TR1. 253 Nŏw síth ĭt máy năt góodly̆ bén wĭthstóndĕ,
TR1. 254 Ănd ís ă thíng sŏ vértŭóus ĭn kýndĕ,
TR1. 255 Rĕfúsĕth nát tŏ Lóve fŏr tó bĕn bóndĕ,
TR1. 256 Sy̆n, ás hy̆msélvĕn líste, hĕ máy yŏw býndĕ;
TR1. 257 Thĕ yérde ĭs bét thăt bówĕn wóle ănd wýndĕ
TR1. 258 Thăn thát thăt brést, ănd thérfŏre Í yŏw rédĕ
TR1. 259 Tŏ fólŏwen hým thăt só wĕl kán yŏw lédĕ.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): Now since it can hardly be resisted, and is a thing so virtuous in its nature, do not refuse to be enslaved to Love, since it may bind you as it pleases. The sapling that will bow and bend is better than the one that breaks, and I therefore advise you to follow love, which can give you such a lead.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): それから愛にたやすく逆らえないし、愛は当然高潔なものだから、＜愛の神＞に縛られることを拒絶してはならない、＜愛の神＞は好むままに、皆さんを縛ることができるのだから。棒は曲がったりねじれたりする材質のほうが、すぐ折れてしまう材質よりよいのだ。従って私は皆さんに上手に導く能力を持つ＜愛の神＞に従うようにと忠告します。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 因此，爱情既不是抵挡不住，且能任意羁绊着你，同时它的本质又富有德性，你也就不必拒绝它的罗网了。一枝手杖，与其坚脆而易断，倒不如有弹性而能弯曲；所以我劝你们还是听从它的指引。

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: love (love)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: Not quoted

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

Possible Definitions

virtuous

Comments from the Editor

See my comments of ‘bet’ (adj., Tr1.257) and ‘bonde’ (n.(2) & adj., Tr1.255).