TR1. 239 Thăt thís bĕ sóth, hăth prévĕd ánd dŏth yít.
TR1. 240 Fŏr thís trŏwe Í yĕ knówĕn álle ŏr sómĕ,
TR1. 241 Mĕn rédĕn nát thăt fólk hăn gréttĕr wít
TR1. 242 Thăn théy thăt hán bĕ móst wĭth lóve y̆nómĕ;
TR1. 243 Ănd stréngĕst fólk bĕn thérwĭth óvĕrcómĕ,
TR1. 244 Thĕ wórthĭést ănd gréttĕst óf dĕgrée:
TR1. 245 Thĭs wás, ănd ís, ănd yét mĕn sháll ĭt sée.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): This has been proved to be true, and is still being so proved. I believe you know this, one and all: people read of none that have greater intelligence than those who have been most taken with love; the strongest have been overcome, and the noblest and highest in rank. This was and is so, and people will see it yet.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): これが真実であると、証明されたことがあり、今もされている。次のことに関して誰でも知っていると信じるが、今までもっぱら愛の虜になった人たちよりも賢くて色香に迷わぬ人たちがいるなどと書物に書かれていない。そして最も強い人さえ征服された、最も高貴で最も身分の高い人もそうだった。これは過去でも、現在でもそうで、これからもそうなるだろう。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 这是已经证实的真理，今后还是一样；你们大家都该知道，古来惟有那受尽了爱的摧残的人才是聪明才子，世上不论你有多大力量，多高权位，都要在爱的面前低头；从前，当今都是如此，后人也不例外。

Word Information

• Etymology: OE&ME
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: gret
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: ranks (degree)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 3. (f) as noun: one who is distinguished;—also coll. & pl.; sometimes used in addresses; nin worthies, the legendary group of nine champions; also, a stylized representation of the Nine Worthies [quot. 1454] (s.v. worthī, adj.)

• 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

noble, honourable

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘alderwisest’ (adj., Tr1.247).