TR2. 862 "Whǎt ís thě sónně wérs, ǒf kýndě ríght,
TR2. 863 Thǒugh thát ǎ mán, fǒr fíeblěsse óf hǐs ýěn,
TR2. 864 Mǎy nóught ěndúre ǒn ít tǒ sée fǒr bríght?
TR2. 865 Ǒr lóve thě wérs, thǒugh wrécchěs ón ǐt críěn?
TR2. 866 Nǒ wéle ǐs wórth, thǎt máy nǒ sórwě drýěn.
TR2. 867 Ǎnd fórthǐ, whó thǎt háth ǎn héd ǒf vérrě,
TR2. 868 Frǒ cást ǒf stóněs wár hy̌m ín thě wérrě!

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): How is the sun any the worse, in its proper nature, though a man, because of the weakness of his eyes, cannot bear to look at it on account of the brightness? Or love the worse, though wretches complain about it? No well-being that cannot endure some sorrow has any worth. And so, let him who has a head of glass beware of the flying stones thrown in battle!
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 目のほうが弱いために、眩しくて見ていられないのに、本来明るい属性の太陽がどうして悪くなれようか。惨めな連中が泣いて謗(そし)ろうと、〈愛の神〉は悪くなれようか。悲しみに耐えられない者は幸福になる値打ちがない。それゆえ、弱点のある者は他人を非難せぬがよい！
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 眼力过弱的人受不住太阳的光芒，然而太阳并不因此而受丝毫影响。所以一般无聊之徒对着爱神叫骂，却何能使他损失半点？不能忍痛的人不应享乐。因此之故，谁若有一颗玻璃制成的头颅，就必须小心战场上飞来的乱石！

Word Information

• Etymology: OE
• Addresser: Antigone (in her song)
• Addressee: N/AN/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: sun (the sun)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 3. (a) Inferior in quality, less good; less valuable; also, lower in status; less admirable, less worthy; of silver: less pure; also in proverbs; ~ and ~, progressively worse in quality; ~ to preisen, less worthy of praise;  (s.v. wers(e, adj. (comparative))

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 86): wers: worse
• Fisher (1989: 432): wers of kynde right: worse in its proper nature
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

inferior in quality

Comments from the Editor

As to Antigone’s song, see my comments of ‘bet’ (adj., Tr2.836) and ‘blisful’ (adj., Tr2.832).