TR2. 785 "Ǎlsó thǐse wíkkěd tóngěs bén sǒ prést
TR2. 786 Tǒ spéke ǔs hárm; ěk mén běn só ǔntréwě,
TR2. 787 Thǎt ríght ǎnón ǎs céssěd ís hǐre lést,
TR2. 788 Sǒ céssěth lóve, ǎnd fórth tǒ lóve ǎ néwě.
TR2. 789 Bǔt hárm y̌dóon ǐs dóon, whósǒ ǐt réwě:
TR2. 790 Fǒr thóugh thǐse mén fǒr lóve hěm fírst tǒréndě,
TR2. 791 Fǔl shárp by̌gýnny̌ng brékěth ófte ǎt éndě.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): Also, spiteful tongues are so ready to speak ill of us; and men are so unfaithful that, as soon as their desire is finished, love finishes, and off they go to love someone new. But harm that’s done is done, there’s no use regretting it. For though these men tear themselves apart for love at first, too keen a beginning often leads to break-up in the end.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 何しろ恋をするということは、むかしから、最も波乱に満ちた人生ということよ。恋愛にはいつもある種の不信か、ばかげた争いが付き物ですし、何らかの雲がその恋愛という太陽を覆ってしまいますもの。だから、わたしたち哀れな女性は悲しい時、泣きながら座って考える以外、何もできないのです。わたしたちの惨めな点はこれ、自分の悲しみを我慢して飲むこと。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 同时，那些毒舌的人忙着来损害我们，男子又无真心，一旦满足了他的欲望，爱情就此停止，转脸过去另求新欢：可是，人已被害了，谁还来可怜你。一般男子起初尽可爱得发狂，然而紧张的开端往往结果破裂。

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Criseyde
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: wikked (wicked)
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 2.76
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings or speech
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 3. (c) of the tongue: quick, active; (s.v. prest, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 83): prest: ready
• Fisher (1989: 431): prest: ready
• Benson (1987: 500): prest: quick
• Davis et al. (1979): ready, prompt (s.v. prest, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975: 777): prest: quick
• Baugh (1963: 111): prest: ready

Possible Definitions

ready, quick, prompt

Comments from the Editor

Criseyde expresses concerns about being subjected to a miserable position and the potential for people to speak ill of her, while also expressing a general skepticism towards the faithfulness of men. However, in her counterpart in Fil.2.76, Criseida worries about being abandoned due to Troiolo’s higher social status. These variations in their respective concerns highlight the different anxieties and fears that the characters face in each work.