TR2. 344 “Wó wŏrth thĕ fáirĕ gémmĕ vértŭlées! TR2. 345 Wó wŏrth thăt hérbe ălsó thăt dóoth nŏ bóotĕ! TR2. 346 Wó wŏrth thăt béautĕ thát ĭs róuthĕlés! TR2. 347 Wó wŏrth thăt wíght thăt trét ĕch úndĭr fóotĕ! TR2. 348 Ănd yé, thăt bén ŏf béautĕ cróp ănd róotĕ, TR2. 349 Ĭf thérwĭthál ĭn yów thĕr bé nŏ róuthĕ, TR2. 350 Thăn ís ĭt hárm yĕ lývĕn, bý my̆ tróuthĕ!
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): A curse on the beautiful gem that lacks the power to heal! A curse too on that herb that fails to cure! A curse on that beauty that is pitiless! A curse on that person who tramples everyone under foot! And you, who are all beauty from top to toe, if there is no pity in you as well, then it’s a shame you’re alive, upon my word!
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 霊験なき美しい宝石は悲しい！効き目なき薬草は悲しい！哀れみなき美貌は悲しい！万人を足元に踏みつける者は悲しい！そして美の極みであるお前よ、加えてお前に哀れみの気持がなければ、お前が生きているのは、私の真心に誓って、害、無駄である！
- Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): “哀哉，一粒明珠而失去了灵效！哀哉，一根药草而不能治伤！哀哉，生就一副美貌而存心险恶！哀哉，做一个人而一味摧残同类！你既是美中之美，浑身是美，如果缺少了一颗怜悯之心，我敢说，你生在世上就会为患无穷！
Word Information
- Etymology: From vertu, n.
- Addresser: Pandarus
- Addressee: Criseyde
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: fair
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: gem or precious stone (gem; or in a figurative way to refer to Criseyde)
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: 1. Devoid of efficacy or excellence; lacking in merit; ineffective, worthless. (s.v. virtueless, adj.)
- MED: 1. (a) Of a stone: lacking talismanic power, impotent; of a constellation: lacking constellatory influence; (s.v. vertūlē̆s,adj.)
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 65): vertulees: without special powers
- Fisher (1989: 424): vertules: without power
- Benson (1987: 494): vertulees: lacking the power that gems were believed to have
- Davis et al. (1979): without power (s.v. vertulees, adj.)
- Donaldson (1975: 761): vertulees: powerless, i.e., without the defensive and medicinal properties the Middle Ages ascribed to jewels
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
without power
Comments from the Editor
See my comment of ‘fair’ (adj., Tr2.344).