TR2.225 “Ǎ, wél bǐthóught! Fǒr lóve ǒf Gód,” quǒd shé, TR2.226 “Shǎl Í nǎt wítěn whát yě méene ǒf thís?” TR2.227 “Nǒ, thís thǐng áxěth léysěr,” thó quǒd hé, TR2.228 “Ǎnd ékě mé wǒlde múchě gréve, ǐwís, TR2.229 Ǐf Í ǐt tólde ǎnd yé ǐt tóke ǎmýs. TR2.230 Yět wére ǐt bét my̌ tóngě fór tǒ stíllě TR2.231 Thǎn séye ǎ sóth thǎt wére ǎyéyns yǒure wíllě.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): ‘Ah, that subject again! For the love of God,’ she said, ‘am I not to know what you mean by this?’ ‘No, this thing needs time,’ he then said, ‘and also I’d regret it very much indeed, if I revealed it and you took it wrongly. It’d be better to hold my tongue than say something true that went against your inclinations.
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 「あら、名案だこと！でもどうかお願い」と彼女は言った。「さっきのことはどういうことか教わることはできませんか。」「いや、これには時間が要るんだ」とその時彼は言った。「もしそれを言って、それをお前が悪くとれば、きっと、私もひどく悲しくなるだろう。本当のことを言ってもお前の意に反することなら困る、まだ黙っておくほうがいいだろう。
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): “呀，承你照顾！我的天哪，”她道，“你肯告诉我这句话所指是何事吗？”“不，这件事要等有闲空时才能讲，”他道，“况且我若讲了出来而被你误会，反引起我不安。我守住不说，比说了真话而不受你欢迎还强些。
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 (it = to hold his tongue)
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: Not quoted
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003): N/A
- Fisher (1989: 423): bet: better
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975: 757): bet: better
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
better
Comments from the Editor
Criseyde dismisses her servants to be alone with Pandarus, who then asks her again (first in 2.110–1) to dance, a practice usually for unmarried girls and young wives (see 2.119) and to throw her barbe away. Although what he is to tell her is morally forbidden, in the quotation above, he emphasises his good intention.