-21 knotteles

TR5.764 “Fǒr whích, wǐthóutěn ány̌ wórděs mó,
TR5.765 Tǒ Tróie Ǐ wóle, ǎs fór cǒnclúsǐóun.”
TR5.766 Bǔt Gód ǐt wót, ěr fúlly̌ mónthěs twó,
TR5.767 Shě wás fǔl fér frǒ thát ěnténcǐóun!
TR5.768 Fǒr bóthě Tróǐlús ǎnd Tróǐe tówn
TR5.769 Shǎl knóttělés thǒrǔghóut hǐre hértě slídě;
TR5.770 Fǒr shé wǒl táke ǎ púrpǒs fór t’ǎbídě.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And so, without any more words, I shall definitely go to Troy.’ But God knows, before two months were out, she was very far from that intention! Both Troilus and Troy shall slip through her heart like a knotless string, for she will decide to stay.
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): だから、もうあれこれ言わないで、トロイアへ行くことにしましょう、決めたわ。」しかし、誓って言えば、丸二か月たたないうちに、彼女はこの意図から全く遠ざかってしまったのだ！何しろトロイルスとトロイアの町のことは結び目のない糸のように彼女の心からすり抜けていく、彼女は逗留することに決めるからである。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 所以不必多说了，我要去特罗亚，这就是我的结论。” 可是，上帝知道一切，还不满两个月的功夫，她已远远违背了这个主张。特罗亚也好，特罗勒斯也好，都由她的心头一溜烟儿消散了；她竟决定停留下来。

Word Information

Etymology: From knotte
Addresser: Narrator
Addressee: N/A
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/AN/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 6.8
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others (Troilus and Troy)
Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

OED: (Quoted) Without a knot, free from knots (in various senses of the noun); unknotted. In first quot. quasi-adverbial = like a thread without knots, smoothly, without check or hindrance. (s.v. knotless, adj.)
MED: (Quoted) 1. Of a thread: without a knot; — used fig. (s.v. knottelēs, adj.)

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 301): knotteles: i.e. without impediment, like a thread without knots
Fisher (1989: 515): knotteles: knotless (i.e., without a hitch)
Benson (1987): N/A
Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) without impediment, smoothly (s.v. knotteles, adj.)
Donaldson (1975: 961): knottelees: knotless, i.e., like a thread without knots
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

knotless, smoothly

Comments from the Editor

In Fil, the author mentions that it is Diomede who has successfully driven Troiolo and Troy out of Criseida’s mind. However, Chaucer does not mention Diomede in the above quote.

The adjective ‘knotteles’ echoes with Criseyde’s character of ‘tendre-herted’ and ‘slydynge of corage’ (see 5.825).