seli adj.

2023-07-02 Uncategorized

TR5.1093 Ně mé ně líst thǐs sély̌ wómmǎn chýdě
TR5.1094 Fórthěr thán thě stóry̌e wól děvýsě.
TR5.1095 Hǐre náme, ǎllás, ǐs públy̌sshéd sǒ wídě
TR5.1096 Thǎt fór hǐre gílt ǐt óughte y̌nóugh sǔffísě.
TR5.1097 Ǎnd íf Ǐ mýghte ěxcúse hǐre ány̌ wísě,
TR5.1098 Fǒr shé sǒ sóry̌ wás fǒr híre ǔntróuthě,
TR5.1099 Ǐwís, Ǐ wólde ěxcúse hǐre yét fǒr róuthě.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): I do not wish to reproach this poor woman further than the story devises. Her name, alas, is published so far and wide that it ought to be sufficient punishment for her guilt. And if I might excuse her in any way, because she was so sorry for her faithlessness, I would certainly excuse her yet, out of pity.
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): このお粗末な女性について物語が述べている以上には叱る気になれない。ああ可哀想に、彼女の名はもうあまねく酷評されている。だからその罪に対してそれで十分だと言うのに止めるべきだ。彼女は自分の不実をひどく悔いていたので、どうにかして彼女を弁護できるなら、同情するあまり、必ずや彼女を弁護してあげたいくらいだ。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 我不愿再多方苛责这位不幸的女子，古书里已有谴叱的话就足够了。她的恶名已传播得很远，这惩罚已够重了。她为了负盟深知自责，我若能饶恕她，我愿以宽恕为怀，而放她过去。

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: human beings (female: Criseyde)
Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

OED: Not quoted
MED: Not quoted

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 314): Ne me ne list this sely womman chyde: I do not want to reproach this poor woman
Fisher (1989: 520): sely: poor
Benson (1987): N/A
Davis et al. (1979): pitiable, unfortunate, poor (s.v. sely, adj.)
Donaldson (1975: 972): sely: poor
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

pitiable, poor, unfortunate

Comments from the Editor

This stanza is a typical one that shows Chaucer’s pitiful attitude to Criseyde.