TR3.1310 Ŏf híre dĕlít ŏr jóiĕs óon thĕ léestĕ TR3.1311 Wĕre ímpŏssíblĕ tó my̆ wít tŏ séyĕ; TR3.1312 Bŭt júggĕth yé thăt hán bĕn át thĕ féstĕ TR3.1313 Ŏf swích glădnésse, ĭf thát hĕm lístĕ pléyĕ! TR3.1314 Ĭ kán nămóre, bŭt thús thĭse ílkĕ twéyĕ TR3.1315 Thăt nýght, bĭtwíxĕn dréde ănd síkĕrnéssĕ, TR3.1316 Féltĕn ĭn lóve thĕ grétĕ wórthy̆néssĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): To express the very least of their delight or joys would be beyond my understanding. But you who have been at such a feast of happiness, you judge whether they wanted to enjoy themselves! I can say no more, but thus these same two that night—between anxiety and assurance—experienced the great excellence of love.
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 彼らのほんの極めて少ない喜びや歓喜についてさえ、述べることは私の才能では不可能だろう。しかし彼らが心から打ち興じたかどうか、そのような喜びの饗宴に出席した貴方がたが判断してください。ただ言えることは、この二人はその夜、不安と安心との間にあって恋の素晴らしさを味わったということです。
- Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 我这有限的头脑说不出他俩所享受的最低愉快;但你若尝过此种的甜味,自可估量得他俩的欢爱!我没有什么可说的了,惟有总括一句,那一夜他俩在安乐之中虽不免有时颤栗,却感受了爱的最大功能。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Narrator
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): 3.32–3
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: pleasure (delight or joy)
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: †P3. a. any (also one, any one) the least: even the very least, any at all. Obsolete. (s.v. least, adj., pron., and n., and adv.)
- MED: 1a. (e) of actions, conditions, qualities, emotions, etc.: least important, least painful or evil, least beneficial or enjoyable, weakest; also, any, every; moste and ~, greatest and smallest; ~ ne meste, smallest nor greatest; ~ godes, the least important goods or benefits; the ~ partie, every bit; the ~ point, every point; with neg.: nothing at all; the ~ word, any word at all (s.v. lē̆st(e, adj.(1))
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 177): oon the leeste: the very least
- Fisher (1989: 468): oon the leste: the least of which
- Benson (1987: 531): oon the leeste: the very least
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975: 857): oon the leeste: the least one
- Baugh (1963: 147): joies oon the leeste: the least of their joys
Possible Definitions
oon the ~: the very least
Comments from the Editor
See my comment of ‘gret’ (adj. & adv. & n., Tr3.1316).