best adj. (sup.)

  best 
TR2.386 Crĭséydĕ, whích thăt hérde hy̆m ín thĭs wísĕ,
TR2.387 Thŏughte, “Í shăl félĕn whát hĕ méneth, y̆wís.”
TR2.388 “Nŏw ém,” quŏd shé, “whăt wóldĕ yé dĕvísĕ?
TR2.389 Whăt ís yŏure réed Ĭ shóldĕ dón ŏf thís?”
TR2.390 “Thăt ís wĕl séyd,” quŏd bé. “Cĕrtéin, bĕst ís
TR2.391 Thăt yé hy̆m lóve ăyéyn fŏr hís lŏvýngĕ,
TR2.392 Ăs lóve fŏr lóve ĭs skílfŭl guérdŏnýngĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): Criseyde, while listening to him, thought: ‘I’ll probe him a bit on what he means, for sure,’ and she said: ‘Now, uncle, what would you suggest? What do you advise me to do about this?’ ‘That’s well said,’ said he. ‘Certainly, it’s best for you to love him in return for his love of you, as love for love is a reasonable reward.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 彼がこのように言うのを聞いたクリセイデは、「絶対に、言わんとしていることを探ってみよう」と思った。「ねえ、叔父様」と彼女は言った。「何を忠告なさりたいの？このことで叔父様はわたしに何をしろと忠告なさるの？」「よく言ってくれた」と彼は言った。「もちろん、一番いいのはお前が若君の愛に愛をもって応えてやることだ。愛には愛で応えることは道理に合った報い方だからだ。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 克丽西德见他这样讲，心想，“且让我先试探一下他的用意何在。”她说道，“舅父，他到底认为我该怎样做才是呢？”“这句话说得对了，”他道，“当然，最好你能以爱报答他，因为爱以爱报才是正理。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Pandarus
  • Addressee: Criseyde
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: others (omitted (the way to pay Troilus’s love back))
  • Attributive/ Predicative: –

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 things, actions, conditions, etc.: best, most excellent or desirable, of highest quality, most advantageous;

Comments from the Editor

Pandarus threatens to kill both Troilus and Criseyde if Criseyde refuses to accept him. (2.316–29). In the quotation above, Criseyde compromises and asks Pandarus for advice. Needless to say, Pandarus’s answer is always the same: return love for love.