certain adj.

  certain
TR3.1030 “Bŭt cértĕyn ís, sŏm mánerĕ jálŏusíĕ
TR3.1031 Ĭs éxcŭsáblĕ móre thăn sóm, ĭwýs;
TR3.1032 Ăs whán căuse ís, ănd sóm swĭch fántăsíĕ
TR3.1033 Wĭth píĕté sŏ wél rĕpréssĕd ís
TR3.1034 Thăt ít ŭnnéthĕ dóth ŏr séyth ămýs,
TR3.1035 Bŭt góodly̆ drýnkĕth úp ăl hís dĭstréssĕ
TR3.1036 Ănd thát ĕxcúse Ĭ, fór thĕ géntĭléssĕ;

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): But it’s certain that one kind of jealousy is more excusable than another, indeed, as when there is a reason, and some such delusion of this kind is so well and dutifully suppressed that it scarcely does or says anything amiss but nobly drinks up all its cup of distress — and that I excuse, for the nobleness of it.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): しかし、確かなことですが、ある種の嫉妬はもちろん、他の嫉妬よりむしろ容認できます。たとえば原因がある時で、このような妄想は相手への同情によってうまく抑制されるので、ほとんどどんな間違った言動にも走らず、喜んで苦悩の杯を飲み干し耐えるからございます。このような嫉妬は振舞いの気高さゆえに、わたしは大目に見ます。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): “的确,有一种嫉妒还算说得过去的;譬如,它是确有根据的,或是受了严正的压制,不说错话,不做错事,却将一切苦闷吞咽下去;这样的嫉妒我可以饶恕,因为这确是难能而可贵的。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OF
  • Addresser: Criseyde
  • Addressee: Troilus
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others (the fact that one kind of jealousy is more excusable than another)
  • 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): (Quoted) 2. sure, firm (s.v. certein, adj.)
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

true, indubitable

Comments from the Editor

Criseyde blames Troilus for believing the rumour that she has fallen in love with another man. However, Criseyde also considers Troilus’s jealousy excusable, and she claims that she is sorrier than angry (3.1044).