TR2.260 “Ănd síthĕ th’énde ĭs évery̆ tálĕs stréngthĕ, TR2.261 Ănd thís mătére ĭs só bĭhóvĕlý, TR2.262 Whăt shólde Ĭ péynte ŏr dráwĕn ít ŏn léngthĕ TR2.263 Tŏ yów, thăt bén my̆ frénd sŏ féythfŭllý?” TR2.264 Ănd wíth thăt wórd hĕ gán rĭght ínwărdlý TR2.265 By̆hóldĕn híre ănd lókĕn ón hĭre fácĕ, TR2.266 Ănd séyde, “Ŏn swích ă mírŏur góodĕ grácĕ!”
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): And since the end is the strong point of every tale, and this matter is so important, why should I colour my tale or spin it out at length to you who are so loyally my friend?’ And so saying, he observed her very closely and looked into her face and said: ‘Good fortune come to such a mirror!’
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): そしてその終わりこそがあらゆる話の要点であるから、しかもこの点が非常に有益であるからには、私の忠実な友であるお前に、どうしてそれを長々と言葉で飾り彩る必要があろうか。」そう言って彼は彼女を熱心に見て、さらに彼女の顔をじっと見つめて言った。「この鏡の如き顔にお恵みあれ！」
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 结局既是每篇故事的重点，而且这件事又如此顺当，我何必把它拖长，或向你这忠实好友做些无谓的粉饰呢？”他说着，一面私地里把眼睛盯住她脸上，心中忖道，“我愿这面明镜上照出好运道来！”
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: topic, subject-matter
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: (Quoted) 1. (b) suitable, fit; proper, appropriate; (s.v. bihọ̄velī, adj.)
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 62): bihovely: beneficial
- Fisher (1989: 423): byhovely: beneficial
- Benson (1987: 492): bihovely: useful
- Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) useful, needful (s.v. bihovely, adj.)
- Donaldson (1975: 758): bihovely: relevant
- Baugh (1963: 103): profitable
Possible Definitions
suitable; appropriate; useful, needful, beneficial, profitable; relevant
Comments from the Editor
The speech in this quotation typifies Pandarus. According to Windeatt (1998: 162), the idiom ‘th’ende is every tales strengthe’ is a traditional commonplace. It is also cited in English in Whiting (E75, E78, E81, W598), in Latin in Walther (9536) and in French in Hassell (F89).