bright adj.

  bright 
 TR5.162 “Ănd wóndrĕth nóught, my̆n ówĕn lády̆ bríght,
 TR5.163 Thŏugh thát Ĭ spéke ŏf lóve tŏ yów thŭs blývĕ;
 TR5.164 Fŏr Í hăve hérd ĕr thís ŏf mány ă wíght,
 TR5.165 Hăth lóvĕd thýng hĕ néverĕ sáigh hĭs lývĕ.
 TR5.166 Ĕk Í ăm nát ŏf pówĕr fór tŏ strývĕ
 TR5.167 Ăyéyns thĕ gód ŏf Lóve, bŭt hým ŏbéyĕ
 TR5.168 Ĭ wóle ălwéy; ănd mércy̆ Í yŏw préyĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): And don’t be surprised, my own fair lady, though I speak to you of love so quickly, for I’ve heard before this of many a person who loved something he never saw in his life. Also, I’m not able to struggle against the God of Love, but I’ll always obey him, and I beg you for mercy!
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 驚かないでください、輝くお方よ、僕はこのように早々と貴女に愛を打ち明けておりますが、僕はかつて生まれてから一度も会ったことがない女性を愛した人が多くいることについて聞いたことがあります。僕も＜愛の神＞に抗う力はありませんが、いつも＜愛の神＞に従うことにしています。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 我的鲜丽的夫人，虽然在此顷刻间我就和你讲爱，请你不必疑奇；因我曾听说，常有人会爱上一个根本没有见过的女子呢。我也反抗不了爱神的伟力，惟有遵他的命令，还要求你恩遇。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OA
  • Addresser: Diomede
  • Addressee: Criseyde
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (female: lady = Criseyde)
  • 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

radiant, beautiful, fair

Comments from the Editor

Compared with Fil, Chaucer added about 100 lines to describe how Diomede courted Criseyde. Although Diomede clearly speaks of love, Criseyde still considers his speech merely friendship (5.185) and accepts it in a goodly manner. Although Criseyde might have not realised it, Diomede’s speech here has already achieved its purpose.