wise adj.

2023-07-09 Uncategorized

TR3.1688 Thǐs ís nǒ lítěl thýng ǒf fór tǒ séyě;
TR3.1689 Thǐs pássěth évery̌ wít fǒr tó děvýsě;
TR3.1690 Fǒr éch ǒf hém gǎn ótherěs lúst ǒbéyě.
TR3.1691 Fělícǐté, whǐch thát thǐse clérkěs wísě
TR3.1692 Cǒménděn só, ně máy nǒught hére sǔffísě;
TR3.1693 Thǐs jóiě máy nǒught wrítěn bé wǐth ínkě;
TR3.1694 Thǐs pássěth ál thǎt hértě máy by̌thýnkě.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): This is no small thing to say. It surpasses all intelligence to express it. For each of them was obedient to the other’s desire. It is not enough in this case to term it that perfect felicity which these wise scholars so commend. This happiness cannot be written about with ink! This surpasses all that heart can conceive!
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): これを言うべき言葉はほとんどない。述べるべきオ知がそれより劣るのだ。二人はそれぞれ相手の望みに従おうとしたからだ。この二人の隈人たちが推岱した至福もここで満たすことができない。この喜びをインクで書き記せない。これは万人の想像を絶する喜びなのだ。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 这话说来容易，其实是一件非同小可的事；天下聪明才子都无从下笔描拟；他们情投意洽，何容局外人饶舌。古人所称“幸福”两字还不足以表达；这个乐境实非笔墨所能形容，也非脑想所能忖度得出的。

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 (clerkes)
Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

OED: Not quoted
MED: Not quoted

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003): N/A
Fisher (1989: 474): clerkes wyse: wise scholars
Benson (1987): N/A
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975): N/A
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

wise, learnt

Comments from the Editor

This stanza portrays the joy and bliss experienced by the two protagonists during their second night together. See also my comment of ‘litel’ (adj., Tr3.1688).