seli adj.

2023-07-02 Uncategorized

TR5. 526 Ănd thérwĭthál, hĭs méynĕ fór tŏ bléndĕ,
TR5. 527 Ă cáuse hĕ fónd ĭn tównĕ fór tŏ gó,
TR5. 528 Ănd tó Crĭséydĕs hóus thĕy gónnĕn wéndĕ.
TR5. 529 Bŭt Lórd, thĭs sély̆ Tróĭlús wăs wó!
TR5. 530 Hy̆m thóughte hĭs sórwfŭl hértĕ bráste ă-twó.
TR5. 531 Fŏr whán hĕ sáugh hĭre dórĕs spérĕd állĕ,
TR5. 532 Wĕl néigh fŏr sórwe ădóun hĕ gán tŏ fállĕ.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And thereupon, to deceive the members of his household, he invented a reason to go into town, and they went to Criseyde’s house. But Lord, how unhappy poor Troilus was! It seemed to him his sorrowful heart would break in two. For when he saw her doors all barred he nearly fell down for sorrow.
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): その上、彼は家の者を欺くために、町に行く口実を見つけて、二人はクリセイデの家に行った。しかしああ、あわれなトロイルスは何と悲しかったことか！彼の悲しみ一杯の心は二つに割れそうに思われた。扉にすべてかんぬきがかかっているのを見ると、悲しみのあまり倒れんばかりになった。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 于是哄骗他的家仆，只说有事上街，却暗中来到克丽西德宅中。天哪！这不幸的特罗勒斯是何等可怜！他的心忧伤欲裂。见她家里门户都紧闭着，他伤痛得站立不稳。

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Narrator
Addressee: N/A
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: wo
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 5.51
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: Troilus)
Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

OED: Not quoted
MED: Not quoted

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 291): sely: poor
Fisher (1989: 512): sely: poor
Benson (1987): N/A
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975: 952): sely: innocent
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

poor, wretched, pitiable, pious, innocent

Comments from the Editor

Compared to its Italian source, Chaucer omits certain details from the scene, such as Troiolo taking Pandaro by his hand, Troiolo’s deceptive smile, and Troiolo hiding his face.