TR3. 666 "Ǎnd ín thǐs mýdděl chámbrě thát yě sé
TR3. 667 Shǎl yóurě wómměn slépěn, wél ǎnd sóftě;
TR3. 668 Ǎnd thére Ǐ séydě shál yǒuresélvěn bé;
TR3. 669 Ǎnd íf yě líggěn wél tǒ-nýght, cǒm óftě,
TR3. 670 Ǎnd cárěth nóught whǎt wéděr ís ǎlóftě.
TR3. 671 Thě wýn ǎnón, ǎnd whán sǒ thát yǒw léstě,
TR3. 672 Sǒ gó wě slépe: Ǐ trówe ǐt bé thě béstě."

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And in this middle chamber that you see, your women will sleep comfortably and well; and you yourself will be where I said. And if you sleep well tonight, come often, and don’t trouble about what the weather is doing—The wine, at once!— And whenever you’re ready, let’s go to bed. I think it’s for the best.’
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): ほらこの真ん中の部屋でお前の侍女たちに心地よくぐっすり眠ってもらおう、お前自身は私が先ほど言った場所になるだろう。もし今夜心地よく寝られたら、たびたびここに来るがいいよ、それに空模様はどうかなんて気にするな。もうすぐ酒(ワイン)が出てこよう、そしてお前が寝たくなれば、われわれも寝に行こう。それが一番いいと思うよ。」
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 这间中室让你的女侍们睡，很舒适的；你自己就在那里边；今晚你如果睡得安逸，以后可以常来，不问是什么天气。拿酒来，你想睡的时候就去睡好了。”

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: room (chamber)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: A. adj. (not in predicative use). 1. a. Designating that member of a group or series, or that part of a whole, so situated as to have the same number of members or parts on each side of it: said with reference to position in space, time, order of succession or enumeration, or the like. (s.v. middle, adj. and n.)
• MED: 1. (c) being the midmost of three (or of another odd number); of a story in a three-story building: the second; sup. middeleste, as noun: the middle man, the third finger (counting thumb as first); ~ bord, a second table (between the royal table and the general table); also, the middle one of any three tables; ~ lond, the Midlands of England; ~ ward, the middle cohort; ~ welken, middle sky, middle sphere, the earth’s sphere between heaven and hell; (s.v. middel, adj.)

• 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

middle

Comments from the Editor

Pandarus suggests to Criseyde that she should sleep in his small room while he himself occupies the outer room, taking on the role of guardian for all of Criseyde’s women. The middle chamber is designated for the sleeping quarters of her women.