TR2.834 “Yĕ, blísfŭl gód, hăn mé sŏ wél by̆sét TR2.835 Ĭn lóve, ĭwýs, thăt ál thăt bérĕth líf TR2.836 Y̆mágy̆nén nĕ kóuthe hŏw tó bĕ bét; TR2.837 Fŏr, lórd, wĭthóutĕn jálŏusíe ŏr stríf, TR2.838 Í lŏve óon whĭch ís mŏost éntĕntíf TR2.839 Tŏ sérvĕn wél, ŭnwéri ŏr únfĕynéd, TR2.840 Thăt évere wăs, ánd lĕest wíth hărm déstĕynéd.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): You, blessed god, have bestowed me so well in love, indeed, that no one alive could imagine how it might be better! For, Lord, without jealousy or strife I love one who is the most diligent there ever was in serving tirelessly and sincerely, and the least sullied with any wrong.
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 至福の神よ、貴方は私に愛の成り行きをこれほどうまく定められたので、きっと、すべての生きとし生けるものはこれ以上幸せになる術を想像できないでしょう。ああ、妬むことも言い争うこともなく、とりわけ心行き届き、倦まず偽らず、少しも悪に染まらず、よく仕えてくださるお方を私は愛します。
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 我的恩神，我享受你的渥泽最深；因我有个情郎，全真全忠、不妒不忌、不厌倦、也不虚伪，且心地纯洁，不染一点尘埃。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Antigone (in her song)
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others (my situation in love)
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: Not quoted
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 85): bet: better
- Fisher (1989): N/A
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975: 778): bet: better
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
better
Comments from the Editor
The quotation above is part of Antigone’s song, added by Chaucer without any certain source. In this song, which Antigone claims to have been written by the most excellent maiden of Troy, the songwriter extols love for its bliss. As Fisher (1989: 432) mentions, this song might also express Criseyde’s ‘consent’ to love.