TR2.1030 “Fŏr thóugh thĕ béstĕ hárpŏur úpŏn lývĕ TR2.1031 Wŏlde ón thĕ béstĕ sównĕd jóly̆ hárpĕ TR2.1032 Thăt éverĕ wás, wĭth álle hĭs fýngrĕs fývĕ TR2.1033 Tóuche ăy ŏ strýng, ŏr áy ŏ wérbŭl hárpĕ, TR2.1034 Wére hĭs náylĕs póyntĕd névere sŏ shárpĕ, TR2.1035 Ĭt shóldĕ mákĕn évery̆ wíght tŏ dúllĕ, TR2.1036 Tŏ hére hĭs glée, ănd óf hĭs strókĕs fúllĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): For if the best harpist alive, with all his five fingers, were always to harp on one string or always play one tune on the finest-sounding and most glorious harp there ever was, it would make everyone bored to hear his music and fed up with his strummings, even if his nails were ever so sharply pointed!
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 現存の最高のハープ奏者がこの上ない最高の快い音を奏でるハープを使う一方で、五本の指がいつも一本の弦ばかりに触れるとか、始終一本調子に奏でるとかすれば、いくら奏者が爪を鋭く尖らせたとしても、奏者の音楽を聴くことに皆が退屈だと感じ、奏者の爪弾きにうんざりするでしょう。
- Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 犹如一个弹琴的高手，五只指尖拨出最美妙的音调，然而他若老拨着一根弦子，或专弹单调的曲调，岂不人人都要听得发烦，再也领略不出那抑扬顿挫的妙出来。
Word Information
- Etymology: OF
- Addresser: Pandarus
- Addressee: Troilus
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil):N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: nail (nail)
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: IV. To make or form into a point or points. 14. a. transitive. To give a point or points; to work or fashion to a point or tapered end, to sharpen. Also figurative. Now rare. (s.v. point, v.1)
- MED: 1b. Ppl. pointed: (a) having a sharp point or points; tapering to a sharp tip; two-pointed, double-edged [quot.: a1500(?c1425)]; (s.v. pointen, v.(1))
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 93): poynted: filed into points
- Fisher (1989): N/A
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975): N/A
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
sharpened, having a sharp point
Comments from the Editor
See my comment of ‘best’ (adj. (sup.), Tr2.1030).