TR3.36 Yĕ fólk ă láwe hăn sét ĭn únĭvérsĕ, TR3.37 Ănd thís knŏwe Í by̆ hém thăt lóvĕrs bé, TR3.38 Thăt whósŏ strývĕth wíth yŏw háth thĕ wérsĕ. TR3.39 Nŏw, lády̆ brýght, fŏr thí bĕnígnĭté, TR3.40 Ăt révĕrénce ŏf hém thăt sérvĕn thé, TR3.41 Whŏs clérc Ĭ ám, sŏ téchĕth mé dĕvýsĕ TR3.42 Sŏm jóye ŏf thát ĭs félt ĭn thí sĕrvýsĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): You have established a law for people universally — and this I know from those who are lovers — that whoever contends with you has the worst of it! Now, radiant lady, out of your kindness and in honour of those who serve you — whose scribe I am — teach me how to describe some of that joy which is experienced in serving you.
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 貴女はあまねく人びとのために一つの法を定められました、そして私はこれ恋人たちである彼らによって知ります、貴女と争う者は誰であれ、悪くなっていくということです。さあ、輝く者よ、貴女の恵み深さゆえに、貴女に仕える人びとに敬意を表して、私は彼らの書記ですから、どうか、貴女に仕えて感じられる喜びの幾分かを語る方法を教えてください。
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 你为人类在天地间定下律令，但看那些情人们忤犯了你的意旨，就遭失败。啊，光明的女神，求你开恩，为着颂赞你的侍从们，请授我机智，好描写那为你效役者的欢乐，因我是他们的录事。
Word Information
- Etymology: OA
- Addresser: Narrator
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: supernatural beings (female: Venus)
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: Not quoted
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 125): lady bryght: radiant lady
- Fisher (1989): N/A
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975): N/A
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
radiant, beautiful, fair
Comments from the Editor
Chaucer closely followed Fil. 3.74–9 from the beginning of Book III to line 3.38, in which he highly praises Venus. Then, in the latter half of the stanza, he appeals to the goddess for grace and again emphasises his stand as a scribe serving the servant of love (see also 1.15 for his similar statement).