absent adj.

  absent
TR5.460 Fŏr shé thăt óf hĭs hértĕ bérth thĕ kéyĕ
TR5.461 Wăs ábsĕnt, ló, thĭs wás hĭs fántăsíĕ --
TR5.462 Thăt nó wĭght shóldĕ mákĕn mélŏdíĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): Because she who held the key of his heart was absent, you see, this was his whim: that no one should make music.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 何しろ彼の心の鍵を持つ彼女がいなかったから。ほら、彼は気のままにこう思った―誰も快い調べなど奏すべきでないと。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956):那携带着他心房钥匙的人既去,他就认为谁都不应演乐奏曲。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OF
  • Addresser: Narrator
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 5.43)
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (female: 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

being away, not present

Comments from the Editor

KnT (1367–68) also incorporates the notion that music can be poison for a frustrated lover. This adjective does not have a counterpart in Fil; however, the scene closely follows its Italian source (see. Fil.5.43).