bitter adj.

  bitter 
 TR3.1114 Thĕrwíth hĭs póus ănd páumĕs óf hĭs hóndĕs
 TR3.1115 Thĕy gán tŏ fróte, ănd wéte hĭs témplĕs twéynĕ;
 TR3.1116 Ănd tó dĕlíverĕn hým frŏ bíttrĕ bóndĕs
 TR3.1117 Shĕ ófte hy̆m kíste; ănd shórtly̆ fór tŏ séynĕ,
 TR3.1118 Hy̆m tó rĕvókĕn shé dĭd ál hĭre péynĕ;
 TR3.1119 Ănd át thĕ láste, hĕ gán hĭs bréth tŏ dráwĕ,
 TR3.1120 Ănd óf hĭs swóugh sŏne áftĕr thát ădáwĕ,

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): Then they began to rub his wrists and the palms of his hands and to wet his temples; and, to release him from this bitter constraint, she often kissed him. To put it briefly, she did all she could to revive him. At last he began to draw breath, and soon after that he came round from his swoon,
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): それから彼らは脈を測る両手首や両掌をこすり、両こめかみを濡らした。そして辛い苦しみから彼を解き放ってやるために彼女はしばしばキスをした。手短に言うと、彼は蘇生させるために彼女はあらゆる努力をした。ついに、彼は呼吸をし始め、その後間もなく気絶から覚め、
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 他们摩擦他的手腕和手掌，打湿他的两鬓；她继续地吻他，想把他救出这精神上的捆缚；她施尽方法使他苏醒。最终，呼吸渐渐回复，不久，清醒过来，

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Narrator
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others (bondes: constraint)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: Not quoted
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 168): bittre bondes: the grip of misery
  • Fisher (1989): N/A
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

grievous, bitter

Comments from the Editor

In the quotation above, Troilus faints at Criseyde’s anger, and Pandarus and Criseyde try to wake him. Fainting is common practice in ‘courtly love’.